Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 15 Sep
Black-tailed Godwit at Akhna Dam on 14 Sep
indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view or click on the link
A visit to Troodos gave me the opportunity to catch up with the usual mountain species and I also encountered a Long-legged Buzzard and a Golden Oriole on the way up. At Amiantos Cyprus Wheatears were still present and at least 4 Crag Martins. At the Giant Juniper picnic site 4 Red-rumped Swallows sat on wires and a Crossbill called as it flew overhead. The remainder of the species list was fairly routine although Blackbirds were conspicuous by their absence. On the way down the mountain at Platres Trout Farm a Grey Wagtail was present. A single Whiskered Tern and 3 White-winged Black Terns were at Larnaca Sewage Works which also allowed me the opportunity to add a few wildfowl and 3 juvenile Greater Flamingos to the month list. 3 Shags sat on the usual platforms at Dhekelia Power Station and at the Fire Station 18 Stone Curlews were roosting, which appears to be the beginning of the post breeding winter roost which totalled c200 last year. A Cyprus Wheatear was also present. A brief stop at Akhna Dam revealed 2 Little Owls, the usual collection of Shrikes, however a Golden Oriole was a good bird for the site as was a Wood Warbler, which are not that common in the autumn. A female Whinchat was a new arrival and a Greenshank was also present. On the way home, 3 European Beeaters were on wires in Vrysoulles and another Whinchat sat on a dead snag.
For a number of reasons, operational tempo, no car, mess lunch, trying to sort out a new car, no birding was done on Tue, Wed, Thu or Fri – I can’t remember the last time I was unable to go birding for 4 days in a row. Anyway, although illegal, I took the new car to Akhna Dam on Saturday. Now with 4WD capability I was able to access via a track that I had previously attempted in the old car but was unable to. Many waders were present, most notable being 7 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Spotted Redshanks, a Greenshank and 17 Ruffs. 13 Grey Herons was a good count and 3 Glossy Ibises hid in the reeds. Further around the dam, 3 female Marsh Harriers and a Black Kite spooked the Herons which revealed a Squacco and 3 Night Herons. I then noticed a Great White Egret lurking in the vegetation. I stopped to look at the waders as I left and found 2 Snipe and a Black-tailed Godwit* then flew in. Although a regular migrant, they are never seen in any great number. 15 European Beeaters were overhead and I then noticed a pair of White Pelicans – so a pretty good day and back in the saddle.
On Sunday, the first visit to the Ayia Napa area in the new birding mobile. At the football pitches 4 Isabelline Wheatears were present and close scrutiny revealed the presence of a female Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. A Whinchat also fed on the grass and c120 Yellow Wagtails, including 3 feldeggs and a 2 flavas were spread around the complex. A single Red-backed Shrike and a Spectacled Warbler concluded proceedings. I continued onto the sewage works area passing a Spotted Flycatcher and Common Sandpiper on the lagoons. I walked the area and Willow Warblers were in the ascendancy. A single male Eastern Orphean Warbler was typically shy and it was obvious from the numbers present that Sylvia passage appears to be coming to an end. As I rounded the olive grove a stonking male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear was resplendent in summer plumage – surely one of the most pleasing and beautiful birds of the genus? Although not very busy, a Whinchat put in an appearance as I left the site. At Ay Nik (ESBA), a male Lesser Grey Shrike was on the wires, another species reducing in numbers as September moves on.
I visited Akhna Dam once more in the evening and much of what was present on Saturday was still there although Curlew Sandpipers had increased to 9. The 2 White Pelicans were still present, Squaccos numbered 3, c50 Sand Martins headed south and 2 immature White-winged Black Terns fed over the dam. Then – a year tick, a cracking adult Osprey sat on a dead snag and then fishing, a very pleasing end to what was a fairly shocking week from a birding perspective.
Highlight of the Week: The new car and a chance to get out and about. On the birding front a couple of Golden Orioles and a Wood Warbler were notable although eclipsed by an adult Osprey.
Look Forward: A trip to Akrotiri in an attempt to catch some raptor migration and hopefully a seawatching trip to the North.
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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