Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 6 Jan
Cyprus Warbler at Cape Greco Picnic Site on 3 Jan
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
The year started well with the 1st producing 76 species. Highlights were a drake Ruddy Shelduck at Larnaca Sewage Works along with 14 Black-necked Grebes. On the salt lake some 5000 Greater Flamingos and c300 Shelduck were present. At a newish site on the North West side of the lake, I flushed 4 Jack Snipe and c30+ Common Snipe, numerous Water Pipits, a couple of Bluethroats and a single Heuglin’s Gull were also present. In the airport fields a couple of Red-throated Pipit continued to over winter and a pair of Calandra Larks were a welcomed bonus. At Dhekelia Power Station 17 Shags sat on the mooring platforms and a Common Sandpiper was a surprise. In the North at Gulserin Marsh an adult Audouin’s Gull was a cracker together with an adult Armenian Gull, 6 Black-winged Stilts were a good January record.
The second bought a couple of Song Thrushes over Ay Nik but on a very dismal day, little else of any note was seen. On the 3rd a quick jolly around the Cape Greco area found me viewing a Grey Plover and another 2 Audouin’s Gulls at Kermia Beach whilst at Cape Greco itself I managed to photograph a male Cyprus Warbler* that was performing display flight and perching up well in the open. The commoner Sardinian and Spectacled silvias were also present. Under the cliff at the Army camp, 3 Blue Rock Thrushes were present and many Black Redstarts however, the hoped for Finsch’s Wheatear was absent which was a bit of a disappointment. At Ayia Napa sewage works a Long-legged Buzzard was a good find and an immature Bonelli’s Eagle drifted overhead, heading east. Later at Ayia Thekla the hoped for Greater Sand Plovers were present along with 15 Kentish Plovers.
At Fresh Water Lake South – Famagusta, 4 Great White Egrets continued their stay and an immature Night Heron showed itself. It is unusual for this species to over winter and is currently the only place on the island where they can be seen. A couple of Kingfishers and another Common Sandpiper added to the throng of c400 Cattle Egrets.
On Fri at Larnaca Sewage Works, I managed to pick up a few missing wildfowl including 2 Ferruginous Ducks, a single drake Pochard, and the remaining 8 White-fronted Geese. 9 Lapwing and a Black Redstart were welcomed along with 21 Wigeon. A male Black Francolin also called and showed itself briefly from atop a haystack. On the buoys at Spiro’s Beach 5 Shag and a Sandwich Tern. At the salt lake, I managed to locate 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls (the first for the year) and the Shelducks had increased to 530. To the north west of the lake the waders have increased with 17 Ringed Plovers, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Temminck’s and numerous Little Stints being present amongst the 200 or so Dunlins. At Oroklini Marsh a couple of Bluethroats, a Moustached Warbler and 2 Water Rails showed themselves and the Black-winged Stilts have increased to 6.
On Saturday we visited the north for a spot of lunch and some man love (sorry male grooming), at the Turkish barbers – always a joy, never a chore 20 Euros later and I felt like a new man. Well the same oldish one with a shave and a haircut. We found a new site at Clapsides Marsh – just east of Famagusta. It held c320 Golden Plovers and a surprise 32 Curlews, my first since returning to the island and not as easy as they used to be in the winter in the south. Also present was a lonely Grey Plover* that posed for the camera. I also found the gull roost at Clapsides Beach, so will be grilling a few gulls in the coming weeks. At Fresh Water Lake the immature White Pelican* has returned, it must surely be the same bird that was seen at Larnaca Sewage Works recently.
A brief outing on Sunday after an excellent lunch at a local restaurant found 3 very ugly mist nets in the village. Whoever said it was prevalent during migration periods is either misinformed or blissfully ignorant. It happens all year around, is indiscriminate and kills millions of birds! Later it was impressive to see c2000 Starlings performing before going to roost in the reeds at Akhna Dam.
So concluded week 1 of 2013. Thanks to all my readers for the positive feedback during 2012 and I hope to continue through 2013. Please let me know if you require additional information.
For pictures of birds with a * please click on the following Flickr links:
- Immature White Pelican at Fresh Water Lake South – Famagusta
- Grey Plover at Clapsides Marsh - Famagusta
- Red-crested Pochard at Oroklini Marsh
Highlight of the Week: A flock of 32 Curlews in the North was noteable.
Other Interesting Finds: I photographed a Pygmy Skipper at Cape Greco and realising this was unusual have had it confirmed as the first January record ever for the island.
Look Forward: The hunt is on for those winter visitors for the year list that will not be around for long. Traditionally, January is also the month to find an early Great Spotted Cuckoo or two.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
Roger Dickey | 7th Jan 2013 09:23 PM
Another great photo. Cyprus and Moustached are definitely on my list. Also good to know that the Red-throated Pipit will probably stay.
Robbie Wheeler | 7th Jan 2013 10:41 PM
Dear Mark, as a very amateur birdwatcher and regular visitor to Cyprus I enjoy your weekly blogs very much - a guide to what to look for when at Larnaca and pure enjoyment when at home here in Ealing.
Anyway we do have a small flock of waxwing showing well here for the past week - shame there is no sun!
Happy New Birding Year and keep up the good work.
All the best,
Rob.
Roger Dickey | 8th Jan 2013 08:59 PM
One of the warblers on the list, the other being moustached. Red-throated ill be good as well.