No. 18. The Coronavirus Tweet
[Remember to click on a photograph to enlarge the image]
The timing of the arrival of the COVID19 pandemic was most unfortunate for the birding fraternity of the northern hemisphere. Here in Cyprus the enforced lockdown started just as the spring migration was entering its peak period - the months of March and April. During February and March the early arrivals of Swallows (Barn and Red-rumped) and Martins (House and Crag species) were frequently seen around the ponds at Secret Valley, supported by the occasional sightings of Little Egret, Cattle Egret and Grey Heron (see Tweet No. 3 for photographs). The familiar flock of up to 30 Coots were often present at the ponds, but then they suddenly disappeared. The Redstarts were still present in February and Hoopoes and Kestrels were commonly sighted (again, see earlier Tweets for photographs).
Initially the lockdown movement rules were not too restricting and we were able to get out to do some bird watching in more remote areas - where there was unlikely to be any chance of interaction with other people. Some of my favourite locations (Anarita Park, Ayia Varvara and Timi beach area were virtually devoid of people, and the migrating Wheatears were present in good numbers as they made their way north. I saw lots of Northern, Isabelle, Black-eared and Finsch's Wheatears, all in excellent condition. More unusual sightings were Cretschmar's Bunting, a Blue Rock Thrush and a Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, all seen at Anarita Park.
Once the full lock down conditions were enforced in early March any birding activities were largely confined to the back garden and surrounding environs, and the sightings rapidly diminished. But there were still the occasional interesting species seen around Secret Valley - lots of Cyprus Wheatears, Sardinian Warblers, Goldfinches, Greenfinches and Linnets. During April the local olive groves were the frequent habitat of Spotted, Pied and Collared Flycatchers, their presence betrayed by their distinctive flight behaviour: perch in the tree, short flight out to catch an insect, return to the original perch... and repeat, repeat, repeat.
The usual flocks of Bee-eaters seemed to be a little later arriving than usual this year. I didn't see any until April, but when they did arrive they were generally in quite large flocks. These technicolour birds are invariably heard long before they are seen, but are always spectacular whether they are seen in flight or perched on overhead power lines. Always very photogenic - and then suddenly they are gone again.
Our eventual return to the golf course a couple of weeks ago has given us more sightings of Hoopoes and Kestrels in good numbers, as well as an occasional Squacco Heron and Little Egret by the ponds. An unusual sighting this year (particularly around the 3rd and 4th fairways) has been young Great Spotted Cuckoos being fed by adult Magpies. Magpie nests are a favourite species to be parasitised by Great Spotted Cuckoos, which is why you can often see the adult cuckoos being mobbed by Magpies in early spring.
The removal of travel restrictions has allowed me to visit Ayia Varvara in the last couple of weeks, where there was still some water in the storage ponds. A pair of Little Bitterns were an unusual sighting (in addition to Cattle and Little Egrets, Squacco Herons, a Night Heron, and a Little Grebe family), and also a pair of Rollers that regularly come to this location at this time of year. The quiet of the location was regularly interrupted by the persistent and somewhat monotonous territorial calls of a pair of Black Francolin males, shy birds briefly glimpsed on rocks at the field edge.
All Text and Photographs by Trevor Fordham
31 May 2020
The timing of the arrival of the COVID19 pandemic was most unfortunate for the birding fraternity of the northern hemisphere. Here in Cyprus the enforced lockdown started just as the spring migration was entering its peak period - the months of March and April. During February and March the early arrivals of Swallows (Barn and Red-rumped) and Martins (House and Crag species) were frequently seen around the ponds at Secret Valley, supported by the occasional sightings of Little Egret, Cattle Egret and Grey Heron (see Tweet No. 3 for photographs). The familiar flock of up to 30 Coots were often present at the ponds, but then they suddenly disappeared. The Redstarts were still present in February and Hoopoes and Kestrels were commonly sighted (again, see earlier Tweets for photographs).
 |
Northern Wheatear - male in fine breeding plumage |
 |
Black-eared Wheatear |
 |
Northern Wheatear - female just arrived on Mandria beach |
 |
Finsch's Wheatear - at Anarita park. Easily confused with Cyprus Wheatear but has longer white markings down the back |
Initially the lockdown movement rules were not too restricting and we were able to get out to do some bird watching in more remote areas - where there was unlikely to be any chance of interaction with other people. Some of my favourite locations (Anarita Park, Ayia Varvara and Timi beach area were virtually devoid of people, and the migrating Wheatears were present in good numbers as they made their way north. I saw lots of Northern, Isabelle, Black-eared and Finsch's Wheatears, all in excellent condition. More unusual sightings were Cretschmar's Bunting, a Blue Rock Thrush and a Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, all seen at Anarita Park.
 |
Cretschmar's Bunting - often seen at Anarita Park in Spring |
 |
(Rufous Tailed) Rock Thrush - occasionally seen at Anarita Park |
Once the full lock down conditions were enforced in early March any birding activities were largely confined to the back garden and surrounding environs, and the sightings rapidly diminished. But there were still the occasional interesting species seen around Secret Valley - lots of Cyprus Wheatears, Sardinian Warblers, Goldfinches, Greenfinches and Linnets. During April the local olive groves were the frequent habitat of Spotted, Pied and Collared Flycatchers, their presence betrayed by their distinctive flight behaviour: perch in the tree, short flight out to catch an insect, return to the original perch... and repeat, repeat, repeat.
 |
| Collared Flycatcher - male |
 |
| Pied Flycatcher - male |
 |
| Spotted Flycatcher - inconspicuous in the olive trees |
 |
| Cyprus Wheatear - "dirtier" white on the head cf. Finsch's Wheatear. Commonly seen around Secret Valley |
The usual flocks of Bee-eaters seemed to be a little later arriving than usual this year. I didn't see any until April, but when they did arrive they were generally in quite large flocks. These technicolour birds are invariably heard long before they are seen, but are always spectacular whether they are seen in flight or perched on overhead power lines. Always very photogenic - and then suddenly they are gone again.
 |
European Bee-eater - Spectacular colouring and distinctive fluting call when flying |
Our eventual return to the golf course a couple of weeks ago has given us more sightings of Hoopoes and Kestrels in good numbers, as well as an occasional Squacco Heron and Little Egret by the ponds. An unusual sighting this year (particularly around the 3rd and 4th fairways) has been young Great Spotted Cuckoos being fed by adult Magpies. Magpie nests are a favourite species to be parasitised by Great Spotted Cuckoos, which is why you can often see the adult cuckoos being mobbed by Magpies in early spring.
 |
| Great Spotted Cuckoos - fully grown juveniles |
The removal of travel restrictions has allowed me to visit Ayia Varvara in the last couple of weeks, where there was still some water in the storage ponds. A pair of Little Bitterns were an unusual sighting (in addition to Cattle and Little Egrets, Squacco Herons, a Night Heron, and a Little Grebe family), and also a pair of Rollers that regularly come to this location at this time of year. The quiet of the location was regularly interrupted by the persistent and somewhat monotonous territorial calls of a pair of Black Francolin males, shy birds briefly glimpsed on rocks at the field edge.
 |
Little Bittern - male at Ayia Varvara storage ponds |
 |
Black Francolin - male territorial calling. The call can be heard from a considerable distance away. |
All Text and Photographs by Trevor Fordham
31 May 2020
Comments
Post a Comment