Something that I’ve discovered from repeated spring visits to Cyprus is that no two years are ever the similar. This April prerequisites have been superb for migrant waders, so there have been masses to peer. The island’s greatest salt lake, Akrotiri, isn’t an excellent draw for waders, however the differ of huge, shallow saline swimming pools on its east aspect, alongside Girl’s Mile, have been in absolute best situation to draw all kinds of species. Ruffs have been via some distance probably the most a large number of, with as many as 500 birds in view without delay. Few birds recreation such magnificent breeding plumage because the male ruff, however now not a unmarried chook confirmed greater than a touch of this plumage. I believe that this will have to be since the magnificent neck feathers, or ruff, are an encumbrance to a migrant chook. Those ruffs nonetheless had a 1,000 or extra miles to fly to succeed in their northern breeding grounds. No longer unusually, there used to be no dating, both: those birds have been feeding frequently, fuelling up for the following leg in their migration.
Ruffs infrequently gain their breeding finery till they achieve their breeding grounds
The Ruffs have been feeding out in the midst of the swimming pools, however across the edges have been rankings of Little Stints, virtually all now in very best summer time plumage. They have been sharing the similar habitat because the resident Kentish Plovers, the one wader to reproduce right here.
Marsh Sandpipers glance a bit like small Greenshanks
Some cautious paintings with the scope produced a few Dunlins and part a dozen Curlew Sandpipers. The Dunlin have been coming as regards to complete summer time plumage, whilst one of the vital Curlew Sandpipers used to be exhibiting its good-looking, pink summer time plumes. So too, have been a few Marsh Sandpipers and a Noticed Redshank. Further species noticed incorporated a couple of Whimbrels which didn’t linger, Little Ringed Plovers and Greenshanks.
Better Flamingoes stir the water as they feed, attracting waders. Glance in moderation and you may spot two Crimson-necked Phalaropes on this long-range {photograph}
An advantage used to be discovering a trio of Crimson-necked Phalaropes, an ordinary migrant thru Cyprus however now not one you’ll all the time make sure that of seeing. Those birds, nonetheless of their gray iciness plumage, preferred to feed across the Better Flamingoes. Possibly the Flamingoes stirred the dust, to the Phalaropes’ merit, Frustratingly, although we loved nice perspectives in the course 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 important to consult with Akrotiri Marsh and Phasouri Reedbeds at the different aspect of the salt lake. The marshes have been having a look as just right as I’ve ever noticed them. Till not too long ago the farm animals that grazed right here have been tethered, however they’re now allowed to differ freely, and via doing so they’ve spread out the marsh significantly, developing superb habitat. Right here there have been a large number of Black-winged Stilts and Picket Sandpipers, plus a couple of Commonplace Snipe, Black-tailed Godwits and each Noticed and Marsh Sandpipers (the latter birds that like each contemporary and saline feeding spaces).
There have been different birds to be noticed, too. Shiny Ibises have been a large number of, with the most important flock we noticed numbering a minimum of 50 birds, whilst a number of pairs of Garganey lingered for a couple of days ahead of proceeding their migration north. On one instance a flock of 5 Collared Pratincoles flew over: they’re such sublime fliers they’re all the time a pride to peer. There have been additionally a couple of herons to be noticed – Red, Squacco and Black-crowned Night time Heron
Picket Sandpiper, a freshmarsh specialist
Squacco Herons are acquainted spring migrants
Better Sand Plovers are a significant enchantment for British birdwatchers, for Cyprus is the one web page in Europe the place they’re noticed continuously. Some over iciness, however a couple of all the time go thru on spring migration. They’re by no means simple to peer, however we have been fortunate to come upon a passing chook on Mandria Seashore. Flying in corporate with a Ringed Plover, it settled in short, ahead of proceeding its migration.
Cyprus is a competent position to peer Better Sand Plovers (above and underneath), however encountering one is all the time a question of good fortune
Mins later we discovered a 3rd plover species, a solitary Golden in breeding plumage, feeding in the back of the seashore in an irrigated box, in corporate with rankings of Crimson-throated Pipits and Yellow Wagtails. The most common of the migrant wagtails is the putting black-headed feldegg, outnumbering the nominate blue-headed flava (underneath).
A blue-headed Yellow Wagtail of the nominate race, flava, and (underneath) a black-headed feldegg chook
Crimson-throated Pipit, a very easy chook to disregard
A superb cock Northern Wheatear
This 12 months we struggled to seek out different passerine migrants, a mirrored image at the scorching, settled climate we skilled right through our 10 days at the island. We noticed only some Pied and Collared flycatchers, only one flock of Quick-toed Larks, however not one of the migrant wheatears instead of Northern (Black-eared and Isabelline can each be not unusual). Some other important pass over used to be Wryneck, a chook that I’ve typically noticed previously. My {photograph} (underneath) used to be taken in 2016.
Brown chook, brown background. A Wryneck at Paphos
One important alternate to the birding scene this 12 months used to be being ready to sign up for the native WhatsApp birding staff. I’m now not positive that we noticed any additional birds as a result of it, however it did make sure that we knew what we had ignored. A number of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters have been noticed right through our keep, however we most effective controlled to peer person who flew proper over our heads. Checking the WhatsApp messages a couple of days once we had flown house, I noticed that {that a} flock of six Cream-Colored Coursers were noticed on Mandria Seashore, and a an identical collection of Wide-billed Sandpipers had paused on Girl’s Mile. I’ve noticed each species ahead of on Cyprus, however I might have preferred to have noticed them once more.
It’s simple to be aware of the coast, however there are some superb birds to be discovered inland, as I can divulge subsequent week.