Kestrel

brian24001


Joined: 23/03/2008
Posts: 606

Message Posted:
04/06/2008 20:37

Just had a Kestrel land right outside the house on balcony. fabulous little killing machine, never seen bird of prey here before, anyone seen others?

Brian

rocky


Joined: 17/10/2007
Posts: 1749

Message Posted:
04/06/2008 21:20

Keep your eyes open there are several raptors either in Cyprus or passing through the books even mention the vultures in the hills.

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
05/06/2008 09:54

We have three regulars here in Karsiyaka. They make a strange chattering sound when flying/hunting. The problem is the crows don't like them at all and escort them off the premises. Fabulous to watch. They are called Şahin in Turkish and funnily enough, the road we come down to get to our house is called Şahinler Sokak which is very appropriate.

dodger



Joined: 29/07/2007
Posts: 1895

Message Posted:
05/06/2008 16:35

A Kestrel for a knave,the first book i ever read brilliant.And a great film as well,

Regards,

Paul.

niftyduo


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 230

Message Posted:
05/06/2008 18:44

There are a pair of Bonelli's eagles regularly seen over the mountains behind Karsiyaka

andysue


Joined: 12/11/2007
Posts: 891

Message Posted:
06/06/2008 00:33

birds of prey are one of the loves of my life ( along with fishing and man utd) cant wait to get over in july and go up into the mountains to see the likes of the bonelli,s. can anyone recomend a good book on birds of prey in cyprus ? regards anbrew

rocky


Joined: 17/10/2007
Posts: 1749

Message Posted:
06/06/2008 01:17

andysue me too I am fascinated by Birds of Prey living in somerset I am fortunate to see both diurnal and nocturnal raptors e.g recently barn owls little owl honey and common buzzard. Collins do a Bird of Prey book for Britain and europe and a wider area its paper back size but hardback isbn 0-00 -219176-8 .Fortunately in Cyprus several migrants will fly over and as long as they can avoid the rifles the population will increase but I understand Cyrpus and France are killing fields with the local hunters. I always take my binos on holiday but never have them with me when I see bird. BUt there again when I walk the dogs around my fields I never have my binos when I need them. There are other excellent books available but I like this one its not too scientific.

Hot Hornet


Joined: 03/06/2008
Posts: 343

Message Posted:
07/06/2008 16:37

Great topic,

Two books which are excellent may help you -

Collins Pocket Guide - Birds of Britain and Europe with North Africa and Middle East - by Hermann Heinzel, Richard Fitter and John Parslow. ISBN 0 00 219894 0 .

Collins Field Guide - New Edition - Birds of Britain and Europe by Roger Tory Peterson, Guy Mountfort and PAD Hollom - ISBN 0 00 219900 9

Both easily availble in the UK - and both very good for birds of prey.

I must be lucky living up in the mountains - birds of prey are two a penny, and I spend many hours just watching - buzzards will be around soon, and we have just watched the migration north of the Bee Eaters - they will be back in September/October time going south! I have been lucky enough to sit and watch a juvenile Golden Eagle since I have been here - truly magical.

andysue


Joined: 12/11/2007
Posts: 891

Message Posted:
07/06/2008 22:33

wonderfull posting hot hornet. im over for ten days from july 20 and intend to go into the mountains to have a look im staying at turtle bay village esentepe were would you recomend i go to watch some birds of prey ? regards andrew

Chris


Joined: 26/03/2008
Posts: 454

Message Posted:
07/06/2008 22:58

We are buying just past Tatlisu, and I have never seen so many spent cartridges in my life, maybe now the villas are going up and people will occupy, the hunters will keep away from this part at least.

I adore birds of prey, have recently seen 2 tawny owls which appear to be nesting not far from where we are buying-magic, I would also like to learn where to see more birds of prey if possible, hot hornet.



Chris

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
07/06/2008 23:18

Try the paragliding thing from Highline and you can fly alongside the Rock Kestrels. Not scary, not cheap, awesome if you like flying.



Personally thought it was quite a tame experience after doing bungee jump off bridge 350 feet above river at Victoria Falls. Then we are both crackers, especially me having to see psychiatrist on a regular basis!!!!!!

andysue


Joined: 12/11/2007
Posts: 891

Message Posted:
07/06/2008 23:31

hi chris we too are near tatlisu on the sweetwater bay site. it breaks my heart to hear they shoot anything that moves in cyprus , i didnt know this till last year when i started reserching on birds of prey over there . at least in such a mountainaous place there will be safe hidings where humans cant touch .. regards andrew

Hot Hornet


Joined: 03/06/2008
Posts: 343

Message Posted:
08/06/2008 11:02

andysue

this is a good little website that gives info on where is good for bird watching

http://www.kibrisbirds.net/North-Cyprus-Birds

these are mostly lowland sites, but I would say also that up above Karaman where you can get up into the mountains, or anywhere more highland, a bit more you will also see a wonderful array of birds. Each year also around that area, and probably lots of others too, you will see the Lesser Spotted Cuckoo as well - what a racket they make! Beautiful lemon yellow and chocolate brown bird.

Re hunting - this should not be happening at this time of year, so if you do see anyone with a gun walking around you should call 155 for the police!

andysue


Joined: 12/11/2007
Posts: 891

Message Posted:
08/06/2008 20:48

fab info hot hornet thanks loads . . . andrew

wynyardman



Joined: 15/12/2007
Posts: 4580

Message Posted:
08/06/2008 20:50

Hot hornet,



Good posting.



Cheers,



wyn

andysue


Joined: 12/11/2007
Posts: 891

Message Posted:
08/06/2008 21:59

hot hornet in your earlier post number eight you mentioned buzzards , are they the most common bird of prey in north cyprus like they are here in th UK? regards . . . andrew

Hot Hornet


Joined: 03/06/2008
Posts: 343

Message Posted:
09/06/2008 10:22

ummm don't think so, as they do not stay in Cyprus, but merely are on migration when they are here - I have also never been able to distinguish what type of Buzzards they are either unfortunately, as they soar really high up in big packs.

I would say that the humble Kestrel has to be the most common, as they do remain here all year round.

Yesterday, I watched a Kestrel 'stalking' a group of baby swallows, trying to pick one off for lunch! The parent swallows are such a feisty bunch, the kestrel was shooed away in the end, after 10 mins!

I have had 3 nests around the terracing on the house this year, 2 sets of Swallows and 1 set of Red Rumped Swallows - nests are very different than each other, and watched them all make their nests (great little trojans they are!), have their babies, feed them up to the point where they practically kick them out for their first fly (would love to be a bird at that point!), and now they will start to come back to the best to have another batch. Fantastic little birds.