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Systematic
List for March 2008
The
following list contains records that have not been corrected or
corroborated.
The
following list contains records that have not been corrected or
corroborated. Compiled by Colin Richardson & Nigel Cottle.
Little
Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis
Agia Napa Sewage Works: 24 14-Mar, 19 21-Mar and five 30-Mar. Akhna
Dam: four 15-Mar, three 20-Mar. Aspro Dam Pools one 18-Mar. Athalassa
Park: 10 21-Mar, eight 26-Mar. Bishop’s Pool: six 6-Mar, two 13-Mar
and six 27-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): 17 11-Mar, 22 20-Mar and 21 28-Mar. Kannaviou Dam: five 29-Mar.
Larnaca Sewage Works: 72 5-Mar, 73 9-Mar, 50+ 16-Mar and 49 22-Mar.
Oroklini Marsh: Present all month with a max. count of 12 on 11-Mar.
Phasouri Reed-beds: 10 6-Mar, 16 15-Mar, eight 21-Mar and seven 27-Mar.
Zakaki Marsh: c10 21-Mar, nine 27-Mar and at least 10 29-Mar.
Great
Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatus
Agia Thekla Coast: one 9-Mar. Akhna Dam: one 1-Mar. Asprokremmos
Dam: two 1-Mar, 18-Mar, 20-Mar and 23-Mar with three 8-Mar. Potamos
Liopetri: two 3-Mar.
Black-necked
Grebe
Podiceps nigricollis
Akrotiri Gravel Pits: one 13-Mar – 18-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works:
18 4-Mar, 25 5-Mar, one 10-Mar and 16-Mar, three 19-Mar, eight 20-Mar
and one 21-Mar. Yeroskipou Canal: one 5-Mar.
Great
Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
Migration was in full swing this month with a number of reports of
flocks on the move: Aloe Hotel: c160 west 19-Mar. Arminou Dam: six
21-Mar. Asprokremmos Dam: c100 8-Mar and c20 on 18-Mar, 20-Mar and
23-Mar. Bishop’s Pool: one immature 6-Mar. Cape Greco: c70 coasting
2-Mar and two moving north 14-Mar.
Cape
Kiti
: c60 coasting 22-Mar. Coral Bay: c100 northeast 7-Mar.
Fig
Tree
Bay
: c200 at 14.00h 2-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: 53 2-Mar, 12 5-Mar, 46
9-Mar, 22 10-Mar, three 16-Mar, c100 moving east at sunset 18-Mar, c20
19-Mar and two 22-Mar. Larnaca Seafront: 34 east 4-Mar and c300+ east in
four flocks 6-Mar. Mandria: c100 8-Mar. 18 9-Mar, nine 10-Mar, three
14-Mar, 10 west 27-Mar and c40 29-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: one 1-Mar.
Polemidia Dam: two 27-Mar. Pyla: c140 coasting 18-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: two
21-Mar.
Shag
Phalacrocorax
aristotelis
Kensington
Cliffs: two adults, one immature 18-Mar. Mandria: up to three present
all month.
Ormidhia
Coast
: one 25-Mar.
GREAT
Bittern
Botaurus stellaris
Delikipos Mountain Range: three resting 6-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds:
one 7-Mar.
Little
Bittern
Ixobrychus minutus
Aspro Dam Pools: one 22-Mar – 30-Mar with two 27-Mar. This
discovery at the pools is a foretaste of how the renovation work is
likely to attract some great species.
Night
Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Larnaca
Airport
Coast
: five coasting 9-Mar. Paphos Lighthouse: one 25-Mar.
Squacco
Heron Ardeola ralloides
Ezousa
River
: one 29-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: up to six 24-Mar – 29-Mar.
Cattle
Egret Bubulcus ibis
Bishop’s
Pool: one 24-Mar. Fresh Water Lake (South): 159 11-Mar with some nest
building in progress 11-Mar, 169 with 20 active nests 20-Mar and 149
with 31 active nests 28-Mar. Paphos Sewage Plant: nine 24-Mar. Phasouri
Reed-beds four 29-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: one 4-Mar, five 29-Mar.
Little
Egret
Egretta garzetta
Agia Napa area: one 25-Mar. Agia Thekla: two 21-Mar and 26-Mar.
Akrotiri Gravel Pits: one 24-Mar. Alaminos/Mazotos: one coasting 30-Mar.
Athalassa
Park
: one 21-Mar. Coral Bay: 19 25-Mar. Dekeleia: two 29-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): one 11-Mar and 28-Mar, three 20-Mar. Kermia Beach: one 27-Mar
and 30-Mar. Mandria: one 29-Mar and 30-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: one
6-Mar, two 26-Mar, four 27-Mar and two 28-Mar. Potamos Liopetri one
30-Mar.
Great
Egret
Egretta alba
Mandria: 10 moving northwest 3-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: one 6-Mar.
Paphos Headland: 13 west 25-Mar.
Grey
Heron
Ardea cinerea
Agia Napa Sewage Works: two 26-Mar. Akamas: one 2-Mar.
Akrotirii
Salt
Lake
: 30 6-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): one 11-Mar. Kensington Cliffs: five perched on ledge halfway up
the cliff 18-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: nine 2-Mar, three 5-Mar, two
9-Mar, three 10-Mar, two 16-Mar and two 22-Mar. Mandria: one 12-Mar.
