Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 23 Jun
Little Owl at Koprulu TRNC.
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
Following the long weekend in Troodos, we departed on Monday morning stopping off at a few stops on the way down the Nicosia side of the mountain on route to the dreaded IKEA – guaranteed to have the bank manager raising and eyebrow. We stopped at Amiantos view point, overlooking the disused asbestos mine. Here, a couple of surprising Linnets*, a Cyprus Wheatear* and a couple of Wood Pigeons amongst the numerous House Martins*. After a lengthy walk around IKEA and the obligatory Swedish meat-ball lunch we stopped at Delikippo – Gabion. A small site and not well known, it always throws up a surprise. This occasion was no exception when I first heard and then saw a European Beeater* which is obviously breeding in the area as they are normally passage migrants during May. A couple of Dragonfly species ended the visit here and so we continued to Akhna Dam, where a pair of Rollers and a Squacco Heron was seen. As we continued home at Avgorou another Roller* flew across the road in front of us. With the car in the garage for the powered steering belt to be fixed nothing happened on Tuesday and with the ICC Cricket semi-final on Wednesday, I had the day planned out. I did however see a Little Owl* sat on a dead tree in the garden as we returned home from dinner out and heard a Long-eared Owl from the woods behind the house for the first time this year.
On Saturday I ventured over to the north and saw my first 2 returning Redshanks at Gulserin Marsh with a single non-breeding Slender-billed Gull*. The breeding Black-winged Stilts had 3 juveniles and the Spur-winged Plovers* remained active, Clapsides Marsh was much the same and the beach area was heaving with tourists so not chance to look at the gull roost. I travelled to Koprulu Dam and what a fantastic site this has been this year. Although the west side is now dry, muddy fringes are appearing which is already attracting return autumn passage waders. 4 Greenshank, 11 Green Sandpipers, 1 Wood Sandpiper and a Marsh Sandpiper were seen. Glossy Ibises totalled c30 and 8 Ferruginous Ducks and a female Red-crested Pochard was present. 3 Marsh Harriers were noted and an early Montague’s was a surprise. In Famagusta at the Fresh Water Lake South, 4 Squacco Herons, 8 Glossy Ibises and 3 Night Herons were amongst the still heaving Cattle Egret colony.
Early on Sunday morning, I thought I’d better give the Cape Greco area some attention. Travelling via the coast at Ayia Thekla 5 Greater Sand Plovers, some still in semi breeding plumage were present along with a single Kentish Plover. The birds only appear to be away from the island for the month in May when they disappear to breed. It always amazes me that they are back on station so quickly. I progressed to Cape Greco via Ayia Napa – what a sight this is at about 0630, rubbish everywhere, literal and the human form, drunks being sick, stumbling around on the roads – it’s a sight to behold and very entertaining. Anyway, onwards and as I approached Cape Greco pines in a ploughed field on the right, a Shrike caught my eye. It was an adult male Lesser Grey*, an unusual June record and ironically sat on top of a scarecrow. The pines held several Spectacled Warblers including 2 juveniles, a Cyprus Wheatear and at least 2 elusive, calling Eastern Olivaceous Warblers. At the picnic site, more Spectacled Warblers* and Cyprus Wheatears and briefly a churring male Cyprus Warbler* – they can sometimes be tricky having just bred and certainly they were not as obvious as they usually are in this location. Ayia Napa Sewage Works was a fairly dull affair with more of the same although Little Grebe numbers are on the way up with c30 being present. After returning home for a bacon butty, I visited Akhna Dam, conducted the Dragonfly survey and saw 5 Black-winged Stilts* including 3 fully fledged and flying immatures, a Common Sandpiper*, my first of the autumn, a Green Sandpiper and 4 Spur-winged Plovers. I returned home to not watch the cricket final and amazingly then heard 2 European Beeaters at the back of the house. First indications are that autumn, southward migration may be starting early? I was frustrated by the cricket all day and eventually ended up being totally deflated by an English defeat – having said that, India did look the best team throughout the tournament. I went outside at about 2330 to hear at least 2 Long-eared Owls calling, the end to a fairly slow week – but it is June and the paucity of images this week says it all!
Highlight of the Week: The returning Greater Sand Plovers and an unseasonal Lesser Grey Shrike.
Other Interesting Finds: Meatballs at IKEA.
Look Forward: With wader migration picking up and signs of some passerine movement, it’s about getting out and finding something.
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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