Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 5 Jan 14
Stonechat at Larnaca Salt Lake North on 1 Jan
* Indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
On the 30th, I went out with a UK Birder - Simon Buckingham - in a quest to get a handful on the wish list. As it was we found 4 of the 5 required species including a mal Finsch’s Wheatear at Anarita Park, Moustached Warbler at Bishop’s Pool, a pair of Bonelli’s Eagles at Asprokremnos Dam with a year tick for me in the form of 3 Great Crested Grebes and numerous Armenian Gulls on Lady’s Mile.
A Reed Bunting was a good Cyprus wintering species at Phassouri Reed Beds as was a female Pochard at Bishop’s Pool. A couple of Sandwich Terns loafed at Lady’s Mile and a male Blue Rock Thrush was at Anarita Park. We quickly stopped at Kensington Cliffs on our return to Limassol in the hope of a chance Wallcreeper but as is the norm it was unproductive. We did however see a couple of Long-legged Buzzards, 4 Griffon Vultures and a Sparrowhawk,. Thanks to Simon for a good day out – it’s always nice to go out birding with a like minded individual rather than being on your own.
I stopped at Larnaca Sewage Works on the way back, where the Greylag and White-fronted Geese remained with the usual Black-necked Grebes. 5 Curlews on the Airport Fields were a surprise as they have been quite scarce so far this winter. On New Years’ Eve, I visited Akhna Dam briefly where 5 Great White Egrets was a good count and at Ay Nik, a Little Owl was the last bird of the year. The year closed with a list of 268 including all identifiable sub-species and forms (Wagtails & Bluethroat). More are possible as I missed some note-able and fairly easy birds – the Near Year beckons.
New Year’s Day! The race was on and the day ended in a fairly respectable 71 species as opposed to 74 last year. All the usual common species were in their regular haunts but 3 Pintails at Oroklini was as good find, whilst a Marsh Sandpiper at Larnaca Sewage Works was exceptional. Circa 250 Golden Plovers and a male Hen Harrier were at Larnaca Airport Pools South and on the North pool, 28 Dunlin and 5 Pintails. The Geese and wildfowl remained at the sewage works with the Greylag being a good one to get on the ’14 list. At the north end of Larnaca Salt Lake, 3 Reed Buntings were a good sighting with c30 Common Snipe being expected and a single Jack Snipe being a bonus. With nothing else to photograph, I succumbed and grabbed a shot of a nice male Stonechat* for the BLOG. Gulserin Pond in the north held good numbers of Dunlins and Little Stints but nothing exceptional but a Common Gull amongst the Yellow-legs, Caspians and Black-headed Gulls at Fresh Water Lake South was a great find.
On the 2nd, I visited the coast at Ayia Thekla racking up Greater Sand Plover, Kentish Plover, Common Sandpiper and on the way a flock of 32 Stone Curlews in ploughed fields. At Kermia Beach a lone adult Audouin’s Gull kept the total ticking over. At Cape Greco Army Cliffs, a female Finsch’s Wheatear was a result, a male Blue Rock Thrush sang and the usual resident sylvias were present but alarmingly no Cyprus Warbler which was a surprise.
Having missed a couple of Great Black-headed Gulls already, I did a tour of the local haunts. None were present at Larnaca Sewage Works or salt lake although the first Siberian (Heuglin’s) Gull of the winter was a consolation. 8 Mediterranean Gulls were roosting on the salt lake with 1 2nd winter and 6 Ruffs were amongst the Lapwings at the sewage works. I drove to Limassol for a look but only Armenian Gulls were present. I met up with Colin Richardson and we did a tour of the Limassol sites, seeing Moustached Warbler, Water Rail, Pochard, Ferruginous Ducks, Grey Wagtail and an immature Bonelli’s Eagle at Bishop’s Pool. A Sparrowhawk flew over the road on the way to Phassouri Reed Beds which were fairly unproductive whilst I was there. Colin stayed around for a couple of hours and had some luck seeing a Bittern, Common Crane and an amazing sighting of a Great Snipe which was probably the first January record!
Saturday the 4th and an early morning visit to Gulserin Pond in the north produced an adult and a 1st winter Common Gull amongst the Black-headed Gulls. Common Gull is a difficult species in Cyprus and always good to catch up with as it is by no means an easy species to see every year. At Akhna Dam a Greenshank, Greenfinches, Spanish Sparrows were additions to the list whilst another 2 Ruffs appeared to indicate that a small movement of the species had taken place. The 3 Wigeon (1 drake) remained in situ. With still no Great Black-headed Gull in the bag I visited the coastal sights again where I added a Curlew at Silver Beach in the North and another 9 at Larnaca Sewage Works in the afternoon. 3 Gadwall and a Grey Plover were on the lagoons and a female Hen and Marsh Harrier harassed the wildfowl. The first week of the year ended on 96 species, 4 less than last year – note to self, “Must Try Harder”!
Highlight of the Week: A good start to the 2014 list and good to find the first Siberian Gull of the winter with Common Gulls in the north.
Look Forward: I’m desperate to catch up with a Great Black-headed Gull and a few outstanding wintering species.
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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