Oroklini Marsh: one on four dates 13-Mar – 22-Mar. Paphos
Headland/Lighthouse: two 5-Mar and four 17-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: one
3-Mar, 6-Mar and 15-Mar with four 11-Mar and 14-Mar. Polemidia Dam: two
27-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: one 4-Mar, 14 13-Mar, three 21-Mar, one 27-Mar and
four 31-Mar.
PURPLE
HERON Ardea
purpurea
Phasouri Reed-beds: one 25-Mar – 28-Mar. Sotira Pools: one 25-Mar.
Glossy
Ibis Plegadis
falcinellus
Alaminos/Mazotos:
two coasting 30-Mar. Mandria: 15 northwest 30-Mar. Moulia Headland: c37
west 29-Mar. Sotira Pools: one 26-Mar.
Spoonbill Platalea
leucorodia
Oroklini
Marsh: three 15-Mar. Paphos Airport: 17 west 31-Mar.
Greater
Flamingo Phoenicopterus
ruber
Akrotiri
Salt
Lake
: 40+ 4-Mar, 150 6-Mar.
Aphrodite
Hills
: c200 west 8-Mar. Larnaca Salt
Lake
: c180 14-Mar and c60 21-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: max. 62 present on many
dates 1-Mar – 23-Mar with only four remaining 28-Mar. Paphos
Headland/Lighthouse: five northwest 23-Mar and c100 24-Mar . Phasouri
Reed-beds: 24 distant birds in flight 6-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: 17 4-Mar then
up to five 21-Mar – 29-Mar.
White-fronted
Goose Anser albifrons
Asprokremmos
Dam: two 1-Mar, when last seen. Larnaca Sewage Works: 23 5-Mar.
Ruddy
Shelduck
Tadorna ferruginea
Akhna Dam: one 1-Mar and 3-Mar.
Shelduck
Tadorna tadorna
Akrotiri
Salt
Lake
: 25 4-Mar and c30 6-Mar. Larnaca Airport Pools: eight 1-Mar, 51 5-Mar,
19 14-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: c170 2-Mar, 247 5-Mar, 235 9-Mar, c200
16-Mar and 21-Mar and 171 22-Mar. Meneou Pools: 12 2-Mar.
Wigeon
Anas penelope
Asprokremmos
Dam: female 18-Mar. Bishop’s Pool: 40+ 6-Mar then up to 21 13-Mar –
31-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: present all month with a max. of 11 on
5-Mar and 9-Mar with four remaining 28-Mar . Phasouri Reed-beds: one
6-Mar, two 15-Mar and c5 21-Mar.
Gadwall
Anas strepera
Bishop’s Pool: six 6-Mar and four 13-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): three 11-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: female 5-Mar with two
females 25-Mar and 26-Mar.
Teal
Anas crecca
Agia Napa Sewage Works: 23 14-Mar. Akhna Dam: one 3-Mar and 15-Mar.
Aspro Dam Pools: one 1-Mar and 29-Mar.
Athalassa
Park
: 25 on both 21-Mar and 26-Mar. Bishop’s Pool: six 6-Mar, 43 13-Mar,
two 27-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): 169 11-Mar, 62 20-Mar and 52 28-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: 18
5-Mar, 19 9-Mar and 22 22-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: up to 75 present all
month. Phasouri Reed-beds: two 6-Mar, 10 11-Mar, 200 15-Mar and two
27-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: 10+ 13-Mar and c5 21-Mar.
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Athalassa
Park
: 23 21-Mar. Evretou Dam: two females 31-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): 17 11-Mar, 14 20-Mar and five 28-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: two
accurate counts were received 74 9-Mar and 88 22-Mar. Marathounta
Chapel Hill
: 14 28-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: up to eight present all month. Phasouri
Reed-beds: 11 3-Mar, four 6-Mar and 21-Mar, c10 15-Mar and seven 27-Mar.
Zakaki Marsh: two 4-Mar and c10 21-Mar.
Pintail
Anas acuta
Akrotiri: c2000 off Shipwreck Bay 22-Mar. Asprokremmos Dam: five
20-Mar and c40 flew north 23-Mar. Athalassa Dam: male and female 29-Mar.
Evretou Dam: female 31-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): one 11-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: singles 9-Mar, 22-Mar, 26-Mar
and 28-Mar with c5 25-Mar. Mandria: 50+ west along coast 21-Mar.
Oroklini Marsh: two 1-Mar with singles reported 2-Mar and 17-Mar –
28-Mar. Paphos Sewage Plant: two females 26-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: one
24-Mar. Sotira Pools: one 25-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: three 13-Mar, one
15-Mar, and two 21-Mar.
Garganey
Anas querquedula
Akhna
Dam: male 28-Mar. Bishop’s Pool: two males 13-Mar. Curium Fish Farm:
c300 19-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: three 16-Mar, one 22-Mar and one
28-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: two 15-Mar, four 16-Mar with singles 18-Mar,
22-Mar, 23-Mar and 28-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: three 24-Mar.
