BIRDLIFE CYPRUS          ΠΤΗΝΟΛΟΓΙΚΟΣ ΣΥΝΔΕΣΜΟΣ ΚΥΠΡΟΥ

Bird News

Bird Records for June 2003

[The following list contains records that have not been corrected or corroborated]

Little Grebe    Tachybaptus ruficollis

There were 2 families, consisting of 7 birds, reported from Achelia Dam on the 29^th plus 1 adult at Aspro Dam Pools on the same date. The Oroklini maximum daily count was of 10 birds.

Shag    Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Only reported from Mandria when there was 1 on the 2^nd and 2 each on the 7^th and the 14^th.

Night Heron    Nycticorax nycticorax

Just 1 one report of 3 adults at Aspro Dam Pools on the 29^th.

Squacco Heron    Ardeola ralloides

There were 6 on the Ezousa on the 9^th with 2 at Asprokremnos Dam on the 14^th.

Cattle Egret    Bubulcus ibis

1 at the Ezousa on the 5^th was the only report.

Little Egret    Egretta garzetta

Asprokremnos Dam had 4 on the 7^th, 3 on the 14^th and 2 on the 21^st whilst at Oroklini there were 2 on the 1^st and 1 each on the 2^nd and the 3^rd.

Grey Heron    Ardea cinerea

There was a single bird at Evretou Dam on the 3^rd, 6 at the Asprokremnos Dam on the 7^th with 5 on the 14^th and 2 on the 21^st whilst on the Ezousa River there was 1 on the 9^th.  

Purple Heron    Ardea purpurea

There were 4 at Asprokremnos Dam on the 7^th with 2 each on the 14^th and the 21^st. Oroklini had 1 on the 2^nd, 1 on the 4^th and 1 on the 5^th.

Glossy Ibis    Plegadis falcinellus

There were 1 each at the Ezousa Dams on the 9^th and at Oroklini on the 8^th.

Mallard    Anas platyrhynchos

Reports of 90 from the Larnaca Sewage Works on the 2^nd which included 60 juvs.

Pintail    Anas acuta

I am assured that there was a female of this species seen in the company of some ducklings at Phasouri Reed Beds on the 3^rd of May. Of course, the day-old ducklings were not identified to species status thus definite proof of breeding could not be confirmed.

Garganey    Anas querquedula

There was female reported from Oroklini on the 1^st.

Griffon Vulture    Gyps fulvus

1 at Salamiou Cliffs on the 4^th and 3 near Petra tou Romiou on the 14^th were the only sightings reported.

Kestrel    Falco tinnunculus

Oroklini reports up to 2 birds for most of the month. 2 were seen at Athalassa on the 29^th.

Peregrine    Falco peregrinus

1 was reported from the north coast of the Akamas on the 1^st with 1 bird inland at the Akamas on the same date. A female and an immature were reported from the Xeros Potamos, seen by 2 observers at adjacent sites during the Griffon Vulture survey on the 26^th.   

Chukar    Alectoris chukar

Reported from just 2 sites, at Mandria on the 23^rd there was a largish flock of 24 birds which consisted mainly of 10 day-old juvs, well able to fly at this age and from Oroklini when there were 15 on the 23^rd, 1 on the 25^th, 8 on the 29^th and finally 15 again seen on the 30^th.

Black Francolin    Francolinus francolinus

On the 5^th at the Ezousa River there 3 reported with another 3, a female and 2 juvs, at Mandria on the same date. 2 were reported from Pomos on the 15^th, 1 at Athalassa on the 18^th and a maximum daily count at Oroklini of 3 birds which, on the 27^th consisted of a female and 2 juvs.

Moorhen    Gallinula chloropus

A 12 day-old juv was reported from the Ezousa Dam on the 5^th, an adult with a young juv at Aspro Dam Pools on the 29^th and a maximum daily count at Oroklini of 45 birds. 2 were reported from Athalassa on the 29^th.

Coot    Fulica atra

45 was the maximum daily count at Oroklini whilst 4 birds were reported from Larnaca Sewage Works on the 2^nd.

Black-winged Stilt    Himantopus himantopus

There were 4 at the Larnaca Sewage Works on the 2^nd, 4 at Mandria on the 5^th, 2 at the Asprokremnos Dam on the 7^th with just 1 on the 14^th whilst the maximum daily count at Oroklini was of 75 birds.

Collared Pratincole    Glareola pratincola

The only sighting this month of 1 bird at the Larnaca Sewage Works on the 2nd.   

Spur-winged Plover    Vanellus spinosus

15 as the maximum daily count at Oroklini with 2^nd clutches being incubated on the 23^rd.     

Little Stint    Calidris minuta

On the 2^nd there was 1 at the Ezousa Dam and 9 at Oroklini.

Ruff    Philomachus pugnax

On the 2^nd there was 1 at the Ezousa Dam and 1 at the Larnaca Sewage Works. Ezousa also had 3 present on the 5^th and 1 on the 9^th.

Green Sandpiper    Tringa ochropus

1 at Oroklini on the 10^th and the 29^th with 2 at Aspro Dam Pools on the 21^st.

Audouin’s Gull    Larus audouinii

3 birds, including 1 juv [or immature?] were reported by CR from the Larnaca Sewage Works on the 2^nd.

 Lesser Black-backed Gull    Larus fuscus   

L.f.fuscus

1 at the Larnaca Sewage Works on the 2^nd.

L.f.heuglini

As above, 1 at the Larnaca Sewage Works on the 2^nd. 

Yellow-legged Gull    Larus cachinnans

10 at the Larnaca Sewage Works on the 2^nd.  

Common Tern    Sterna hirundo

2 at the Larnaca Sewage Works on the 2^nd.

Little Tern    Sterna albifrons

An adult at the Larnaca Sewage Works on the 2^nd.

Whiskered Tern    Chlidonias hybridus

2 at the Larnaca Sewage Works on the 2^nd.

White-winged Black Tern    Chlidonias leucopterus

1 at Oroklini on both the 1^st and the 2^nd.   

Collared Dove    Streptopelia decaocto

Oroklini had up to 2 birds for most of the month with Strovolos having a similar number all month too.

Turtle Dove    Streptopelia turtur

2 at the Asprokremnos Dam on the 14^th, 2 at Kathikas on the 18^th, c12 at Xeros Potamos on the 26^th and 1 at Armou on the 28^th.

Great Spotted Cuckoo   Clamator glandarius

Single birds seen at Kathikas on the 4^th, Mandria on the 9^th, Lythrodhonda on the 10^th, Asprokremnos Dam on the 14^th and a juv at Armou on the 28^th. During the Birds and Farming Survey a crèche of 4 youngsters at Kathikas on the 18^th and 3 juveniles being fed by adult Magpies at Kato Lefkara on the 21^st. 

Scops Owl    Otus scops cyprius

During the Griffon Vulture Survey on the 26th a nest within an old Carob Tree containing an adult and 3 youngsters at the Xeros Potamos. There were also 2 birds reported from Armou on the 28^th and 1 was reported as being present all month at Lythrodhonda. 

Little Owl    Athene noctua

1 at Nata on the 4^th, 2 seen mating near Ineia on the 5^th and 4 reported from Chirokitia on the 21^st.

Long-eared Owl    Asio otus

1 bird at Athalassa on the 29^th.

Nightjar    Caprimulgus europaeus

1 in dense Juniper at Lara on the 10^th.

Swift    Apus apus

20 reported from the Larnaca Sewage Works on the 2^nd with c100 being the Oroklini maximum daily count. c10 were reported from Strovolos all month.

Pallid Swift    Apus pallidus

30 reported flying in heavy rain on the 1^st in Troodos.

Alpine Swift    Apus melba

2 at the Aspro Dam Pools on the 5^th and 2 during the Vulture Survey in the Xeros Potamos on the 26^th.

Bee-eater    Merops apiaster

‘Several’ were reported at Neo Chorio on the 1^st, 9 flying north from the Akamas on the 2^nd, ‘several’ flying high over Yialia on the 3^rd, 3 at Kathikas on the 4^th, c20 at Kritou Tera on the 6^th, 3 at Chlorakas on the 7^th, 8 at Chlorakas on the 27^th and finally up to 4 birds reported as breeding in a river bed at Lythrodhonda all month.

Roller    Coracias garrulus

3 at Kathikas on the 4^th, 3 at Asprokremnos Dam on the 7^th, 1 at Nicosia on the 7^th, 2 at Aspro Dam Pools on the 9^th, 3 at Asprokremnos Dam on the 14^th with 7 being seen between Stroumbi and Polis on the same date. There was 1 at Droushia on the 18^th, 2 at Kathikas on the 18^th, 3 at the Asprokremnos Dam on the 21^st, 2 at Xeros Potamos on the 26^th and finally 1 at Tsadha on the 27^th.

Hoopoe    Upupa epops

2 reported from the Xeros Potamos on the 26^th and 1 from Tsadha on the 27^th. 1 or 2 at Lythrodhonda all month.

Crested Lark    Galerida cristata

The only report is that of 15 being the maximum daily count at Oroklini.

Sand Martin    Riparia riparia

1 at Oroklini on the 1^st and 2 at Larnaca Sewage Works on the 2^nd are the only reports.

Swallow    Hirundo rustica

c70 at Larnaca Sewage Works on the 2^nd, 30 young birds at Lythrodhonda on the 19^th and c120 as the maximum daily count at Oroklini.

Red-rumped Swallow    Hirundo daurica

3 at Aspro Dam Pools on the 2^nd, c10 at Kathikas on the 4^th, 6 at Asprokremnos Dam on the 7^th, 5 at Asprokremnos Dam on the 14^th, 4 at Pachyammos on the 14^th, c16 at Xeros Potamos on the 26^th and 1 at Oroklini on the 27^th. 

