We had a midday flight out - but that was delayed by an hour so we knew we would arrive in darkness. Pick up of the rental car went smoothly. However, we had been given a white car (never idea when birding) and worse, there were only 6km on the clock, so there would be extra clearance to be done on some of the less well used tracks if scratches were to be avoided. Note to self - Europcar charge you for a tank of petrol 102.34 Euros. Repaid if brought back full - shall definitely do that, cost is about 60 Euros to fill it up. Arrived in Emba late and with unpacking it was midnight by the time we retired. It was so, so hot in the house - clearly temperatures were still high.
Day 1
It is usual to have a run round all the local sites to see what's been happening while we've been away, but for a change we decided to go to Limassol birding, then check a couple of sites on the way back.
The ringing gear fitted in to the Focus alright and we were on the road before 7:30am.
Coffee Pause had been refitted. I extended the usual morning greeting 'Kalimera' to the owner and just for a change, I and not Chris was mistaken for a local - but the conversation soon returned to English. Coffee and pastries are as good as ever.
We went to Zakaki Marsh first. Here the reeds had completely filled the viewing gap. We could hear a lot of noise from the open area, now obscured and a large number of Grey Heron and Night Heron went up when disturbed by something.
We also had a glimpse of a Pied Kingfisher, three European Kingfishers, a Water Rail and a crake (not seen well enough to say what species). Next, to have a look round the back.
We saw some Rollers on wires and a few Red-backed Shrikes on the larger bushes, then found that the outflow from the marsh was almost non-existent. Out on the sands we had a couple of Eleonora's Falcons overhead.
Ladies' Mile held only a few waders but we also saw a Black Kite passing through close to the radio masts.
While taking a look at Bishop's Pool it was clear that the algaeal bloom was becoming toxic with a couple of carcasses floating on the water. It was difficult to be sure exactly what they had been, but Little Grebe seemed most likely. There were a lot on the lake, also a couple of Little Egrets and a single Glossy Ibis on the bank. Bee-eaters could be heard overhead and at various times through the day. The salt lake looked completely devoid of life and parched.
There were more Red-backed Shrikes and Whinchats at the gravel pits. At a pool we found a Greenshank with two Redshank resting. Looking across to the marsh a juvenile Montagu's Harrier was hunting.
The work undertaken at Akrotiri Marsh was very disappointing. It looked as though most money was spent on the fence, many animals were still teathered - questionable whether a fence is necessary. No open areas of water were visible and the high hide was up one end of the marsh rather than central. It will be interesting to see what the site produces next spring.
At Kouklia we cut a lot of the vegetation back from the track. For the most part Chris drove and I used the shears. He took over briefly, disturbed some bees and got stung twice for his trouble. On reaching our usual spot it was clearly very dry, no water at all, and the agricultural clearance had come so far across so as to take out two areas that we used to put nets in. Further up the track it had been ploughed up - perhaps we no longer need to worry about vehicles coming through and there are still places where we can net. We noticed a lot of Willow Warblers here. Also, no dead dogs - always a bonus!
The desalination plant, another of our places, has now been decommissioned. There had clearly been recent burning- it was still smouldering in places. It was probably deliberate - all the reedbed gone and signs that bulldozers have already been in. This might have been a fire caused accidently, but fly-tipping isn't so bad here so less glass to start a fire in the heat of summer. We expect it to be cultivated in the next year or two. The same happened in Polis reedbed last year. Every year human use encroaches on the wildlife.
The loss of this site was a blow, but at least Kouklia is still viable. We called it a day, as the 34 degree temperature was draining, and determined to go to Kouklia the next day.
Day 1
It is usual to have a run round all the local sites to see what's been happening while we've been away, but for a change we decided to go to Limassol birding, then check a couple of sites on the way back.
The ringing gear fitted in to the Focus alright and we were on the road before 7:30am.
Coffee Pause had been refitted. I extended the usual morning greeting 'Kalimera' to the owner and just for a change, I and not Chris was mistaken for a local - but the conversation soon returned to English. Coffee and pastries are as good as ever.
We went to Zakaki Marsh first. Here the reeds had completely filled the viewing gap. We could hear a lot of noise from the open area, now obscured and a large number of Grey Heron and Night Heron went up when disturbed by something.
Juvenile Nightheron
European Kingfisher
We also had a glimpse of a Pied Kingfisher, three European Kingfishers, a Water Rail and a crake (not seen well enough to say what species). Next, to have a look round the back.
Red-backed Shrike (juvenile)
We saw some Rollers on wires and a few Red-backed Shrikes on the larger bushes, then found that the outflow from the marsh was almost non-existent. Out on the sands we had a couple of Eleonora's Falcons overhead.
Ladies' Mile held only a few waders but we also saw a Black Kite passing through close to the radio masts.
Kentish Plover
While taking a look at Bishop's Pool it was clear that the algaeal bloom was becoming toxic with a couple of carcasses floating on the water. It was difficult to be sure exactly what they had been, but Little Grebe seemed most likely. There were a lot on the lake, also a couple of Little Egrets and a single Glossy Ibis on the bank. Bee-eaters could be heard overhead and at various times through the day. The salt lake looked completely devoid of life and parched.
There were more Red-backed Shrikes and Whinchats at the gravel pits. At a pool we found a Greenshank with two Redshank resting. Looking across to the marsh a juvenile Montagu's Harrier was hunting.
The work undertaken at Akrotiri Marsh was very disappointing. It looked as though most money was spent on the fence, many animals were still teathered - questionable whether a fence is necessary. No open areas of water were visible and the high hide was up one end of the marsh rather than central. It will be interesting to see what the site produces next spring.
Bee-eaters feeding near bee hives at Phassouri.
At Kouklia we cut a lot of the vegetation back from the track. For the most part Chris drove and I used the shears. He took over briefly, disturbed some bees and got stung twice for his trouble. On reaching our usual spot it was clearly very dry, no water at all, and the agricultural clearance had come so far across so as to take out two areas that we used to put nets in. Further up the track it had been ploughed up - perhaps we no longer need to worry about vehicles coming through and there are still places where we can net. We noticed a lot of Willow Warblers here. Also, no dead dogs - always a bonus!
The desalination plant, another of our places, has now been decommissioned. There had clearly been recent burning- it was still smouldering in places. It was probably deliberate - all the reedbed gone and signs that bulldozers have already been in. This might have been a fire caused accidently, but fly-tipping isn't so bad here so less glass to start a fire in the heat of summer. We expect it to be cultivated in the next year or two. The same happened in Polis reedbed last year. Every year human use encroaches on the wildlife.
Burnt out reedbed by the desalination plant
Juvenile Whinchat in burnt out reedbed.
The loss of this site was a blow, but at least Kouklia is still viable. We called it a day, as the 34 degree temperature was draining, and determined to go to Kouklia the next day.