Birdwatching enthusiasts in North Cyprus were treated to some breathtaking scenes as feathered friends flying south for the winter stopped off on Cyprus.
A short-eared owl, a male pallid harrier, a mixed flock of carduelines and a large number of ferruginous ducks were all spotted by 23 members of the North Cyprus Society for the Protection of Birds and Nature (Kuşkor) during an excursion last Saturday.
The sightings came at a number of locations in eastern parts of the TRNC, including the Geçitkale and Sınırüstü reservoirs, Silver beach and Glapsides beach, Palm Beach lagoons and rocky shore, Ayluga, Çayönü and Köprülü.
Meanwhile, migrating birds were also spotted by amateur wildlife photographers at wetlands in Kalkanlı in the west of the country alongside indigenous winged creatures, attracted by the rising water levels.
They included shovellers, a species of dabbling duck. Damla Beton of Kuşkor said: “We came across some amazing views of birds we saw during our trip to the east side of the country, around the Gazi Mağusa area. One of the greatest highlights was the short-eared owl which we were only able to see for a few seconds, and we also saw some great developments with the tern nesting raft at the Köprülü wetlands, which had attracted a white-winged tern.”
“Currently it is possible for people to see several birds including shovellers and little egrets in the Kalkanlı area. Although the end of the migration season is approaching, some birds are still coming.”
Ms Beton said that Kuşkor will be organising another bird watching trip on December 5 for people to “learn more about the nature and variety of birds which we are trying to protect”.
By Yasemin Gülpinar for Cyprus Today
