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Systematic
List for May 2006
The
following list contains records that have not been corrected or
corroborated.
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis
Two or three pairs reported at over 10 regular sites, including 2 chicks
each at Zakaki Marsh 10-May and Aspro Pools 29 May. Max. 17 at Fresh
Water Lake South 3-May, 10 at Gecitkoy Dam (Panagra) 11-May and 10 at
Phasouri Reed-beds 17-May.
Black-necked
Grebe
Podiceps nigricollis
Vrysoulles Pools: an interesting record carried over from last month,
one 28-Apr, Larnaca Sewage Works: one in almost complete breeding
plumage 7-10-May.
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
Blue Sea Hotel (Chelones): two 7-May, was unusually late in the season.
Shag Phalacrocorax
aristotelis
Up to nine seen each visit to Kensington Cliffs (
Quarry
Beach
) from 6-27 May. Ayios Filonas: up to 12 seen 7 & 25-May. Up to five
seen along the coast from Rizokarpaso to
Cape
Andreas
reported on each visit 7-26 May. Dhavlos: eight 26-May. Mandria: three
19-May.
Dalmatian
Pelican
Pelecanus crispus
Akhna Dam: one adult
6-May, subject to report and assessment.
Little Bittern
Ixobrychus minutus
Although the best month to find this species, it was only recorded at 4
sites. Sotira Pools: up to three 3-5 May. Aspro Pools: at least one most
days 4-29 May and three fems. 19-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: one most
visits 6-14 May. Zakaki Marsh: one fem. 9-May.
Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
A good scattering of this
migrant and opportunist breeder reported. Phasouri
Reed-beds: 11 on 6-May, up to three 8-9 May, up to eight 9-30 May, with
10 on 14-May. Athalassa Dam:
one 9-May.
Fresh
Water
Lake
South: one 10-May. Larnaca Sewage Works: eight moving north-east with
four Grey Heron 10-May. Bishop's Pool: one imm 12-May, three possibly
two more, 17-May. One ad. 19-May at
Mandria
Canal
, one at nearby Aspro Pools 22-May may have been same bird, followed by
two, incl. 1 imm. 29-May. Akhna Dam: one first-summer type 20-May.
Lakatameia: one
Manglis
Lake
23-May. Oroklini Marsh: max. three 18-May
Squacco Heron Ardeola
ralloides
Reported all month. 54 records received consisting of 138 birds.
Noteworthy reports: Akrotiri
Gravel Pits: four 6-May. Ayia Napa Sewage Pools: three 6 & 8-May.
Phasouri Reed-beds: at least five all month, up to 11 feeding by day
6-18 May, with major roost in reed beds with 23 on 8-May, 32 on 9-May
and 28 on 12-May. Paphos Sewage Plant: up to four 8-17 May, with seven
13-May and one to month end.
Fresh
Water
Lake
South: three including two nests 10-May. Zakaki Marsh: up to five
10-14 May. Aspro Pools: up to three 11-29 May. Evretou Dam: eight
11-May, five 14-May and three 19-May. Smaller numbers elsewhere.
Cattle Egret Bubulcus
ibis
Breeding
at Fresh Water Lake, with
c60 present 3-May, including approx. 30 nests in tamarisk, c150 on
10-Mat with 44 occupied nests, about half with well grown juveniles.
Akhna Dam: two 4-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: up to three 6-18 May, seven
27-May and four 30-May. Oroklini Marsh: up to four 7-8-May. Larnaca
Sewage Works: two 7-May. Paphos Sewage Plant: one from 8-May,
three 26-May and two to 30-May. Vrysoulles Pools: this new site
attracted up to six 9-14 May, up to 14 on 17-23 May including 1 juv. and
nine 26-May. Zakaki Marsh: one 9-May. Bishop's Pool: two 12-May.
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
59 records, consisting of
about 340 birds. Noteworthy records of 5 or more birds on passage
follow. No breeding reports received: Akhna
Dam: max. 58 on 4-May, with seven 7-May. Phinikas: 28 on 4-May. Akrotiri
Gravel Pits: eight 6-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: max. 52 on 6-May. Zakaki
Marsh: up to 15 from 8-17 May.
Larnaca
Airport
Pools South: five 10-May. Oroklini Marsh: 15 on 5 & 22l May, eight
10-May. Paphos Sewage Plant: at least five present
10-23 May, with eight there 20-May.
Spiros
Beach
: 10 coasting east 10-May. Vrysoulles Pool: seven 17-May, four
21-23-May, one remaining 26-May. Bishop's Pool: five 12-May. Mandria
coast: 33, in two flocks 13-May. Kensington Cliffs: 21 resting on rocks
14-May. Larnaca Sewage Works: 12 on 20-May. Meneou Pools: five 20-May.
Great White
Egret
Egretta alba
Paphos Headland: nine
5-May.
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
Apart from the following,
singles and parties of up to five were reported widely all month. Ergazi
Dam: six 9-May.
Ezousa
River
: 14 overhead 10-May. Larnaca Sewage Works: four moving northeast with
eight Night Heron 10-May. Paphos Sewage Plant: seven 10-May. Spiros
Pools: 14 on 7-May. Oroklini Marsh: six 16-27 May, with 14 on 23-May
Purple Heron
Ardea purpurea
Ones and twos were reported all month, up to 29-May. Larger groups were:
Famagusta
area: 12 moving north 3-May. Oroklini Marsh:
seven on 4-May, 23 on 6-May and 16 on 10-May. Aspro Pools: seven
set course north 4-May.
