Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 16 Feb
Male Cyprus Wheatear at Cape Greco 13 Feb
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
Following the departure of our guests and the closing of a great week’s birding the mood was sombre in the Easterbrook household. Anyway with an additional day’s leave on Monday there was no time to waste. Did someone once write “Tell me why I don’t like Mondays”, or is that a distant memory that isn’t valid? So it was that I visited Gulserin Pond in the North, sighting 64 Greater Flamingos and a 1st winter Little Gull. I then had an appointment with Mehmet my Turkish barber in Famagusta. Great, the monthly haircut and bit of male pampering was excellent save for the cheek hair “threading” which was its usual excruciatingly painful affair – nice to see consistency, I like that. A cup of Turkish coffee without sugar was strong to say the least, (I’m informed that to have sugar in it is regarded by many as less than heterosexual) but enjoyable and part of the experience – you can have beer if you prefer (Roger). However, I had arranged to meet Tony Hutchinson in the North at Hisarkoy about an hour and a half away, where he was going to take me to Cape Kormakiti in an attempt to twitch the Gannet (a Cyprus tick), that’s been hanging around. We met successfully and at the Cape it was blowing a “hooley” with a strong westerly wind. No Gannet was seen unfortunately but as we left c25 Stone Curlews and a ringtail Hen Harrier was encountered. It did bring back memories of nearly getting blown off my feet with a flailing tripod at Strumble Head once, and to blow a fairly svelte me off my feet, it was a pretty hefty blow.
We returned to his house for part 2 of the visit – an Orchid hunt. Tony leads Orchid walks and is a renowned expert in the north of the island and a very good contact. As we walked c20 Woodlarks flushed from the vegetation and this was closely followed by a sighting of a Brown Bee Orchid (Ophrys iricolour)* which was a good looking specimen. We continued and soon came across the second new species which was a lovely looking Early Spider Orchid (Ophrys mammosa)*. After another 10 minutes or so, Tony said “Look down there”, just below me in a sheltered area was a spectacular site and without doubt the most impressive Orchid I have seen to date – a Punctulate Orchid (Ochris punctulata)*. I never thought I’d ever say this but it was more than compensation for missing the Gannet – am I losing it? This Orchid is threatened and only exists in southern Turkey and parts of Cyprus; threatened through agricultural practices it would be a great pity if it disappeared.
Tuesday and a return to an overflowing inbox and several appraisals pending ensured that I had my work cut out to finish within normal working hours. After work, it was off to order some heart shaped Helium balloons – (ohhh, ahhh – I hear you say)? That said, I managed to look around Akhna Dam which due to the number of Carp and the amount of water held very little except for a Cormorant, 3 Song Thrushes and a Chiffchaff in the bushes. I looked in an area known for migrants but to no avail. At Ay Nik, I drove around the back of camp and apart from another 2 Song Thrushes, I found a plantation set up for at least 10 mist net lanes. The tyres with concrete at the bases and breeze block supports were obvious, so I reported it to the CABS member with a Google Maps reference. The trapping does not end after migration. Species are targeted all year around and indiscriminate slaughter of unwanted birds is relentless and is getting worse. Do not believe what you hear and that “Everything possible is being done to end this activity” – this is smoke and mirrors as it largely goes un-policed and a blind eye is turned to this illegal and barbaric poaching activity.
With Spring in the air and a bit of a southerly breeze, I made for Cape Greco in the afternoon. Not much was present under the cliffs apart from a pair of displaying Kestrels* at a probable nest site and a flyby male Peregrine. Black Redstart numbers appear to have reduced and the Blue Rock Thrushes weren’t seen, At the rubbish tip there was immediately a good number of birds present with a good looking male Black Redstart, Serin and several Meadow Pipits. I saw a Wheatear above the tip and then another, in exactly the same place as last week’s Finsch’s, however they looked odd and unlike Finsch’s. I looked more closely as I manoeuvred for a photo – yes, the first 2 Cyprus Wheatears* of the year, a pair of males. With an Isabelline being reported from the other end of the island at Cape Drapernum, the vanguard of Spring migrants appear to be moving.
I repeated the same circuit on Thursday afternoon, the majority of the birds remained unchanged although only 1 male Cyprus Wheatear was seen at the tip and further on an Isabelline Wheatear was seen. At Ayia Napa Sewage Works, the Black-necked Grebe remained and was joined by a Common Sandpiper on the same lagoon. Paralimini Lake had a collection of Herons including 5 Greys, 11 Little Egrets and 1 Great White Egret.
Friday and in my role as President of the Officers’ Mess Entertainments Committee (a committee of me and Debs), I found myself in the mess with Debs decorating for Valentine’s Night – joy. With red hearts and pink fluffy things abounding, I left feeling replete with romance if not wondering what migrants I was missing. The night was a suitably messy affair and Saturday was all but a write-off as usual.
Desperate to see a few early migrants I headed off to Cape Greco on Sunday. In any event none were present but the first Long-legged Buzzard of the month was seen at Ayia Napa Sewage Works. The Cape had a male Blue Rock Thrush, a couple of Black Redstart females and 2 Serins. The first Swallowtail* of the year was seen, but so a fairly mundane week drew to a close.
For pictures of birds with a * please click on the following Flickr links:
- Eastern Jackdaw at Famagusta Walled City.
- Kestrel at Cape Greco.
- First Swallowtail of the year.
- Punctulate, Early Spider Orchid and Brown Bee Orchid at Hisarkoy.
Highlight of the Week: With birds in short supply and missing the Gannet at Cape Kormakiti, it has to be said that the Punctulate* Orchid was a pretty impressive beast.
Other Interesting Finds: Along with the Punctulate Orchid another 2 new species were added to the rapidly growing Cyprus list in the form of Ophrys mammosa (Early Spider Orchid)* and Ophrys iricolour (Brown Bee Orchid*).
Look Forward: The week before Roger’s visit and ringing and accommodation is all teed up so another week of island wide birding is looming with an anticipated trip list of 130 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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