House Martin    Delichon urbica

20 at Oroklini on the 3^rd but then only 1 or 2 until the 10^th after which there were no more reports. There were 2 reported from Larnaca Sewage Works on the 2^nd. 14 were reported from Strovolos on the 20^th with a report that birds had second broods. 

Yellow Wagtail    Motacilla flava

f) Black-headed Wagtail    Motacilla flava feldegg                                                                                                                                                          The only sightings this month with 5 at Oroklini all month and adults seen   feeding juvs on the 25^th.

Cyprus Pied Wheatear    Oenanthe cypriaca

A juv and 2 adults at the Xeros Potamos on the 26th and 2 present all month at Lythrodhonda   

Cetti’s Warbler   Cettia cetti

Just two reports of 2 birds at Kato Lefkara on the 6^th and 14 birds at Athalassa on the 29^th.

Fan-tailed Warbler    Cisticola juncidis

2 at Kato Lefkara on the 6^th, 7 at Mandria on the 14^th and a maximum daily count at Oroklini of 5 birds.  

Olivaceous Warbler    Hippolais pallida

1 at Kathikas on the 4^th, 1 at the Ezousa on the 9^th, 3 near the Nata ford on the 14^th, 2 at Chirokitia on the 21^st and 3 at Oroklini on the 28^th. 1 was reported as being present all month at Lythrodhonda.

Spectacled Warbler    Sylvia conspicillata

1 each at the Asprokremnos Dam on the 14^th and at Xeros Potamos on the 26^th. The Oroklini maximum daily count was reported as 10 birds.

Sardinian Warbler    Sylvia melanocephala

2 males and a female at Kathikas on the 4^th and a male at the Asprokremnos Dam on the 7^th.

Cyprus Warbler    Sylvia melanothorax

4 at Kato Lefkara on the 6^th and 3 at the Xeros Potamos on the 26^th.

Spotted Flycatcher    Muscicapa striata

1 at Neo Chorio on the 1^st and 1 at Ayios Giorgios on the 2^nd.

Coal Tit    Parus ater cypriotes

1 seen in Troodos on the 1^st.

Great Tit    Parus major aphrodite

1 at Oroklini on the 5^th and 2 present all month at Lythrodhonda.

Short-toed Treecreeper    Certhia brachydactyla dorotheae

1 in Troodos on the 1^st.

Woodchat Shrike    Lanius senator

1 near the turn-off to Kritou Tera on the Kathikas to Polis road on the 12^th.

Masked Shrike    Lanius nubicus

1 at Troodos on the 1^st, at Lythrodhonda on the 20^th, at Lefkara on the 21^st and at Choli on the 27^th. An adult with 2 juvs were reported on the 29^th from Lythrodhonda.

Jay    Garrulus glandarius glaszneri

2 seen during heavy rain at Troodos on the 1^st.

Magpie    Pica pica

The maximum daily count at Oroklini was of 5 birds with 2 at Athalassa on the 29^th.

Jackdaw    Corvus monedula

c75 were reported to be breeding at a cliff site close to Lefkara on the 8^th whilst the maximum daily count at Nicosia was of 2 birds.

Hooded Crow    Corvus corone

The Oroklini maximum daily count was of 6 birds whilst the Athalassa maximum daily count was c10.

Starling    Sturnus vulgaris

Unusual sighting of 1 bird at Oroklini on the 25^th.

House Sparrow    Passer domesticus

The Oroklini maximum daily count was of c175 birds.

Spanish Sparrow    Passer hispaniolensis

c40 at the Paphos Lighthouse Area on the 17^th.

Chaffinch    Fringilla coelebs

4 at Troodos on the 1^st.

Greenfinch    Carduelis chloris

A flock of about 80 of all age groups were seen at the Paphos Lighthouse Area on the 17^th plus 6 were present all month at Lythrodhonda and Oroklini had up to 4 birds seen occasionally throughout the month.

Goldfinch    Carduelis carduelis

Oroklini had a maximum daily count of 10 whilst Lythrodhonda had a maximum daily count of 8 birds.

Linnet    Carduelis cannabina

c30 were seen during the Birds and Farming Survey at Kathikas on the 4^th and a nest containing 2 eggs was found at the same location on the same date. During a later survey on the 18^th the nest was found to contain 3 recently hatched young. 4 birds were seen at Kato Lefkara on the 6^th.

Cretzschmar’s Bunting    Emberiza caesia

3 at Kathikas on the 4^th, 2 at Lythrodhonda on the 13^th and 1 at Kathikas on the 18^th.

Black-headed Bunting    Emberiza melanocephala

8 at Kathikas on the 4^th, 1 at Kato Lefkara on the 6^th, 2 at the Nata ford on the 14^th, 5 at Droushia on the 18^th and 3 at Kathikas on the same date.

Corn Bunting    Miliaria calandra

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