27. An End of Year Selection 2021 (Part 1 - January to June)

[Remember to click on the photograph to enlarge the image] 

It has been another strange year for bird watching, constrained as it has been by Covid restrictions in the early months. But, undeterred, I sallied forth at every opportunity to see what I could see. I have  presented some of my earlier sightings and pictures in previous 'Tweets' but my 2021 bird photography folder still has a lot of unexhibited pictures. So the following pictures have been selected on a fairly arbitrary basis, but will hopefully include a few pictures of birds, or their poses, that may be of interest to anyone who opens this Tweet - and the next one.

1. Goldfinch

This brilliantly coloured finch was lucky to escape extinction in the UK during the 19th Century when many thousands were trapped for their attractive songs and bright visual appearance as caged birds. Fortunately their numbers have now recovered and flocks of them are very commonly seen and heard as they gather seeds from meadows, roadside vegetation and garden feeders. 

The pictured trio were seen along Paphos foreshore, one of their favourite winter feeding locations.

Goldfinches - keeping a cautious eye in all directions

2. Grey Heron

The Grey Heron is one of the most striking birds that we see at Secret Valley. In the early part of this year this individual bird seemed to have made the ponds its regular haunt, and it was visible almost daily. However during the summer it disappeared for long periods and is now only seen occasionally. I suspect that the presence of the Cormorants and the influence of the large Koi Carp and Terrapins are having a detrimental impact on the vegetation and the numbers of smaller fish in the ponds, so the heron spends more time hunting elsewhere.

Grey Heron achieving a tricky tree-top landing

3. Little Grebe

This very small diving duck was also seen in regular numbers on Secret Valley ponds last winter and spring, but then disappeared. Fortunately it is now returning in small numbers. It is a frustrating bird to photograph as it invariably dives underwater as soon as you get it in camera focus, but I guess that's part of the joy of bird photography! 

The two pictures show the winter plumage (the powder puff impression) and the spring breeding plumage of the male, with the dark body colouration, chestnut-red cheeks and neck patches, and the distinct yellow spot at the base of the beak. 

Little Grebe showing winter plumage

Little Grebe in Summer (breeding) plumage

4. Marsh Harrier

These pictures of the Marsh Harrier were taken last January from the bird hide at Akrotiri Marsh, when there were many individuals slowly skimming over the reeds in search of prey (small birds, lizards and insects). It is quite a large raptor, bigger than the Common Buzzard, and the largest of the Harriers. 

These two photographs were taken within a split second of each other. As I took the first picture the Harrier suddenly saw me (heard the camera, probably) and took immediate avoidance action - by applying the air brakes, I think!

The calm and majestic flight of the Marsh Harrier

Very sudden braking of the Marsh Harrier

5. Sardinian Warbler

This must be one of the commonest Warblers that is resident in Cyprus. The black, white and grey plumage of the male makes the bright red eye really stand out, but the bird is generally quite retiring in its behaviour, skulking from shrub to shrub. And then you suddenly see one singing from a very obvious position, and posing nicely for its portrait to be taken. The female is rather more demure in both colouring and behaviour, though still rather attractive. The alarm call of the male is short and harsh, but the song is rather melodious.

Male Sardinian Warbler - very smart!

6. Ruff and Wood Sandpiper

These two small waders were seen keeping each other company in a small flooded area at Akrotiri Marsh. 

The Ruff (preening) is the larger of the two birds and in springtime can be seen in large flocks. The feathers of the lower back often look as if they have been disturbed by the wind, and the bird will sometimes also raise the top back feathers. In summer breeding condition the male will erect the neck feathers to show the clear "ruff" from which the bird is named (or is it the other way around?). The female (the reeve) is much smaller and plainer than the male.

The Wood Sandpiper is smaller and more shy in its behaviour, and is easily startled. The white supercilium  (the eye stripe) is very distinctive, standing out from the spotted grey-brown head colouring of the adult bird. It breeds in N. Europe and Scandinavia and then migrates to Africa for the winter.

Preening Ruff and thoughtful Wood Sandpiper

Adult Ruff in winter plumage

7. Little Bittern

This is one of the smallest members of the heron family, being little bigger than a Moorhen. It usually hides away in reed beds (where it can be very hard to see), but occasionally ventures forth to feed along the edges of ponds and rivers. 

The male bird pictured was photographed in May at Ayia Varvara soakaways. The strong colouring of the male (black crown and upper parts) stood out well against the green of the bankside vegetation. The female is rather more dull in its colouration than the male.

Little Bittern (male) prowling in the poolside vegetation

8. Squacco Heron

Squacco Herons are very photogenic, whether stationary, striding out across a wetland, or stationary in a reed bed. The adult bird has very ornate nape feathers during the breeding season but otherwise is generally a light brown or yellowish-ochre colour, with grey striped feathers on the neck. When it flies it appears to be almost completely white, which can be disconcerting when first seen.

I was very surprised when I first saw this individual in May at Akrotiri Marsh as the large bill appeared very blue with a black tip. I had not realised that this is the normal colouring of the male bird in breeding plumage. The legs, normally yellow-pink, can apparently tun to coral-red during courtship, but I haven't noticed this yet.

The spectacular breeding colouration of the Squacco Heron's bill

9. Roller

Another spectacularly coloured bird that visits and occasionally nests here in Cyprus during the summer. Its migratory range extends from its wintering grounds in S.Africa up through the southern parts of the Mediterranean countries and on through the Balkan countries and eastwards through Turkey, Ukraine and up into southern Russia.

This individual was photographed at Anarita Park, which is a good place to see them. This one was photographed in May. My bird book groups them with Bee-eaters but with their heavy bills and Jackdaw-sized bodies I think they look more like members of the Crow family.

The heavy-featured but beautifully coloured Roller

 10. Night Heron

As Herons go, the Night Heron is medium sized and rather stocky, with a fairly short bill. When it's flying at usually looks grey in colour with a short tail (makes it look a bit stumpy). The eyes are distinctly reddish.

The individual pictured here is a juvenile, searching for food on the banks of one of the soakaway pools at Ayia Varvara. As the bird ages the light spotting on the back will be lost, as will the brown streaks on the front. By the time the bird is 3 years old it will have reached adult colouring and will be mostly white with grey wings and black nape and back.

Juvenile Night Heron heading for the water

The silhouette photo (below) was taken at the Secret Valley ponds where the distinctive outline of the Night Heron was unmistakable. The blue eye is from my camera flash.

Night Heron, maybe settling down for the night

11. Great Spotted Cuckoo

I have included this bird in a few previous Tweets, but I rather liked this picture as I couldn't believe that such a large bird would voluntarily land on coils of Razor wire. Mind you, it does look a bit frazzled...

Adult Great Spotted Cuckoo - daring itself to move...

Part 2 of this brief 2021 bird picture collection will follow.

**************

All Photographs and text by Trevor Fordham

6 December 2021