Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 18 May 14
Black Tern at Akhna Dam on 13 May
John had done the early morning round of Akhna Dam and it was fairly uneventful although the 2 Black Terns were still present. From a birding perspective it was fairly mundane but John had an encounter with a Cypriot POACHER – (They like to call themselves hunters, but there is little sport in their mindless, uneducated activities, so we should not legitimise their activities by referring to them as such). The cretin was firing a shotgun into some eucalyptus trees – what he was shooting at is a mystery. However, when John was watching him, he turned his gun on John in an aggressive manner, a familiar scene as I’m sure CABS will justify. It is amazing that these inbred criminals believe they are above the law in acting in such a way. Still I suppose that’s why Cyprus joined Europe, to become educated and get dragged out of the dark ages – that or they wanted the money to build pointless roundabouts and speed bumps. In any event it was reported to the Police both SBA and Civilian, who seemed equally non-plus about it. John returned to the airport via Oroklini and saw a couple of Spoonbills, a pair of Garganeys and a Little Tern. With that being done, I decided not to go out on Monday and went for an Indian with Deb, not a First Nation American or person from the Sub-Continent but a chicken vindaloo and Tarka Dhal which was excellent.
The beginning of a birding week would not be complete without a visit to Akhna Dam. As I entered the site from the north-west, the female Pied Kingfisher was sat on a dead tree overlooking the water. I proceeded a little further and the 2 Black Terns were still present and very vocal as they hawked the water. 66 Ruffs were feeding actively but left shortly after the shooting started. Other waders recorded were 5 Wood Sandpipers and 1 Curlew Sandpiper. 3 Little Egrets flew in briefly and at the southern end of the dam a Roller perched atop a bush. Any waders that remained were flushed soon enough by a hunting male Peregrine as it flew through at speed.
On Wednesday morning I awoke to the sound of a passing Beeater as I considered my bowl of muesli for breakfast. With not much time on Wednesday due to a bit of fancy dress shopping at JUMBO – RIP JUMBO Drain. I looked in at Oroklini Marsh where 26 Greater Flamingos were still present, along with 4 Red-crested Pochards, only 7 Black-winged Stilts, 5 Squacco Herons and c50 Cattle Egret. I proceeded home via Akhna Dam and with food for the freezer in the car, I couldn’t stop long. I passed a Roller on the wires at Xylotymbou and at the dam, the Osprey was still fishing, 2 Temminck’s Stints were with 6 Little Stints and 7 Ruff were feeding with 8 Ringed Plovers. Only 1 Black Tern remained and during my brief visit, I couldn’t find anything else to write about.
On Thursday, Akhna Dam was the quietest I have seen it this year. 2 Little Egrets, a Night Heron, 5 Little Stints, a Temminck’s Stint and a Spotted Flycathcher was all I had to show for an hour and a half’s searching. Tomorrow, in my “King of the BBQ” role, I am cooking for the UAO’s annual event. The Little Owl remained at its roost in Vrysoulles and whilst at home a lone European Beeater flew over the house calling and 5 Night Herons alighted from the wood behind the house. It is likely that there will be beer involved in the equation, so the chances of getting out on Friday afternoon are looking remote – which may not be a bad thing given yesterday’s showing. Saturday was also a write off, for obvious reasons – no detail required, I hope?
On Sunday, I headed for the Larnaca area, with 1 Greater Flamingo on the Salt Lake and 1 Spur-winged Plover on the Airport Pool North, things did not look promising. The only presence in the Spiro’s Beach and Larnaca Airport Fields were 3 Kentish Plovers and thankfully no lunatic Cypriots to bump into my car. As I approached the Sewage Works the usual male Black Francolin flushed and flew across in front of the car. With things looking normal and mundane with a pair of Shovelers still remaining, a family party of Mallards or 2 and 25 Coots, careful searching produced a breeding plumaged Black-necked Grebe, which was my first ever May record and a real surprise. A White-winged Black Tern was to be expected but was still pleasing to watch as it gracefully plucked insects from the water. The north side of the Salt Lake produced my first Small Desert Blues of the year with a Cetti’s and Spectacled Warbler also being seen. A juvenile Great Tit, clumsily made its way around a hedge and a Spotted Flycatcher had read the script and caught flies from a telegraph wire. Oroklini was the last stop where 30 Greater Flamingos still fed actively and a flyby Little Tern added to the interest. Only 2 female Red-crested Pochards were present (the others must be sitting) and 12 Black-winged Stilts remain after the heavy rains, which probably washed a few nests out. A drake Garganey emerged from the reeds as I departed.
Later in the day, Akhna Dam was a little more lively with 12 Little Stints and 3 Temminck’s Stints* being present and 10 Ringed Plovers flew into join them later on. 4 Common Sandpipers were busy and a territorial Little Egret chased another off and was fairly aggressive in its nature. A Squacco Heron flew over the dam as did a couple of European Beeaters calling as they continued north.
Highlights of the Week: Although a fairly quiet week with migration petering out, a breeding plumaged Black-necked Grebe was an unusual May record and the emergence of good numbers of Small Desert Blues.
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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