Systematic List for August 2007  

The following list contains records that have not been corrected or corroborated. Compiled by Colin Richardson.  

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 

Numbers building up at two main sites to month’s end. Fresh Water Lake (South): 56 Including two downy young 8-Aug, with max. 98 on 29-Aug. Larnaca Sewage Works: 68 on 1-Aug, 85 on 18-Aug and 109 on 25-Aug. Up to 10 also reported Agia Napa Sewage Works, Akhna Dam, Oroklini Marsh, Phasouri Reed-beds and Zakaki Marsh.

Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis 

Kensington Cliffs: two 28-Aug, four 31-Aug. Mandria: one 29-Aug. Paphos Lighthouse: one imm. 30-Aug. Paralimni: five Kappari area flying north 26-Aug.  

GREAT Bittern Botaurus stellaris  

Oroklini Marsh: one 4-Aug, was a good find.  

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus

Oroklini Marsh: one most days 11-29-Aug. Zakaki Marsh: two, including one possible imm. 10-Aug.  

Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 

Fresh Water Lake (South): 22 on 8-Aug, 11 including one juvenile 20-Aug, 18 on 29-Aug. Latchi: c15 flying from NE 13-Aug. Manglis Lake, Lakatameia: 30 flying over 16.30h on 23-Aug. Zakaki Marsh: two 26-Aug.  

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides  

Not easy to find in autumn, though many reported on coasts during migration. Agios Nikolaos (ESBA): one moving south just before sunset 1-Aug, three flying to Fresh Water Lakes roost 4-Aug, one 6-Aug. Akhna Dam: one 20-Aug, 15 on 25-Aug. Fresh Water Lake (South): up to 27 from 8-29-Aug. Latchi beach: 14 on 27-Aug. Oroklini Marsh: up to four many dates, with two 20-Aug. Paphos Lighthouse: five on harbour rocks 30-Aug. Pomos Point: 18 roosting flock including juvs. 19-Aug.  

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

Agios Nikolaos (ESBA): 69 flying to FWL roost 1-Aug, seven flying to roost 6-Aug, 25 on 7-Aug, six 10-Aug, 23 on 15-Aug. Fresh Water Lake (South): 351 Leaving the roost between 05.30h-06.05h 8-Aug, 332 on 20-Aug, 279 on 29-Aug. Oroklini Marsh: seven 5-Aug, one 6-Aug. Paphos Sewage Plant: one scruffy bird 3-18-Aug. Phasouri Reed-beds: one 26-Aug.  

Little Egret Egretta garzetta 

Fairly commonly reported all month with max. numbers listed: Fresh Water Lake (South): 76 leaving the roost between 05.30h-06.05h on 8-Aug, 55 on 20-Aug, 41 on 29-Aug. Less than five each reported Larnaca Sewage Works, Oroklini Marsh, Phasouri Reed-beds and Zakaki Marsh.  

Great Egret Egretta alba 

Kourion Beach: one flying over toward Quarry Beach 27-Aug.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 

Up to four each reported Akhna Dam, Fresh Water Lake (South), Oroklini Marsh and Larnaca Sewage Works. Lachi: 23, in two flocks 28-Aug. Paralimni,: 74 Kappari area, flying south 9.00h on 29-Aug. Zakaki Marsh: 28 on 28-Aug, 15 on 31-Aug.  

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea  

Paralimni: five Kappari area flying south 8.00h on 28-Aug, was the only report.  

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus  

Baths of Aphrodite: 40 on 17-Aug. Fresh Water Lake (South): two 20-Aug, three 29-Aug. Latchi: c45 flying inland 18-Aug. One at Paralimni 27-Aug and up to three Phasouri Reed-beds 9-31-Aug. Latchi: c30 passing coast 7-Aug.  

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia  

Oroklini Marsh: one 1-Aug.

Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber  

Akrotiri Salt Lake: c85 very distant 10-Aug. Lady's Mile: one juv. 10-Aug, later Zakaki Marsh to 28-31-Aug. Larnaca Sewage Works: at least 28 most visits with max. 62 on 18-Aug and 151 Including five juveniles 25-Aug. Oroklini Marsh: seven 4-8-Aug.  

Teal Anas crecca 

Movement started early. Fresh Water Lake (South): two 8-Aug, six 20-Aug, 21 on 29-Aug. Larnaca Sewage Works: one at least 3-Aug, two 18-Aug, 21 on 25-Aug. Paphos Sewage Plant: one 26-Aug. Phasouri Reed-beds: two at least 16-Aug, 19 on 28-Aug, 13 on 31-Aug. Zakaki Marsh: eight 31-Aug.  

Duck sp. 

Lachi: c50 roost 17-Aug, nightly for remainder of month with estimated up to2000 on 27-Aug, probably Garganey.  

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 

Mostly at five sites: Fresh Water Lake (South): max. 47 on 8-Aug. Larnaca Sewage Works: c150 all month with max. 163 on 10-Aug. Oroklini Marsh: up to nine all month. Phasouri Reed-beds: max. 16 on 31-Aug. Zakaki Marsh: max. c30 on 28-Aug.  

