Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 16 Dec
Little Owl at White River Cliffs - Akamas
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
The week started slowly with the year total on 219 and the month total on 105. Numerous thunderstorms and heavy downpours have rendered many areas too muddy to explore and decidedly dodgy for vehicle access. Nonetheless, I attempted Akhna Dam on Tuesday afternoon before going shopping at the Bratwurst and sauerkraut centre of Cyprus – Lidl. The dam still held the 7 Tufted Ducks and a Great Crested Grebe accompanied by 8 Cormorants but there was little else apart from 2 Long-legged Buzzards. An evening outing looking for Barn Owls was unproductive in Dhekelia. There are many disused ex-military storage buildings that are becoming derelict which are obviously to the Owls’ liking and whilst every non-birder on the unit sees them and enjoy “gripping me off”, I seem to be unable to – typical.
On Wednesday morning a Sparrowhawk flew past the kitchen window as I ate my banana and toast. The first of the twice weekly visits to the North took place on Wednesday afternoon. At Fresh Water Lake South the usual Herons, but a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail provide a flash of colour. I was surprised by a summer plumaged adult Whiskered Tern which was very unseasonal as it perched on submerged twigs in the lake. As I was leaving I saw a strange bird in flight but distant. I got my bins on it and immediately thought Sandgrouse. It was flying toward the area known as the Meseoria Plain in the North, and although in decline for sometime, that area is the most likely for the species. More of a gut feeling that it was a Sandgrouse, I have not formally submitted the record as the question “Are you a 100% sure”, must be a no. The small muddy fringe had a feeding Snipe and the first Common Sandpiper of the month.
Onward to Gulserin (Neopollis Pond). Here, 14 Greater Flamingos, containing 4 immatures, 7 Dunlins, 6 Black-winged Stilts continue and the usual Redshanks and Spur-winged Plovers. The small reed bed appeared to be very busy so I overlooked it for 10 minutes adding a male Bluethroat, cyanecula (white-spotted), a singing Moustached Warbler, an extravert Cetti’s Warbler and a real delight atop a reed head – a feeding Penduline Tit. With the light fading and no encounters with the local law enforcement agencies, I decided to quit whilst I was ahead and take Deb to buy some Christmas Tree decorations in an attempt to subdue her passion for the festive period – It was unsuccessful, although we now have additional “things” hanging from the tree.
Thursday, Akhna Dam, not much doing; It was all about the numbers of birds roosting with 264 Cattle Egrets, 12 Cormorants, c50 White Wagtails and c170 Starlings being harassed by a Long-legged Buzzard. The Great Crested Grebe remained, 2 Moustached Warblers were in the usual reed bed and later a female Reed Bunting paused briefly before roosting elsewhere. A Little Owl was seen in Ay Nik and that concluded the day.
We travelled to Paphos for a long weekend to celebrate Deb’s birthday. On Saturday I ventured to Paphos Headland seeing several Linnets – not easy in the East of the island, 4 Greater Sand Plovers and 16 Golden Plovers. I then met Colin Richardson and at his house had my first 2 Siskins of the year. We visited the hills above his house finding a male Finsch’s Wheatear, male Peregrine, 3 Long-legged Buzzard, a Little Owl and 24 Wood Lark. On the way to Armou Hills and Village we saw a female Blue Rock Thrush. The Hills above Armou held little but a ringtail Hen Harrier did make an appearance. We stopped in the village to see more Siskins and then a good number of Hawfinches appeared with at least 10 being present. As we watched them atop a tree 8 large soaring birds came into view. Obviously Pelicans but with a plain underwing, they could be nothing else apart from Dalmatians – a very rare bird in Cyprus.
On Sunday, we went to Avgas Gorge and White River Cliffs in an attempt to nail a Wallcreeper that proved unsuccessful. In attempting to find one we saw a lovely Little Owl*, Common Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawks, an immature White Pelican, 3 Blackcaps, numerous Sardinian Warblers and Chiffchaffs, 7 Golden Plovers and an out of place Cattle Egret.
For pictures of birds with a * please click on the following Flickr links:
- Yellow-legged Gull at Coral Bay.
- Yellow-legged Gull in flight at Coral Bay.
- Female Kestrel at Spiro’s Beach.
- White-fronted Geese at Larnaca Sewage Works.
Other Interesting Finds:
Highlight of the Week: A mountain Goat in Avgas Gorge*.
Look Forward: With Xmas coming and a very busy period approaching, I don’t expect to be doing much birding but I have a Saturday trip to the Akrotiri area planned, to sweep up a few year ticks hopefully..
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
Jim P | 20th Dec 2012 07:25 PM
Very good Mark and keep them coming. Best wishes for Christmas and New Year to you and Debs (consider this my frugal way of sending you a card!). JP