Shoveler
Anas clypeata
Athalassa
Park: 33 21-Mar and c10 26-Mar. Bishop’s Pool: 50+ 6-Mar, 67 13-Mar,
c25 26-Mar, 14 27-Mar and eight 31-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): 49 11-Mar and 15 20-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: 466 5-Mar, 254
9-Mar and 186 22-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: present from 1-Mar until 23-Mar
with max. 80 on 8-Mar and 15-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: 14 3-Mar. Zakaki
Marsh: 11 4-Mar.
Red-crested
Pochard
Netta rufina
Phasouri Reed-beds: male 24-Mar.
Pochard
Aythya farina
Larnaca Sewage Works: 49 5-Mar, 20 9-Mar, 3+ 16-Mar, one 21-Mar and
22-Mar.
Ferruginous
Duck
Aythya nyroca
Athalassa
Park
: three 21-Mar, two 29-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: reported from 5-Mar
– 28-Mar with a max. of 11 22-Mar and 28-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: four
22-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: four 13-Mar, five 15-Mar, seven 21-Mar and five
29-Mar.
Red-breasted
Merganser
Mergus serrator
Agia
Thekla
Coast
: female 12-Mar. Kermia Beach: female in the surf 14-Mar.
Griffon
Vulture
Gyps fulvus
Dora: three circling 8-Mar.
Short-toed
Eagle
Circaetus gallicus
Agia Napa: two 18-Mar was an interesting record.
Marsh
Harrier
Circus aeruginosus
All reports were of singles unless otherwise stated. Acheleia: male
17-Mar. Evretou Dam: 31-Mar. Fasoula: 29-Mar. Kiti area: 29-Mar. Larnaca
Sewage Works: 2-Mar, 5-Mar, 9-Mar, 10-Mar and 21-Mar. Mandria: males
21-Mar and 30-Mar and a female 25-Mar. Marathounta: male 20-Mar.
Oroklini Marsh: 27-Mar. Paphos Headland: one in off sea 25-Mar. Phasouri
Reed-beds: reported throughout the month with three 22-Mar and two
24-Mar. Trimithousa 30-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: 18-Mar and 21-Mar.
Hen
Harrier
Circus cyaneus
Singles unless otherwise stated. Agia Napa Sewage Works: 23-Mar and
26-Mar. Agios Nikolaos (ESBA): 23-Mar, Akhna area: 15-Mar. Akrotiri
Gravel Pits: two females 13-Mar. Anarita Mast: 12-Mar.
Cape
Greco
: 19-Mar. Episkopi-Marathounta road 22-Mar. Frenaros 26-Mar. Kato
Choletria 31-Mar. Larnaca Desalination Plant area: female 22-Mar and
male 29-Mar. Frenaros: one ad. male 26-Mar.
Pallid
Harrier
Circus macrourus
Cape Greco: male 23-Mar, male and two females 25-Mar.
Dhiarizos
Valley
(Nikoklia): three 24-Mar. Paphos Headland: 19 in off the sea at dawn
24-Mar, one 28-Mar.Evretou Dam: male 31-Mar. Kidasi: male 21-Mar.
Lady’s Mile: male 21-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: male 22-Mar. Sotira
Pools: male and female 25-Mar. Xeros Potamos: five 24-Mar. Bishop’s
Pool: one 29-Mar.
Montagu’s
Harrier
Circus pygargus
Cape
Greco
: male 2-Mar.
Anarita Mast: female 25-Mar. Asprokremmos Dam: male 23-Mar.
Goshawk
Accipiter gentiles
Kritou Terra: immature, probably female 4-Mar.
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
All reports refer to single birds. Bishop’s Pool: 13-Mar. Kritou
Terra: 5-Mar. Marathounta: 20-Mar. Paphos Sewage Plant: 5-Mar.
Common
Buzzard
Buteo buteo
Agia Napa Sewage Works: two 14-Mar, three 21-Mar and one 26-Mar.
Agios Nikolaos (ESBA): one 10-Mar and 15-Mar. Akhna Dam/area: three
15-Mar and one 18-Mar.
Akrotiri
Salt
Lake
: one 4-Mar and two 6-Mar. Asprokremmos Dam/Pools: four 5-Mar with
single birds reported on a further six dates. Bishop’s Pool: one
18-Mar.
Cape
Greco
: one 12-Mar. Ezousas Valley: three 22-Mar and one 25-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): one 11-Mar and 20-Mar. Kouklia: one 11-Mar, 24-Mar and 28-Mar.
Kritou Terra: one 1-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: two 5-Mar. Mandria: one
9-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: singles 2-Mar, 16-Mar, 19-Mar and 28-Mar. Paphos
Sewage Plant: four 5-Mar with one 24-Mar and 29-Mar. Pegeia: three
9-Mar.
Petra
tou Romiou Hills: two 2-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: reported on eight dates
with three 15-Mar and four 17-Mar. Polis: one 28-Mar.
Timi
Beach
: one 16-Mar. Troodos area: two 8-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: one 27-Mar.
Frenaros: one 9-Mar.
Long-legged
Buzzard
Buteo rufinus All reports refer to single birds. Agia Dhimitrianos:
18-Mar. Agios Nikolaos (ESBA): mobbed by resident Common Kestrel Falco
tinnunculus pair. Akhna Dam: 28-Mar. Aspro Dam Pools: 6-Mar, 8-Mar,
19-Mar and 29-Mar. Axylou-Amargeti: 18-Mar. Episkopi-Marathounta road:
22-Mar. Kelokedhara: 18-Mar. Mandria: 4-Mar. Omodos: 8-Mar.