Meneou
Beach
: 11 flying east on 7-May. Paphos Sewage Plant: 18 flying over on
10-May. Gecitkoy Dam (Panagra): three 11-May. Akhna Dam: three 12-May.
Phasouri Reed-beds: three 12-May, 10 on 14-May. Zakaki Marsh: six
14-May.
White Stork Ciconia
ciconia
Larnaca Sewage Works:
one 24-May.
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Still good numbers of reports of migrants. Oroklini Marsh: eight 2-May,
25 on 3-May. Evretou Dam: two 3-11 May. Phasouri Reed-beds: c80 possibly
90 on 4-May, up to six 6-18 May and nine 27-May. Paphos Headland: five
5-May, 17 on 7-May. Blue Sea Hotel (Chelones): 35 flying over sea to NE
on 6-May. Mandria: 10 on 13-May.
Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodia
Akrotiri
Salt
Lake
: one 12-May. Vrysoulles Pool: two 9-12-May. Oroklini Marsh: one 19-May,
two 29-May.
Greater Flamingo
Phoenicopterus
ruber
Surprisingly scarce.
Larnaca
Airport
Pools North: three 3-May. Oroklini Marsh: one 26-May. Larnaca Sewage
Works: five passed through staying for 5 minutes at 8.00h on 10-May,
with one present 27-28 May [probably the bird from Oroklini Marsh].
Akrotiri
Salt
Lake
: 19 on 14-May.
Teal
Anas crecca
Larnaca Sewage Works: 18 on 3-May. One, probably injured, present all
month.
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Reported in largest numbers from 4 or 5 sites, where pairs and broods
seen throughout the month. Akhna Dam: 3 females incubating eggs 4-May,
10 including female with seven downy young 4 & 20-May. Kannaviou
Dam: 1f + 6 ducklings 17-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: 1 female +10 pulli + 1
female + 1 pullus 14-May. Larnaca Sewage Works: 94 on 7-May, 121
including at least 2 pairs with up to 28 young. Oroklini Marsh: 15,
incl. 12 juvs on 3-May, still 12 on 31-May
Garganey Anas
querquedula
Regular at Larnaca Sewage Works: up to three 2-28 May, and four 13-May.
Up to three reported to mid-month at other sites including Larnaca
Airport Pools North, Fresh Water Lake South, Oroklini Marsh, Akhna Dam,
Phinikas, Phasouri Reed-beds and Aspro Pools.
Shoveler Anas
clypeata
At Phasouri Reed-beds a pair seen 6-May, with one eclipse male present
8-12 May. At Larnaca Sewage Works one fem. present 8-15 May. Vrysoulles
Pool: one female 26-May, was the last reported.
Ferruginous Duck
Aythya nyroca
There were various counts of this shy species at Phasouri Reed-beds,
where three pairs were reported breeding: c25 were seen 6-May, including
3 broods of c. 15+ ducklings 6-11 May; three ads. and 6 chicks seen from
27-May.
Honey
Buzzard
Pernis apivorus
Blue Sea Hotel (Chelones): one 5-May. Rizokarpaso:
two soaring 25-May.
Black Kite Milvus
migrans
Alakati: one 10-May.
Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvus
Kensington Cliffs: up
to two ads. were present at least from 6-22 May, with 1 pullus at nest
12-14 May. One over nearby Paramali motorway tunnel 3-May and two there
29-May. Agios Ioannis cages, viewed from Vretsia: 10 inside cages
11-May, five 16-May, three in cages 30-May.
Marsh Harrier
Circus aeruginosus
29 records, with mostly
singles reported all month at Larnaca
Sewage Works, and Phasouri Reed-beds, with odd sightings at many other
sites. Noteworthy reports: Blue Sea Hotel: two 6-May. Phasouri
Reed-beds: two female-types 12-May
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneus
Lefkonisos island:
one 7-May, was quite a late migrant.
Montagu’s
Harrier
Circus pygargus
Anarita
Park
: one male 1-May, another
possibly the same bird though gender not specified 3-May.
Harrier spp.
Cape Apostolos Andreas: one 8-May.
Goshawk
Accipiter gentilis
Paphos
Forest
: three, including 2 nests,
16-May.
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Ayios Filonas: one
13-May, was very late in season and may have been nesting in the nearby
wooded area.
Common Buzzard
Buteo buteo
Cape Apostolos
Andreas: one 8-May. Pachyammos Point: one 24-May.
Steppe
Buzzard B.b.
vulpinus
Cape Apostolos Andreas:
one 8-May.
Long-legged
Buzzard
Buteo rufinus
One seen over the Armou –
Tsada Hills 2-28
May, probably refers to same bird, or one of local pair. Pair seen over
Theletra 11-May and nest noted with 2 juvs. 16-May, one at Polemi 3-May
and one near Kathikas 28-May probably one of Theletra pair. Paramali:
one over motorway tunnel 6 & 29-May. Singles reported at Prastio,
crossing the Dhiarizos valley towards Trachypedoula 11-May, at
Kelokedara on 17-May and at Galataria 30-May, may refer to the same
birds on that territory. Arminou Dam: one 17-May.
Bonelli’s
Eagle
Hieraaetus fasciatus
Akourdhalia: nest with
1juv 16-May, was the month’s only report.
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Meneou
Beach
: one passing 10-May.
Lesser Kestrel
Falco naumanni
Anarita
Park
: four 3-May, were probably the
last of up to 11 seen in the area from late March.
