Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 27 Jul
A selection at Akhna Dam on 20 Jul – Slender-billed Gull, Whiskered Tern, White-winged Black Tern & Gull-billed Tern.
On Monday after work a quick trip to Akhna Dam was productive although before I left Ay Nik a male Peregrine flew over the house. Akhna Dam loomed and as I drove in, at least 3 Hoopoes flushed from the scrub and the first, not unpredicted immature Masked Shrike was the first to arrive for the autumn on its migration for the winter. A Greenshank, 3 Little Stints and a Temminck’s Stint were on the main lake with a Wood Sandpiper and several Common Sandpipers also being present. A small pond is all that is left of the eastern arm of the dam (for the AOS exped members – the end where the Night Herons were seen), the rest is completely dry and vegetated – an amazing difference in 4 months. Consequently all the fish at that end have been boiled alive and died. The place is stinking – but the birds love it. Hawking the pond were 5 Gull-billed Terns (2 adults and 3 1st CYs), an adult moulting Whiskered and White-winged Black Tern accompanied by 2 adult Slender-billed Gulls, all feeding on the easy pickings. Hopefully with the reduction in Carp, the Dragonflies will stand more of a chance next year. Around the fringes, 9 Black-winged Stilts, numerous Hooded Crows, Magpies and 2 Squacco Herons all fed greedily.
On Tuesday a flying visit to Oroklini Marsh saw the Greater Flamingos number 93 and the 3 Spoonbills were still loafing. The Black-tailed Godwit and a single Redshank also made appearances. At Akhna Dam another or the same Peregrine, which was making the Stilts and other waders a bit anxious. 2 Slender-billed Gulls and a Temminck’s Stint were still present. In the evening on the way to dinner at the coast, a Peregrine flew over Freneros.
On Wednesday I had to make a visit to Troodos and at Larnaca Sewage Works an amazing Shelduck and not so amazing female Shoveller were amongst the Mallards. On the way up to Troodos, 4 Crag Martins and a pair of Cyprus Wheatears were at Amiantos Asbestos Mine and at the top the usual mountain species were well represented with an increase in Spotted Flycatchers and Eastern Olivaceous Warblers being bolstered by this year’s young. On the way down at the Caledonian Falls Trout Farm, a pair of Grey Wagtails were noted, and considering breeding was proved for the first time last year, this probably adds weight to the argument at this time of year. Masked Shrikes and a few Red-rumped Swallows were seen and on the way home, at least 8 Eleonora’s Falcons were at Kensington Cliffs. As I passed Skarinou on the motorway a Long-legged Buzzard was being mobbed by Jackdaws.
As I walked to the Mess on Thursday. I heard the first European Beeaters of the season. On Friday and surprising myself, I awoke and dropped Deb to work and headed for an early visit to Akhna Dam. A 1st calendar year Night Heron was the highlight and my first Little Grebe for the sight for some time. I drove around the back of Ay NIk and saw 5 Rollers but little else. In an attempt to cure my hangover I headed to the north for a shave and a haircut and fell asleep in the chair (routine). I purchased some groceries and a roasted chicken for lunch before looking at Fresh Water Lake South in Famagusta. Glossy Ibises numbered 9 and there was a good selection of waders including Black-winged Stilts, Spur-winged Plovers, Little Ringed Plovers, Ruffs, Little Stints, Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers, a Greenshank and a very white looking Marsh Sandpiper. As I left the site I flushed a Hoopoe. Onward to lunch and the CO’s summer BBQ in the afternoon. Still feeling a bit worse for the wear, I decided to avoid alcohol (shock/horror), which set me up for Saturday. We visited Nicosia to pay the deposit for October’s Jordan adventure and although we visited 12 years ago, I now want a picture of a Sinai Rosefinch. That done and Nandos for lunch I stopped at Oroklini on the way home where a Slender-billed Gull roosted with 3 Gull-billed Terns. Another Marsh Sandpiper was present with Little Stints, the Spoonbills appear to have departed and the Greater Flamingos are steady at about 90.
Akhna Dam had seen and influx of waders with 4 Temminck’s Stints being active with a few Little Stints. A couple of semi-breeding plumaged Ruffs flushed, along with good numbers of Little Ringed Plovers and Common Sandpipers. A single Glossy Ibis fed actively and the many other common waders were flushed by a fly through Peregrine Falcon. 6 Collared Pratincoles landed briefly before flying off north east. Early on Sunday morning I left for the Cape Greco area. It was still very quiet except for good numbers of Eastern Olivaceous Warblers and a single Cyprus Pied Wheatear near the Picnic Site. I proceeded to Ayia Napa Sewage Works where there were several Eastern Olivaceous Warblers and a single Spectacled Warbler with 2 Common Sandpipers on the lagoons. Further up on the hill, a cracking adult Masked Shrike sat with another juvenile being present. There was a flurry of activity and no less than 6 Eastern Orphean Warblers flew into the same bush a began to mob the Masked Shrike – quite a moment. In the afternoon I visited Akhna Dam and an immature Gull-billed Tern remained and was joined by 3 White-winged Black Terns. The Temminck’s Stints had reduced to 2 and the surprise of the day was my first Common Starling of the autumn.
Highlights of the Week: 4 Crag Martins at Amiantos Asbestos Mine and a pair of Grey Wagtails, potentially breeding were good finds.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
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