Cape
Pyla
area: 26-Mar. Letimbou/Khoulou: two 18-Mar. Paphos Sewage Plant: 25-Mar.
Tsada Hills: two (resident pair) 3-Mar and 24-Mar.
LESSER
SPOTTED EAGLE Aquila
pomarina.
Ezousas
Valley
: one possibly
this sp. reported 25-Mar.
Bonelli’s
Eagle
Hieraaetus fasciatus
Agia Dhimitrianos: adult 18-Mar. Marathounta
Chapel Hill
: adult 7-Mar. Episkopi-Nata road junction: male 6-Mar.
LESSER
KESTREL Falco
naumanni
Agia
Napa Sewage Works: male and female 26-Mar and male 28-Mar.
COMMON
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
Widespread resident breeder, winter visitor and passage migrant.
Only recorded from 14 sites this month.
Peregrine
Falco peregrinus
All
reports refer to single birds.
Akamas
Peninsula
: 2-Mar. Akrotiri Gravel Pits: 19-Mar.
Anarita
Park
: male 25-Mar. Aspro Dam Pools: 21-Mar. Avgas Gorge area: 27-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): 11-Mar and one feeding on Moorhen Gallinula
chloropus 20-Mar. Kensington Cliffs: two (resident pair) 18-Mar.
Mandria: male 30-Mar. Marathounta: 6-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: 13-Mar.
Tala Hills: 17-Mar.
Chukar
Alectoris chukar
Widespread and under-recorded. Only reported from 15 sites this
month.
Black
Francolin
Francolinus francolinus
As usual the majority of records refer to calling birds. Agia Napa
Sewage Works: one 14-Mar, 26-Mar and 30-Mar. Agios Nikolaos (ESBA):
9-Mar and 24-Mar. Akrotiri Gravel Pits: one 24-Mar and 27-Mar. Alaminos/Mazotos:
two 29-Mar.
Athalassa
Park
: two 21-Mar and one 26-Mar. Choletria Ford: two 18-Mar. Evretou Dam:
one 26-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): two 11-Mar and 20-Mar with one 28-Mar. Lakatameia,
Nicosia
: one 17-Mar.
Manglis
Lake
: male 28-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: present 1-Mar – 23-Mar with a max.
count of four 19-Mar. Paphos Headland: one 18-Mar. Paphos Sewage Plant:
one 5-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: present all month with max. three 21-Mar.
Strovolos: one 19-Mar.
Timi
Beach
: one 16-Mar. Tomb of Kings: one 18-Mar. Vrysoulles: one 10-Mar. Zakaki
Marsh: one 21-Mar and 27-Mar.
Quail
Coturnix coturnix
All
reports refer to single birds unless otherwise stated. Agia Thekla area:
9-Mar. Agia Varvara area: 30-Mar. Agios Nikolaos (ESBA): two 1-Mar, one
9-Mar and 15-Mar and four 24-Mar.
Cape
Greco
Sea
Caves
: 26-Mar.
Cape
Pyla
: 25-Mar. Choletria Ford: 18-Mar. Mandria: three including two in off
the sea 9-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: 25-Mar. Paphos Headland: at least two
18-Mar and one 26-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds 21-Mar.
Timi
Beach
: 16-Mar. Skoulii: 30-Mar.
Water
Rail
Rallus aquaticus
All records refer to single birds.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): 11-Mar and 28-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: reported on five dates
between 13-Mar and 27-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: 24-Mar, 27-Mar and 29-Mar.
Spotted
Crake
Porzana porzana
Evretou Dam: one 31-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: one 21-Mar.
Little
Crake
Porzana parva
Evretou Dam: female 31-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: one 21-Mar.
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
Aspro Dam Pools: one 21-Mar.
Athalassa
Park
: 13 21-Mar, six 26-Mar. Bishop’s Pool: three 6-Mar, one 13-Mar, six
31-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): 38 11-Mar, 31 20-Mar, 32 28-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: present all
month, max. count six 22-Mar and 23-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: one 6-Mar
and 21-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: one 27-Mar and 31-Mar.
Coot
Fulica atra
Agia Napa Sewage Works: three 14-Mar and 26-Mar. Akhna Dam: 111
15-Mar, 82 20-Mar and 66 28-Mar. Aspro Dam/Pools: single bird on three
dates and five birds 28-Mar. Athalassa Park: 55 21-Mar, 30+ 26-Mar.
Bishop’s Pool: c15 6-Mar. Evretou Dam: three 30-Mar and 31-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): 61 11-Mar, 74 20-Mar and 86 28-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: 138
5-Mar, 119 9-Mar and 151 22-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: max. daily count was 80
on 9-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: seven reports received with max. counts of
41 on both 11-Mar and 28-Mar.
COMMON
CRANE Grus
grus
Amazing
unusual passage over west and centre of island. Agia Marinouda: 32
northwest in V-formation 6-Mar. Asprokremmos Dam: 21 north 8-Mar.
Chlorokas
Bay
: 50+ north 7-Mar. Paphos Lighthouse: six at 07.00h 6-Mar. Paramytha:
c500 (c300 at 11.30h and c200 at 12.00h) 9-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: one
13-Mar, two 24-Mar and two 27-Mar. Pyrgos-Pareklisshia: 28 flew from
roost on plateau at 06.15h on 6-Mar. Secret Valley Golf Club area: 17
9-Mar.
