Cyprus birds - Spring 2013

May 4-9, 2013:
A visit to the western side of the island yielded several interesting birds over this period. Places visited included the Asprokremnos dam area and its associated pools, Ezousas pools, Kouklea fish farm, Anarita park, Fassouri reed beds, Tunnel Beach and the adjacent cliffs, Akrotiri pools and church, Smygies, and the Teletria valley. Photographs of some of the birds seen are below.

Roller, top two at Anarita, lower at Teletria

Ortolan Bunting, Smygies

The endemic Cyprus Pied Wheatear, Smygies

Woodchat Shrike, Anarita park

Adult female Red-backed Shrike, Akrotiri

 

Eleonora's Falcon, distant view from the Kensington cliffs

Yellow Wagtail, Fassouri reed beds

Turtle Doves, near Fassouri

Spur-winged Lapwing, Ezousas pools

Ruff, Ezousas pools

Little Stint, Ezousas pools

Unidentified Harrier sp, Anarita park

Bee-eater (unfortunately against the light and distant), Latchi

Cyprus, March 29-April 7, 2011

Part 5 (final), Cape Greco, Woodchat Shrike:
The peninsula at Cape Greco is important for migrants (see earlier), the low-lying, rocky terrain and scattered scrub acting as a haven for incoming birds. In one area where the vegetation was somewhat taller a very handsome Woodchat Shrike had staked out a feeding territory.



Although elusive at first, with patience it was possible to approach quite closely using intervening bushes as cover and eventually to within 25 metres giving good views as it frequently dropped from its perch to pounce on prey below. Even so, it was clearly aware of my presence and kept a wary eye on me by frequently looking back over its shoulder. Like most Shrikes it had selected prominent perches on small sparsely-vegetated trees. It appeared to have just three of these, seemingly moving around them at random. From its head patterning it appeared to be a male.




On returning the following day there was no sign of the bird, it presumably having moved further along its journey. Its destination would probably be mainland Europe since Woodchats only rarely nest in Cyprus.


[The rough scrubby garrigue favoured by the Shrike]