One factor that I’ve realized from repeated spring visits to Cyprus is that no two years are ever the identical. This April circumstances had been wonderful for migrant waders, so there have been loads to see. The island’s largest salt lake, Akrotiri, is just not a terrific draw for waders, however the vary of huge, shallow saline swimming pools on its east aspect, alongside Woman’s Mile, had been in excellent situation to draw all kinds of species. Ruffs had been by far probably the most quite a few, with as many as 500 birds in view without delay. Few birds sport such magnificent breeding plumage because the male ruff, however not a single hen confirmed greater than a touch of this plumage. I believe that this should be as a result of the magnificent neck feathers, or ruff, are an encumbrance to a migrant hen. These ruffs nonetheless had a 1,000 or extra miles to fly to achieve their northern breeding grounds. Not surprisingly, there was no courting, both: these birds had been feeding regularly, fuelling up for the subsequent leg of their migration.
Ruffs hardly ever purchase their breeding finery till they attain their breeding grounds
The Ruffs had been feeding out in the course of the swimming pools, however across the edges had been scores of Little Stints, virtually all now in splendid summer season plumage. They had been sharing the identical habitat because the resident Kentish Plovers, the one wader to breed right here.
Marsh Sandpipers look just a little like small Greenshanks
Some cautious work with the scope produced a few Dunlins and half a dozen Curlew Sandpipers. The Dunlin had been coming near full summer season plumage, whereas one of many Curlew Sandpipers was displaying its good-looking, crimson summer season plumes. So too, had been a few Marsh Sandpipers and a Noticed Redshank. Further species seen included a pair of Whimbrels which didn’t linger, Little Ringed Plovers and Greenshanks.
Larger Flamingoes stir the water as they feed, attracting waders. Look fastidiously and also you may spot two Crimson-necked Phalaropes on this long-range {photograph}
A bonus was discovering a trio of Crimson-necked Phalaropes, a daily migrant by way of Cyprus however not one you’ll be able to all the time be certain of seeing. These birds, nonetheless of their gray winter plumage, preferred to feed across the Larger Flamingoes. Presumably the Flamingoes stirred the mud, to the Phalaropes’ benefit, Frustratingly, although we loved nice views by way of the scope, they by no means got here shut sufficient to {photograph} satisfactorily.
A flock of Shiny Ibises over the Phasouri Reedbeds
For freshwater waders, it’s vital to go to Akrotiri Marsh and Phasouri Reedbeds on the different aspect of the salt lake. The marshes had been wanting pretty much as good as I’ve ever seen them. Till just lately the cattle that grazed right here had been tethered, however they’re now allowed to vary freely, and by doing so that they have opened up the marsh significantly, creating high quality habitat. Right here there have been quite a few Black-winged Stilts and Wooden Sandpipers, plus a couple of Widespread Snipe, Black-tailed Godwits and each Noticed and Marsh Sandpipers (the latter birds that like each contemporary and saline feeding areas).
There have been different birds to be seen, too. Shiny Ibises had been quite a few, with the most important flock we noticed numbering no less than 50 birds, whereas a number of pairs of Garganey lingered for a couple of days earlier than persevering with their migration north. On one event a flock of 5 Collared Pratincoles flew over: they’re such elegant fliers they’re all the time a delight to see. There have been additionally a couple of herons to be seen – Purple, Squacco and Black-crowned Night time Heron
Wooden Sandpiper, a freshmarsh specialist
Squacco Herons are acquainted spring migrants
Larger Sand Plovers are a serious attraction for British birdwatchers, for Cyprus is the one web site in Europe the place they’re seen repeatedly. Some over winter, however a couple of all the time cross by way of on spring migration. They’re by no means simple to see, however we had been fortunate to come across a passing hen on Mandria Seaside. Flying in firm with a Ringed Plover, it settled briefly, earlier than persevering with its migration.
Cyprus is a dependable place to see Larger Sand Plovers (above and under), however encountering one is all the time a matter of luck
Minutes later we discovered a 3rd plover species, a solitary Golden in breeding plumage, feeding behind the seaside in an irrigated area, in firm with scores of Crimson-throated Pipits and Yellow Wagtails. The most common of the migrant wagtails is the hanging black-headed feldegg, outnumbering the nominate blue-headed flava (under).
A blue-headed Yellow Wagtail of the nominate race, flava, and (under) a black-headed feldegg hen
Crimson-throated Pipit, a simple hen to miss
A high quality cock Northern Wheatear
This yr we struggled to seek out different passerine migrants, a mirrored image on the new, settled climate we skilled throughout our 10 days on the island. We noticed just some Pied and Collared flycatchers, only one flock of Brief-toed Larks, however not one of the migrant wheatears aside from Northern (Black-eared and Isabelline can each be frequent). One other important miss was Wryneck, a hen that I’ve often seen previously. My {photograph} (under) was taken in 2016.
Brown hen, brown background. A Wryneck at Paphos
One important change to the birding scene this yr was with the ability to be a part of the native WhatsApp birding group. I’m unsure that we noticed any further birds due to it, nevertheless it did make sure that we knew what we had missed. A number of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters had been seen throughout our keep, however we solely managed to see one which flew proper over our heads. Checking the WhatsApp messages a couple of days after we had flown dwelling, I noticed that {that a} flock of six Cream-Colored Coursers had been seen on Mandria Seaside, and the same variety of Broad-billed Sandpipers had paused on Woman’s Mile. I’ve seen each species earlier than on Cyprus, however I might have preferred to have seen them once more.
It’s simple to focus on the coast, however there are some high quality birds to be discovered inland, as I’ll reveal subsequent week.