DEMOISELLE CRANE Anthropoides
virgo
Phasouri
Reed-beds: c30 flying over at 06.30h
on 20-Mar.
Black-winged
Stilt
Himantopus himantopus
Agia Napa Sewage Works: one 23-Mar. Akhna Dam: one 15-Mar and four
28-Mar and 31-Mar.
Athalassa
Park
: one 21-Mar. Bishop’s Pool: four 31-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): seven 20-Mar and 11 28-Mar.
Larnaca
Salt
Lake
: five 21-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: up to four 5-Mar – 19-Mar then 32
22-Mar.
Mandria
Beach
: 15 east 25-Mar. Meneou Pools: three 5-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: first
recorded 5-Mar numbers had increased to 60 23-Mar. Paphos Headland: c25
east 23-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: up to four 21-Mar – 29-Mar. Sylvana
Pool: two 27-Mar, seven 18-Mar.
Timi
Beach
: 10 on rocks 14-Mar. Tsada GC: one 24-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: 15 21-Mar, 10
22-Mar.
Stone
Curlew
Burhinus oedicnemus
Acheleia Experimental Farm/Olive Grove: one 8-Mar and 21-Mar, two
25-Mar.
Agia
Napa
Sea
Caves
area: one 14-Mar. Agios Nikolaos (ESBA): two occasionally heard calling
at night throughout the month. Choletria Ford: three 18-Mar. Kritou Tera:
one calling at night 26-Mar. Larnaca Airport Pools (North): six 5-Mar.
Mandria: two 9-Mar and 12-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: pair with eggs 27-Mar.
Paphos Sewage Plant: one 27-Mar.
Geroskipou
Beach
Fields: 12 8-Mar.
CREAM-COLOURED
COURSER Cursorius
cursor
Paphos
Airport
: one was seen on
airstrip from the observer’s plane as it taxied to a halt 27-Mar.
COLLARED
PRATINCOLE Glareola
pratincola
Larnaca
Sewage Works: two 29-Mar.
PRATINCOLE
spp. Glareola
spp.
Phasouri
Reed-beds: one 24-Mar and 26-Mar showing characteristics of
Black-winged/Collared, with dark secondary uppers and red underwing
linings and could possibly have been a hybrid. Further details are
awaited.
Little
Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubius
Akhna Dam: nine 15-Mar, six 20-Mar and seven 28-Mar. Akrotiri Gravel
Pits: four 15-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): six on 11-Mar and 20-Mar with seven 28-Mar. Lady’s Mile:
eight 18-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: max. daily count was 12 on 22-Mar. Paphos
Headland: two 17-Mar. Paphos Sewage Plant: three 25-Mar. Phasouri
Reed-beds: one 15-Mar and two 18-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: 10 13-Mar.
Ringed
Plover
Charadrius hiaticula
Akhna Dam: three 1-Mar, one 3-Mar and 28-Mar with two 15-Mar.
Larnaca
Airport
Pools: one 14-Mar.
Kentish
Plover
Charadrius alexandrinus
Agia Thekla: one 21-Mar. Akhna Dam: one 28-Mar. Lady’s Mile: five
4-Mar, 11 18-Mar, c50 21-Mar, three 22-Mar and 30+ 29-Mar. Larnaca
Airport Pools: three 5-Mar 10+ 14-Mar. Mandria: one 26-Mar. Meneou
Pools: nine 5-Mar. Paralimni
Lake
: pair with four young chicks 26-Mar.
Spiros
Beach
: six 14-Mar.
Greater
Sand Plover
Charadrius leschenaultia
Agia Thekla area: 20 9-Mar.
Kermia
Beach
: one 21-Mar. Lady’s Mile: one 21-Mar. Mandria: two 26-Mar. Paphos
Headland/Lighthouse: two 1-Mar, one 17-Mar and one 20-Mar.
Spiros
Beach
: one 4-Mar.
European
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricaria
Mandria: 16 3-Mar, 17 10-Mar and five 12-Mar. Paphos Headland: c50
1-Mar.
Grey
Plover
Pluvialis
squatarola
Cape
Pyla: one 3-Mar,
Kermia
Beach
: one 14-Mar. Paphos Headland: three 1-Mar, one 19-Mar.
Spiros
Beach
: three 4-Mar, two 5-Mar, one 19-Mar and one 25-Mar.
Spur-winged
Plover
Vanellus spinosus
Akhna Dam: four 28-Mar and two 31-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): 14 11-Mar, 22 20-Mar and 18 28-Mar. Larnaca Desalination Plant:
two, probably a pair, 22-Mar. Marathounta: 16 moving north over hills
21-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: reported regularly from 10-Mar – 28-Mar with a
max. of 15 22-Mar. A pair was seen copulating 28-Mar. Paphos Sewage
Plant: one 31-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: one present on four dates 14-Mar
– 28-Mar. Pioneer Beach Hotel, Paphos: two 23-Mar.
WHITE-TAILED
PLOVER
Vanellus leucurus
Phasouri Reed-beds: one 12-Mar was photographed, 16th record in 10
years.
Northern
Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): one 11-Mar and 28-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: five 15-Mar.
