We travelled over to Limassol today, hoping for a few migrating raptors. We had an early start as we're awake before 5am anyway and were at Zakaki before 6:30am. Most of the raptors seen were early in the morning and included three Bonelli's Eagles, a Marsh Harrier and three Honey Buzzards.
The Water Rails were quite vocal and there must have been at least four with some juveniles.
We watched the Reed Warblers and a Cetti's Warbler picking through the reeds before the wind got up too much.
The Water Rails were quite vocal and there must have been at least four with some juveniles.
Water Rail at Zakaki
We watched the Reed Warblers and a Cetti's Warbler picking through the reeds before the wind got up too much.
Reed Warbler at Zakaki marsh
There were several herons and egrets in the open water but only those that flew could be seen. A Bluethroat was very obliging and ran around just in front of the hide.
Bluethroat
When the hirundines came over, there were four Little Swifts in with them.
Little Swift
We had the best of the day there really. Moving on to Akrotiri Marsh we looked at the South Hide and were disappointed by the open water that has been created there. Not an extensive scrape area, more of a pond feature. We wondered how long before the viewing is as obscrured as at Zakaki as there never seems to be any provision for maintenance.
View from South Hide, Akrotiri marsh
The metal fence round the grazed area still didn't look any better than the last time. Such a shame - imagine the uproar if a British nature reserve was left like that. So much money spent - will it turn out to be a triumph for wildlife planning - we shall wait and see.
The fence provides a boundary along the entire roadside and down to the reedside hide.
Quite an expense all that metal.
Nice information board and signage too.
So just how much money was spent on improving the condition of the reedbed and returning more areas to open water? The reason for the fencing was to allow cattle to graze the marsh and consume some of the reeds. The cattle were mainly to be open grazing, but old habits die hard and most are still tethered. The reed bed was more open in the 90s with less cattle than now on site, so not sure grazing is the whole issue. Unfortunately the low rainfall in Cyprus over the past few years is not helping. Fingers crossed that there is winter rain and we can see some valuable outcome next spring with more birds on site. The hide in the area of the main bird watching area for the last 30 years is on one low level and is not got a lot of space. It is true that money is not overly plentiful, but last winter money was spent grubbing out a whole area of reeds, which has re-grown. It is really great to see any conversation work done in Cyprus, but I will say, this has a fair bit of RSPB input, and would we be happy with a reserve looking like this in the UK, with such limited open water, metal fencing all round and the old main viewing area with such a small hide?
Red-backed Shrike finds something to sit on!
Bishop's Pool had the usual birds with the addition of a Tufted Duck.