Garganey Anas querquedula

Reported all month though main passage commenced around 10-Aug. Larnaca Sewage Works: eight 1-Aug, max. 54 on 25-Aug. Akhna Dam: one 10-Aug, max. 19 on 28-Aug. Fresh Water Lake (South): five 8-Aug, max. eight 29-Aug. Oroklini Marsh: two 29-31-Aug. Phasouri Reed-beds: five 10-Aug, max. 16 on 16-Aug. Zakaki Marsh: five 10-Aug, max. 15 on 31-Aug. Lachi: c1000 ducks offshore, probably this species with Pintail 28-Aug.  

Shoveler Anas clypeata

Fresh Water Lake (South): 20 on 29-Aug. Larnaca Sewage Works: one 16-Aug, eight 18-Aug, 48 on 25-Aug. Phasouri Reed-beds: one 28-31-Aug.  

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca  

Fresh Water Lake (South): three 29-Aug. Larnaca Sewage Works: 11 on 1-Aug, up to six present remainder of month. Oroklini Marsh: at least one 4-23-Aug, up to four 11-19-Aug. Phasouri Reed-beds: two 10-Aug. Zakaki Marsh: six 10-Aug.  

Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus

Single birds Akrotiri Gravel Pits and Akrotiri Salt Lake: 31-Aug.  

Black Kite Milvus migrans

Akrotiri Salt Lake: one 31-Aug.  

Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus 

Up to four seen Kourion, Tunnel Beach and Kensington Cliffs sporadically all month.  

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus  

Phasouri Reed-beds: one 16 & 31-Aug. Agia Napa Sewage Works: one 24-Aug. Akrotiri Salt Lake: one 31-Aug. Oroklini Marsh: one 31-Aug.  

Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus  

Cape Greco: one ring tail 2cy 28 & 30-Aug.  

Goshawk Accipiter gentilis

Kensington Cliffs: one prob. female very low 23-Aug.  

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus  

Oroklini Marsh: one 2-Aug. Tunnel Beach, Episkopi: one 28-Aug.  

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo

Near Crysouchou: one 27-Aug

VD47SE - Skoulli: one 26-Aug  

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus  

Armou Hills: one 8-Aug. Chrysochou: one 27-Aug. Polis Reed-beds: one 27-Aug. Theletra: one 7-Aug. Tsada Golf Club and high track: at least one, often two, 12-29-Aug, with up to four 15-19-Aug

Buzzard sp. 

Cape Greco: one Common or Long-legged 22-Aug.  

Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina  

Souni: one 30-Aug, needs confirming.  

Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus  

Ezousas Valley, Pitargou: adult pair 30-Aug. Marathounta: one ad. 14-Aug. Tsada Track: adult pair 29-Aug.  

Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni  

Aspro Dam Pools: one on cliff face 7-Aug, needs confirming to rule out Common Kestrel.  

COMMON Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 

Widely recorded with no unusual numbers reported.  

Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus  

Armou Hills: one male 14-Aug. Akrotiri Gravel Pits: one 31-Aug.  

Merlin Falco columbarius  

Akrotiri Gravel Pits: one 31-Aug.  

Hobby Falco subbuteo  

Kantara area: one 5-Aug. Larnaca Sewage Works: one 18-Aug. Phasouri Reed-beds: one 29-Aug. Akamas NW: two - given the late breeding of this sp. it is likely that the juv was bred in the area - 27-Aug. Vrysoulles: one 16-Aug.  

Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae  

Kensington Cliffs: four 14-Aug, seven 28-Aug, 12 on 31-Aug. Tunnel Beach, Episkopi: 2+ 14-Aug. Singles seen at Bishop's Pool, Kourion Beach and Paphos Sewage Plant (15-Aug).  

Peregrine Falco peregrinus

Aspro Dam Pools: one near olive grove, male, 17:50 7-Aug. Fresh Water Lake (South): one 20-Aug. Kensington Cliffs: two, pair 28 & 31-Aug. Larnaca Sewage Works: one 10 & 18-Aug. Coral Bay: one 4-Aug.  

Falcon sp. 

Agios Nikolaos (ESBA): one, possibly Hobby 6-Aug. Marathounta: two chasing Bonelli's Eagle, possibly Red-footed or Hobby 14-Aug.  

Chukar Alectoris chukar 

Widely reported, with groups of 12-20 normal. Armou Hills: 23 on 14-Aug. Cape Greco Park: 25 in two coveys 26-Aug. Larnaca airport: 21 on 22-Aug.  

Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus  

Acheleia: two on track to new Dog Shelter 9-Aug. Agios Nikolaos (ESBA): one female 1-Aug. Armou Hills: one 23-Aug. Ezousas Valley, Pitargou: two fem. 1-Aug. Goudhi: one calling, first for weeks 5-Aug, eight, incl. juvs, most nights 10-23-Aug. Kantara: one 20-Aug. Oroklini Marsh: at least one 5-28-Aug, two 8-Aug.  

Quail Coturnix coturnix  

Agios Nikolaos (ESBA): one calling 1-20-Aug from same lucerne field since 11-Jul, and flushed 21-Aug. Akhna Dam: two flushed 6-Aug. Dhekeleia area: one calling from lucerne crop 18-Aug.