Little
Stint Calidris minuta
Akhna
Dam: three 3-Mar – 27-Mar and four 28-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): one 28-Mar. Lady’s Mile: 17 18-Mar, 20 21-Mar and 10 29-Mar.
Oroklini Marsh: five 19-Mar and eight 28-Mar.
Temminck’s
Stint
Calidris temminckii
Akhna Dam: one 3-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): the four wintering birds present during Feb. were still on site
11-Mar, 20-Mar and 28-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: one 25-Mar.
Curlew
Sandpiper
Calidris ferruginea
Oroklini Marsh: at least 10 26-Mar was the only report.
Dunlin
Calidris alpina
Akhna Dam: four 15-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): one 11-Mar. Lady’s Mile: c40 4-Mar, 32 6-Mar, two 13-Mar, 14
18-Mar, c40 21-Mar and four 22-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: present all-month
with a max. of eight 15-Mar – 18-Mar.
Ruff
Philomachus pugnax
Akhna Dam: eight 15-Mar and one 28-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): three 20-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: seven 22-Mar. Oroklini
Marsh: up to eight present all month. Phasouri Reed-beds: four 3-Mar and
6-Mar, 10 14-Mar, 25+ 15-Mar, four 18-Mar, four 21-Mar, six 27-Mar and
10 28-Mar.
Jack
Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimus
Oroklini Marsh: one 21-Mar and 25-Mar.
Common
Snipe
Gallinago gallinago
Agia Varvara area: two 29-Mar. Akhna Dam: four 15-Mar and two
28-Mar. Akrotiri Gravel Pits: one 19-Mar.
Athalassa
Park
: one 21-Mar. Evretou Dam: two 31-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): six 11-Mar, three 20-Mar and five 28-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: one
23-Mar, two 28-Mar. Paphos Sewage Plant: one 25-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds:
reported on nine dates between 6-Mar and 28-Mar with a max. count of
five 6-Mar.
Black-tailed
Godwit
Limosa limosa
Akhna Dam: one 1-Mar.
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
Larnaca Sewage Works: one 19-Mar.
Curlew
Numenius arquata
Lady’s Mile: two 21-Mar.
Larnaca
Airport
Coast
: nine bathing in the surf 5-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works/area: one 10-Mar
and 16-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: one 6-Mar – 15-Mar.
Spotted
Redshank
Tringa erythropus
Akhna Dam: one 15-Mar.
common
Redshank
Tringa tetanus
Agia Napa Sewage Works: one 30-Mar. Akhna Dam: two 15-Mar and
28-Mar.
Cape
Greco
: one 3-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): seven 11-Mar, three 20-Mar and three 28-Mar. Lady’s Mile: one
6-Mar. Larnaca Airport Pools (North): six 5-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: max.
daily count was 10 on 3-Mar, 4-Mar and 11-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: three
22-Mar. Tera: one 30-Mar.
Marsh
Sandpiper
Tringa stagnatilis
Oroklini Marsh: one 19-Mar, five 21-Mar and four 28-Mar. Phasouri
Reed-beds: one 13-Mar, two 14-Mar, one 15-Mar, two 18-Mar and one
21-Mar.
Greenshank
Tringa nebularia
Akhna Dam: four 26-Mar, one 31-Mar. Bishop’s Pool: one 27-Mar.
Larnaca Sewage Works: one 22-Mar and 28-Mar. Mandria: nine 30-Mar.
Oroklini Marsh: one 23-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: one 22-Mar.
Green
Sandpiper
Tringa ochropus
Agia Napa Sewage Works: one 21-Mar, five 26-Mar. Agia Varvara area:
two 29-Mar. Akhna Dam: two 15-Mar, 12 26-Mar and eight 28-Mar. Akrotiri
Gravel Pits: one 19-Mar. Aspro Dam Pools: one 1-Mar.
Athalassa
Park
: three 21-Mar, two 26-Mar. Bishop’s Pool: one 13-Mar, two 27-Mar.
Choletria Ford: one 18-Mar. Evretou Dam: one 30-Mar, three 31-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): four 11-Mar, three 20-Mar and five 28-Mar.
Manglis
Lake
: two 28-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: one 4-Mar, 12-Mar, 13-Mar and 23-Mar.
Phasouri Reed-beds: three 6-Mar and two 21-Mar. Prodromi Water Tank: one
29-Mar.
Timi
Beach
: one 16-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: one 13-Mar.
Wood
Sandpiper
Tringa glareola
Agia Napa Sewage Works: two 16-Mar. Akhna Dam: two 15-Mar and six
31-Mar. Bishop’s Pool: one 27-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): one 20-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: four 28-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds:
one 6-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: one 27-Mar and 29-Mar.
Common
Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
Agia Napa Sewage Works: one 23-Mar. Akhna Dam: one 23-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): one 11-Mar and 20-Mar with two 28-Mar.
Manglis
Lake
: one 28-Mar. Paphos Headland: one 29-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: one 31-Mar.
Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
Paphos Headland: three 24-Mar and 28-Mar.
Great
Black-headed Gull
Larus ichthyaetus
Asprokremmos Dam: adult 20-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: seven (six
adults and a first-winter) 5-Mar, one first-winter 6-Mar and 24-Mar, one
adult 9-Mar and 24-Mar. Larnaca Seafront: a first-winter bird was
reported daily between 1-Mar and 6-Mar.
