Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 23 Dec
Common Gull at Lady's Mile Limassol - 22 Dec
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
Before returning home on Monday I went to a Dragonfly club meeting, as I am now a member. The rain was continuous during the journey home but broke as I approached Larnaca so I visited the Sewage Works area. Spiro’s Pool held 376 Golden Plovers, a male Black Francolin – the first of the month and I photographed a female Kestrel. The fields adjacent to the sewage works had the 8 White-fronted Geese feeding and in the lagoons an adult Mediterranean Gull and breeding plumaged Slender-billed Gull looking very pink. 2 Gadwalls, a Black-necked Grebe, Ferruginous Duck, 2 ringtail Hen Harriers and 8 Common Shelduck were also seen.
It’s Wednesday, you may ask “What happened to Tuesday – well, RAIN, and lots of it. It has now been raining for 2 days almost non stop. Not what you expect in Cyprus, but it has meant that with Christmas festivities and the weather no birding has been done. The longest period that I haven’t been able to get out for in just over 6 months. With the year drawing to an end, it’s a disaster! With the exchange drinks looming this afternoon, I don’t see much happening today either!
As an update, the year list stands at 221 (not bad), the Cyprus list has increased by 14 to 276 and the month list is now stalled on 108.
Thursday and more bloody Christmas! However, I got to the North and covered the wetland sites in Famagusta. The first stoppage of rain in 3 days. 5 Great White Egrets were present along with 21 Little Egrets, 359 Cattle Egrets coming to roost, 5 Grey Herons and 13 Night Herons including 5 immatures. The trees held 14 roosting Cormorants, 2 Kingfisher chased each other and the immature White Pelican was once again in residence. The fields behind the Lake saw a number of corvids chasing a female Merlin. A spectacular site of c4700 Starlings coming to roost in several large flocks was impressive. At Gulserin Marsh, the 6 Black-winged Stilts remained but little else was of much interest. A Moustached Warbler sang from the reeds and 2 Penduline Tits called.
Travelling to Larnaca for some prep and food etc I did manage a brief stop at Oroklini Marsh, where there wasn't much of interest. On Saturday I had arranged to meet the Recorder Colin Richardson at Bishop's Pool, Akrotiri. Arriving at about 0830, 7 Ferruginous Ducks* became obvious and a Water Rail swam on the far side of the pool. Chiffchaffs were everywhere and a couple of Grey Wagtails called and landed in front of us. A flash of blue which confirmed that the White-throated Kingfisher was still present and looks set to winter. A couple of Blackcaps sang and eventually Colin found the overwintering female Garganey.
We moved along to Lady's Mile to look for the Common Gull - a pretty rare gull in Cyprus. The marsh held Black-headed Gulls, 3 Slender-billed Gulls and several Armenian Gulls*. Eventually, on the sea by the taverna I picked out the only Common Gull* amongst the Black-headed Gulls. We went to Akrotiri Salt Lake where c12000 Greater Flamingos are now in residence, with Little Stints, Kentish Plovers, Shelducks, Pintails and 232 Grey Herons. Both Hen and Marsh Harriers were present and an immature Bonelli's Eagle soared in the distance.
I returned home via Larnaca Sewage Works. I photographed a few Redshanks* and a female Hen Harrier quartered the fields where 8 Greater White-fronted Geese fed. I scanned the lagoons and found 24 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall, 25 Wigeon, 3 Black-necked Grebes and then a real "shocker from the locker", A first winter Great Black-headed (Pallas') Gull*. Having seen them in India, I picked it out immediately noting the dark smudge behind the ear coverts, streaked neck, grey mantle and long droopy, yellow bill with a black tip. As it took off the black tail band was also very obvious. A managed a couple of flight record shots (heavily cropped), which show the relevant ID features. Result - species number 223 for the year.
On Sunday, we visited Oroklini once more having stopped at the market on route. The highlight being a Penduline Tit and Marsh Harrier although circa 70 Lapwings was the highest count yet. At the coast I photographed a Kingfisher* and on the mouring bouys 21 Shags loafed. The regular Stone Curlew roost held 104 individuals and the surrounding fields c50 Corn Bunting and about 25 Skylarks. Stopping briefly at Akhna Dam revealed a couple of Cormorants and 4 female type Tufted Ducks remained. After dropping the shopping off we headed to Paralimni Lake. Due to the excessive rain over the last week it is now completely flooded and the Egrets and Gulls have found it as did a Water Pipit. Usually dry for most of the year and attracting Steppe type species in the spring, I have never known it flood - well at least during my last tour - very impressive!
For pictures of birds with a * please click on the following Flickr links:
- Common Gull at Lady's Mile.
- Common Gull at Lady's Mile.
- Redshank at Larnaca Sewage Works.
- Great Black-headed Gull at Larnaca Sewage Works.
- Great Black-headed Gull at Larnaca Sewage Works.
- Slender-billed Gull at Larnaca Sewage Works.
- Armenian Gull at Lady's Mile.
Other Interesting Finds: 2 Migrant Hawkers at Lady's Mile and 4 late (2 in tandem), Red-veined Darters.
Highlight of the Week: The Common Gull at Lady's Mile and finding a 1st winter Great Black-headed Gull at Larnaca Sewage Works.
Look Forward: More of the same I think - RAIN and Gulls.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
Smithe15 | 9th Sep 2016 04:50 AM
Very informative blog post.Really thank you! Keep writing.