May 2010

1st – 10th May 2010
I wasn’t expecting early May to be as good as a mid-April visit for birding but was pleased with what I saw on this trip with three new Cyprus birds including a personal lifer (first seen anywhere for me). Only one day was set aside exclusively for birdwatching, an early 4.45 am start on 5th May saw me leaving the apartment at Tatlisu for the one and half hour drive to Sadrazamkoy and Korucam Burnu on the north west tip of the Island. All the other birds were seen on short local excursions and generally driving around the north of the island. A trip to the wonderfully unspoilt Karpas Peninsula (less than two hours drive from the apartment) on 6th May proved very productive and the day was rounded off with a wonderful fresh fish dinner right on the beach at Tekos Place on the almost deserted vast and sandy Golden Beach.
Strong rainfall on the day of our arrival undoubtedly grounded huge quantities of birds but I was unable to take advantage and didn’t get the opportunity to get out until a couple of days into our trip. The rest of the holiday we enjoyed dry and mostly sunny days of between 75 and 85f which still produced good sightings of the huge numbers of birds passing through the island.

All the photographs in this report are my own and taken on this trip.

The highlights were -

Shag
Common on the rocky north coast with several seen during the trip

Black-crowned Night Heron
2 at the disused Tatlisu Reservoir 3rd May

Little Egret
Several seen on the north coast. At least 3 on the reservoir on the Gecitkale to Iskele road (near Iskele) (2nd May) and circa 20 at the same place 7th May.

Grey Heron
Occasional individuals

Ferruginous Duck
1 at the disused Tatlisu Reservoir 3rd May

Marsh Harrier
3 at Korucam Burnu 5th May

One of three Marsh Harriers at Korucam Burnu

Harrier spp
A distant bird with a pale rump at Korucam Burnu 5th May could have been a Pallid Harrier

Osprey
1 moving west along the coast at Sadrazamkoy 5th May, my first Osprey in Cyprus

Red-footed Falcon
RFF has been a real bogey bird for me in Cyprus. Supposedly common in Spring and Autumn often with double figure counts (there is an infamous incident when a flock of 52 birds were shot in the south of the island in 2007), I’ve had just a single distant previous sighting. Well that all changed at Burhans Valley on 6th May with at least 16 on cables (16 counted on the way, there were 14 same/different birds on the way back with birds apparently roosting on wires at dusk). Another single bird (a male) at Mersinlik Reservoir 9th May.

Top
Red-footed Falcon (female), Karpas Peninsula.
Bottom
Red-footed Falcon (male), Mersinlik

Peregrine
Occasional sighting from the coast road near the apartment

Falcon spp
A couple of distant sightings most likely Hobby or Eleanor’s Falcon

Chukar
Usually one of the more prominent birds in North Cyprus but just 1 or 2 sightings this visit

Black Francolin
More commonly heard than seen this eastern Mediterranean speciality seems to be making a good comeback in Northern Cyprus from once near extinction on the island. There are several pairs in the fields around the apartment with one especially prominent individual regularly seen and heard from the kitchen window! Widespread in rural areas.

This Black Francolin could often be seen calling from the door of the apartment

Black Winged Stilt
At least 6 on the reservoir on the Gecitkale to Iskele road (near Iskele) (2nd May) and at least 20 there on 7th May.

Stone Curlew
A log over due lifer on Golden Beach, Karpas 6th May. Unfortunately didn’t have a camera with me, an unexpected bird flushed from scrub when strolling down the beach.

Wood Sandpiper
Fairly common on inland freshwater, 1 at Tucluza (2nd May) and a several on the reservoir on the Gecitkale to Iskele road (near Iskele) (2nd May).

Wood Sandpiper at Tuzluca

Auduoin’s Gull
Seen on several occasions on the north coast

Rock Dove
Pure Rock Doves are difficult to confirm as they often interbreed with feral pigeons but many flocks here appear to have a uniform appearance which suggests they may be truly wild birds.

Turtle Dove
Seen almost daily with approximately 50 at Sadrazamkoy and Korucam Burnu on 5th May. Far less approachable than their common collared cousins.

Turtle Dove

Great Spotted Cuckoo
Just 1 record on this visit, an individual on the coast road near Kaplica 6th May.

Scops Owl
Only 1 record this visit at Mavi Kosk (Blue House) calling close by mid afternoon 8th May.

Little Owl
Commonly seen on the roadside, 3 on the coastal track east of Ayios Philion on 6th May including one flying into a nest burrow. A regular bird in the apartment gardens

Little Owl at Ayios Philion

Nightjar
At least 1 bird caught in headlights on the drive from Dipkarpaz to Kaleburnu 6th May. My first Nightjar in Cyprus.

Bee-eater
A real highlight of the trip with the sky at times seemingly constant with their distinctive fluty calls. Possibly in excess of 1000 birds passing overhead daily at the apartment, equally high numbers at Sadrazamkoy/Korucam Burnu.

Bee-eater on wires near the apartment

Roller
Rollers were regularly seen on wires, usually in ones and twos but at least 13 at Burhans Valley, Karpas on 6th May.

Roller

Hoopoe
A single flushed walking to the restaurant from the apartment on 5th May and another 2 near Kaplica 9th May

Crested Lark
Omnipresent and very visible, hard to miss.

Crested Larks on the road to the apartment

Swallow
Breeding summer birds augmented by a continual passage of many thousands of swallows. One pair at Tatlisu filling station were attempting to build a nest from mud dampened by spilt fuel.

Red-rumped Swallow
Small groups and pairs seen on several occasions

Yellow Wagtail
Several small groups seen, most noticeable was the black-headed feldegg race. Flock of circa 50 at Sadrazamkoy 5th May and 40 there 8th May.

Nightingale
1 at Korucam Burnu 5th May

Whinchat
Several individuals seen.

Whinchat at Korucam Burnu

Cyprus Wheatear
Especially common on the Karpas and Korucam Peninsula but can be seen almost anywhere including semi-urban locations. 13 counted on the drive between Sadrazamkoy and Gecitkoy on 5th May.

Cyprus Wheatear at Alagadi Beach

Cetti’s Warbler
Heard on a few occasions in suitable wet habitat.

Zitting Cisticola
Often seen in cereal crops and areas with long grass, present in the fields near the apartment.

Great Reed Warbler
Heard at Mersinlik Reservoir on a couple of occasions

Sardinian Warbler
Fairly common in suitable scrub

Cyprus Warbler
Fairly common in suitable scrub

Blackcap
Commonly seen, highlight was circa 30 birds in the single Mulberry tree at Sadrazamkoy 5th May.

Blackcaps in the Sadrazamkoy Mulberry Tree (female top, male bottom)

Warbler spp
I’m more than a bit lazy with warblers. Cyprus has lots of species rarely seen in Britain (as well as those commonly seen) but they are usually skulking little shapes in bushes and shrubs. I could have enhanced my species list with a little more effort but I lacked the patience to sit and wait for birds to appear. Often difficult like this juvenile (above) at Korucam Burnu 5th May
Late news! Ian Watts has suggested Spectacled Warbler and I think he's right.

Spotted Flycatcher
Several individuals seen an various dates

Golden Oriole
At least 2 at Sadrazamkoy/Korucam Burnu 5th May. 3 behind the Aliye village shop near the apartment 9th May, several other probable sightings of birds disappearing into dense cover.

Red-backed Shrike
Seen everyday, reliable on the access road to the apartment sitting atop the Giant Fennel hunting. Probably different birds moving through daily with up to 3 birds present here.
6 at Sadrazamkoy/Korucam Burnu 5th May, 5 Karpas 6th May.

Red-backed Shrikes put in daily appearances on the entrance road to the apartment.

Lesser Grey Shrike
A good number present, usually singles but 2 at Sadrazamkoy 5th May. 4 on the Karpas 6th May. Seen several times on the access road to the apartment and near the Aliye village shop.

Lesser Grey Shrike

Hooded Crow
Open almost any window anywhere in Cyprus, look out and you’ll probably see a Hooded Crow.

Spanish Sparrow
Fairly common but localised. Circa 100 at Sadrazamkoy/Korucam Burnu 5th May. A few in the fields around the apartment.

Serin
6 at Korucam Burnu 5th May

Black-headed Bunting
1 at Korucam Burnu 5th May

Corn Bunting
Several individuals seen, one feeding young near the apartment 2nd May.

Corn Bunting

Birds at the apartment
With the Seaterra Marina apartments being situated at the gateway to Karpaz in a rural coastal location you don’t have to venture far from the apartment complex to see good birds.
Birds seen on this visit within a few minutes walk of the apartment included - Black Francolin, Auduoin's Gull, Turtle Dove, Little Owl, Bee-eater, Roller, Hoopoe, Hooded Crow, Crested Lark, Red-rumped Swallow, Yellow Wagtail (Black-headed feldegg race most obvious), Cyprus Wheatear, Zitting Cisticola, Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike and Corn Bunting.

Other pictures

Starred Agama

Dragonflies

Ghost Crab on Golden Beach, Karpas.
Ghost crabs live in bolt holes in the sand. The crab at the top is excavating.

Whip snake?

Pool at night

Making Hay

Tatlisu Mosque at night

Golden Beach, Karpas

Where next?

Tatlisu

Mavi Kosk (Blue House)
Built in 1957 for Paulo Pavlidis a Greek Cypriot of Italian descent - a Middle East gun smuggler and lawyer to Archbishop Makarios. A fusion of Greek, Cypriot and Italian styles Mavi Kosk has been maintained with much original furniture and furnishings, the house can be visited, entrance fee 2YTL (less than £1). You'll need a passport or a drivers licence for ID at the Turkish army checkpoint.