Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 24 Aug 14
Gull-billed Tern at Akhna Dam on 20 Aug
On Monday evening I headed for Akhna Dam, with migrants passing in good numbers now many of the commoner passerines and waders were still present and nothing out of the ordinary was noted. On Tuesday again at Akhna a Greenshank and 2 Common Starlings were present, with the Long-legged Buzzard continuing its stay. 3 White-winged Black Terns flew through without stopping with the Glossy Ibises and Ruffs looking on.
Wednesday and at this time of year, I visit the Ayia Napa Sewage Works area. A female Black Francolin fed on the football pitches and 4 Lesser Grey Shrikes perched on the fences as I passed. Willow Warblers are increasing at the sewage works and at least 6 Eastern Orphean Warblers were present. Many Eastern Olivaceous Warblers were heard and seen and Shrike numbers are definitely on the up. A single Roller flushed as I walked and then a small flock of birds flew up from the ground with 1 perching in a nearby bush. Posing nicely, it was my first migrant Ortolan Bunting of the autumn. Later at Akhna Dam a large female Peregrine buzzed the not too impressed waders as a Long-legged Buzzard rose from its perch on the rocks. An immature Gull-billed Tern* rested in the water and a Kingfisher fished from a dead snag. Again Shrikes were ever present in good numbers and an identifiable Black-headed (feldegg) Wagtail was with the Yellow Wagtail flock. A Ringed Plover was with the Little Rings and a couple of Hoopoes fed in the grass.
On Thursday the routing visit to JUMBO resulted in a quick look at JUMBO Drain. Formerly a fantastic little spot, it was heartbreaking to see it dry with the reeds removed. Anyway, onto Oroklini Marsh where the White Pelican was back amongst the Flamingos, an immature Gull-billed Tern was resting on the mud with a good number of waders feeding around it, including 2 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Redshanks, a Greenshank, Little Stint , 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 27 Black-winged Stilts and c50 Spur-winged Plovers. 3 Wood Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper and a Yellow Wagtail were seen as 6 Garganey alighted. A Long-legged Buzzard soared in the distance. As I drove into Akhna Dam the Little Owl was back in its usual place after an absence of about a week. 3 Hoopoes flushed, a male Red-backed Shrike kept look out whilst 2 Rollers were also perched on dead tree snags. 3 Garganey were on the water with 10 Grey Herons and 3 Little Egrets, with a good number of Yellow Wagtails feeding in the scrub, however, waders were conspicuous by their absence except for the noisy 52 Spur-winged Plovers.
On Friday I travelled to Troodos for the Summer Ball, pausing at the Caledonian Falls where I saw a Grey Wagtail, Jay and several Cyprus Wheatears. On Saturday from the Mess balcony, a Crossbill, 5 Pallid Swifts, a Spotted Flycatcher and a few Cyprus Wheatears were seen. I was awoken in the early hours of the morning by a calling Scops Owl outside my room with another replying from a distance – a good August record.
On Sunday, Deb and I travelled back early pausing stopping at Oroklini Marsh, where a Spotted Redshank, Redshank and Marsh Sandpipers were the attractions and Greater Flamingo numbers had increased to 56. Later at Fresh Water Lake South (Famagusta), a Whiskered Tern passed by and I gained a good tick for the autumn with an Avocet feeding with the Black-winged Stilts. Waders were plenty with Collared Pratincoles, Spotted Redshanks, Redshanks, Ruffs, and Greenshanks all being present along with some commoner smaller waders. 3 Garganey and a female Shoveler were with 5 Greater Flamingos and in the reeds; Willow Warblers, Eastern Olivaceous and Cetti’s Warblers were all present before I headed home.
Highlights of the Week: The first Ortolan Buntings of the autumn was a good record as was 2 calling Scops Owls in Troodos but the bird of the week is an Avocet at Fresh Water Lake South (Famagusta).
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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