Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 13 Jan
Female Pied Kingfisher at Lady’s Mile on 13 Jan.
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
Tuesday the 8th was a fairly dull, cold and boring day at Larnaca Sewage Works – yes, we even have them in Cyprus! A couple of Marsh Harriers were present with the usual wildfowl. At the salt lake the highlight was a ringtail Hen Harrier and 2 Slender-billed Gulls consorting with the commoner Black-headeds. They were the first of the year so took the year list to 100.
With the weather becoming very cold and windy (I know, I must be getting soft – well, cold by Cyprus standards) and the car in the garage for a timing belt change, no serious birding was done in the middle of the week.
Saturday was the first day I was able to get out. I made for the Larnaca area and passing the hide headed for the airport fields. As I passed Spiro’s Beach I noticed 4 Sandwich Terns, in itself notable. A darkish bird was following and I new immediately it was a Skua. As it passed the wing flashes were noticeable and as it got blown inland it looked quite large. My thoughts turned to Pomerine Skua. However, after much deliberation and ID assistance from Tim Cowley et al, it was decided that it was an Arctic Skua*. When birds are seen out of context and closer than you’re used to, ID issues that are not normally experienced have to be dealt with.
The remainder of the area produced little except for a Red-throated Pipit and the usual waterfowl at the sewage works. A male Tufted Duck was the highlight and on the salt lake a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull. On the north west side of the lake, I flushed 6 Jack Snipe, several Water Pipits and viewed a large gathering of waders although nothing exceptional was present. I did however, manage to get a not bad shot of a female Hen Harrier* which was a bonus.
On Sunday, I headed for the Limassol area to look for a few species that had been reported. The Common Gull* was absent although showed later in the day along with Armenians and Caspians. I also photographed a strange looking gull that is still under review. It could represent a first for Cyprus in the form of a Steppe Gull (barabensis). I initially posted it on the Gulls of the World facebook page, and a Danish gull, guru came back and said he thought it was a Siberian (heuglini) or Steppe Gull. I have sent it to a few others and await their replies, as I am fairly confident that it isn’t a Siberian Gull. In any event resolution was fairly quick, either it's a 3rd winter Michahellis (Yellow-legged Gull) or a 4th/5 CY Cachinans (Caspian Gull). So, even the experts find it difficult which is reassuring.
A good Cypriot birder, Marios Konnos alerted me to the presence of the Pied Kingfisher*, a female that I managed to photograph. Later at Bishops Pool a male Blackcap, a couple of female Pochards and a Moustached Warbler with 7 drake Ferruginous Ducks kept things interesting. As I drove along the salt lake I saw a flock of 23 Woodlarks which kept the year list ticking over. With no Bittern and only a heard Penduline Tit at Phasouri Reed Beds the year list stalled at 108.
I returned home via Moni Beach in an attempt to see an early Orchid which I failed to locate, although did see a couple of Sardinian Warblers and Song Thrush. So what started as a fairly dismal week all round ended in some good sightings – persistence is key.
For pictures of birds with a * please click on the following Flickr links:
- Arctic Skua at Spiro’s Beach
- Pied Kingfisher at Lady’s Mile
- Armenian Gull at Lady’s Mile
- Common Gull at Lady’s Mile
- Hen Harrier at Larnaca Salt Lake
- Starling at Oroklini Marsh
- 3 CY Yellow-legged Gull or 4/5 CY Caspian Gull at Ladies Mile
- 3 CY Yellow-legged Gull or 4/5 CY Caspian Gull in flight at Ladies Mile
Highlight of the Week: Finding an Arctic Skua at Spiro’s Beach on Saturday. Although not as rare as a Pomerine Skua, it’s still only the 17th record for Cyprus.
Look Forward: The weather has held up any possible migration which allows more time to search for wintering species.
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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