Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 28 Dec 14
This report covers 2 week’s worth of activity. With Christmas upon me, birding was limited. On Mon 22nd, I had been informed that a Great Black-headed Gull had been found the previous day in the Larnaca area. I set off in search and as I approached the airport’s south pool, a lone good stood motionless. Quickly scoping it with no other gulls in sight at the time – there it was a 1st winter Great Black-headed Gull* – result and taking the year list to 262 (with Mentries’ Warbler pending). Circa 180 Greater Flamingos were in the area as were a good number of Black-headed Gulls. At the sewage works a female Tufted Duck was the highlight and the 8 Greater White-fronted Geese were still present. About 30 Skylarks were flying around and a lone Red-throated Pipit called as it passed overhead. On Spiro’s Pool 9 Dunlins were in the company of a Little Stint and a male and female Black Francolin were seen. A Sandwich Tern flew by over the sea. With nothing else doing, I looked at the star of the day before proceeding to Dolphin Rocks, Oroklini where 2 adult Armenian Gulls were with a couple of 1st winter Caspians and good numbers of Black-headed Gulls.
On Tuesday I ventured over the to the north and managed to see a Water Rail, rather than just hearing one.. 41 Spur-winged Plovers were present and the 2 Glossy Ibises continued to roost with the numerous Cattle Egrets. A single drake Ferrruginous Duck wasn’t obvious but a Great White Egret was. A Kingfisher flitted around as did a Great Tit and the Starlings flying to roost numbered a staggering (for Cyprus) c8000. Earlier at Oroklini Marsh, a pair of Red-crested Pochards were new arrivals and a pair of Marsh Harriers flushed the numerous wildfowl 80 or so of which were Shovelers. 39 Greater Flamingos remained in situ but there were few passerines to speak ot.
I ventured over to the north again on Christmas Eve and on Gulserin Pond (now very wet) 142 Greater Flamingos were present with c450 Teal. An adult Armenian Gull was with the Black-headed Gulls and 6 Shelducks were unusual for the site. 14 Spur-winged Plovers rested on the exposed mud and 2 Bluethroats hopped in and out of the reed beds. 2 Black-winged Stilts were inconspicuous before I moved along to Clapsides Beach. In the surf, a Curlew waded and on the rocks a single Cormorant rested. Gulls were present in good numbers with 12 adult Armenians and 2 1st winters along with 4 Caspian Gulls. Silver Beach held another 2 Curlews with 4 Redshanks, 7 Golden Plovers, 4 Lapwings a Green Sandpiper and a Grey Heron. Finishing at Fresh Water Lake South brought a drake Pochard which was unusual with 4 Ferruginous Ducks 3 Night Herons were present (1 Adult and 2 1st calendar years). That was it until the 28th when driving past Dasaki Achnas c70 Stone Curlews alighted from the roadside fields. Reaching Larnaca, there was no sign of the Great Black-headed Gull but an adult Siberian (Heuglin’s) Gull was present with Armenians, Caspians and Yellow-legged. At Larnaca Sewage Works, 4 Black-necked Grebes were near 4 Wigeon and the only other bird of note was a forlorn looking Cormorant. On Spiro’s Pool c300 Golden Plovers were present with a couple of smaller waders. The Kittiwake* was still present at Larnaca, McKenzie Beach Marina along with an adult Armenian Gull.
Returning home, the drake Red-crested Pochard was still at Oroklini Marsh and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was also present. A drake Pintail is always an impressive sight and a lone Black-winged Stilt looked lost. I finished off at Fresh Water Lake South where 3 Green Sandpipers were the highlight with 3 Great White Egrets coming second. Counting the roost consisted of c435 Cattle Egrets harassed by 2 Marsh Harriers and a remarkable c9000 – 9500 Starlings. The 2 Glossy Ibises made a late appearance and that was it for the year.
On the 29th I flew to Istanbul for the New Year and returned on 2nd Jan 2015. The birds were much the same as my previous visit but I did add a Sparrowhawk and manage to get Alexandrine Parakeet on my 2014 and 15 year lists prior to my departure. Against my better judgement, I went for a Turkish Bath in Istanbul and to be honest felt dirtier than when I went in, not to mention defiled and violated – enough said but when dressed in a VERY SMALL wrap and with a not particularly good looking chap brushing your scrotum as he massaged my thighs, all was not well in my rose garden and I continue to have nightmares and flashbacks. It is no laughing matter and not a good way to start the year!
Back to Cyprus and on the 3rd I was determined to start the year list and ended on 62 species for the day. Ayias Trias had a single Greater Sand Plover and 5 Grey Plovers whilst at Cape Greco the highlights were 2 male Blue Rock Thrushes and a female (dark throated) Finsch’s Wheatear. An adult Audouin’s Gull and Common Kingfisher were at Kermia Beach whilst 2 Common Sandpipers were on the lagoons at Ayia Napa Sewage Works. Another female Finsch’s Wheatear was along a line a rocks towards Ayia Napa Football Pitches and at Ayia Thekla a Dunlin was with Kentish Plovers and a Common Sandpiper. The Spanish Sparrows appeared on cue and a small flock of Linnets was a surprise. In the afternoon in the north at Gulserin an out of place Wood Sandpiper was a bonus with some more expected waders although the Black-winged Stilts had increased to 6. At Silver Beach a Curlew was an addition to the list as was a Spotted Redshank with 8 Common Redshanks. A quick stop at Fresh Water Lake North added wildfowl including Pintails, Wigeons, Gadwalls and Mallards. At the south lake the Glossy Ibises and Night Herons let me down for the new year but a Great White Egret, Marsh Harriers, a male Peregrine and a lone drake Ferruginous Duck had read the script.
On the 4th the day before returning to work (deep joy) I went to Larnaca and onward to the Limassol area. A 1st winter Med Gull was at Oroklini with 49 Lapwings, 2 Water Pipits, 2 Black-winged Stilts and a male Bluethroat. At Larnaca Sewage Works I added Black-necked Grebe and 3 Tufted Ducks (2 drakes) and on Spiro’s Pool Golden Plovers and a very surprising Avocet. At least 4 Black Francolins called but could not be located in the thick vegetation and off shore on a buoy 2 Shags loafed. Circa 80 more Golden Plovers were in the airport fields and a single Curlew flew over. Next stop Phassouri Reed Beds. I was greeted with a female Blackcap and 2 Marsh Harriers over the reed bed. A Water Rail showed well and a couple of Water Pipits flushed calling. Snipe and Kingfisher alighted as I walked the reed bed and a Common Buzzard landed in a tree (they have not been that numerous this winter – so a good bird). A Moustached Warbler took a bit of patience but it eventually gave itself up briefly. Armenian and Black-headed Gulls were at Lady’s Mile with a single adult Slender-billed Gull being amongst them. Akhna Dam offered little on the way home but a ringtail Hen Harrier was a welcome addition to the list. Finally stopping at Vrysoulles the Little Owl was sitting in its usual roosting hole and another Buzzard flew form a nearby tree bringing the year list to 90.
Great Black-headed Gull at Larnaca Airport Pool South on 22 Dec
Highlights of the Week: A last minute addition to the Cyprus year list with a 1st winter Great Black-headed Gull at Larnaca Airport Pool South.
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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