Cyprus 12 – 28 January 2016 part 2

Tuesday the 19^th was expected to be very windy, but without any rain. We allocated the day to birding further afield and headed to Zakaki Marsh. The water level was high and we failed to find any Bluethroats, but did get brief views of a Spectacled Warbler and a Moustached Warbler, although our friends, Liz and Roger, joining us for the ringing and birding, didn’t get on to the Moustached. The Little Grebes ans Marsh Harriers can always be relied upon to be there.

 Little Grebe at Zakaki Pool

Marsh Harrier

 There was very little at Lady’s Mile although there were some Armenian and Caspian Gulls off the beach. Moving on to Bishop’s Pool we found Ferruggenous Ducks, Little Grebe and Coot.

 Plenty of water at Bishop's Pool

The arable fields revealed a flock of Woodlark, while Greenfinch, Siskin and Serin frequented an orchard of Almond, Carob, Olive and citrus trees. 

The salt lake at Akrotiri held good numbers of Flamingo, albeit they were rather distant. We checked out the gravel pits where birds (with the exception of Stonechats) were keeping out of the wind and mostly out of sight. At Akrotiri Marsh, formerly known as Phassouri Marsh we discovered some rather unsympathetic management that had left large areas of reeds cut and heaped up at the edge of the reed-bed. We checked the water’s edge for Bluethroat without success, also failing to see the White-breasted Kingfisher (which was not totally unexpected) but did locate a single Penduline tit.

Our next stop was Kensington Cliffs where we scoured the rock-face comprehensively, but again without success, for a recently reported Wallcreeper. As the Sun sank below the horizon we only had one Griffon Vulture coming in to roost, although up to 13 have been recorded recently by other observers. Perhaps the harsh wind and recent snowfall in the Troodos had an effect on the birds’ choice of roost.

Kensington Cliffs

The next day was still a bit windy in the morning so we all birded the Headland at Paphos where Black Redstarts flicked amongst the archaeological remnants of habitation. The birds were a little thin on the ground but patches of wild Cyclamen were well worth inspection. 

 Wild Cyclamen

Black Redstart

Once we’d finished inside the fence we ducked outside (as the exit gate was chained) and found Greater Sand Plovers, Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper on the rocks. A large flock of Golden Plover blended perfectly into their surroundings.

 

Two of four Greater Sandplovers

 Common Sandpiper

 Hooded Crow on the shoreline

After some lunch in Paphos, we returned to a track where we knew birds would come to bathe and drink from the puddles. The track was by the side of the sewage works, a site most attractive to birds, and after all our efforts just to see Bluethroat, actually captured one in the net.

 Aged 5 Bluethroat

 Female Serin

Thursday’s forecast was for showers in the morning. We agreed to see what was happening at 6am and decide whether it was worth trying to get a few hours in. There was rain when the alarm rang, but it seemed to lighten quite quickly and we set off for Agia Varvara at around 7am. With hind sight, I may have been better off staying in bed. We had only got two nets up when a very minor slip onto an extremely sharp piece of rock left me (Denise) with blood pouring from my left shin. We actually spent a couple of hours there (applying pressure and expecting the bleeding to stop), catching a few birds, but the rain started again, nets came down and we had to go back to the apartment to pick up my EHIC (Eurpoean Health Insurance Card) before attending  Paphos A&E. The blood worked wonders and I was booked in, charged 10 Euros, assessed, bandaged, x-rayed twice and sent away within 35 minutes. This seems like an appropriate time to stress the importance of applying for and carrying the EHIC when in the EU. The simplest of things can turn into a cause to get medical treatment.

Later that day we took a run out to some upland areas but failed to find much of interest. In the afternoon we tried down by Paphos Sewage Works but nets took a while to get up by which time many birds failed to return.

19 January 

No ringing

20 January
 

Paphos Sewage Works –31

Robin – 2
Bluethroat – 1
Sardinian Warbler - 2
Blackcap - 5
Chiffchaff –6
Great Tit –2
Serin –1
Chaffinch –6
Goldfinch - 2
Spanish Sparrow - 4

21 January

Agia Varvara –7

Cetti’s Warbler –1
Sardinian Warbler –2
Blackcap – 1
Chiffchaff –3

Paphos Sewage Works –9

Robin –1
Sardinian Warbler - 0 (1)
Blackcap  -2
Chiffchaff –4
Spanish Sparrow - 1