Cyprus Weekly

7th Oct 2012 | Posted in: Overseas Birding | Comments (0)

Birding Highlights for Week Ending 7 Oct

Tawny Pipit at Cape Pyla on 6 Oct 12.

* A photo of the species is included please visit the Flickr site.

Although we had friends staying I managed a couple of hours at Akhna Dam in the evening.  White Wagtail numbers have increased to 8 although for the first time in a long time no Whiskered Terns were present.  Good numbers of Willow Warblers were present as were Sedge Warblers, numbering 11.  I saw the female Bluethroat in the same place as last month and also found a Spotted Crake in the vegetation.  A single Great White Egret continued its stay as did a Little Crake.  European Beeaters are passing through, however the main passage of Whinchats and Spotted Flycatchers appears to be over.  A couple of Red-backed Shrikes and a juvenile Masked Shrike performed and 3 Little Stints fed actively on the floating vegetation.  Water levels are reducing dramatically but I did experience the first rain since I’ve been here yesterday as it was extremely humid.

On Tuesday, I visited Oroklini Marsh and although nothing outstanding was found, a Water Rail showed itself briefly and the 3 Marsh Sandpipers continued their stopover.  Returning via Dhekelia I spotted a Stone Curlew in a boulder field and upon closer inspection found 91.  This was obviously a post-breeding roost, which I was not previously aware of.

On Wednesday the 3rd I visited the Ayia Napa area early in the morning before the guests had risen.  The football pitch complex held a single Red-backed Shrike, 2 Tree Pipits, a few White and Yellow Wagtails and a late juvenile Lesser Grey Shrike.  At The sewage works the highlight as predicted last week was the first Blue Rock Thrush* of the autumn in the form of a female.  A Quail was noteworthy as were 3 Redstarts (1 male), a late(ish) Isabelline Wheatear and another Tree Pipit.  As I proceeded to Cape Greco picnic site I saw a Northern Wheatear and Tawny Pipit in a ploughed field and whilst at the picnic site, a male Cyprus Warbler and Black Francolin.  Another Quail that I flushed was a surprise.  I returned home to have breakfast and to decide a plan of action for the day.

It had been decided by Deb that we would go for a picnic lunch at Ayia Thekla, visit the market and then do some snorkelling at Cape Greco (not of the butt variety).  The picnic went down well and as we were departing for Cape Greco via an unorthodox route (the Greater Sand Plover site), I noted a Little Egret and 8 Greater Sand Plovers – a good month tick.

We arrived at Cape Greco and I noted c40 migrating Beeaters, another Blue Rock Thrush and a late Hoopoe.  The snorkelling was great, the water warm and we saw at least a dozen fish species – does anyone know of a field guide for Mediterranean fish, it’s a pity not to identify them.  In any event there were several Pipe Fish, Rainbow Wrass and a single large Garfish.

In the evening I visited Akhna Dam but the highlight was along the corridor road over the Turkish lookout posts, where a Short-toed Eagle was mobbed by a Kestrel.  Short-toed Eagle is a scarce autumn migrant in single figures and sometimes not noted annually, so another good Cyprus “tick” for me.  Akhna Dam held another new bird for the year with 5 Lapwings being present – the first for the winter.  A Long-legged Buzzard drifter overhead and 2 Spotted Crakes and 2 Little Crakes were seen along with a female Bluethroat.  It’s been present for about 2 weeks but I had struggled to locate it previously.  A surprise and quite an early adult Red-throated Pipit alerted me to its presence when it called and I eventually found it feeding on floating vegetation amongst the very common Willow Warblers.

Following the success of the previous day we took another picnic lunch to the Cape Greco Picnic Site and did some more snorkelling.  What a good decision!  The humidity had caused the weather to alter and this was obviously having an effect on migration.  Numerous hirundines passed overhead as we ate lunch and this included 3 Red-rumped Swallows.  My first Sparrowhawk of the year came in off the sea and mobbed an outgoing Marsh Harrier.  As we snorkelled more Swallows migrated along with a Whiskered Tern and when we finished I went to check the Blue Rock Thrush site below Cape Greco Greek Army Camp.  A Honey Buzzard struggled against the increasing wind along with another 6 Marsh Harriers.  I then noted a large dark bird and thought it was another Buzzard species. 

As I looked at it through the bins, I realised it was a very large Falcon.  I became very animated and excited (Deb described it as manic).  A very large Falcon with lightish head, indistinct moustacial markings and very heavily streaked underside, being mobbed by a Kestrel that was about a third of its size.  SAKER!!!!!! I shouted, not that our guests or Deb was particularly interested.  It’s always a pity when there’s not another birder present to share in the moment.  As it banked around the escarpment still being harassed by the Kestrel the brown inner secondaries contrasted with the darker primaries and flight feathers – typical and a great ID feature if size wasn’t enough.  And that was it gone, a juvenile Saker.  The only lifer I was expecting for the whole tour was in the bag, taking my Cyprus list to 274 and my year list to 179.  I want to return home now – job done.  I thought about the 3 UK “ticks” I was missing on the AOS’, hugely successful trip to Fair Isle but wouldn’t have swapped this moment for anything, I’d been after a Saker for many years without success – a fantastic moment.

We visited Akhna Dam the following day and Spiros Beach and the most noteworthy bird was a Sanderling on the beach, other than that a fairly quiet day.  On Saturday I attended the Birdlife Cyprus ringing demonstration at Cape Pyla – stronghold of the poachers.  Numerous Blackcaps were ringed along with many Willow Warblers, a few Lesser Whitethroats and a single moulting male Redstart.  About 40 birds were ringed throughout the morning so it gives you a flavour of what is being destroyed by the poachers on a daily basis and the numbers involved – absolutely sickening!  As I left the site I saw a Tawny Pipit (above) and an Isabelline Wheatear.  Returning home in time to drop our guests at the airport  the weather changed dramatically, a very heavy thunderstorm ensued (the first for the year and first rain since April).  Also a very large funnel cloud formed that was very impressive and was confirmed as a tornado*.  The trip to the airport was uneventful and returning via Oroklini Marsh produced a Water Rail the same 3 Marsh Sandpipers and 5 Redshanks.  The adult Spoonbill continued its stay but there was little else of interest.

Sunday the 7th was the European Birdwatch day and I was asked to do a count at Akhna Dam and anywhere else I could fit it.  As Oroklini Marsh was being covered, I decided to look at Akhna Dam, the Ayia Napa area and Cape Greco.  Many common birds were noted along with a few that were probably not seen elsewhere on the island including an Osprey, Lapwings and Little Crake at Akhna.  Ayia Napa Football Pitches held a Northern Wheatear whilst Cape Greco added a Blue Rock Thrush and Cyprus Wheatear.  Finally, Sotira Pond added a Green Sandpiper which is at the end of their migration period, so getting scarce.

For pictures of birds with * please click on the following Flickr links:

• White Wagtail at Akhna Dam
• Blue Rock Thrush at Cape Greco
• Spotted Crake at Akhna Dam
• Stone Curlew at Dhekelia Fire Station
• Northern Wheatear at Ayia Napa Football Pitches
• TORNADO over Protaras

Other interesting finds:  Not so much of a find as an event.  On Saturday a large funnel cloud – Tornado formed over the Ayia Napa area that I photographed from Ay Nik*.  This was followed by a huge down poor and thunderstorm, the first heavy rains of the autumn.

Highlight of the Week:  Without doubt the only lifer that I was expecting during the tour.  A juvenile Saker at Cape Greco.  A monster falcon.  I wondered if I’d be able to ID one at height, but I needn’t have worried.  At 20 foot over my head it was very obvious.

Look Forward:  Red-throated Pipits, Stonechats and Black Redstarts should start to arrive in the next week or two and the Common Crane passage which has not yet occurred should be a spectacle.

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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