The first day, Wednesday, started with a morning of ringing at
Acheleia with most species being Cetti’s Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Chiffchaff
and Blackcap to a total of 20 birds. A swift sweep of a few of our birding
haunts proved that there is very little running water anywhere and produced
Long-legged Buzzard, Finsches Wheatear, Golden Plover, Little Owl, Stone Curlew
and Red-throated Pipit among others.
Acheleia - 20
Acheleia - completely dry water tanks.
Finsches Wheatear male at Anarita Park
Long-legged Buzzard - Anarita Park
Little Owl - Anarita Park
Golden Plovers at Mandria
Thursday was poor with just 4 birds from the Xeros Potomos reed-bed
by the desalination plant. Again, the area was very dry and we packed up early
and drove towards the Episkopi area, stopping off on the road to the Arminou
Dam where water was flowing. We took our opportunity and netted 8 Chiffchaffs.
On our way back at Episkopi Ezousa river saw a Bittern, which was watched
consuming a rather large frog.
Cetti's Warbler - Xeros Potomos reed-bed
Song Thrush - Xeros Potomos reed-bed
Arminou - a pool on the track to the dam
Bittern at Episkopi
GreyWagtail - at Episkopi
A return to the Acheleia area on Friday, a little way from
where nets were set on the first day provided 19 captures, including Spanish
Sparrow and a Cetti’s Warbler re-trap that Chris first ringed on 11 November 2014,
but a return the following day brought only two birds. Further exploration of
the area was confirming that birds were attracted to water trapped as puddles
on the road, this being our best chance of capturing reasonable numbers of
birds. However, the puddles were drying up fast and some chances were lost as
pools had dried completely when we returned to put up nets.
Female Stonechat - Acheleia
On Saturday a return to Acheleia was rather disappointing
with only 4 birds. But, we got good numbers of Chiffchaff and few other species
on some pools in the road down to the desalination plant in the afternoon. We
also noticed and watched large numbers of Corn Bunting at their pre-roost
behaviour; perhaps a new opportunity for us to try over the next couple of
weeks.
Sardinian Warbler
Male Stonechat
A try at Agia Varvara on Sunday was another low return day, with
only six. Late afternoon the last couple of hours was spent at Paphos Sewage
Works with a couple of double panels over puddles and a strategically placed
backstop to intercept birds flying up as we went to extract that proved most successful, with Serin and
Black Redstart on the record sheet.
5M Serin
Chris keeping a note of proceedings.
Two doubles by the Sewage Works
Age 5 Black Redstart
The next day, Monday, was forecast for very strong winds and
heavy intermittent downpours so we took the day off and stayed out of the
weather.
13 January
Acheleia - 20
Cetti’s Warbler - 4
Sardinian Warbler - 5
Blackcap - 5
Chiffchaff – 5
Great Tit – 1
Sardinian Warbler - 5
Blackcap - 5
Chiffchaff – 5
Great Tit – 1
14 January
Xeros Potamos Reedbed – 4
Robin – 1
Robin – 1
Song Thrush – 1
Cetti’s Warbler – 2
Cetti’s Warbler – 2
Arminou Dam – 8
Chiffchaff – 8
15 January
Acheleia – 18 (1)
Robin – 1
Stonechat – 1
Cetti’s Warbler – 0 (1)
Sardinian Warbler – 4
Blackcap – 2
Chiffchaff – 8
Spanish Sparrow - 2
Cetti’s Warbler – 0 (1)
Sardinian Warbler – 4
Blackcap – 2
Chiffchaff – 8
Spanish Sparrow - 2
16 January
Acheleia – 1 (1)
Stonechat – 1
Cetti’s Warbler – 0 (1)
Cetti’s Warbler – 0 (1)
Xeros Potamos – 27
Robin – 1
Blackcap – 2
Chiffchaff – 21
Serin – 1
Chaffinch - 1
Goldfinch – 1
Blackcap – 2
Chiffchaff – 21
Serin – 1
Chaffinch - 1
Goldfinch – 1
17 January
Agia Varvara – 6
Cetti’s Warbler – 3
Sardinian Warbler – 1
Blackcap – 1
Chiffchaff – 1
Sardinian Warbler – 1
Blackcap – 1
Chiffchaff – 1
Paphos Sewage Works – 25
White Wagtail – 2
Robin – 2
Black Redstart – 1
Blackcap - 4
Chiffchaff – 8
Great Tit – 1
Serin – 2
Chaffinch – 3
Goldfinch - 2
Robin – 2
Black Redstart – 1
Blackcap - 4
Chiffchaff – 8
Great Tit – 1
Serin – 2
Chaffinch – 3
Goldfinch - 2