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
Probably one of the most
ubiquitous birds of prey in
Cyprus
, with over 50 records consisting of about 120 birds received.
Noteworthy reports:
Anarita
Park
: seven 1-May, eight 6-May.
Korovia: five 13-May. Strakka farm, Lakatameia: 3 pairs nesting 15-May.
Frenaros Area: five, including nest site with 3 chicks 18-May.
Larnaca
Salt
Lake
: 2 pairs nesting 19-May. Armou area: seven 28-May.
Red-footed
Falcon
Falco vespertinus
It continued to be a good
spring for the species. All records follow:
Anarita
Park
: one male 1-May, 11 on 6-May.
Tsada Hills: four 3-May, two 9-May. Kivisili Fields: four 5-May, one
13-May. Paphos Headland: four 5-May. Akrotiri Gravel Pits: one 6-May.
Phasouri Reed-beds: one male 6-May, one fem. 27-May.
Ourania
City
: eight 8-May. Choletria: one fem. 9-May. Rizokarpaso to
Cape
Andreas
: three females 13-May. Trimithousa: one 15-May.
Merlin
Falco
columbarius
Cape
Greco: one male 9-May.
Hobby
Falco subbuteo
All records follow: Blue
Sea Hotel: one 5-May. Armou Hills: two 6-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: one 6
& 9-May.
Sarakino
Vouno
Forest
(Karpas): one 7-May. Ayios Nikolaos (ESBA): one in same stand of trees 9
& 14-May. Ayios Symeon: one chasing a Swallow 13-May. Kensington
Cliffs: one 14-May.
Eleonora’s
Falcon
Falco eleonorae
Kensington Cliffs: up
to 15 birds counted on most visits, with 25 on 17-May. Phasouri
Reed-beds: one or two seen most days, with singles also seen at Akrotiri
Gravel Pits and Phinikas on 9-May. Curium Cliffs: 12 on 12-May. Bishop's
Pool: one on 17-May
Peregrine
Falco peregrinus
Aspro Pools: one 2cy calidus
was seen 11-May, presumably on passage. Otherwise race
brookei breeds.
Kensington Cliffs: two, presumably breeding pair, 6-18 May.
Cape
Apostolos
Andreas: one 8-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: one ad. male brookei
9-May. Singles also reported Alakati 10-May, Phileri (Balikesi) 10-May,
Ayios Georgios 11-May,
Cape
Kormakiti
11-May, Arminou Dam 17-May, Ayia Marina 17-May, Frenaros Area 18-May and
Akhna Dam 20-May.
Chukar
Alectoris chukar
Lots of reports this month
as family parties appear everywhere. Noteworthy reports: Ayios
Nikolaos (ESBA): one adult with 8 chicks and an adult with 12 chicks
2-May, c15 juveniles 14-May (different from 2-May). Lara: 16 in two
family parties 3-May. Ayia Napa Tip: 12 including 10 juveniles 8-May.
Armou - Tsada track: 14 inc. 12 chicks 18-May.
Larnaca
Salt
Lake
: 9 pairs nesting, on eggs 19-May.
Black Francolin
Francolinus francolinus
62 records received.
Reported calling all month, and nests reported. Akhna
Dam: two pair nesting 4-May, no details. Apparently now common in the
occupied north and the
Karpas
Peninsula
with up to six at several sites throughout the month.
Cape
Andreas
: five nesting on cliffs 13-May. Strakka farm, Lakatameia: 2 pairs
nesting 15-May. Oroklini Marsh: seven, including 6 juvs. on 27-May.
Quail
Coturnix coturnix
All reports follow: Mt.
Olympus Artemis Trail: one 15-May. Frenaros Area: one heard calling
18-May.
Larnaca
Salt
Lake
: 5 pairs nesting 19-May. Meneou Pools: one calling 27-May. Tsada
Hills: one heard 30 & 31-May.
Spotted Crake
Porzana porzana
Evretou Dam: one 2-May,
present since late April.
Little Crake
Porzana parva
Evretou Dam: one male
3-May. Sotira Pools: one fem. 3-5 May. Aspro Pools: one male 4-5 May.
Phasouri Reed-beds: one 6-May. Oroklini Marsh: one 2 & 15-May, was
the last of spring.
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
Reported from 17 sites. Akhna
Dam: six 3 pairs, females on eggs 4-May. Sotira Pools: two adults with 3
downy young 22-May. Kannaviou Dam: up to three 2-25 May. Evretou Dam:
six 3-May.
Fresh
Water
Lake
South: 15 on 3-May. Oroklini Marsh:: 20 max daily count 15-May, with
first juvs 8-May. Aspro Pools: two 5-19 May. Zakaki Marsh: five 6-May.
Athalassa: five 7-May, 10+ on 14-May. Vrysoulles Pools: up to two 7-20
May. Ergazi Dam: two 9-May.. Arapkoy Dam East (Klepini): three 26-May.
Singles at Gecitkoy Dam, Phasouri Reed-beds, Paphos Sewage Plant, Ayios
Filonas and Bishop's Pool.
Coot
Fulica atra
The country’s most important site for the species was Fresh
Water Lake South with 205 present 3 & 10 May, including one brood of
two young 3-May. At Larnaca Sewage Works 80 were present 3-28 May.
Oroklini Marsh: 95 Including at least five broods of downy young 3 &
10-May. Akhna Dam: 20, including 3 pairs nesting 4-May. Zakaki Marsh: 20
on 6-May. Athalassa: 40+ incl. at least 7 young & 3 sitting on nests
14-May. Gecitkoy Dam: 40 on 11-May. Sotira Pools: 13 including three
broods of young 22-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: 27 on 27-May. Fewer other
sites.
