Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 1 Sep
River Warbler at Ayia Napa Sewage Works on 26 Aug
indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
Monday, a bank holiday and historically something good turns up. I headed to the Ayia Napa area pausing at the football pitch complex before proceeding to the sewage works. At the football pitches a good number of Lesser Grey and Red-backed Shrikes were present with a Spotted Flycatcher and some Yellow Wagtails with one feldegg type. A couple of Hoopoes fed on the grass and a pair of Pallid Swifts and 17 European Beeaters were overhead, not too shabby a start to the day.
I continued to the sewage works and as I drove the approach track it was clear from the numbers of Shrikes and Spotted Flycatchers that there had been a sizeable fall of migrants. As I passed the lagoons a female type Garganey was present and a single Common Sandpiper. High on the bluff an adult Long-legged Buzzard rested (my first for several months in the area). 15+ Red-backed Shrikes, 4 Lesser Grey Shrikes and at least 9 Spotted Flycatchers were in the area with at least 3 Isabelline Wheatears. Every bush seemed to be alive with birds with Sylvia warblers being in the majority. As I worked the area, I say my first Blackcaps for the autumn along with 10+ Eastern Orphean Warblers, 5 Common Whitethroats, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 7 Spectacled Warblers and a single immature Barred Warbler.
As I continued around the area Willow Warblers were everywhere and as I rounded the end of the eucalyptus stand I became aware of a movement. I stopped and saw a plain looking brown bird perched in a tree with few leaves on it. I thought at first it was a Thrush Nightingale but as it moved with streaky breast and white tips to the dark undertail coverts, I couldn’t believe it. A LIFER – River Warbler* and self found, I managed to photograph the bird as it crept along the branch in typical loucustella fashion before it was lost to view. As a bonus as I walked 10 yards into the bush I flushed a Corncrake. Totally delighted, I went home for the day and spent it with Deb knowing that it wasn’t going to get any better than that.
With another day’s leave on Tuesday. I had a text message and email giving me the call for the Demoiselle Crane * passage. There was a large movement from the North and to the West of the island witnessed by many between 2100 – 2200 on Monday evening. Problem, the car is still buggered and needs looking at – do you risk a trip to Akrotiri, of course you do! I departed Ay Nik at about 0700 and arrived at Akrotiri Salt Lake at about 0815. The journey was not without incident as the car kept loosing power so I had to do the journey in 3rd gear for most of the way at about 60Kmh. Having said that, by 0830, I was viewing 3 groups of Cranes. As they departed at about 0845, a little earlier than usual Colin Richardson and I counted 123 birds which is a good number for recent years. With many passing the night before that wouldn’t have stopped, this is likely to be the largest number seen this year although it is likely that a few stragglers will continue into early September. As I was in situ and not wishing to waste the day we continued birding around the salt lake for the rest of the morning, immediately seeing 2 Golden Orioles. On the North side of the lake an adult Saker sat and then hunted whilst being harassed by a Bar-tailed Godwit that was taking its life in its hands. More than 8000 Greater Flamingos* were present with 3 Marsh Harriers and 3 Black Kites.
We moved to the South side of the lake behind Lady’s Mile and found 6 Turnstones, 4 Marsh Sandpipers, 6 Dunlin, 6 Avocet, 3 Gull-billed Terns, 2 immature Whiskered Terns and 2 White-winged Black Terns. A single Ringed Plover and c400 Black-winged Stilts made up the numbers whilst a dark phase Eleonora’s Falcon hawked the reed bed. I departed at 1200 and headed for Ay Nik with the car becoming worse with every mile. I made it back in time to pick up Deb from work and whilst leaving the camp, the car stalled and would not restart so embarrassingly, I had to push it to the Mess car park and abandon it. The next day, it jumped started, so I got it home and rang the gargage. With the throttle going to cost £240 with other work pending, the decision was made to scrap the birding mobile and find another – a sad day indeed, I have seen and photographed many good birds from the birding mobile (not so 4WD vehicle), although it was a fiscal liability. The rest of the day was spent sorting paperwork out for the scrapping.
On Thursday, I had arranged for my Greek birding friend Andreas Kepfalas to pick me up as he’d found a Baillon’s Crake at Akhna Dam. We arrived at about 1800 and saw several Reed Warblers but no Crake, we did however find an immature Citrine Wagtail amongst the hundred or so Yellow Wagtails. As we watched the Cattle Egret roost form which eventually totalled c700+ we saw 15 Night Herons overhead and 10 Glossy Ibises joined the roosting Egrets. Perhaps the total surprise of the visit was a pair of Blue-cheeked Beeaters flying over. Not often seen in the autumn they were an excellent record. Many thanks to Andreas for the evening out and the lift. Friday – no car and no birding as a result. This situation is likely to continue for a few weeks until I sort a new vehicle. I did walk the woods at the back of the house which produced a Little Owl, 8 European Beeaters and 6 House Martins over the house. I test drove a 4WD jeep on Saturday morning and secured the vehicle for payment and collection on 12 September. What am I going to do for 10 days without a car? No birding and more pulling the shopping trolley to the Ermes no doubt – what have I been reduced to? On Sunday morning a pair of European Beeaters continued over the house and later in the day, I heard a Little Owl and a pair of Stone Curlews to start the September month list.
Highlight of the Week: A self found and photographed LIFER, River Warbler, the 14th record for Cyprus, Demoiselle Cranes and an adult Saker – an outstanding week!
Look Forward: Buying a new birding mobile is the priority, without it – I’m screwed at a critical time in the birding calendar.
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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