Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 17 Aug 14
Lesser Grey Shrike at Ayia Napa Sewage Works
I didn’t manage to get out on Monday as I was busy with a leaving do and the smoking of a Bong – I mean Sheesha in the north – Strawberry flavour only and no ganja involved. On Tuesday I managed Akhna Dam where a few Collared Pratincoles were present with the usual waders and Terns but Lesser Grey* and Red-backed Shirkes are becoming more prevalent as Masked Shrikes have reduced.
On Wednesday, I travelled to Troodos, hosting a visit but did manage to see the mountain specialities minus a Wren but did find 4 Crag Martins as a bonus along with 5 Eleonora’s Falcons. A single Red-rumped Swallow near Platres was the only one and a single flyover Crossbill was all I could manage at Giant Juniper Picnic Site. I stayed overnight at Troodos and after a few beers with the guys left the following morning but failed to see a Grey Wagtail on the way down. On Thursday a quick visit to Akhna produced little but a Hoopoe or 2 were new arrivals. A single Sand Martin with Swallows was a month tick and at Oroklini Marsh a lone White Pelican was a surprise and a year tick. Over the north for a Turkish Meze was enjoyable and as we drank an EFES at Monk’s Bar (an exceptional place for a pint), a Barn Owl flew over which was also my first of the year (not an easy bird to happen across in Cyprus).
On Friday, I had been hired by a UK birder to take him out for the day. He had 10 target species which were likely at this time of year and a few other “would be goods”. I picked him up from the Nissi Beach area near Ayia Napa at 0600 and off we went. Not 10 minutes later lifer number 1 in the bag with 5 Greater Sand Plovers with 7 Kentish Plovers on the rocks at Ayia Thekla. 5 Pallid Swifts were overhead which was a bonus bird as they are now at the end of their migration. A few more common birds were added to the obligatory day list – “It’s All About The List”.
We moved onto Ayia Napa Football Pitches where target bird number 2 fed on the first field. A female Black Francolin, which was a stroke of luck as I haven’t seen one for ages there. We continued onto Cape Greko and clocked a male Lesser Grey Shrike on wires next to the road. Cape Greco Pines produced the next lifer with a couple of Eastern Olivaceous Warblers showing well with a few Spectacled Warblers nearby. As we drove past the picnic site, we were pleased to see a nice male Cyprus Wheatear, although we needn’t have fretted as we saw about 4 or 5 in the area, soon followed the next endemic a female Cyprus Warbler with a Sardinian male near by. I haven’t seen a Cyprus Warbler for about 2 months – they are tricky just after they’ve bred so my most reliable bird in the area hasn’t been showing, so I was pleased to nail that one early on. Onward to the Cape itself and one of the most definite lifers performed as several Chukars ran across the ploughed fields. As we drove past the wires (the AOS trip in March will remember the ploughed fields and wires as a very productive area)? A bird caught my eye and as it perched had a white rump. It flew to the field and started to feed where we scoped it. The first Isabelline Wheatear of the autumn – Paul’s luck was in, another lifer and sought after bird on the top 10, although I hadn’t expected to find one this early in the season.
With lifers coming thick and fast we drove onto the Ayia Napa Sewage Works area. A Common Sandpiper, Coots and Little Grebes added to the growing day list and on the fence the first lowland Spotted Flycatcher of the autumn caused a bit of confusion initially in poor light. As we parked the car and moved up the hill, a Lesser Grey Shrike alighted and Eastern Olivaceous Warblers could be heard everywhere and we then caught up with many flight views of the next lifer an Eastern Orphean Warbler, eventually securing scope views of a couple of perched birds. The area also provided views of Lesser Whitethroats as we walked around. As we drove away, I called a male Masked Shrike which eventually perched on the fence line next to the first Willow Warbler of the season – good birds!
We left the area on route to Larnaca Sewage Works and as we passed Oroklini we stopped on the hard shoulder to view yesterday’s White Pelican as it circled the road – a most unexpected lifer. We continued to Larnaca and along the airport fence line Paul spotted an immature Roller and then a male Black Francolin which he secured good views of. Spiro’s beach held the remarkable site of c200 Kentish Plovers – the most I’ve ever seen at the site and a few Yellow-legged Gulls passed over the sea. At the sewage works the next lifer (and a definite which I wasn’t worried about), c20 Spur-winged Plovers. When seeing them everyday, you do tend to get a bit blasé so it’s good to be reminded what a stonking bird it really is. Cyprus is probably the easiest place in the Western Palaearctic to see one. The drake Shelduck continued its stay and Shovelers had increased to 4. A few other birds were added to the trip list but there wasn’t much else of interest.
We continued on a visit to the little known site of Parthenitis Dam that produced the first Cattle and Little Egrets and on the mud 2 Little Stints were joined by a Temminck’s and 2 Yellow Wagtails were also on the water’s edge. At Oroklini, a Spotted Redshank was joined by a Common Redshank and in the shallows and unexpected Marsh Sandpiper was found. A Temminck’s Stint fed actively with 2 Little Stints and 4 Whiskered Terns (2 summer adults and 2 immatures) rested on the sand. 32 Greater Flamingos were present and several Little and Cattle Egrets loafed lazily. Chancing my luck, I stopped at Dhekelia Power Station and on the mooring buoys were 8 Shags of the Mediterranean race. I drove up the road passing Dhekelia Power Station mentioning that it was a Stone Curlew winter roost site and then we saw 11 of which 2 posed in the open giving cracking views – we were having a good day! At Akhna Dam we were greeted by a male Masked Shrike which was later seen well again as we left. As we drove to the water’s edge a large bird was bathing and bingo – another lifer, Long-legged Buzzard which was joined by its mate. They put on a great display overhead, where all the relevant ID features could be seen. 4 Collared Pratincoles were a bonus as were several wanted Spanish Sparrows and 3 migrant Garganey were on the water. With time running out 3 Hoopoes flushed and several Yellow Wagtails included the 2 lingering 1st winter Citrine Wagtails which were the last lifer, ending what was a very successful day out. Thanks to Paul Smith for his company and commitment to finding the birds.
On Saturday, I stayed I went for the obligatory Turkish shave and haircut and watched the cricket. On Sunday I went to Akhna Dam where a Sand Martin was the highlight with the usual waders and migrants. A little later in the afternoon I visited the Fresh Water Lake South where c40 Pallid Swifts were overhead with Swallows. A juvenile Whiskered Tern rested on the water and 5 Glossy Ibises were scattered throughout the site. 7 Squacco Herons were present including 2 immatures and Ferruginous Ducks had increased to 8 with 3 Garganey also being present. Good numbers of Spur-winged Plovers and Black-winged Stilts were present and another Sand Martin passed overhead with Swallows. Waders had congregated at the west end of the lake and at least 5 Redshanks, 1 Spotted Redshank, 3 Common, 3 Green, 1 Wood Sandpipers were present. A couple of Ruffs joined the throng with Little Stints and Little Ringed Plovers being numerous. I eventually found my first Curlew Sandpiper – a moulting adult of the autumn and that concluded an excellent week.
Highlights of the Week: The first Isabelline Wheatear and Willow Warbler of the autumn were good finds; however finding 14 lifers for a visiting UK birder was pleasing.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
Paul Smith | 22nd Aug 2014 11:34 AM
Thanks to Mark for exceeding my expectations having secured all my target lifers and more. It really was one of those rare days when everything just turned up on cue with bonus attractions. For anyone wanting a top birder with the all important site knowledge and enthusiasm to get your target species it would be hard to find anyone to beat Mark.