Black-winged
Stilt
Himantopus himantopus
Very common summer breeding
visitor, especially in the south. Reported from 20 sites with noteworthy
reports below:
Larnaca Sewage Works: 26 on 3-May, increasing to 36 on 10-May and 55 on
27-May incl. 2 birds possibly incubating eggs. Oroklini Marsh: 75 max.
daily count on 1-May, estimate 20 to 25 breeding pairs, 44, including 1
incubating + 2 chicks 10-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: max. 10 on 17-May.
Zakaki Marsh: 22 passing through 1500 hrs 9-May.
Larnaca
Airport
Pools North: 17 including copulating pair 10-May.
Avocet
Recurvirostra avosetta
Larnaca Sewage Works: one
3-May. Spiros Pools: four 13-May.
Stone Curlew
Burhinus oedicnemus
There were no known
stake-outs for this species, with small numbers, usually breeding pairs,
encountered by chance on low ground, mostly on the coastal plain, or in
river valleys. Paphos
Sewage Plant: two 1-May. Apostolos Andreas: two
Golden
Beach
dunes 8-May.
Cape
Apostolos
Andreas: five, possibly two pairs 8-May. Kouklia (
Famagusta
): present, not counted 10-May. Acheleia: one 14-May. Potamos
Germasogeia: one flew by the tourist area at 1730 hrs 14-May. Meneou
Pools: one 15-May. Psimolophou: 4 pairs on eggs 15-May. Frenaros Area:
two 18-May.
Larnaca
Salt
Lake
: 3 pairs on eggs 19-May. Nata Ford: pair, nesting in Xeros river bed
calling 22-May. Pachyammos Point: one in sand dunes 24-May. Blue Sea
Hotel, Karpas: at least two calling in flight, at dusk 25-May. Ayios
Nikolaos (ESBA): heard regularly at night during April and May. Oroklini
Marsh: one disturbed from field edge 31-May.
Collared
Pratincole
Glareola pratincola
Phasouri Reed-beds: up to
20 seen several occasions 1-8 May. Akhna Dam: four 4-May, three 12-May.
Larnaca Sewage Works: up to three 8-20 May, with 35 in several groups on
15-May. Vrysoulles Pool: 10 on 12-May. Zakaki Marsh: three 12-May.
Little Ringed
Plover
Charadrius dubius
Opportunist birds reported, but breeding not confirmed. Larnaca
Sewage Works: three 3-May. Akhna Dam: pair holding territory 4-May.
Phinikas: two 4-May, one 9-May. Paphos Sewage Plant: one present 5-30
May. Phasouri Reed-beds: one 17-May. Oroklini Marsh: one 27-29-May.
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticula
Several migrants reported
mostly to mid-month, with up to 10 at Spiros
Pools 7-8 May, eight at Akhna Dam 12-May, 20 at
Larnaca
Salt
Lake
5-May and up to 40 at Larnaca Sewage Works 7-15 May. Latest birds were
two at Oroklini Marsh, six
at Spiros Pools and three at Larnaca Sewage Works, all 27-May.
Kentish Plover
Charadrius alexandrinus
Locally common at Akrotiri
and Larnaca and other suitable salty lake edges. Noteworthy reports
follow: Larnaca
Sewage Works: present all month with four incl. 1 juv. 8-May, c15 on
8-May, seven with 2 juv. 19-May. Meneou Pools: up to 16 from 3-14 May,
with 20 on 27-May. Spiros Pools: c30 on 8-May, 26 including adult with 3
downy, flightless chicks 10-May.
Larnaca
Salt
Lake
: max. four 10-May. Akrotiri Gravel Pits: eight 6-May. Akhna Dam: nine
26-May. Lady's Mile: seven 17-May.
Larnaca
Airport
Pools North: max. 15 on 13-May, 12 on 27-May.
Akrotiri
Salt
Lake
(very poor!): two 12-May.
Greater Sand
Plover
Charadrius leschenaultii
Spiros Pools: three
7-May, were quite late in the season.
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
Larnaca Airport Pools
North: one 10-May.
Spur-winged
Plover
Vanellus spinosus
Paphos Sewage Plant:
seven birds, present since March. Nest with 4 eggs discovered 11-May, 2
nests each with 4 eggs discovered 13-May; 1 chick just hatched + 1 fem.
still on nearby nest 20-May; from one nest, 3 tiny fledglings, one egg
remained 23-May. four adults, no young, no eggs remained 26-May,
breeding attempt failed, possibly due to predation by Hooded Crows,
three adults 30-May.
Fresh
Water
Lake
South: four 3-May. Oroklini Marsh: 20 max daily count on many dates;
best estimate 10 successful breeding pairs, four 3 & 10-May, six
including one small downy chick 15-May. Akhna Dam: 3 pairs nesting
4-May, eight ads. still present 24-May. Vrysoulles Pools: two 7-17 May,
with three 15-May, two copulating 21-May, one remained 26-May. Larnaca
Sewage Works: up to two 8-28 May, with three 10-May. Phasouri Reed-beds:
two 8 & 9-May.
Fresh
Water
Lake
South: 19 on 10-May. Meneou Pools: one 10-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: two
10-May, with one to 14-May.
Larnaca
Airport
Pools North: one 13-May. Sotira Pools: four 22-May.
