Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 10 Feb
Female Reed Bunting at Akhna Dam 9 Feb - not an easy wintering species to see
Monday hailed our second day in Paphos and we started on the Headland after being met by Colin Richardson. , with the current recorder and the previous recorder, John Sanders, surely the day would be productive? The usual suspects were present including 3 Greater Sand Plovers, 2 Tunstone and 51 Golden Plover. We moved onto Paphos Sewage Works where a couple of Spur-winged Plovers and many Serins were present. A Hen Harrier and Common Buzzard skirted the area. There seems to be a larger number of Buzzards present throughout the island this winter. Ayia Varvara brought a bit of a surprise when I found the first Wryneck of the year and a male Finsch’s Wheatear is always a pleasure to see, a first winter male / female was also present. Numerous Woodlarks flew above us and a Cyprus Warbler showed briefly. Anarita Park held no Wheatears but John found a nice male Blue Rock Thrush high up above the valley floor. Mandria was alive with Skylarks and Linnets but sadly no early migrants. We finished the day at Armou village where at least 10 Hawfinces were present along with another good year tick – 5 Siskins including 2 showy males.
On our return east on Tuesday we stopped at Kensington Cliffs and found the target quite quickly as 2 Griffon Vultures soared in the distance. The species has taken a dramatic decline on Cyprus due to poisoning and there appears to be a reintroduction programme underway but unless behaviours and attitudes change (unlikely) those birds are also being sentenced to a horrible death. Anyway, onwards to Phasouri but despite extensive searching – no Bittern. A couple of Snipe flushed and several Marsh Harriers and Buzzards were over the reed bed. At the back of the reed bed amongst the antenna field, the immature Bonelli’s Eagle continued its stay and we flushed a single Curlew, a ringtail Hen Harrier also surveyed the area. Once more at Bishops Pool the Smyrna Kingfisher was seen along with a Hen Harrier and 2 female Pochards. The Orchid glade gave an opportunity to get some more photos before proceeding to the Larnaca area.
Larnaca Sewage Works produced a pair of Gadwalls, 6 Black-necked Grebes and a pair of Red-throated Pipits eventually gave themselves up as they called. A Baltic Gull was a welcomed surprise amongst the commoner Armenians and Caspians. A single Shag was atop the buoy at Spiros Beach so we proceeded to Oroklini. Dropping the girls at the now famous Jumbo was an inspired idea as we headed off to the marsh via “Dolphin” Rocks on the Larnaca Sea Front. A collection of gulls produced a couple of adult Armenians and 2 Sandwich Terns flew offshore. At Oroklini we added a Water Rail, with a beautiful Audouin’s Gull also staying for a while as it washed. 2 Bluethroats were the first for the week but little else was unusual.
Wednesday was a very rainy affair and indeed the only rains of John and Val’s week which was very lucky for this time of year. We headed to Akhna Dam initially and fortunately I immediately heard and then we saw the target species – a male Penduline Tit. Onward to Paralimni Lake where the highlight was 5 early House Martins and in the Ayia Napa Sewage Works Area, an early Quail – migration had begun! Cape Greco produced very little but 3 Blue Rock Thrushes and several Black Redstarts were nice to see.
In the afternoon we headed for the Famagusta area adding 2 Grey Plover, and 13 Stone Curlew to the list which were strangely standing on the beach at Clapsides. 2 Turnstones were also present and at Silver Beach we added a single Little Stint with a Lapwing sleeping which turned into a bit of a mystery bird competition. On returning to Gulserin before buying some excellent freshly baked rolls for tomorrow’s packed lunch we saw 16 Greater Flamingo which has been unusual this winter.
