Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 26 May
European Roller at Tatilisu TRNC on 26 May * indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
After last week’s shoddy effort, I decided to make more of an effort to get out this week. On Monday morning a Golden Oriole was calling from the woods at the back of the house, but I didn’t manage to see it. After work, I headed down to Akhna Dam, where 4 Hoopoes were present. Having not seen any for a while, there must be some movement going on. A Roller also flew over and 5 Little Egrets flushed. As we sat by the water’s edge, we heard and then saw a pair of Spur-winged Plovers and a Little Bittern flew across in front of us. A single Squacco Heron was feeding on the far bank and several Eastern Olivaceous Warblers were heard. Finally, a male Red-backed Shrike today to add to yesterday’s late female.
A curry night in the Mess gave me little time to get out but I managed to get to Oroklini to conduct the dragonfly survey. Whilst there, 3 Little Terns were seen along with a single Ruff, and 2 surprising Sand Martins amongst the House Martins. Black-winged Stilts were well represented and several Reed Warblers were heard but little else amongst the masses of Mallards and Coots with young.
On Wednesday, I managed to get to Cape Greco for the first time in about a month. I checked the Pines area first and surprisingly, there are still migrants passing through albeit in small numbers. A Willow Warbler caught flies as did 2 Spotted Flycatchers. However, the biggest surprise of the day was a cracking male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (light throated), that was very active and quite showy. We stopped at the “Schnelly” wagon and purchased a couple of Cyprus Special Sandwhiches as we had missed lunch. Surely, the food of the gods and the ideal solution to a birders’ day out. The contents being, Ham, Halloumi, Bacon, Pork, Spicey Sausage, Chicken, Lettuce, Cucumber, Tomato and Mayo, (contents may vary – other sandwiches are available – you seem to here this everywhere else, so just to safeguard the AOS), all washed down with a can of diet Sprite – compensatory reduction. Anyway, with 2 days worth of calories consumed in a single sitting, we continued to the Picnic Area. Here, a couple of male Cyprus Warblers, a Spectacled Warbler and a singing male Black-headed Bunting. As I proceeded to the point, a male and female Red-backed Shrike was noted. With nothing else about, I visited Ayia Napa Sewage Works and saw another female Red-backed Shrike, Spectacled Warbler and singing male Black-headed Bunting. The lagoons held 6 Little Grebes and a single Coot. So that was it for the day and it was good to find the time to be able to get out.
On Thursday, with a phone bill discrepancy to sort out (always a painful experience), that took a fair bit of my time, getting billed twice always upsets me, but the Cypriots don’t seem to get too excited about it, hence their “relaxed” approach to solving the issue, which is one of the main reasons why it takes so long to deal with. That sorted, we returned via Sotira Pond, to conduct the monthly Dragonfly survey and whilst there saw 14 breeding Spur-winged Plovers and a single Stone Curlew. Being pretty quiet, we returned home for a BBQ and a few beers.
Booked into a hotel in Bogaz for a couple of days over the bank holiday, should give me opportunities to explore some sights in the North. Before arriving, we journeyed via the Fresh Water Lake South and Famagusta Wetlands. Not much was present although a single Beeater drifted overhead. Onward to the Exotic hotel in Bogaz, I thought it was the Erotic, so needless to say I was disappointed. A few beers, a massage and a good meal and the day was over.
On Saturday and Sunday, I had arranged to meed Eddie John (Cyprus Butterfly Recorder) and Dave Sparrow (Drgaonfly Recorder), for a day out in search of a few sought after species. We headed off to Kantara with Red-rumped Swallows abouve us. We descended the Northern slopes but not before connecting with a Large Wall Brown* in the village. Along a track were numerous Strawberry Trees and bushes and it didn't take long to find the target - a cracking male Two-tailed Pasha*, what a beauty, we saw 4 in all. We covered the Kantara range stopping along the way, seeing a 3 Ravens, a breeding pair of Peregrines, a Little Owl and a pair of Hobbies. Numerous Cyprus Graylings, Eastern Rock Graylings, Cyprus Meadow Browns and a couple Oriental Meadow Browns were seen.
On Sunday we visited the Fresh Water Lake South where the highlights were a Squacco Heron and 2 Night Herons, although the biggest surprise was a Grey Wagtail. Searching the reeds we found 3 Small Redeyes* - a difficult to see Damselfly which was a result. We continued to Korprulu where a female Marsh Harrier was present and the usual breeding Stilts and Spur-winged Plovers, but little else.
For pictures of birds with a * please click on the following Flickr links:
- Two-tailed Pasha at Kantara.
- Large Wall Brown at Kantara
- Grass Jewel on the North Coast near Kyrenia
- Small Redeye at Fresh Water Lake South
Highlight of the Week: The sighting of a Two-tailed Pasha and a couple of Small Redeyes.
Other Interesting Finds: As per the highlights with few birds around this week.
Look Forward: A work visit to Troodos and hopefully the car back in working order.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
Follow us:
