Had a chance of a quick walk around Akhna Dam this morning. The water levels are dropping but there is still plenty of waterside mud and although there were less waders there were still some good birds. The bushes and trees are full of European Robin and especially Chiffchaffs. A few Chaffinch and plenty of Greenfinch and Goldfinch were flying around as was a Song Thrush. Two Common Redstart were present along with a Whinchat and several Stonechat. A Sedge Warbler was feeding in the reeds. The usual Grey Heron and Little Egret were joined by a Great Egret. At least forty and probably more Spur-winged Lapwing were roosting and feeding at the water’s edge. Two Northern Lapwing were in the area near the goat farm together with several Common Snipe, some Ruff, two Common Redshank, a Greenshank and at least ten Common Ringed Plover. A juvenile Peregrine Falcon flew over the water being chased by a White Wagtail and two Eurasian Sparrowhawk were harassed by the local Hooded Crows. A Honey Buzzard flew over heading south and two Marsh Harrier – a male and a female put the Coot and Moorhen to flight. The Black-necked Grebe from last week was still around as were a couple of Common Kingfisher. As I was leaving I found a Water Pipit in with a group of White Wagtail. No sign of any Meadow Pipit or Skylark yet though.

Grey Heron Akhna Dam October 25th 2013 Copyright Cyprus Birding Tours

Akhna Dam October 25th 2013 Copyright Cyprus Birding Tours

Every time I go to Athalassa Park in Nicosia I tell myself that I should go there more often. After three and a half days of work on the computer I decided to go there this afternoon and when the first bird you see is a Bluethroat you know you have made the right decision.

Very few ducks or Coots though although there were plenty of the resident Little Grebe and Moorhen.  As well as Grey Heron and Little Egret there was also a Purple Heron, a Great Egret and to my surprise a Spoonbill which flew off northwards after I had watched it for a few minutes. At least one Common Kingfisher was flying around and calling as was a Grey Wagtail. A lone Black-winged Stilt was unusual and there was also a Wood Sandpiper and Common Snipe. A Eurasian Sparrowhawk flew over and a Water Rail was heard. In the wooded areas there were plenty of Robins singing and probably setting up territories having recently arrived for the winter

Grey Wagtail Athalassa 23rd October 2013 Copyright Cyprus Birding Tours

Black-winged Stilt Athalassa Park 23rd October 2013 Copyright Cyprus Birding Tours

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The Greater Flamingo is probably the most well known species overwintering in Cyprus. They are also the most easy to see – large flocks are present most winters on the Larnaca and Akrotiri Salt Lakes with others occasionally at Oroklini Marsh and Paralimni Lake. A smaller and more elusive visitor is the Bluethroat. A few individuals have already been seen at Akhna Dam this autumn  –  I found one there a week ago flitting around the roots of of waterside bushes. This site is a reliable place to check for this bird – at the edge of the reeds flitting from the safety of the vegetation on the mud to feed and back. In the past Zakaki Marsh has been a good place to check but this year the works around that area may change that. The vegetation in front of the Larnaca Sewage Works hide is another place Bluethroat have been seen in the past. Hopefully Phassouri Reed-beds and Oroklini will have a couple as usual. The most commonly occurring race in Cyprus is the form with the red spot in the middle of the throat. The white spotted form is scarcer and there are very few records of the all blue throated form.

This Bluethroat was photographed at Zakaki Marsh in November2008

Bluethroat Copyright Cyprus Birding Tours

A winter feel to the birds around the house at Meneou Beach this morning.  A European Robin, Chiffchaff, Sardinian Warbler, Chaffinch, White Wagtail and this female Blackcap feeding on the berries of the pyracantha. Barn Swallows and European Bee-eaters still speeding through the area heading towards Cape Kiti and southwards.

Blackcap female Meneou Beach 20th October 2013 Copyright Cyprus Birding Tours

Waterbird count in Larnaca this morning – over 700 Northern Shoveler on the Sewage Works Pools together with more than three hundred each of Common Teal and Mallard, 130 Little Grebe and 75 Coot. There were 33 Greater Flamingo and a single Great Cormorant as well as four Northern Pintail, a lone Garganey and a female Red-crested Pochard. Five Grey Heron and three Little Egret were roosting around the edge and several Common Ringed Plover, Common Redshank, a Dunlin and some Little Stint were feeding in the mud in the distance. There were still a few Barn Swallow flying over but the nearly sixty Black-headed Gull were another indication that summer has gone.

No waders to be found today on Spiro’s Beach but an adult Baltic (Lesser Black-backed fuscus) Gull was there together with more than sixty Yellow-legged Gull. Off shore were two Sandwich Tern. There was a little water on the north east edge of the main Salt Lake and there I found a Grey Wagtail, two Common Snipe and a Jack Snipe.

I decided to check out Akhna and see if the Black Stork seen there earlier in the week were still around. No sign of them unfortunately but it was good to see an Osprey fishing successfully as I arrived. Walking around the shallow end I found at least seventy Spur-winged Lapwing, six Little Egret, seven Grey Heron and at least ten Cattle Egret. Waders included Curlew Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Greenshank, Common Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Ruff, Little Stint, Common and Little Ringed Plover and Wood Sandpiper. A Black-necked Grebe was keeping company with a few of the resident Little Grebe.

Black-necked Grebe Ahkna Dam 18th October 2013 Copyright Cyprus Birding Tours

Had a spare hour this morning so went to Oroklini to see if the Terek Sandpiper was still present. It took a while for me to find it but there was no mistaking it when I did. Lovely bird. Also around were at least twelve Common Redshank, eight Dunlin, more than ten Little Stint, several Common Snipe, a Little Ringed Plover, a Little Egret and eight Grey Heron. There are at least twenty Spur-winged Lapwing in the area. More surprising was a lone Common Shelduck.

Dunlin Oroklini Marsh October 17th 2013 Copyright Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Shelduck Oroklini Marsh October 17th 2013 Copyright Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Redshank Oroklini 17th October 2013 Copyright Cyprus Birding Tours