On Thursday we headed to the North to visit Bellapais Abbey and St Hillarion Castle. That achieved on our return we managed to find Kouklia Reservoir or Kuprulu Dam. This fantastic wetland is one of the oldest dams on the island but is usually dry. This year it’s a fantastic wetland site. During our stay there we saw c4000 Shovellers, c5000 Teals, 11 Wigeon, 15 Pochards, a few Shelduck, a female Red-crested Pochard, 10 Ferruginous Ducks , 3 Black-necked Grebes – one beginning to show breeding plumage, at least 7 Marsh Harriers, 2 Hen Harriers (a male and female) and several Common Buzzards. The final new bird of the day was a female Sparrowhawk. We returned home via the Pergamos crossing (you can come and go via any, as they are linked by a network) and then we were stopped by the very efficient SBA Police for a routine check – great value for money, but inconvenient. No hint of sarcasm intended.
On Friday it was off to the Larnaca area which did not disappoint, we added 11 birds for the week taking John’s total for the trip to a respectable 114, I am on 115, as John couldn’t motivate himself enough to “twitch” a Robin, which for a British birder, is understandable. At the salt lake, c1000 Shelduck and c8500 Greater Flamingo filled the lake proper whilst in the north west quadrant, 9 Mediterranean Gulls, 8 being adults and 1 1st winter. On the marsh 5 Jack Snipes were flushed with 11 Common Snipe, a Greenshank and Green Sandpiper were also present. At least 3 Moustached Warblers sang and 4 Bluethroats were also present. 5 Water Pipits flushed and flew into cover with one posing for the scope. A single Swallow sat on wires and a Cettis’s Wabler sat and sang in the open for a change. We proceeded to Larnaca Sewage Works as Kiti Dam was empty although there was another Swallow present with 2 Common Buzzards. At the Sewage Works the 8 White-fronted Geese put in a brief appearance but that was about it, except for the usual wildfowl. As we were leaving we spotted a gathering of larger gulls on Larnaca Airport Pools South; a walk across the side of the salt lake and in doing so, a Lesser Short-toed Lark was flushed and called as it flew. The Gull roost revealed 6 Siberian Gulls, about 15 Armenian Gulls and c450 and 150 Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls respectively. We returned home via Oroklini Marsh adding 6 Black-winged Stilts to the trip list.
As the end of the holiday approached we went for a migrant round at Cape Greco. Sadly no early migrants were found but 3 Blue Rock Thrushes, 3 singing male Cyprus Warblers and the relocation of the male Finsch’s Wheatear after several months was compensation. We went to the North for lunch and then onto Koprulu Reservoir. 2 Pintail were new, the 2 Greater Flamingos were present and amongst the 5 Marsh Harriers, 2 Hen Harriers (male and female) was an adult female Pallid Harrier that must have wintered in the area. I thought I had seen it the other day but wasn’t sure but with both of us having it in the scope and seeing the white collar, buoyant flight and slender wings it was fairly obvious. 10 Swallows were an early migrant which was pleasing to see. Incidentally, John did recover the Robin he was missing without too much difficulty at Cape Greco.
The final morning of the holiday and a visit to the Famagusta coastal sites was interesting although not very productive but 32 Curlews , a Lapwing and a Swallow were at Silver Beach, with 2Grey Plovers, 7 Shelduck and a Sandwich Tern at Clapsides Beach. Finally 2 1st Winter Little Gulls and a Great White Egret were at Gulserin. The holiday ended with John’s trip total on a respectable 117 in 8 days, a few unexpected birds were seen and a few expected ones missed – as usual. We had a very enjoyable week and a good recce for Roger’s visit later in the month. The year list now stands at 132 and with migration in the air it should increase considerably in the near future.
For birds with an * please follow the following links:
- Cyprus Warbler at Cape Greco Picnic Site
- Curlew at Silver Beach
- Great Cormorant (sinensis) at Clapsides Marsh
Other Interesting Finds: Several new Orchid sites but no new species and the discovery of a very full and productive wetland site at Koprulu Reservoir. The horrendous Pine Processionary caterpillars are out in force.
Highlight of the Week: A wintering Pallid Harrier and signs of early migrants in the form of Wryneck, Quail and House Martins. The relocation of a male Finsch’s Wheatear a Cape Greco could save me a few miles in the future.
A Look Forward: Back to work of course but migration, migration, migration!
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