Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 21 Apr
Red-footed Falcon at Cape Greco on 20 Apr.
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
Monday again and a days’ leave, so off to Cape Greco to find some migrants – well, I found some disappointment. No mass migration although at Cape Greco Pines, a Roller, Nightjar and a male Collared Flycatcher were well received. At the Cape a Wryneck, Long-legged Buzzard, a couple of Lesser Whitethroats, a female Red-backed Shrike and Woodchat, a couple of Whinchats and a flyby Shag added to the day list. At the picnic site and at Ayia Napa Sewage Works, I did manage to find a new Orchid – Holy Orchid (Orchis sancta)*. Also at the sewage works I flushed a Quail, saw another or the same Roller, and flushed a couple of Ortolan Buntings. I proceeded to Paralimni Lake where nothing much of interest appeared to be present. I walked the raised bund line and flushed a Great Snipe and then to my surprise a large brown raptor took flight, I looked at it quickly and it was obviously an adult Saker, so a real bonus.
On Tuesday I headed to the Cape again and it was even quiter than the day before. With a cold wind blowing from the North West from the storm the night before there weren’t many migrants about surprisingly. A Sparrowhawk put in an appearance as did a flushed Quail and a Turtle Dove with the highlight probably being a female Pied Flycatcher and a couple of Ortolan Buntings. A Hoopoe and a Stone Curlew were also in off the sea. A Red-rumped Swallow and a male Pied Flycatcher completed the morning at Ayia Napa Sewage Works. I stopped on the way home at Paralimini Lake where a huge number of waders were present with good numbers of Ruffs, Little Stints, Wood Sandpipers, 2 Marsh Sandpipers, single Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers and a single Spotted Crake.
On Wednesday it was necessary for me to visit Troodos. As I drove out of the village a female Pallid Harrier was being mobbed by 2 newly arrived Rollers. I managed gto connect with all of the mountain specialities with breeding Hoopoes and Masked Shrikes although no orchids were found. Wren was a heard only and over recent months has become a bit of a problem child and a female Pied Flycatcher at the Calenonian Falls was a surprise. As I passed Akhna Dam on the way home a Turtle Dove* was seen.
On Thursday some shopping prior to my Sister arriving took me to the Larnaca area. The Salt Lake and pools had numerous waders present, mainly Little Stints and Ruffs, but nothing exceptional, although a breeding plumaged Curlew Sandpiper was nice to see. The Sewage Works held 5 Greenshank and a near breeding plumaged Spotted Redshank and 2 late 2nd winter Armenian Gulls. At the Salt Lake north a pair of Avocets remained and c100 immature Greater Flamingos. On the way home I typically dropped Deb at JUMBO for an hour as I visited Oroklini Marsh. Perhaps the surprise of the day was Jack Snipe at the marsh, but given that it appears to have a broken wing, little surprised that it hasn’t migrated. 11 roosting Night Herons with the Cattle Egrets was a good count, a 2nd winter Baltic Gull was interesting and a female Red-crested Pochard with 3 ducklings rounded off the day. On the way to Ay Nik a Stone Curlew flew ofer the car at Avgorou.
Friday and over the North for some fresh rolls and a look at Fresh Water Lake South. Otherwise it was a bit of a “fusaster” (a word I have crafted to describe a particularly unrewarding birding experience – I’m sure you can all apply some analytics to work out the origins of the word). Dropping Deb at home I proceeded to Paralimni Lake in search of some Crakes.
Saturday and a drive to Cape Greco in the hope of some migrants and to search for some butterflies with my Brother-in-Law. The 2 target butterflies were seen eventually – Eastern Baton Blue and Eastern Dappled White. Birds were in short supply with a female Red-backed Shrike, male Northern Wheatear and 3 female Pied Flycatchers above Ayia Napa Sewage Works. As Cape Greco Pines, at least 3 calling male Collared Flycatchers were present and nearby 6 Red-footed Falcons* actively hawked the grass. With little else doing it was beer o’clock so we returned home via Paralimni Lake seeing a Temminck’s Stint, Common Snipe and 2 Marsh Sandpipers amongst the throng of Ruffs and Wood Sandpipers.
Sunday and a drive to the North to celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary on St George’s Day. So an early post today as I will not be writing for a few days.
For pictures of birds with a * please click on the following Flickr links:
- Turtle Dove at Akhna Dam.
- Holy Orchid at Ayia Napa Sewage Works.
- Cleopatra at Ayia Napa Sewage Works.
- Wall Brown at Ayia Napa Sewage Works.
Highlight of the Week: A Saker at Paralimini lake – only my 3rd and another Great Snipe at the same location were notable.
Other Interesting Finds: A new Orchid – I knew you’d all be pleased. A Holy Orchid* (Orchis sancta) at Ayia Napa Sewage Works was my 29th species on the island. A Turkish Lizard at Paralimini Lake and large numbers of Lulworth Skippers at Ayia Napa Sewage Works and a mating pair of Cyprus Meadow Browns with a couple of Cyprus Graylings* the first records from the area since 1995.
Look Forward: A week’s leave and lots of travel around the island should be productive.
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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