Knot
Calidris canutus
One of the most interesting discoveries of the month was one
summer-plumaged bird at Larnaca
Sewage Works 27 & 28-May.
Sanderling
Calidris alba
Spiros Pools: one 9 &
17-May.
Little Stint Calidris
minuta
Very
widely reported all month on passage, with peak numbers 3-15 May and
virtually absent by end of month.
Larnaca
Airport
Pools North: 50 on 2-May,
increasing to 70 on 5-May, 343 on 10-May, 284 on 15-May.
Larnaca
Airport
Pools North: c170 on 10-May, c200 on 15-May. Meneou Pools: 176 on 3-May,
42 on 10-May. Spiros Pools: up to 190 from 3-8 May, 303 on 10-May, up to
37 from 15-27-May. Spiros Pools: c80 on 10-May, c500 on 13-May. Akhna
Dam: 85 on 7-May. Larnaca Sewage Works: 31 on 5-May, increasing rapidly
to c350 on 8-May, 172 on 10-May, 232 on 15-May and 88 on 27-May.
Vrysoulles Pools: 43 on 7-May, up to 38 on 9-17 May, 41 on 21-May, one
remaining 26 May.
Larnaca
Airport
Pools North: 65 on 13-May.
Temminck’s
Stint
Calidris temminckii
A slight passage noted to
mid month. Ayia
Napa Sewage Pools: three 1-3 May. Akhna Dam: one 3-May.
Paralimni
Lake
: one 3-May. Phinikas: one 4-May. Paphos Sewage Plant: three 5-8 May.
Phasouri Reed-beds: five 9-May.
Larnaca
Airport
Pools North: one 10-May. Evretou Dam: one 11-May. Oroklini Marsh: one
12-May. Larnaca Sewage Works: four 13-May. Vrysoulles Pool: one 20-May,
was the last of spring.
Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferruginea
Commonly reported this month as hundreds passed through the island. Max.
numbers: Larnaca
Sewage Works: up to 16 from 3-28 May, with 21 on 27-May. Meneou Pools:
21 on 3-May. Spiros Pools: up to 15 from 7-8-May.
Larnaca
Airport
Pools North: 11 on 8-May, 62 on 10-May, 13 on 15-May. Phasouri
Reed-beds: 12 on 12-May. Less than 5 at other sites.
Dunlin
Calidris alpina
Only seen at Larnaca
Sewage Works, two 7-May and six 8-May.
Broad-billed
Sandpiper
Limicola falcinellus
Spiros Pools: one
3-May, increasing to three 7-May, with two remaining to 27-May. At
nearby Larnaca Sewage Works there was one 8-May, three 13-May, with two
remaining to 27-May. These reports may refer to the same birds, except
on 13-May when there may have been an influx of migrants. Oroklini
Marsh: one 10-13-May.
Ruff
Philomachus pugnax
59 records, with over 900
birds involved, most departed by mid-month. Largest numbers: Oroklini
Marsh: 30 on 1-May.
Larnaca
Airport
Pools North: c150 on 2-May, 71 on 10-May,
c200 on 15-May, 50 on 19-May.
Larnaca
Salt
Lake
: 39 on 2-May.
Fresh
Water
Lake
South: 30 on 3-May. Larnaca Sewage Works: c40 on 8-May, up to 60 on
13-15 May, 14 on 19-May. Spiros Pools: 20 on 7-May. Akhna Dam: max. 85
on 7-May. Vrysoulles Pools: 31 on 20-May.
Jack
Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimus
Oroklini Marsh: one 14-May.
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinago
Evretou Dam: two
3-May. Akhna Dam: three 4-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: four 12-May. Singles
also reported and the last was at Vrysoulles Pool 26-May.
Great Snipe
Gallinago media
Ayia Napa Sewage Pools:
one 1-2 May. Akhna Dam: one 4-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: one 6-May.
Black-tailed
Godwit
Limosa limosa
Larnaca Sewage Works: one
7-May.
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropus
Evretou Dam: one 2-May.
Famagusta
area: one 3-May.
Redshank
Tringa totanus
Oddly uncommon.
Fresh
Water
Lake
South: one 10-May.
Larnaca
Airport
Pools North: one 10-May and one 28-May. Larnaca Sewage Works: one 28-May
Marsh Sandpiper
Tringa stagnatilis
Oroklini Marsh: three
3-May. Akhna Dam: one 12-May.
Greenshank
Tringa nebularia
Spiros Pools: three
2-May. Larnaca Sewage Works: up to three 3-13 May, one to 27-May.
Oroklini Marsh: two 3-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: two 6-10 May. Vrysoulles
Pool: two 12-May, one to 23-May.Singles elsewhere to mid-month. Phasouri
Reed-beds: one 30-May, was the latest of spring.
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropus
Gastria gravel pit:
one 9-May. Paphos Sewage Plant: one 13-May. Akhna Dam: one 14-May.
Vrysoulles Pool: one 23-May.
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareola
Common to mid-month. Paphos
Sewage Plant: 19 on 1-May. Oroklini Marsh: 40 on 3-May. Akhna Dam: 21 on
4-May. Oroklini Marsh: c20 on 10-May. The latest was at Paphos Sewage
Plant: one 20-May.
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
Common to mid-month with up
to three at several suitable sites. Paphos
Sewage Plant: four 1-May. Akhna Dam: seven 4-May. Latest birds, Paphos
Sewage Plant: three 20-May, one remaining 23-May. Vrysoulles Pools: one
20-21 May. Larnaca Sewage Works: one 27-May, was the latest.
Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
Larnaca Sewage Works: one
was present most days 2-15 May and again 28-May, with two 3-May.
Great
Black-headed Gull
Larus ichthyaetus
This rare gull occurred twice on the Karpas peninsula. Blue
Sea Hotel (Chelones): one 2cy on 7-May. Apostolos Andreas: one adult
8-May.
Black-headed
Gull
Larus ridibundus
One was at Oroklini Marsh 1-May and one rather sad-looking individual
was at the Larnaca Sewage
Works at least 5-28 May.
Slender-billed
Gull Larus
genei
Two
were at the Larnaca
Sewage Works and Airport Pools 3 & 10-May, with one to 15-May and
nine on 20-May. Two were at nearby Spiros Pools 13-May.
Audouin’s Gull
Larus
audouinii
Larnaca Sewage Works: 2
ads. on 5-May. At their stronghold on the
Karpas
Peninsula
up to six birds were seen at the Blue Sea Hotel, Ayios Fotios, Ayios
Filonas, Apostolos Andreas and
Cape
Andreas
on each visit, 5-8 May & 24-25 May. Two were seen at
Cape
Kormakiti
11-May.
Baltic
Gull L.f.fuscus
Very late immatures birds of this form were at Larnaca
Sewage Works 5-7 May and 15-May.
Yellow-legged
Gull Larus
c. michahellis
Up
to 50 birds were present all month at Larnaca
Sewage Works, including one seemingly incubating on the causeway from
10-May to month end. Fairly regularly reported along southern coasts,
inland pools and dams.
Cape
Apostolos
Andreas: 250 on distant
Klidhes
Island
appeared to be nesting 8-May, probably this species.
Gull-billed Tern
Gelochelidon nilotica
Larnaca Sewage Works:
one 7-May, three also at Meneou Pools 15-May, five 30-May. Akhna Dam:
one mobbed by three Spur-winged Plovers 12-May.
Common Tern Sterna
hirundo
One
pair present at Larnaca
Sewage Works from at least 8-May, to month end. Interestingly four were
present on 10-May.
Little Tern
Sterna albifrons
There
was a steady build-up of birds at the Larnaca Sewage Works as birds were
attracted to this suitable nesting site – the only one known in the
country. Two were present
2-May, 12 on 3-May, pair feeding and copulating on 10-May, 14 on 15-May,
c20 on 24-May and a peak of c30 on 27-May. Ones and twos were reported
at Meneou Pools and Spiros Pools on 8 & 10 May, probably from the
Larnaca Sewage Works colony.
Whiskered Tern
Chlidonias hybrida
Phasouri Reed-beds:
one 2-9 May, two 27-May and three 30-May. Larnaca Sewage Works: two
3-May. Akhna Dam: one 4 & 20-May. Zakaki Marsh: eight late afternoon
10-May. Evretou: one 19-May.
White-winged
Black Tern
Chlidonias leucopterus
Most migrants had moved on
by mid-month. Paphos
Sewage Plant: one 1-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: two 2-May, one remaining to
17-May. Larnaca Sewage Works: a peak 18, seemingly feeding on passage,
3-May, six 5-May, four 7 & 8 May, with up to two to 30-May. Zakaki
Marsh: up to two 12-13 May. Spiros Pools: five briefly before heading
out to sea 15-May. Akhna Dam: one 20-May. Oroklini Marsh: one was
present 22-25-May, the last of the month.
Rock Dove
Columba livia
Most pigeons are feral, but the following, all in the north from DW,
were submitted as possible wild ones. Blue
Sea Hotel: 12, (suggested as possibly on passage?) 6-May.
Cape
Apostolos
Andreas: 60 in many small flocks, seemingly pure, moving SW, possibly
from
Klidhes
Islands
8-May. Kantara: pair appeared pure and away from habitation 23-May.
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbus
A very common breeding
species, widely reported. Strakka
farm, Lakatameia: 70 counted, 25 pairs 15-May. No larger flocks noted.
Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaocto
20 at
Fresh
Water
Lake
10-May, was the largest number
reported. Akhna Dam: 6 pairs nesting 4-May. Strakka farm, Lakatameia: 4
pairs nesting 15-May.
Turtle Dove Streptopelia
turtur
One
of the most commonly reported species with 67 records consisting of 290
birds. Noteworthy reports: Akhna
Dam: 32 on 4-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: 24, several groups flying north
6-May. Apostolos Andreas: 14 on 7-May, 12 on 13-May. Ayios Filonas: 50
at feeding station 13-May.
Great Spotted
Cuckoo
Clamator glandarius
A few adults reported to mid-month, with young widely seen from 3rd week
of month. Ayios Nikolaos
(ESBA): six 2-May. Lara: two 3-May. Akhna Dam: pair nesting 4-May. Armou
- Tsada track: two 14-May. Evretou Dam: two 14-May. Strakka farm,
Lakatameia: pair nesting 15-May.Galateia (Mehmetcik) Mars: one juv.
begging 26-May. Armou area: up to four juvs. from 28-May. Chorio: three,
including two groups with Magpies 29-May.
Cuckoo
Cuculus canorus
Migrants reported mostly to
mid-month, 20 birds seen, usually one or two together, at Armou
Hills, Ayios Nikolaos, Akhna Dam, Tsada Hills, Kiti Dam, Sykhari,
Rizokarpaso to Cape Andreas (one dead on road) and Pano Platres. Latest
birds were:: Sotira Pools: one 22-May. Pachyammos Point: four 23-May.