Mediterranean
Gull Larus
melanocephalus
Cape
Greco: three adults Konnos Bay 21-Mar.
Cape
Kiti
: one 22-Mar. Lady’s Mile: at least one adult 29-Mar. Larnaca
Seafront: three 1-Mar and 5-Mar, at least eight 2-Mar, at least 11
4-Mar, three 5-Mar and four 6-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: three 4-Mar and
singles 9-Mar and 21-Mar.
Little
Gull Larus minutus
Larnaca
Seafront: one first-winter 1-Mar, 4-Mar and 5-Mar with possibly the same
bird at Larnaca Sewage Works also 5-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: one almost
daily 1-Mar – 17-Mar.
Black-headed
Gull Larus ridibundus
Fresh
Water Lake (South): 92 11-Mar, one sick/injured bird (only able to fly a
short distance) on both 20-Mar and 28-Mar. Lady’s Mile: c600 4-Mar.
Larnaca Seafront: 170 5-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: 55 2-Mar, 124 5-Mar,
at least 64 9-Mar, c200 19-Mar and 22 22-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: max. daily
count was 200+ on 11-Mar and 12-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: c300 21-Mar.
Zakaki Marsh: c40 4-Mar, c70 6-Mar and 50+ 13-Mar.
Slender-billed
Gull Larus genei
Lady’s
Mile: five 4-Mar. Larnaca Seafront: four 2-Mar and 57 6-Mar. Larnaca
Sewage Works: 29 5-Mar, 16 on both 9-Mar and 14-Mar, 21 19-Mar, 27
21-Mar and five 22-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: four on 12-Mar, 15-Mar and
17-Mar. Paphos Headland: singles 1-Mar and 17-Mar.
Audouin’s
Gull Larus audouinii
Agia
Thekla
Coast
: one 9-Mar, two
12-Mar.
Kermia
Beach
: regularly reported during the month with a max. of 11 9-Mar. Larnaca
Sewage Works: one 26-Mar.
Lesser
Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus/heuglini
Lady’s
Mile: one 22-Mar, two 29-Mar, three 31-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: one
18-Mar.
BALTIC
GULL Larus
fuscus
Asprokremmos Dam: adult 18-Mar and 20-Mar, first-winter bird 23-Mar.
Cape
Kiti
: one 22-Mar. Lady’s Mile: three 27-Mar, one 28-Mar and four 29-Mar.
Larnaca Seafront: adult 2-Mar and 4-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: one
2-Mar, two 5-Mar, three 19-Mar, three 21-Mar, five 22-Mar, three 28-Mar
and two 30-Mar. Orokoini Marsh: two 4-Mar, one 28-Mar. Paphos Headland:
one 26-Mar. Zakaki Marsh: one 18-Mar, 21-Mar and 27-Mar.
HEUGLIN’S
GULL Larus
heuglini
Asprokremmos Dam: singles 18-Mar, 20-Mar and 23-Mar. Larnaca Sewage
Works: singles 2-Mar, 5-Mar and 19-Mar.
YELLOW-LEGGED
GULL Larus
michahellis
Akamas
Peninsula
: seven 2-Mar.
Cape
Drepanum
: c60 24-Mar.
Cape
Greco
: two 21-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): eight 11-Mar and three 20-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: eight
5-Mar, 26 mainly immature 9-Mar. Mandria: two 3-Mar. Paphos Lighthouse:
four 5-Mar.
Timi
Beach
: eight 14-Mar.
CASPIAN
GULL Larus
cachinnans
Asprokremmos Dam: four 20-Mar. Lady’s Mile: 35 6-Mar, seven 27-Mar.
Larnaca Sewage Works: 104 5-Mar, six 19-Mar, c10 21-Mar and 34 22-Mar.
Oroklini Marsh: one first-winter 28-Mar. Paphos Headland: 17-Mar.
GREAT
BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus
marinus
Lady’s
Mile: one was reported in a flock of 10 Lesser Black-backed Larus fuscus/heuglini
and Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus 29-Mar. Awaits assessment,
for possible 6th record.
Armenian
Gull Larus armenicus
Asprokremmos Dam: two 20-Mar. Lady’s Mile: two 4-Mar and at least six
6-Mar. Larnaca Seafront: at least three 1-Mar and 2-Mar, eight 4-Mar,
one 5-Mar. Larnaca Sewage Works: two 2-Mar, three 5-Mar, one 9-Mar, c6
21-Mar, one 22-Mar, 25-Mar and 26-Mar with five 28-Mar.
Sandwich
Tern Sterna
sandvicensis
Kermia
Beach
: two 14-Mar.
Larnaca Seafront: two 1-Mar, at least nine 2-Mar and four 4-Mar. Paphos
Lighthouse: one 3-Mar. Spiros Beach: three 14-Mar. Spiros Beach buoys:
one 26-Mar.
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbus
Largest counts shown:
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): 35 on 11-Mar. Mandria: c40 on 9-Mar, c90 on 14-Mar. Phasouri
Reed-beds: 170 on 21-Mar.
Collared
Dove
Streptopelia decaocto
Ones and twos fairly widely reported.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): 21 on 11-Mar, 18 on 20 & 28-Mar. Strovolos,
Nicosia
: four 19-Mar. Geroskipou beach fields: six 8-Mar.
Great
Spotted Cuckoo
Clamator glandarius
This species seems to have arrived later than usual, with earliest
records as follows: Asprokremmos
Dam: one at least from 1-Mar. Souni: three 2-Mar, then one or two daily
from 9-Mar to month end. Marathounta: one lower end of village 3-Mar,
two near new church 10-Mar and leaving old Magpie nest 12-Mar. Oroklini
Marsh: one 4-Mar. Lythrodontas two daily from 4-Mar to month end. Ones
and twos from mid month, at Marathounta, Akhna Dam, Aspro Dam Pools,
Evretou Dam, Kato Choletria, Larnaca Sewage Works, Nikokleia, Phinikas,
Polis, Tala hills, Tsada, Peyia Forest, Galateria, Kelokedhara, with
four Dekeleia 25-Mar and four Armou Hills 18-Mar.
Common
Cuckoo
Cuculus canorus
Agios
Merkourios: one 28-Mar.
Fresh
Water
Lake
(South): one 11-Mar. Potamos Magoundas: one calling 28-Mar.
Barn
Owl
Tyto alba
Chlorokas:
one 17-Mar. Opposite Marathounta: one released from mist net alive
1-Mar.
Scops
Owl Otus scops cyprius
All
records listed. Armou:
one calling before sunset in village 31-Mar. Evretou Dam: one heard
30-Mar. Kathikas: one heard 27-Mar. Kritou Tera: one heard 26-Mar, three
pairs 30-Mar, max. 4 heard nightly, and twice during the day 1-5-Mar.:
one all month. Marathounta: pair mating on wire 21-Mar, 2 or 3 calling
22-Mar. Heard all month at Souni and Lythrodontas.
Little
Owl
Athene noctua
Not
very common. Agios
Nikolaos (ESBA): two present all month. Aspro Dam Pools: one 27-Mar.
Phinikas: one 18-Mar.
Short-eared
Owl Asio flammeus
Mandria:
one at lark corner 8-Mar, one at dusk, sitting in ploughed field 21-Mar.
Paphos Headland: five came off sea early morning 24-Mar.
Timi
Beach
,
Paphos
Airport
: one being mobbed by Hooded Crows 14-Mar.
Common
Swift
Apus apus
Main
arrival noted from second week of March. Early records include, one Venus
Beach Hotel, Paphos 1-Mar, three Frenaros 7-Mar, three near Kallepia
7-Mar and 12 at Agios Nikolaos (ESBA) 9-Mar. Largest groups reported, 12
Akhna Dam 15-Mar, max. 38 Fresh Water Lake (South) 11-Mar, 14 Mandria
14-Mar, up to 45 Oroklini Marsh 10-18-Mar, c30 Phasouri Reed-beds
13-Mar, 30+ Manglis Lake, Lakatameia 28-Mar and c25 Timi beach 27-Mar.
Pallid
Swift
Apus pallidus
Larnaca
Sewage Works: one 19-Mar.
Alpine
Swift Apus melba
Two
Cape
Greco
9-Mar, then two 21-Mar and five 25-Mar. Aspro Dam Pools: up to five
13-29-Mar, with eight 18-Mar. Mandria: two 14-Mar. Timi Beach,
Paphos
Airport
: four 16-Mar.
Common
Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
One
at Psilon
Dendron, Platres 8-Mar was unusual. Otherwise singles reported on
passage. Aspro Dam Pools: one 5-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds: one 21-Mar.
Akhna Dam: one 26-Mar. Oroklini Marsh: one 28-Mar. Fresh Water
Lake
(South) one 28-Mar. Paphos Lighthouse one 30-Mar. Polis Reed-beds one
caught in mist net 31-Mar.
Pied
Kingfisher
Ceryle rudis
Oroklini
Marsh one 1-18-Mar. Zakaki one 13-18-Mar.
Blue-cheeked
Bee-eater
Merops persicus
One
of the best springs for many years for the species, many arrived after
strong northwest winds veered to the east on 23-Mar. Paphos
Headland: two 23-Mar, five 24-Mar, seven 25-Mar. Bishop's Pool: up to
c20 from 26-Mar, with 12 remaining 29-Mar to month end. Mandria: one
25-Mar.
Sea
Caves
, Agios Georgios: seven 25-Mar. Sylvana Restaurant, Akrotiri one 26-Mar.
Hoopoe
Upupa epops
Very commonly reported after main arrival 9-Mar, with 60 records
received, comprising 122 birds. Noteworthy reports listed:
Agios Nikolaos (ESBA): three 10-Mar. Akrotiri Gravel Pits: c10 on
13-Mar, four 18-Mar, three 19-Mar. Asprokremmos Dam: three 23-Mar and
31-Mar. Avagas Gorge Area: four 27-Mar. Marathounta Chapel Hill three
28-Mar. Paphos Lighthouse: nine 9-Mar, five 15-Mar. Phasouri Reed-beds
five 12-Mar, three 21-Mar. Kiti lighthouse: three 18-Mar.
Wryneck
Jynx torquilla
Aspro
Dam Pools: one 20-Mar. Akrotiri: one 27-Mar. Akhna Dam: one 28-Mar.
Armou: one 31-Mar. Lasa: one 30-Mar. Polis Reed-beds: one 31-Mar.
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