Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 1 Jun 14
Gull-billed Tern at Akhna Dam on 29 May
A bank holiday had me travelling to the Akrotiri area to see what was about. A Bar-tailed Godwit had been reported over the weekend and with it being a year tick, I decided to give it a whirl – without success, it has to be said. Lady’s Mile was pretty desperate with a few Kentish Plovers and Little Stints being all there was to show for an extensive search for the Godwit. Akrotiri Salt Lake was a little better. Circa 120 Greater Flamingos still remain and in the background on the far edge of the lake, 4 Great White Egrets loitered. A single Slender-billed Gull with a lone Whiskered Tern hawking the reed bed was interesting records and Little Terns numbered 11 – a good count. With no interesting waders being present, I moved to Zakaki Marsh where 7 Little Egrets and a Squacco Heron were obvious. A single Ruff was less so and eventually I saw a Reed and Cetti’s Warbler. The usual Stilts and Spur-wingeds were present but again, fairly quiet. 4 Ferruginous Ducks were unusual for the site as they are usually at Bishop’s Poool. As I drove the coast road back to Larnaca, at Kiti Fields, a Black Francolin strutted its stuff on top of a greenhouse frame and I saw a late male Red-backed Shrike*.
Larnaca Sewage Works was almost devoid of birds but a pair of Ferruginous Ducks and a pair of Shovelers were of note. Many Mallard chicks were with their parents and a couple of Ruffs was all there was in the way of semi-interesting waders. Onward to Oroklini and the Shelduck was still there – my latest ever record for one in Cyprus in the Spring. The usual Heron species were present but again, fairly dull. As I drove into Akhna Dam, a Roller flew by and I flushed several Spur-winged Plovers but with time rolling on and it becoming increasingly more evident that there was nothing about, I returned home.
On Tuesday with domestic duties being king, I paid a brief visit to Akhna Dam which was very quiet once more. With only 8 Little Stints, 6 Ruffs, 12 Spur-winged Plovers, 1 Grey Heron and a Little Egret present, there wasn’t much to get excited about. Wednesday had arrived and Akhna Dam was still very quiet although a Roller was the difference from yesterday. I headed towards Oroklini Marsh and this proved to be a good decision. On the main lake nothing much had changed although the Shelduck appears to have moved on. 7 Night Herons and a skulking Squacco Heron were amongst the Cattle Egret colony and the Greater Flamingos had increased to 30. I drove around to the south hide and walked the area. 4 Little Terns were vocal as were the breeding Black-winged Stilts and Spur-winged Plovers. A calling Yellow Wagtail revealed a female type with a male Black-headed close by, suggesting probable breeding. I could hear a Greenshank calling my first for 3 weeks and a Green Sandpiper flushed providing my first record this month. With 6 Ruffs and 22 Little Stints at least there was something to look at. Eventually I found a Little Ringed Plover with its back to me sitting on mud – blending in perfectly, I had to wait for it to move to confirm the yellow eye-ring. As I drove home after finishing a KFC – always a treat when visiting Oroklini, a Night Heron flew past at Vrysoulles and the ever reliable Little Owl sat on its stone at the rock face roost site.
Thursday had arrived and it was the day to visit the North and check on the status of the Cattle Egret colony. The chicks are now well developed and wing exercising. I did have some good finds though. The Little Egret’s nest had two well grown chicks in it which confirms breeding at the site and another possible. At least 4 Glossy Ibis’ nests were located, one with 2 large chicks which confirmed breeding this year and finally with 3 Night Heron nests visible one of these had 2 well developed chicks and another a couple of eggs – so a good confirmation of breeding. It would appear that a couple of Squacco Herons are sitting but no eggs or chicks were seen. The pair of Ferruginous Ducks continue at the site and a couple of Black-winged Stilts and Spur-winged Plovers were evident.
I moved to Akhna Dam after re-crossing the border to the south and was greeted by a couple of Magpies and a Roller chasing a pair of Great-Spotted Cuckoos – which was a good moment. As I approached the large area of water in the middle of the dam, a Hoopoe flushed and a white shape was sat on a small island. I quickly raised my bins and bingo – a year tick – an adult Gull-billed Tern* taking the year total to a respectable 245. I manoeuvred the car and got some reasonable images of the bird. 3 Little Stints fed in front of the tern, and a couple of Black-winged Stilts were with a Cattle Egret and 2 Squacco Herons. Highlight of the week over, I returned home happy. On the 30th Akhna was a re-run but with the addition of 2 Night Herons – a 1st CY & 2nd CY.
On the last day of the month I visited the Cape Greco area and it was really quiet. The reliable male Cyprus Warbler continued to sing and they’re always nice to see but there was little else. At Ayia Napa Sewage Works, a similar story with a couple of Spectacled Warblers and a singing Black-headed Bunting. A Hobby being mobbed by 2 Kestrels was a welcome relief and a tick for the month. I proceeded to Ayia Thekla where only a Little Egret broke the boredom and at Akhna Dam the Gull-billed Tern was still present and amongst the Little Stints, a late Curlew Sandpiper and a Temminck’s Stint. A pair of Rollers performed well and the pair of Squacco Herons were also present.
Sunday, a new month and a new list. The Shelduck remained at Oroklini which is a very late record as did 28 Greater Flamingos and 5 Red-crested Pochards. The pair of Shovelers remain at Larnaca Sewage Works. A Greenshank here was unexpected and 3, 3 CY Armenian Gulls were a very good record for June. A Green Sandpiper and 2 Glossy Ibises were at the north end of Larnaca Salt Lake. At least 5 Calandra Larks performed at Pervolia Fields and a male Black-headed Bunting was singing once more. Akhna Dam still had a few migrants passing through with a Curlew Sandpiper, Ringed Plover and an adult Black Tern. The pair of Night Herons and a Squacco remained but there was nothing of interest with the 11 Little Stints. Looking in at Vrysoulles 2 Owlets were at the entrance to the nest site but there was no sign of an adult.
Highlights of the Week: An adult Gull-billed Tern was at Akhna Dam and was a bit of a surprise at this time of year. Confirming breeding status for Night Heron was a good moment.
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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