Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 16 Nov 14
Wallcreeper at Avagas George
On Monday, as usual in the winter, I was unable to get out before it got dark – now at about 1630. On 11th a Black Redstart was around the quarter area with a female Stonechat. On Wednesday, I made it to Akhna Dam. A sizeable flock of about 170 Corn Buntings were on wires over the fields and a little further along a mixed flock of finches held about 20 Serins. 7 Little Stints, a Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover were on the lagoon and several Water Pipits were on the mud. A Dunlin flew in and joined the Stints and a lone Starling flew into the reeds.
On Thursday I visited Fresh Water Lake South in Famagusta. 21 Cormorants were flying around and 8 Greater Flamingos remained but were outnumbered by Grey Herons. 6 Ruff were unseasonal as was a Spotted Redshank. Kingfishers were active and a Green and Common Sandpiper were flushed by a young Marsh Harrier which caught and ate a Moorhen. The female Pintail showed briefly and 18 Starlings flew to roost as a Great White Egret and 2 Glossy Ibises joined the healthy Cattle Egret roost. A Water Rail was heard and a Black Redstart posed on a reed with a Great Tit. Finally, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls flew high above heading south.
On Saturday, I visited Larnaca Sewage Works for the first time in several weeks. As I drove the access track 8 Greater White-fronted Geese flushed from the fields – the first of the winter. On the lagoons, 2 Black-necked Grebes were with the Little Grebes and a drake Widgeon fed amongst the Teal. 2 Lapwings were on the water’s edge, with 9 Caspian Gulls on the separator and on the buoys at Spiros, 3 Shags loafed. On the airport fields my first Meadow Pipits of the winter flushed and a sizeable flock of Spanish Sparrows sat in a lone bush. At Pervolia Skylarks were in good voice with a mixture of Meadow and Red-throated Pipits. As I drove to pick Deb up from Larnaca, 14 Redshanks were on the South Airport Pool and c450 Greater Flamingos were on the main salt lake. Scanning through the 400 or so Black-headed Gulls revealed the presence of 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls. 8 Greater Flamingos were on Oroklini Marsh with 2 Redshanks, 1 adult Little Ringed Plover, a Temminck’s Stint, 6 Lapwings, 24 Spur-winged Plovers and a Water Pipit. Also amongst the c170 Black-headed Gulls was a single 1st winter Mediterranean Gull. A Bluethroat was heard and a Chiffchaff was seen. As I passed Dhekelia Fire Station only 9 Stone Curlews were on the fallow rocky field. At Akhna Dam a Great White Egret was the highlight, although 2 more Dunlins and a Temminck’s Stint were also present. Water and Meadow Pipits were numerous and a Linnet was a surprise bird for the site.
On Sunday I ventured over the north and firstly stopped at Neopolis (Gulserin) Pond, which now has some water in it. 2 Dunlins, 6 Spur-winged Plovers, a Redshank, 7 Little Ringed Plovers and 39 Greater Flamingos were present and another Bluethroat was heard but not seen. At Clapsides Beach, 2 Redshanks were on the marsh, whilst on the rocky outcrop 2 Grey Plovers were with 8 Kentish Plovers and a Little Egret. 4 Audouin’s Gulls (3 adults and a 1st winter) flew in and rested on the rocks as I watched. At Silverbeach a Green Sandpiper was the highlight with a few Meadow Pipits flying around. I looked at Fresh Water Lake North which looks like a great site but access and viewing is difficult. Despite that I found a Grey Wagtail and a Green Sandpiper with 2 Snipe and on the lagoon, 7 Black-winged Stilts were with a Great White Egret. 5 Greater Flamingos were also present and a Chiffchaff was heard singing. Further investigation of the site could prove fruitful this winter. At Fresh Water Lake South, 8 Greater Flamingos were present with some commoner herons, 2 Redshanks and a Common Sandpiper. A Water Rail was heard along with a Bluethroat and a Robin showed well. 26 Cormorants roosted in the eucalyptus and 74 Spur-winged Plovers were on the muddy patches. 8 Night Herons roosted in their usual place consisting of 5 adults and 3 1st calendar years. As I drove through the quarter area, a Black Redstart and a surprisingly misplaced Grey Wagtail flushed.
Highlights of the Week: The first sighting of wintering Greater White-fronted Geese is always a good find.
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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