Events & Field Meetings

2008  

FEBRUARY 2008

Saturday 16th February: Akhna Dam and Oroklini Marsh

Leader: Nigel Cottle. Mobile : 99586641

Winter visitors. If we hit the jackpot we may see wintering Temminck's Stint and Water 
Pipit whilst Bluethroat, Reed Bunting and Dunnock are also possibilities but nothing is 
guaranteed! Hopefully there will have been enough rain during the winter to raise the 
water levels at Akhna Dam to a reasonable level.

Meet at 9.30 am, dirt track leading to Larnaka Sewage Pool hide. 4x4 not necessary.

Saturday 23rd February: Paphos Foothills

Leader: Colin Richardson. Tel: 26946682

Winter thrushes, Woodlarks and finches. Although the numbers of winter thrushes and 
finches vary year by year they are always worth looking for. Even in poorer years, 
the area holds a good variety of other avian attractions including some of our rarer 
resident raptors.

Meet at 9.30 am, lay-by, left-hand side in the direction of Konia, 200 metres from 
roundabout at end of Paphos motorway.4x4 not necessary for first part of trip, though
may be required in the Ezousas Valley, depending on conditions. 

MARCH 2008

Saturday 8th March: Troodos  

Leader: Stavros Christodoulides . Mobile : 99425050  

Winter visitors and highland endemics. We will be looking for weather-hardy winter visitors such as Brambling, Siskin and Goldcrest. With luck and persistence, we should also come across the local endemic races of Wren, Coal Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Jay and Crossbill.

Meet at 9.30h, Forestry Department Environment Centre next to Dolphin Restaurant. 4X4 not necessary.

Saturday 15th March: Akrotiri Peninsula

Leaders: Melis and Chris Charalambides. Mobiles: 99653205 (Melis), 99541054 (Chris)

With spring migration now well under way we shall search for interesting migrants in the island’s most 
famous birding hotspot. Being the southernmost point, the peninsulas’ wetlands provide a first stop for 
shorebirds and we should see good numbers of heron species as well as smaller waders including stints, 
sandpipers and plovers. Migrant passerines will also be in evidence as we search the fields and scrubby 
areas for larks, pipits, wheatears and warblers. Late March is a great time to watch out for migrant harriers 
and we could come across Pallid, Hen and Marsh Harriers during our trip.

Meet at 9.30h at Zakaki football stadium. 4x4 not necessary.

Saturday 22nd March: Larnaka Sewage Works and Salt Lakes

Leader: Martin Hellicar. Mobile : 99907893

We will search for lingering winter visitors and early spring migrants. Although never guaranteed, Mediterranean Gulls should be passing through and we could observe birds of various ages, some of which by now would have acquired their breeding summer plumage. We will enjoy a good variety of waders such as Marsh, Green and Wood Sandpipers as well as numerous other migrant waders. The surrounding fields hold a good variety of lark, pipit and wagtail species including the now very local Calandra Lark. At Kiti Lighthouse we should find a number of migrant warbler species and it is well worth searching for early spring visitors such as Ruppell’s, Subalpine, Eastern BonellI’s and Eastern Orphean Warblers. 

Meet at 9.30h, dirt track leading to Larnaka Sewage Pool hide. 4x4 not necessary.

Saturday 29th March: Akhna Dam 

Leader: Nigel Cottle. Mobile : 99586641

Akhna Dam always holds many interesting surprises and early spring is no exception. Water levels at Akhna will determine the variety of birds seen but we could see a good selection of reed-loving species such as Bluethroat, Moustached Warbler and Reed Bunting. Along the water’s edge we will search for Temminck’s Stint and Water Pipit.

Meet at 9.30h at Dam wall. 4x4 not necessary.

APRIL 2008

Saturday 5th April: Asprokremmos Pools and Mandria 

Leader: Colin Richardson. Tel: 26946682

This is a great time for spring migrants and we will look in all the best places. At Asprokremmos Pools we should find Little Crake, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Cretzschmar's Bunting and Great Reed Warbler, before we move on to the Mandria fields where Short-toed and Bimaculated Larks, Tawny Pipits and Black-eared Wheatears are likely to be harassed by passing harriers. The sky may be full of hirundines and the occasional Alpine Swift. In previous years, herons, Garganey, Collared Pratincoles and a selection of waders are often seen, drifting along the coast. However, not all these species are guaranteed.....!

Meet at 9.30h at Asprokremmos Pools. 4X4 not necessary.

Saturday 12th April: Cape Greko

Leader: Stavros Christodoulides . Mobile : 99425050

The island’s southeast peninsula is famous for its spring passage and its large variety of migrant species. During last year’s trip we managed a stunning first for Cyprus , a Bateleur Eagle, as well as a good selection of uncommon species such as Bimaculated Lark, Audouin’s Gull and Rock Thrush.

Meet at 9.30h at Kermia Beach Hotel turnoff. 4X4 not necessary.

Friday 18th – Sunday 20th April: Karpas Peninsula

Leader: Melis Charalambides. Mobile : 99653205

This popular trip is another opportunity to visit the occupied north and the island’s easternmost tip. Stretching for miles out at sea, the panhandle provides a welcome rest for tired migrants returning from their African wintering grounds. During this trip, at the height of the spring migration season, we should observe both a good variety and large numbers of migrant passerine and non-passerine species. The trip also provides a chance to look for some of the scarce residents of this remote area such as Audouin’s Gull and Raven.

Please note that reservations must be made with the Birdlife Cyprus office by Saturday 7^th April.

Meet at 16.00h at Akhna Dam Wall. 4X4 not necessary.

Saturday 26th April: Ayios Minas Church, Neo Khorio, Akamas

Leader: Alan Crabtree. Mobile : 99455345

Alan will be demonstrating bird trapping and ringing. Please note that this field meeting will have a differentstructure to the others as there will be no tour of the surrounding area. Members and friends can arrive/depart at anytime during the period. 

Directions: Ayios Minas Church is about 1.5km from Neo Khorio towards Akamas (pass the village church andfollow the signs for Smiyies Picnic Area).

Meet at 9.30h at Ayios Minas Church. 4x4 not necessary.  

MAY 2008  Saturday 3rd May: Akrotiri Peninsula

Leaders:Martin Hellicar.Mobile : 99907893

For many, May usually signals the slowdown of spring migration. In recent years however this has been a period of many interesting sightings. We will search both the wetlands and the surrounding fields for such late migrants. May is also the month of White-winged Tern passage and we may come across a large group of these beautiful small terns in their breeding plumage.

Meet at 9.30h at Zakaki football stadium. 4x4 not necessary.  

Saturday 10th May: Larnaka Sewage Pools and Oroklini Marsh

Leader: Nigel Cottle. Mobile :99586641

With the winter visitors having gone and spring migration slowing down this is the time to look for some of the rarer passage waders such as Sanderling, Broad-billed Sandpiper and Turnstone as well as an opportunity to view Little and Common Terns on their nests. Time and water level permitting we may visit Oroklini Marsh for another chance to look for Broad-billed Sandpiper as well as breeding Spur-winged Plover, Black-winged Stilt and Black-headed Wagtail.

Meet at 9.30h, dirt track leading to Larnaka Sewage Pool hide. 4x4 not necessary.  

Sunday 17th May: Paphos Forest

To be advised.