March 2011 - bird news

Record shot of Spotted Crake, Polichnitos Saltpans, 24 Mar 11 © Sue Robinson

Records from resident birders Eleni Galinou (EG) who covers the Kalloni area and Terry Robinson (TR) who is based at Skala Polichnitou (the more interesting records in CAPS).

Updated 31/03/11

Ruddy Shelduck - present at Kalloni Saltpans and Vouvaris River

Eurasian Wigeon - present at Kalloni Saltpans

Northern Shoveler - present at Kalloni Saltpans

Northern Pintail - present at Kalloni Saltpans

Red-breasted Merganser - up to 8 off Tsiknias River mouth and up to 7 off Vouvaris River mouth

Yelkouan Shearwater - Gulf of Kalloni off Polichnitos Saltpans with 81 on 8 Mar and 95 on 11 Mar with small numbers to months end

Great Crested Grebe - Gulf of Kalloni up to 600 off Polichnitos Saltpans 11 Mar

Black-necked Grebe - Gulf of Kalloni up to 8 off Tsiknias River mouth (6 Mar) and 2 off Vouvaris River mouth 2 Mar.

Greater Flamingo - seen Kalloni Saltpans, Christou (Kamares) River estuary, Polichnitos Saltpans and Tsiknias River.

Black Stork - 2 Vouvaris River mouth 2 Mar, singles Polichnitos Saltpans 14-15 Mar and Mesa Wetlands 17 Mar

White Stork - first returning bird Tsiknias River 26 Mar

Great White Egret - present Kalloni Saltpan, Polichnitos Saltpans (max. 27 on 8 Mar), Tsiknias River, Kantria, Vouvaris River mouth, Christou (Kamares) River.

DALMATIAN PELICAN - 1 still present at Kalloni Saltpans to at least 2 Mar (EG)

Short-toed Eagle - singles over Polichnitos Saltpans 25 Mar and Agia Paraskevi 29 Mar

Long-legged Buzzard - 1 Kalloni Saltpans area, 2 Agia Paraskevi 14 Mar

Marsh Harrier - up to 3 Kalloni Saltans and 1 Christou (Kamares) River

Hen Harrier - up to 2 Polichnitos Saltpans and up to 3 Kalloni Saltpans

COMMON CRANE - 1 Kalloni Saltpans 2 Mar (EG) - only the second record since 2003

Water Rail - 1 Tsiknias River 6 Mar

SPOTTED CRAKE - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 24 Mar (earliest ever record)

Avocet - present Kalloni Saltpans and Polichnitos Saltpans

Grey Plover - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout month

Little Ringed Plover - 4 Kalloni Saltpans 2 Mar, 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 9 Mar with 5 there on 10 Mar and daily thereafter

Black-tailed Godwit - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 23-26 Mar

Eurasian Curlew - present at Kalloni Saltpans and Polichnitos Saltpans

Spotted Redshank - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 22-23 Mar

Marsh Sandpiper - up to 5 Polichnitos Saltpans from 21 Mar

Green Sandpiper - up to Tsiknias River

Wood Sandpiper - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 6-11 Mar, daily thereafter

Little Stint - present Polichnitos Saltpans, Max. 25

Dunlin - present Polichnitos Saltpans, max. 65

Ruff - present Polichnitos Saltpans from 13 Mar, max. 7

SLENDER-BILLED GULL - 1-3 Tsiknias River 1-13 Mar

Sandwich Tern - up to 13 (2 Mar) Tsiknias River mouth

Scops Owl - 1 Agia Paraskevi 14 Mar

Alpine Swift - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 17 Mar, 15 Tsiknias River 26 Mar

House Martin - (first seen 25 Feb) 40 Kantria 2 Mar, 25 Skala Kallonis 6 Mar

Barn Swallow - present Polichnitos Saltpans from 13 Mar

Hoopoe - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 27 Mar

Willow Warbler - singles Polichnitos Saltpans 13 Mar & 25 Mar

Blackcap - up to 8 Skala Polichnitou

Sardinian Warbler - present at Polichnitos Saltpans

Redwing - 1 Agia Paraskevi 15 Mar

Fieldfare - 2 Skala Polichnitou 7 Mar

Black Redstart - present at Polichnitos Saltpans, Skala Kallonis, Kallonis Saltpans

Northern Wheatear - (first seen 19 Feb) 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans from 13 Mar

Black-eared Wheatear - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans from 23-29 Mar

Yellow Wagtail - recorded from 22 Mar with max. 26 Polichnitos Saltpans 30 Mar

HAWFINCH - up to 7 Polichnitos Saltpans

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