Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 6 Jul 14
Brown Fish Owl at Oyampinar Reservoir on 6 Jul
Well an absence of 2 weeks in the UK was not without its highlights. Travelling from Northumberland to Plymouth allowed me to catch up with a few County ticks in the North with the Black-winged Pratincole and Great White Egret, although I dipped on the Bridled Tern and Little Bittern. In Devon, at Bowling Green Marsh in a Gull fest, I saw the Ross’s and Bonaparte’s along with a few breeding plumaged Spotted Redshanks. Of the other interesting sightings, I saw Heath and Marsh Fritillaries* in Devon, along with Small Pearl Bordered*. Adding to the list were Green Hairstreak*, Large Skipper* and Holly Blue*. A Dragonfly lifer - Broad-bodied Chaser - was a good photo opportunity so not all was a disaster in the UK. However, we both returned to Cyprus on the 25th with colds and ear infections and we are both struggling to hear very much at the moment – What? Yes I’ve heard them all thanks.
Back in Cyprus with not many birds about which is usual for June, I added a new Orchid – Red Helliborine* and photographed Dense-flowered Helliborine* in flower this year as I’d missed it last year. At Akhna Dam on the last day of the month, a Gull-billed Tern and White-winged Black Tern was a surprise as was the breeding plumaged Spotted Redshank. Waders are returning with Wood and Green Sandpipers being the most obvious although at Oroklini, 5 Black-tailed Godwits and the first returning. Wintering Redshank was in situ.
So to the beginning of another week and much of the above was still in place although Fresh Water Lake South in Famagusta added to the heron species with Squacco Heron immatures being present with Glossy Ibises and numerous cattle Egrets. 3 Greenshanks were present with large numbers of Black-winged Stilts and 6 Ferruginous Ducks were feeding with 2 immatures suggesting breeding in the area.
On Tuesday afternoon, Akhna Dam held much the same, however the Gull-billed* and White-winged Black Tern had returned and 2 Marsh Sandpipers and a Black-tailed Godwit were present on the dwindling puddles.
On Thursday I was packing after work and in the evening we flew to Antalya, were picked up and spent the night in the hotel at Side. A brief walk around the hotel area on Friday morning produced at least 12 White-spectacled (Yellow-vented) Bulbuls*, a Turkish “tick” for me. A couple of Eastern Olivaceous Warblers were obvious whilst tail pumping but there was little else of interest. We visited Side (pronounced See-deh) and added a single Yellow-legged Gull. A walk in the evening by a canal behind the hotel produced a couple of Reed Warblers, a few Coots and 2 Little Grebes.
On Saturday, we took a day trip to Antalya. We visited a waterfall at Kursunlu National Park beforehand and apart from a few Damselflies there were only House Sparrows. As I headed for the exit, a movement caught my eye and there was a Kruper’s Nuthatch*, incredible in a bird-less zone, a target bird for most, although I’d seen them previously in south west Turkey – I managed to get a record shot. Antalya for some shopping and I added several more Yellow-legged Gulls in the harbour, 2 more Eastern Olivaceous Warblers and the ubiquitous Palm Doves. On returning to the hotel, Deb did the spa treatment thing and I walked around the local woods for an hour or so for a Hoopoe and a Great Tit. As I was departing a Sparrowhawk rose from the pines and was chased by a Hobby.
On Sunday the main event – the Brown Fish Owl boat trip at Oyampinar Reservoir – the only site in the Western Palaearctic for the species. We were picked up at 0400 and arrived at the reservoir at about 0500. The sun was coming up and several Yellow-legged Gulls were visible. We headed to “Little Canyon” at the east of the main body of water. The wind was getting up and there were no Owls in the usual place, as the guide suggested they were probably sheltering from the wind in their nest holes. Oh dear, – with another 2 British Birders from Norfolk on board (Justin and Andy), the mother of all dips looked likely, far surpassing my failed Black Lark episode from Bedfordshire to Anglesey and only just surpassing Tim Cowley’s mega dip on a White-tailed Plover in Scotland. Anyway with the guide looking worried and his 100% record this year in jeopardy, we travelled to the “Grand Canyon” at the west of the reservoir. Passing 30 or so Cormorants and more Yellow-legged Gulls as we went, a Western Rock Nuthatch called and then showed itself as it headed up the rock face.
With all involved looking pensive and worried the search continued, until one of the crew shouted, “There”. On the rock face sat on a ledge was a cracking female Brown Fish Owl* and soon a male was spotted roosting behind an olive tree and was well concealed. It alighted and flew across the front of the boat and perched high to our right in an obvious roosting site. The female continued to pose for the camera. What a great moment and fantastic bird! We congratulated each other and 3 British birders were spared the ignominy of an expensive dip and Ozcan from Vigo Tours, 100% record this year remained intact. I thank Justin and Andy for their company and Ozcan for organising the transfers and boat trip very effectively.
Back to the hotel and a snooze before some more Russian food – the hotel had 90% Russian occupancy which led to some strange cuisine, it has to be said. A trip to Side for a bit of sightseeing and shopping, followed by an early night and a return flight at 0630 from Antalya to Ercan – Northern Cyprus on Monday left us feeling a bit tetchy by the time we got home and I returned to work at 0930, thinking of Owls and stuff.
Highlights of the Week: Needless to say – The obvious.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
Follow us:
