Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 21 Jul
1st Summer Gull-billed Tern at Akrotiri Salt Lake.
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
A slow start to the week with a Dragonfly survey at Sotira Pond where a Green Sandpiper and 16 Spur-winged Plovers were in residence with 13 Mallards and some other common waterbirds. Onward to Akhna Dam where another 2 Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper flushed. The 8 Spur-winged Plovers were very vocal and amongst them a Hoopoe alighted. A small family group of Greenfinches fed and Eastern Olivaceous Warblers “tacked” from the tamarisk. A single Little Egret was with the numerous Cattle Egrets and many hirundines hawked the water but nothing significant occurred.
Tuesday’s trip to Akhna Dam produced much the same as Monday, although 2 Masked Shrikes a male and an immature were new and Hoopoe numbers had increased to 5. My first Spectacled Warblers for the site in several months was welcomed and Eastern Olivaceous Warblers, 4 of them, appear to becoming for obvious, post breeding. Wednesday and a trip over to Kouklia Dam in the north which is drying up fast, however this has had the effect of concentrating the birds which makes life a bit easier. After successfully photographing a male Lesser Emperor* in flight, I proceeded to the raised bank on the east side of the dam and viewed the area. Waders were much in evidence with at least 28 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Greenshank, 4 Wood Sandpipers and 6 Ruff along with the commoner Black-winged Stilts and Spur-winged Plovers. 11 Glossy Ibises still remain and I eventually found 5 Ferruginous Ducks below the reed line. 2 Marsh Harriers were early migrants and a Roller was also present. Perhaps the surprise of the day when I was leaving was an immature Corn Bunting, often difficult to see in the summer months. We returned via Deb’s favourite shop in Famagusta and had dinner in a local Turkish restaurant where the mixed grill and iskender kebabs are excellent.
On Thursday, it was necessary to visit Troodos Station again with a visitor and in doing so managed to see, a large flock of 15 immature Coal Tits several Swift species (CRIME!! I didn’t have my bins with me) and that was about it. Akhna Dam in the evening held 5 Hoopoes, 5 Common Sandpipers, 3 Green Sandpipers and a Squacco Heron. I travelled to Troodos on Friday afternoon to attend the Summer Ball and planned to stay over for the weekend. On Saturday a walk around the trails produced the expected mountain species with the exception of the Wren – which can prove problematic if they’re not calling. At Prodromos Dam there were also 8 Black-tailed Skimmers* and a pair of ovipositing Lesser Emperors in tandem*. On the Persephone Trail a Wasp* which is currently unidentified was photographed. On the Caledonian Falls trail several Holly Blues* and a Brown Argos* were seen.
We drove another route down to Limassol and Rollers and a Masked Shrike was along the roadside. Episkopi failed to produce any Vultures or Eleanora’s Falcons in what was a strong wind. At the edge southern of Akrotiri Salt Lake, 3 Gull-billed Terns were active; an adult and 2 1st Summers*. Circa 750 Greater Flamingos remain on the lake with a couple of Black-winged Stilts. As I was returning to the car a dark phase Eleonora's Falcon flew past and hunted over the reed bed which was a pleasing site since I had missed them earlier. Onward to Larnaca Sewage Works on the way home where a Little Tern was amongst the Common and Wood Sandpipers. On the far side of the lagoon 6 Slender-billed Gulls and a single adult Black-headed Gull loafed. In the evening at Akhna Dam, my first Little Owl for the site this tour sat on a rock face and on the lagoons 9 Common Sandpipers and the first 4 Little Stints* of the autumn. A single Little Ringed Plover, Hoopoe and 2 Masked Shrikes* ended the week.
Highlight of the Week: The Gull-billed Terns at Akrotiri was nice to see.
Look Forward: A few visits to Ayia Napa Sewage Works
Follow us:
