Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 20 Apr 14
Collared Pratincole at Akhna Dam on 16 Apr
A new week and a new BLOG to fill. After a long day on Monday, I managed to get to Akhna Dam for a couple of hours. 51 Glossy Ibises dropped in at dusk and prior to that a Squacco Heron flew east across the dam. A couple of Snipe hid in the reeds and whilst I was scanning through the Wood Sandpipers and Ruffs, I came across a bobbing Jack Snipe which was a good bird for the month. The lone Cormorant is still present and a Turtle Dove flushed as a Greenshank looked on. A few Yellow Wagtails were present of the Black, Blue and melanogrisea variety but little else was present so I returned home earlier than expected which caught Deb by surprise.
Tuesday was a fairly low-key day. My intention was to visit Cape Greco and then return via Paralimni for the shopping. Unfortunately, rained curtailed the activities. Cape Greco Pines was its usual productive self with 3 Wood Warblers, 2 Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers a Wryneck and 3 Common Redstarts and on the Cape, fairly quiet with 2 Woodchat Shrikes and a male Blackcap. And that was that for the day as the rain came down.
On Wednesday Akhna Dam beckoned. It’s prime time for a Great Snipe but not on this occasion. However, the area was heaving with passerines including 7 Collared Flycatchers (5 Males), 3 Wood Warblers, 2 Common Redstarts, 7 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Spotted Flycatchers and 11 Whinchats at least. Waders were well represented with the highlight being the first Collared Pratincole* of the year – one of my favourites amongst the wader families. Yellow Wagtail variants were also evident with Dombrowskii, Syke’s (Beema), Feldegg and Flava being present, with a couple of Tree Pipits for good measure. As I walked around the dam a raptor was being mobbed by crows as it made its way north, heavily moulting and looking a bit bedraggled, the Osprey was not looking in the happiest of spirits. A Black Francolin called and c110 Glossy Ibises headed NE at 1730 in “V” formation. Eastern Olivaceous Warblers are now singing widely around the dam and the last birds of the day were a female Pied Flycatcher, a fleeting Cetti’s Warbler and a pair of Northern Wheatears.
I visited Akhna again on Thursday and there were many waders around but none that were unusual. 3 Golden Orioles and 2 singing Great Reed Warblers were a bonus. As I walked the tamerisks, male Ruppell’s Warbler was a surprise and a Skyk’s Wagtail continued its stay. I eventually dug out a Jack Snipe and then 24 Collared Pratincoles descended, stopped for a drink and were on their way north again. At Paralimni Lake, a pair of Stone Curlews flushed and a lone Isabelline Wheatear sunned itself.
On the 19th still searching for a Great Snipe at Akhna Dam without luck I did see 10 Glossy Ibises and a lone adult Night Heron*. A male Shoveler continued its stay and it was joined by a Garganey. As I walked around the southern arm – now completely dry, it was obvious that there had been a considerable fall off warblers. At least 7 Wood Warblers were present with 2 Eastern Bonelli’s, 8 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Great Reed Warblers and eventually, briefly, a fine Icterine Warbler, complete with raised crest, lemon wash and obvious orangey bill. 2 Ruppell’s Warblers and a male Eastern Subalpine Warbler added to the mayhem and 6 European Beeaters called as they passed overhead. 2 Rollers were at a possible nest site and 26 Grey Herons were above me as a Cuckoo and Woodchat Shrike flushed. It was quite a spectacle with so many birds in such a small area. At Oroklini, Greater Flamingos now number 23, with 28 Glossy Ibises and 26 Night Herons circling at the coast. 13 Red-crested Pochards were present and another Great Reed Warbler. JUMBO Drain was a little quiet but a Sedge Warbler was good to see. I returned via Akhna Dam where many of the morning’s birds had moved on but a Hobby flew through as I was there and a female Marsh Harrier moved slowly north.
On the 20th in the Cape Greco area I flushed a Stone Curlew from the pines area and several Woodchat Shrikes were obvious. A male Cyprus Warbler showed well from the pines and a male Ortolan Bunting flew from the ground. In the Cape Area a Golden Oriole* sang and was then seen at close range, although a bit obscured. 3 Greater Short-toed Larks called as they passed overhead and a late Chiffchaff was feeding actively as a Red-rumped Swallow fed close to the cliffs. At Ayia Napa Sewage Works, at least 3 Woodchat Shrikes and an Isabelline Wheatear were present and a female Sparrowhawk spiralled above me. A couple of European Beeaters fed above me as they called and as I was leaving the site I saw my first Red-backed Shrike of the spring – a female. A Pallid Harrier – ringtail and 2 Squacco Herons were the highlight as Paralimni Lake before at Akhna Dam, a Whitethroat and female Masked Shrike were present before I returned home for breakfast.
Highlights of the Week: Collared Pratincoles are cracking birds to encounter but an Icterine Warbler stole the show.
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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