Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Weekly Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 20 Jan
Greater Sand Plover at Paphos Lighthouse 20 Jan 13
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
As is the norm, no birding on a Monday unfortunately. A combination of a “long day” and the light fading by 1700 ensures there is no time to get out until the clocks go forward. On walking to work on Tuesday, I first heard and then saw my first Serin of the year in full song from a conifer on camp.
With a Bittern being reported from Paralimni Lake, I headed off there in the afternoon. Impossible, a vast area with lots of suitable habitat and no Bittern – becoming a bit of an problem child this one. Anyway, 2 Great White Egrets, waders of a Dunlin and Kentish Plover persuasion and circa 600 White Wagtails with a flock of about a 1000 Starling, a single Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard was the sum total of my efforts.
As I walked to work on Wednesday a Blackcap was calling and then seen briefly in next door’s garden. I ventured over to the North in the afternoon. I firstly stopped at Gulserin Marsh where the 1st Winter Little Gull continued to fly around tern like plucking insects from the water. Also there was a nice adult Slender-billed Gull, several Armenians, Caspians and Yellow-leggeds with a lone adult Heuglini. An immature Marsh Harrier flushed the Teal, 4 Black-winged Stilts and 21 Spur-winged Plovers. A White Pelican flew overhead heading east toward Salamis. I progressed to Silver Beach Marsh where c400 Golden Plover rested but little else. A little later at Clapsides Beach, I looked at a single Curlew with a Grey Plover and flushed 2 Redshanks from a drainage channel. 2 adult Audouin’s Gulls were present along with good numbers of Armenians, Caspians and Yellow-leggeds, again Heuglins were present but in the minority. Finally, at Fresh Water Lake South, the immature White Pelican was still present with 3 Great White Egrets. 2 Kingfishers chased each other and as dusk was falling, as is their habit, 5 Night Herons revealed themselves calling with 1 being an adult. As I left the site a single Black Redstart perched in front of me.
So to Thursday and with a leaving lunch in the Mess I don’t give much for my birding chances in the afternoon.
On Saturday, I departed for Paphos via Akrotiri and saw a female type Reed Bunting at Phasouri Reed Beds and several Marsh Harriers, Buzzards and a ringtail Hen Harrier. I did flush a White-throated (Smyrna) Kingfisher which proved that at least 2 have over-wintered in the area. Later at Lady’s Mile, much the same but 2 Common Gulls were present and also an adult and 1st winter Slender-billed Gull*. I stayed in a hotel in Paphos and met Colin Richardson the recorder on Saturday. On Sunday, At Paphos Lighthouse, 4 Greater Sand Plovers*, 3 Turnstone* 2 Common Sandpipers and a wintering Whimbrel* was a good haul with 94 Golden Plovers adding to the occasion. We headed to Anarita Park a famed area for Finsch’s Wheatear. Rather worrying only 1 presumed old female or 1st winter male was present. The year has been odd with many wintering males appearing to have departed early or perished. Only 1 female at Marathounta hills the previous day confirmed this. However, large flocks of very early passage Serins were noted at the coast. In the hills the first Orchids of the year are appearing with Fan-lipped* and Giant* being the present.
For pictures of birds with a * please click on the following Flickr links:
- Turnstone at Paphos Lighthouse.
- 1st Winter Slender-billed Gull at Lady’s Mile.
- Griffon Vulture at Kensington Cliffs.
- Belated Marsh Harrier at Larnaca Sewage Works.
- Whimbrel at Paphos Lighthouse.
- Record shot – Little Gull at Gulserin Marsh.
Highlight of the Week: A White-throated Kingfisher at Phasouri Reed beds, a Whimbrel at Paphos Lighthouse and Finsch’s Wheatears as a year tick.
Other Interesting Finds: Especially for Tim Cowley, Fan-lipped Orchid (Ochris collina) & Giant Orchid (Barlia robertiana).
Look Forward: Migration has begun with the appearance of large flocks of Serins, hopefully next week will bring something interesting.
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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