Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 15 Sep
White Pelican at Akhna Dam on 16 Sep
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New car in-play; and a Tree Pipit* at Akhna Dam. A drive around revealed many of the usual suspects but a pair of White Pelicans* were new arrivals. A grouping of marsh terns* was a bonus which included 2 White-winged Blacks, a couple of Whiskered and a year tick with 3 young Black Terns. The Little Owls remained faithful to their favoured holes.
On Tuesday as I drove to Akhna Dam, at Ayios Kendeas Monastery near Ay Nik, a Hobby sat in the field and a Marsh Harrier quartered it. At least 70 European Beeaters sat in trees and this appeared to be the beginning of a very large passage throughout the week. The 2 White Pelicans remained at Akhna Dam, with 5 Marsh Harriers including 1 male. A couple of Red-rumped Swallows passed with the many other hirundines and an early pair of Lapwings made for an interesting record. Numerous marsh terns were present, however the Black Terns had moved on. A Wryneck and Little Bittern were new arrivals and a Whinchat sat on a water sprinkler head as I left.
On Wednesday I had to visit Akrotiri and over the A1 motorway at Vavatsinia, 4 Golden Orioles passed overhead. At Akrotiri 11 Honey Buzzards rose on a themal over Bishop’s Pool, followed shortly by a light phase adult Booted Eagle, whilst in the pools 4 immature Whiskered Terns, 3 Night Herons and a Squacco added to the day list. A steady flow of migrant Honey Buzzards followed with a “Steppe” Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Hobby, several Eleonora’s Falcons and a Saker. A Spotted Flycatcher and Red-backed Shrike broke the raptor passage and many Marsh Harriers were seen heading out to sea. Circa 50 European Beeaters were near Phasouri Reed Beds and a juvenile White-winged Black tern did a fly-by. In the evening at Akhna Dam, a Temminck’s Stint was new as was an immature Citrine Wagtail. A Segde and Reed Warbler was seen and a lone Glossy Ibis made a brief appearance.
On Thursday I had to visit Troodos and although there wasn’t much time, as I looked skywards from Mount Olympus, I saw 2 Alpine Swifts, several House Martins, a couple of Jays were below me and at the station a single male Cyprus Pied Wheatear remained after the summer. On the way home at Avgorou, a Red-rumped Swallow and many European Beeaters were overhead. In the evening, Akhna Dam held another Tree Pipit, 5 Curlew Sandpipers was a good count and 2 Golden Orioles were chased from the eucalyptus trees by Magpies. A Greenshank, Turtle Dove and Redstart were new for the week and the Little Bittern fed in the reeds.
On Friday the 20th I had agreed to take a visiting UK birder out on an expenses (petrol money) only basis. I had taken him out about the same time last year with some good results. Prior to meeting him I ticked the Greater Sand Plovers off for the month, as 4 were at Ayia Thekla. A Hoopoe, Isabelline Wheatear and several Yellow Wagtails were also present. We moved to the Ayia Napa Football Pitches complex where the many Yellow Wagtails included a single Tree Pipit. On the adjacent pitches there had obviously been a fall of Spotted Flycatchers and Whinchats as they perched on every fence with a few Red-backed Shrikes. On the grass several Isabelline Wheatears and a female Eastern Black-eared Wheatear fed along with a Hoopoe and a female Black Francolin which was a lifer for Chris as we had missed it last year. At the sewage works, Lesser Whitethroats were in the ascendancy with 12+ being present with 3 Common Whitethroats and a male Blackcap. A pair of Eastern Black-eared Wheatears were present with the male looking majestic in breeding plumate – a real star bird. A Turtle Dove flew by and a couple of Isabelline Wheatears, Whinchats and a single Northern Wheatear added to the passerine tally. A pair of Common Sandpipers were on the lagoons as we left the site.
We proceeded to Akhna Dam and as we arrived a brown bird with a black and white tail pattern flew in front of the car. It was amazing that with Chris last year on the 18th of September we had found a Red-breasted Flycatcher and as I re-found the bird as it flew away from me once more, I confirmed another 1st for the year again. With its diagnostic tail pattern it was unmistakeable although despite extensive searching, I could not re-find it. I was amazed to see an adult Demoiselle Crane, its location and late occurrence probably explained by a broken leg. It flew high to the North as I watched it. A Peregrine buzzed the waders which included the usual suspects and a Little Bittern flew from its concealed hide away. A single Glossy Ibis was present and as I looked for the Flycatcher as we left I noticed another bird on the ground in tamarisk, cocking its tail. I managed to get reasonable views with little contrast between its brown back and tail with light moustacial markings, no noticeable supercillum, I concluded a Thrush Nightingale – a Cyprus “tick”. The brown back with no contrast is an important feature as the eastern Nightingale species is much greyer, the breast mottling and moustache also being significant ID features. I’ll thank Chris for his company and I’m going to have to take him out more often, he is the Red-breasted Flycatcher God!
On the 21st, Deb and I visited Paphos to stay overnight with friends and on Sunday morning I walked the Paphos Headland. Although not very busy 4 Greater Sandplovers, 2 Kingfishers and a Common Sandpiper were present and at least 6 Honey Buzzards came from the east and headed out over the sea, against a SE wind, struggling and flapping frantically, I’m sure I saw one individual ditch in the sea. I had arranged to meet Colin Richardson at Mandria at 10:00 and a little late arrived at about 20 past. Roger will testify to what a great migrant hotspot this is – right on the sea with ploughed fields it always turns up something. The AOS trip in March will spend a few hours grilling the area for migrants and Larks. Without disappointment the fields turned up my first couple of Red-footed Falcons for the autumn, 4 Tawny Pipits, a Short-toed Lark, Eleonora’s Falcon, Hobby and Lesser Kestrel amongst the kettles of migrating Honey Buzzards and a resident Long-legged Buzzard. The fields were full of Northern Wheatears with a single Isabelline and a constant stream of Marsh Harriers, ringtail Montague’s Harriers and hirundines all headed south out over the Mediterranean. 8 Lapwings, 2 large flocks of Beeaters and a Shag sat on a buoy concluded what the site had to offer. As I drove back to Ay Nik at Limassol over the mortorway a White Pelican flew around the hotels – most bizarre! We stopped at the Larnaca area on the way home (churlish not to) and in the fields a very early Golden Plover sat amongst the 20 or so Spur-winged Plovers. 3 Greenshanks and a Marsh Sandpiper were on the lagoons and 15 Whiskered Terns and a White-winged Black was a good count. A couple of Black-winged Stilts lingered and 10 Greater Flamingos were present – 9 adults. Akhna Dam held a few more Whiskered Terns and the usual waders which concluded an excellent week.
Highlight of the Week: A Booted Eagle is always a joy to see and to find another Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Thrush Nightingale really was a red letter day.
Look Forward: A few more visits to Akrotiri for a raptor watch and a bit of migrant hunting at Akhna Dam and Cape Greco.
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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