Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 29 Sep
Osprey at Akhna Dam on 29 Sep
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view or click on the link
Monday already and after a long day at work I managed to get to Akhna Dam for a couple of hours. The evenings are drawing in and it’s now dusk at about 1850 so I need to make the most of the time before the clocks go back. The dam was productive although nothing exceptional was seen. Waders numbers were fairly consistent with the last couple of weeks with Ruffs and Little Stints being in the majority. A couple of Whiskered Terns were present, one being a moulting adult and Red-backed and Masked Shrikes continue to pass through in reduced numbers. A Little Owl was in the usual place, Snipe numbers had increased to 4 and a Sedge Warbler was seen. As I returned home through the village c20 European Beeaters fed from the telegraph wires.
With the car back up and running with Turkish insurance, we headed over to the North via the dreaded “Poundland”. We arrived at Fresh Water Lake South and I immediately sighted a Whiskered Tern. Several waders were present including a Spotted Redshank, Ruffs, Ringed Plovers, Wood & Green Sandpipers and 3 Black-winged Stilts. A couple of Kingfishers chased each other around the tamarisks. A whos who of herons were present with c30 Grey Herons, 2 Purple Herons, 2 Night, 5 Squacco and 18 Little Egrets accompanied by 6 Glossy Ibises. Clapsides beach held 4 Ruff and an early Golden Plover but disappointingly there were no post breeding Audouin’s Gulls present.
Mid week already and with a BBQ looming I only managed to grab a couple of hours at Akhna Dam where there were a few notable highlights. A Jack Snipe fed actively under a tamarisk with 4 Common Snipes in close proximately. A couple of Shrikes continue their passage and Ruff numbers had increased to c30. A Temmick’s Stint and 9 Lapwings* flushed amongst the more common Spur-winged Plovers* and a lone White Wagtail continued its stay. A Honey Buzzard* drifted overhead and a few Willow Warblers and a Reed Warbler moved actively in the reeds. As I was leaving the site on the main road to Ay Nik a latish Lesser Grey Shrike sat on a sprinkler head and overhead a fantastic view as 33 White Pelicans* flew south west in formation.
On Thursday, I was late home and had to drop Deb to the theatre club in Dhekelia where a Red-backed Shrike sat on a fence. On the way home, I stopped at Dhekelia Fire Station and the Stone Curlew roost had risen to 23 vice 18. Briefly, with the light fading at Akhna Dam, I encountered a Greenshank, 2 Snipe, a couple of Little Stints and Ruffs with an immature Masked Shrike catching flies in the twilight. A couple of Garganeys rose from the water and a Northern Wheatear was sat on a ploughed field. I also noticed a Whiskered Tern hawking the water.
On Friday morning as I departed for work 18 European Beeaters passed over the house heading south east. Attending a dinner in Troodos, we travelled up in the afternoon seeing a Great Grey Shrike in Ay Nik and 2 Ospreys over Polemedia Dam as we started the ascent. On Saturday on the way down we stopped at Oroklini Hills and saw a Masked Shrike, Northern Wheatear, 3 Chukars and c20 European Beeaters. With the station fete on Saturday, I had little time to go birding so had to wait until Sunday afternoon when I visited Akhna Dam.
At Akhna Dam I immediately noticed an Osprey* sat in the water with a Little Egret nearby and c30 European Beeaters overhead. A solitary White Wagtail continued in situ and a Spotted Flycatcher called as I passed. A couple of Shrikes; Red-backed and Masked continue to perform as they hunt actively prior to departure and at least 5 Kingfishers were seen. A female Marsh Harrier spooked the various waders with 4 Snipes and at least 25 Ruffs being seen along with smaller numbers of Little Stint, Little Ringed Plovers and a single Curlew Sandpiper.
Highlight of the Week: A Jack Snipe is always a good bird on passage and the 33 White Pelicans was a good count but good to get another opportunity to photograph an Osprey..
Look Forward: A couple of days off in the week should see me at Akrotiri attempting to catch up with a Lesser Spotted Eagle..
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
Follow us:
