Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 2 Dec
Male Crossbill at Troodos Village
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
On Tuesday, I needed to visit Troodos for an operational visit which allowed me a little time to look at Troodos Village and Prodromos Dam. At the dam the usual mountain suspects were present; Coal Tits, Short-toed Treecreepers, Great Tits, Wren and Crossbills. A pair of Goldcrests was a surprise but they are after all winter visitors. In the village, more Crossbills* and a male Blackbird. I then visited the Giant Juniper Picnic Site, where 4 Song Thrushes took to the wing, another Wren sang and a Jay made its way through the conifers. Perhaps the biggest surprise was a Hawfinch in flight.
Wednesday afternoon saw me visiting the North once more for a spot of birding and a pizza – half the price of the South! At the Fresh Water Lake in Famagusta the juvenile White Pelican looks settled. A Snipe was digging around in the mud, a Cormorant fished and a Little Egret loafed but little else was present. At Gulserin Marsh on the other side of town (for political reasons you may also find this referred to as Neopolis Pond), 121 Greater Flamingos had arrived. The Black-tailed Godwit was back, the Wood Sandpipers have increased to 5 and the Spotted Redshanks 3 amongst the commoner Redshanks that numbered 88. I flushed a Water Pipit from the water’s edge and located a Moustached Warbler by call eventually. A single Ruff and Snipe with 83 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Armenian Gulls completed the tally.
Akhna Dam on Thursday produced a couple of Bluethroats one of the cyanecula (white spot) form, 9 Cormorants and my first female Reed Bunting of the campaign. A female Sparrowhawk chased the Chiffchaffs, a male Black Redstart caught flies and a Moustached Warbler called from the reeds and showed itself whilst the Reed Bunting looked on. On the coast at Ormidia, I caught up with another year tick as a pair of Sandwhich Terns plunged dived and headed East. A Kingfisher sat on the rocks and further out 3 Shags sat on the mooring platforms.
In the afternoon a drive around Ayia Napa Football Pitches saw 5 Meadow Pipits feeding on the grass and a large number of Stonechats but little else. The Ayia Napa Sewage Works complex was a little more interesting with a Sardinian Wabler, Song Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush and Black Redstart. Driving from the football pitches to the sewage works around the back tracks, I came across what must be a first winter male Finsch’s Wheatear. Females do not normally winter on the island. This bird has now been present since the 2nd week in October, so must be wintering although it can be elusive. Described in many field guides as a shy and retiring species – it’s not surprising really is it?
The month ended with 532 records being submitted detailing 123 species. The year list has increased to 215 and the Cyprus list to 277.
A field trip with Birdlife Cyprus to the Troodos area produced some interesting sightings on Saturday. Deb and I stayed at the station overnight to avoid the very early start and drive to the mountains from Ay Nik. At Giant Juniper Picnic Site numerous Blackbirds and Song Thrushes and 2 Hawfinches. The mountains contained the usual mountain species but few of the expected winter specialities. Crossbills were very vocal throughout the range and 2 Grey Wagtails* were at Prodomos Dam.
On Sunday we returned via Larnaca where the Sewage Works revealed an adult Mediterranean, Armenian and Caspian Gulls. The White-fronted Gesse have increased to 8, Wigeon 19 and a surprise Greenshank. On Spiro's Pool, the Golden Plover flock has increased to 149 and the usual Skylarks and Fan-tailed Warblers were present. Retuning via Akhna Dam, I saw the 7 Fem/Juv Tufted Ducks that had been reported and a single Cormorant was also prsent. Returning home to pick up the passports to visit the sites in the North, we passed a female Hen Harrier at Avgorou.
In the North the Famagusta Fresh Water Lake had 2 immature Night Herons, 2 Great White Egrets, 7 Cattle Egrets and 2 Little Egrets. 32 Spur-winged Plovers and a Cormorant were present but not a lot else. At Gulserin Marsh on the other side of town, a different story. The immature White Pelican* had relocated and was joined by 63 Greater Flamingos*. The marsh held many waders including Temminck's Stints, Black-winged Stilts, Redshanks, Spur-winged Plovers and single Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank and Dunlin with 6 Snipe skulking in the undergrowth.
The week drew to a close with an Iskender Kebab at our newly found favourite Turkish restaurant.
For pictures of birds with a * please click on the following Flickr links:
- Male Crossbill at Troodos Village
- Immature White Pelican at Gulserin Marsh
- Greater Flamingo at Gulserin Marsh
- Grey Wagtail at Prodomos Dam
- Goldfinch at Larnaca Salt Lake
Highlight of the Week: A Hawfinch and Goldcrests in Troodos and remarkably the female Reed Bunting at Akhna Dam.
Look Forward: Wallcreepers have been reported at the other end of the island so I’m going to try and catch up with one as it’s a new Cyprus bird.
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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