Agridhia: one ‘red’ morph 24-May. Mesapotamos: one 27-May.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Aspro Dam: one road
casualty, erlangeri race, 9-May. Strakka farm, Lakatameia: pair
nesting 18-May. Kato Paphos: one flew near the
Roman
Hotel
31-May.
Scops Owl
Otus scops cyprius
Well-reported with often multiple birds calling in one area or village.
Reported, presumed heard only at Kionia,
Makheras Forest, English School, Nicosia, Galounia, Phasouri Reed-beds,
Lachin Valley, Mt Olympus Artemis Trail, Pano Platres, Strakka,
Strovolos, Souni, Nata Ford, Kantara, El Marion (15km north of Paphos),
Armou, Neo Chorio and Goudhi. One came out of nest hole at
Roudia
Bridge
30-May.
Little Owl
Athene noctua
This species was also well
reported with singles and pairs seen at Athalassa
Park, Ourania City, Agridhia, Aspro Mast, Phinikas, Vothylakes, Kouklia
(Kuprulu) Reservoir, Lachin Valley, Phileri (Balikesi), Ayios Filonas,
Rizokarpaso to Cape Andreas, Neo-Kholetria, Nata Ford, Ardana, Elisi,
Pachyammos Point, Rizokarpaso town centre, Ourania City, Neo Chorio,
Geri, Nicosia and Menoyia.
Long-eared Owl
Asio otus
Strakka farm,
Lakatameia: pair nesting 15-May. Mathiatis: pair nesting 28-May.
Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeus
Kouklia hills: 4
displaying + 3 others heard 12-May.
Common Swift
Apus apus
Common nearly everywhere
with juvs. reported from month end. Largest numbers reported as follows:
Kionia,
Makheras
Forest
: 120 around telecom tower 1-May. Paphos Sewage Plant: 70+ on 5-May.
Agridhia: 50 ‘on passage’ 8-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: 100 on 17-May.
Ayios Nikolaos (ESBA): c70 on 22-May. Troodos: 50+ on 21-May.
Oroklini Marsh: max. 60 on 25-May. Strovolos: c200 daily all May.
Pallid Swift
Apus pallidus
Apostolos Andreas: three,
probably many more in area 8-May. Mt Olympus Artemis Trail: nine at
known nest site 15-May. Pano Platres: four 15-May. Paphos Sewage Plant:
one probable 23-May. Paphos old town: at least six among A. apus
over mosque area 30-May. Troodos: 2+ on 21-May.
Alpine Swift
Apus melba
Kensington Cliffs: up
to 20 (though usually less) reported all month. Akrotiri Gravel Pits:
one 9-May. Kantara: c13 using vertical crevice in cliff face; colony
probably over 20 pairs 9-May. Phinikas: seven 9-May. Curium Cliffs: c10
on 12-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: up to two 12-17 May. Korovia: 10 nesting
on cliffs 13-May.
Common
Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
Blue Sea Hotel (Chelones):
one 6-May, was a late migrant.
Pied Kingfisher
Ceryle rudis
It has been a good spring
for this species, singles only, with many birds staying late. Akhna
Dam: one 2-20 May. Zakaki Marsh: one 18-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: one
28-30 May. Lady's Mile beach: one north end 30-May.
European
Bee-eater
Merops apiaster
The most commonly reported
species with over 88 records consisting of 1600 birds reported
throughout the month, with migration trailing off by the 3rd week. Max.
numbers Kannaviou
Dam: c30 on wires 2-May. Tala: c80 heading north at sunset 5-May.
Trimithousa: 55 on 5-May. Armou Hills: 54 on 6-May. Apostolos Andreas:
30 including three Golden Sands dunes near old nest holes, others on
passage 8-May. Galounia: 50, three
flocks on passage 9-May. Tsada Hills: 30 on 9-May. Paphos Sewage Plant:
38 on 10-May.
Cape
Kormakiti
and forest: 200, on continuous passage 11-May. Tsada Hills: c50 on
11-May. Akrotiri area: 32 on 13-May. Ayios Filonas: 60 on 13-May. Pyla:
30 on 13-May.
Cape
Apostolos
Andreas: 40, in 3 flocks 24-May. Goudhi: 50, in several flocks 28-May.
Roller
Coracias garrulus
Very common with 75
records. Pairs widely reported.
Hoopoe
Upupa epops
Kionia,
Makheras
Forest
: four, including one nest-building, 1-May. Ayios Nikolaos (ESBA): two
9-May. Evretou Dam: two 11-May. Ayios Minas: two 22-May. Troodos: two
21-May. Vretsia: three in village 30-May. Singles also reported,
presumably on territory, Arakapas, Sarakino Vouno,
Anarita
Park
, Kidasi,
Roudia
Bridge
,
Kannaviou
Valley
, Pano Platres and Artemis Trail.
Calandra Lark
Melanocorypha calandra
Only reported breeding from
the east,
Famagusta
plain and the
Karpas
Peninsula
. Ayios Nikolaos (ESBA):
two singing 2-May, with three on 14-May. Enkomi (
Tuzla
) area: three including one singing 3-May. Larnaca Sewage Works and
Spiros Pools: up to two in song most visits 8-28 May. Kalopsida (Çayönü):
four 10-May. Voni: five 13-May.
Short-toed Lark
Calandrella brachydactyla
Some interesting reports
suggesting breeding…
Cape
Apostolos
Andreas: one 8-May, four
24-May. Larnaca desalination plant fields: one carrying food 16-May.
