Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 11 Jan 15
Bittern at Phasouri Reed Beds on 9 Jan.
Nightmare! A massive weather system fell over Cyprus for the first 3 days of the week making getting out very difficult. As I’m getting soft and becoming a fair weather birder, I was unable to get out much in the first half of the week. On Tuesday in between down pours, I got to Paralimni Lake for the first time in at least 6 months. After the recent storms, the lake was the fullest I’ve ever seen it with c50 Greater Flamingos taking up residence. A Grey Heron and at least 6 Little Egrets were present. Not an easy site to observe due to distances, it’s necessary to view from a number of areas involving driving around the 10 mile site. As I observed a pair of smaller gulls hawking the water proved to be the first Little Gulls of the year obviously blown in from the sea in the fairly violent (for Cyprus) storm. A Marsh Harrier disturbed the waders and a Kingfisher flew in front of me from the tamarisks surrounding the lake. As I observed the waders, Kentish Plovers were in the majority but as I scanned 3 Greater Sand Plovers and 2 Grey Plovers were present and they had also obviously come in from the coast to avoid the weather. 2 Ringed Plovers and a lone Redshank were also seen before I departed for home.
With news that Koprulu in the north was full of water, I visited on Wednesday afternoon. On route I stopped briefly on the road at Guvercinlik to view a very large flock of Skylarks and Calandra Larks. The site looks excellent and if managed will become a significant wetland. 23 Pochards were present with a couple of Shelducks and hundreds of Shovelers, Mallards and Teal. A single female Marsh Harrier hawked the bund line and at least 45 Greater Flamingos were feeding. As I scanned I scoped 143 Lapwings and with them was a single Golden Plover. As I left the site I scoped a huge mixed flock of Skylarks and Corn Buntings that contained at least 7 Calandra Larks. A beautiful male Hen Harrier flushed them as I watched. I continued to Fresh Water Lake South, where a Great White Egret remained along with 3 Ferruginous Ducks. Cattle Egrets and Cormorants gathered for the roost and at 1645 as the light was fading the over-wintering pair of Glossy Ibises flew into join the Cattle Egrets. Circa 5000 Starlings made a remarkable “Whhhooosshhh” as they flew to roost and with the light finally disappearing I retired for the day.
So it was Thursday soon enough and needing some shopping I stopped at Paralimni Lake which is actually full of water and looking pretty good. A Great White Egret was present along with commoner Grey Herons and Little Egrets and at least 45 Lapwings were quite vocal. 2 Marsh Harriers flushed some waders but they were too far away to identify but it did alert me to the presence of an adult Common Crane which had been previously reported. As it was getting dark I returned home.
Friday and I had to take Deb to the clinic in Limassol which allowed for a long weekend in Paphos and some birding en route. 3 female type Reed Buntings were at Zakaki Marsh which was a year tick but the Striated Heron remained unseen and is becoming more difficult to see as its stay continues. A Moustached Warbler and Chiffchaff were also seen before departing. Onto Phassouri Reed Beds after a Cyprus Sandwich for lunch. At Phassouri a pair of Common Buzzards were new arrivals and a Song Thrush flushed from the reeds. A Kingfisher fished in the now fairly large pools and a 2nd or 3rd year sub-adult Bonelli’s Eagle was mobbed by the small Buzzards in comparison. We departed along the back road for Episkopi but not before I had nearly run over a Bittern* running along the road and pausing to adopt an outstretched neck posture as if it was in the reed bed. I had heard several people say they’d seen a Bittern along the road but I never thought I’d actually see it for myself. With it clearly confused and posing for the camera – churlish no to, I grabbed a couple of shots through the windscreen and under the circumstances they came out pretty well. Regaining its sense, it soon flew over the reeds and landed deep within. At Kensington Cliffs another Buzzard hung in the wind and 2 Griffon Vultures drifted by. With the year tick in the bag I journeyed to Asprokremnos Dam in the hope of seeing a Great Crested Grebe that had been previously reported. No Grebe but a spectacular booby prize with 21 Ruddy Shelducks newly arrived in the storms. I phoned Colin Richardson immediately who went to see the large flock of ducks, which proved to be a good decision on his part. Prior to booking into the hotel the only bird of interest at Paphos Headland was a Common Sandpiper and at Kalafos Beach a Kingfisher was present.
On Saturday, I did a quick walk along the Paphos Headland turning up 2 Greater Sand Plovers and 61 Golden Plovers and a Common Buzzard flew past heading west, but nothing else. I met Colin Richardson for a day out, quickly adding 30+ Hawfinches, which was a good count and good numbers of Wood Larks in the Armou Village and Hills area. There had obviously been an influx of Serins, Common Buzzards and Song Thrushes were present in large numbers. As we drove through Episkopi in the Ezouzas Valley, we stopped at a rock face and heard and saw a singing male Blue Rock Thrush and a male Peregrine. Onward to a wooded area overlooking a water course and with a little encouragement 3 Siskins (a male and 2 females were observed). In the Marathounta Hills area more of the same with 3 Hawfinches drinking at a puddle and the addition of a cracking male Finsch’s Wheatear. I had lunch with Colin and visited Asprokremnos Dam once more. It was a good job Colin had gone to see the Ruddy Shelducks yesterday as they had left the site. I did catch up with the Great Crested Grebe and 2 beautiful ghost like male Hen Harriers hawked the fields above the dam. Stopping at Kalafos Beach, Paphos once more I eventually caught up with a lone Turnstone, perhaps the only one on the island at present. 2 Shags flew by and at least 10 Yellow-legged Gulls drifted past on the way to roost, which ended the day.
We travelled back from Paphos on Sunday stopping along the way. With nothing doing in the Paphos area I proceeded to Zakaki Marsh. Pulling up at the white railings – there it was, the Striated Heron*. A year tick, but now playing hard to get and not seen as frequently as it used to be. A Kingfisher zipped by but it was the gull roost that occupied most of my time. Amongst the Black-headed Gulls, were good numbers of Armenian Gulls* of different ages. On to Finikaria, a seldom visited site but a place where resident Crag Martins routinely feed in the winter. When conditions are harsh in the mountains, they descend to more favourable altitudes to feed. With snow falling in the Troodos range today was no exception and 3 of this difficult to find resident were hawking over the Germasogia Dam. There was little else here, so I drove to the Larnaca area. On the sewage works the target bird was found in the form of 10 Greater White-fronted Geese. A Black-necked Grebe was present and good numbers of gulls but nothing to write home about. Another Black-necked Grebe was at Oroklini with 24 Flamingos and the usual commoner wildfowl. We stopped at Dolphin Rocks – Oroklini for a coffee and I photographed an adult Mediterranean Gull* and my first Sandwich Tern* that I’ve been able to get close enough to. 3 adult Armenian Gulls were also loafing as we departed. A brief final stop at Akhna Dam brought a Great White Egret and another Common Buzzard. Unfortunately, the mindless hunters were out – although shooting Song Thrushes, Corn Buntings and Skylarks and allowing them to drop in the water and reed bed has little to do with hunting to my mind and is just stupid, narrow minded destruction and killing for the sake of it. But a Cypriot would say I am uncultured and untraditional – they really do make me sick!
Highlights of the Week: A couple of Little Gulls and Koprulu returning to its former 2013 glory: as it was dry last year. However, actually seeing the Bittern in the road was a great moment. In a week of good birds 21 Ruddy Shelducks and 30+ Hawfinches are also worthy of mention.
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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