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Overview
Despite only being constructed in the late 1980s this reservoir is already gaining a reputation as a worthwhile site for birders visiting Cyprus and this is now one of the most important wetlands on the island.
There are shallow, muddy creeks that attract waders and reedbeds that frequently hold crakes as well as open water for waterfowl. Tamarisk and Mimosa trees are plentiful in the surrounding area and provide food and shelter for a range of migrants.
Birds
Notable Species
Both Little and Baillon's Crakes can be found here as well as a wide variety of waders including Spur-winged Plover, and herons including Western Cattle Egret. Common Kingfisher is regular and Pied has been recorded several times. Pallid Harrier occurs on passage and Black-winged Pratincole and Great Snipe may be regular.
In winter both Ferruginous Duck and White-headed Ducks can be seen on the reservoir as well as many of the commoner northern ducks and Garganey occurs on passage. In November 2003 Lesser White-fronted Goose was recorded here, the first for Cyprus.
Both of the island's near-endemics, Cyprus Warbler and Cyprus Pied Wheatear, are common around the dam and Calandra Lark also occurs here.
Checklist
Birds you can see here include:
Little Bittern, Squacco Heron, Western Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Common Teal, Mallard, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, White-headed Duck, Pallid Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Northern Hobby, Chukar Partridge, Little Crake, Baillon's Crake, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Stone-curlew, Black-winged Pratincole, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Spur-winged Plover, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Great Snipe, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Slender-billed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Little Tern, White-winged Tern, Common Woodpigeon, Common Swift, Common Kingfisher, Calandra Lark, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Northern House Martin, White Wagtail, Whinchat, Cyprus Pied Wheatear, Cetti's Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Common Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Linnet, Corn Bunting
Other Wildlife
Site Information
The area is worth visiting at any time of year but is most productive during passage periods.
History and Use
To do
Areas of Interest
To do
Access and Facilities
The reservoir lies about 20km north-east of Larnaca on the right of the Akhna bypass and a track leads to the dam from the bypass. From here there are various tracks around the reservoir and through the surrounding area.
Although this site lies right on the border with the Turkish-occupied north of the island and barbed-wire and lookout posts are much in evidence, there is rarely a problem as long as visitors do not wander too far from the reservoir and are prepared to produce passports etc if asked.
Contact Details
To do
External Links
Content and images originally posted by Steve