Vretsia: one on territory (?) 1 km uphill from village 30-May.
Crested Lark
Galerida cristata
A common and widespread
resident. 287 birds reported from 35 sites.
Woodlark
Lullula arborea
Only one report from one of
the species’ regular breeding sites in the Troodos. Mt
Olympus Artemis Trail: nine, including 8 singing 15-May.
Sand Martin
Riparia riparia
After a quiet April, suddenly this well-known migrant roared
through during a very narrow time frame, between 6-17 May, but it was
otherwise hard to find.
Phasouri Reed-beds: 60+ on 6-May, c500
(!) on 9-May, c100 on 17-May and a mere 12 on 18-May. Acheleia - Agia
Varvara: 45 on 10-May.
Cape
Kormakiti
: 30 on 11-May. Armou - Tsada track: 15 on 11-May. Less than four
together elsewhere.
Crag Martin
Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Cape
Greco
Park
: two 1-May, was an interesting
record of a migrant. Kannaviou Dam: two 15-May, one 20-May.
Swallow
Hirundo rustica
A ubiquitous breeding
species, with juveniles appearing everywhere from mid-month, after
which, flocks of 100+ were seen feeding and resting at several sites.
Red-rumped
Swallow
Hirundo daurica
Passage continued until the
second week of the month. Up to three birds were seen at
Arakapas, Paphos Sewage Plant and the Blue Sea Hotel to the 5-May.
Lefkonisos island: 17 were on passage 7-May.
Ourania
City
: 15 on passage 7-May. Ayios Filonas: 10 on 13-May. Tsada Hills: four
19-May. Most other reports are of pairs on breeding territory at
Kannaviou, Stroumbi, Arminou Dam, Ayia Marina, Nata Ford, Episkopi,
and
Anarita
Park
. Two were at Pachyammos Point 24-May and four were seen at Rizokarpaso
25-May. Paphos municipal beach: one 27-May, was probably a late migrant,
or nesting in a nearby culvert.
House Martin
Delichon urbica
Most birds and young already away from their breeding areas and forming
large feeding parties over the forest. Kionia,
Makheras
Forest
: 50, including many nests 1-May. Kannaviou Dam: c50 15-24 May, c500 on
31-May. Mt Olympus Artemis Trail: 100 on 15-May. Strovolos: two young in
nest 26-May (BA), seems quite late. Troodos: 50+ on 21-May. Up to 20
also reported.
Tawny Pipit
Anthus campestris
A few late reports of this migrant from 6-8 May. Blue
Sea Hotel: one 6-May.
Ayia
Napa
Sea
Caves
area: one 8-May.
Cape
Apostolos
Andreas: two 8-May.
Tree Pipit Anthus
trivialis
A few still passing through to mid-month. Marathounta:
one 2-May.
Cape
Greco
Sewage Pit: three 3-May.
Meletis
Forest
: one 3-May.
Paralimni
Lake
: one 3-May. Armou Hills: at least two 6-May. Rizokarpaso: three 7-May.
Cape
Apostolos
Andreas: three 8-May. Ayios Filonas: three 13-May. El Marion (15km north
of Paphos): one 24-May, was very late.
Red-throated
Pipit
Anthus cervinus
Phasouri Reed-beds: one
14-May, was presumably the last of spring and the only record of the
month.
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flava
The following not
identified to race, or were of mixed races. Gastria
gravel pit: one 9-May. Paphos Sewage Plant: 40 still present on spoil
heaps 10-May, eight remaining 17-May.
Cape
Kormakiti
: three flava + thunbergi
11-May. Phasouri Reed-beds: eight 14-May. Nata Ford: one fem/imm.
21-May.
Blue-headed
Wagtail
Motacilla flava flava
Paphos Sewage Plant:
up to 38 were present 1-10 May, declining to eight 12-May and two from
two 20-23 May. Larnaca Sewage Works: one 10-May. Vrysoulles Pool: one
23-May.
Grey-headed
Wagtail
Motacilla flava thunbergi
Paphos Sewage Plant: up
to six 1-19 May, three 20-May. Ayia Napa Tip Sewage Pit: one 8-May.
Black-headed
Wagtail
Motacilla flava feldegg
Paphos Sewage Plant: 12
on 1-May, six 12-May. Larnaca Sewage Works: pair appeared to be nesting
in long grass 3-May, 2 pairs from 10-May, seen to month end. Oroklini
Marsh: max. 10 on 3-May, fewer present all month. Zakaki: ‘pair’
present 6-May.
Larnaca
Airport
Pools North: one 10 & 15-May.
Larnaca
Salt
Lake
: up to 4 pairs nesting in salicornia marsh 19 & 23-May.
Phasouri Reed-beds: 4 nesting pairs 23-May. One dombrowskii
(‘Romanian Wagtail’) was at Paphos Sewage Plant 20-May
Citrine Wagtail
Motacilla citreola
A few interesting records of this late migrant. Sotira
Pools: one male 3-May. Paphos Sewage Plant: one 12-23 May. Larnaca
Sewage Works: one female 13-May.
White Wagtail Motacilla
alba
A few very late birds reported. Akrotiri
Gravel Pits: one 6-May. Apostolos Andreas: up to three 7-8 May.
Vrysoulles Pool: one 23-May, was probably the last of the spring
migrants.
Wren
Troglodytes troglodytes
All records are listed of
this elusive breeding resident: Kionia,
Makheras
Forest
: three 1-May.
Roudia
Bridge
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