Temporary Shallow Lake: Kuklia/ Köprülü Reservoir

The reservoir forms the temporary shallow lake habitat of Kukla Wetlands, which is no deeper than two meters. The reservoir used to be deeper, however it has been used for agriculture in dry seasons for many years and has silted up in time. It can totally dry during summer, however it can hold water for couple of years once it gets relatively full. At the eastern side of the lake the reservoir wall is fringed by phragmites reeds which can become extensive in wet times. The southeast corner is the deepest part and the wetland gets gradually shallower west and northwards. The shallow and temporary nature of the reservoir allows other wetland vegetation to take hold, such as Tamarisk sp., Juncus sp., etc. A most beautiful plant which covers the water like a white sheet during spring is the Pond-water crowfoot (Ranunculus peltatus).

The reservoir habitat homes the majority of the birds seen at the site. Ducks such as shoveller, ferruginous duck, pochard, pintail, etc. benefit from the deeper parts. A variety of waders, plovers, wagtails, pipits etc. forage through the shore line. Black-winged stilts, egrets, herons, flamingos, spoonbills feed in the shallow waters. Crakes, little bitterns, reed warblers, bluethroat and more hide within the reeds. Raptors, in particular harriers, peregrine falcon and bonelli’s eagle regularly patrol the reservoir flushing prey, while swallows, martins and bee-eaters forage for insects.

When full this site is one of the prime birdwatching sites of Cyprus.

Inland Salt (Halophytic/ Salt Tolerant) Marsh

Before the dam was built the area used to be a shallow, brakish seasonal wetland flooding in winter and drying out in summer months dominated by (halophytic) salt tolerant marsh vegetation. This is not the case anymore as a result of the human induced water management. However, the typical salt tollerant vegetation persists on the eastern side of the reservoir wall. Characteristically, these plant communities are dominated by Tamarisk sp., Salicornia europaea and Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, Suaeda vera and Juncus sp..

This natural salt marsh vegetation still homes various kinds of fascinating birds including mustached warbler, fan-tailed warbler, swallows, swifts, bee-eaters and more. But, importantly it is the part of the wetland where great spotted cucoo and spectacled warbler breed.

Great spotted cucoo can only be seen during spring untill summer (basically when they are migrating, breeding and fledgling). Spectacled warbler however can be seen at the site all through the year in relatively high densities. The latter species has a relatively restricted range and has specific habitat requirements.

Rivers

The Lalias/Çakıllı(Yalya) and Pedieos/Kanlı rivers (and in wet years some smaller streams) feed the site. None of these hold water all through the year. These watercourses are dominated by reeds which provide important habitats for chiffchaffs, willow warblers, reed warblers, rails, crakes and waders. They also provide important nesting habitat for burrowing bee-eaters and rollers.

Agricultural Fields

The Eastern Mesarioa Plain is typically harvested for cereals (mostly wheat). As a result the fields surrounding the wetland are full of crops until April and surrounding fields are totally dry once they are harvested.

This area hosts at least three lark species, corn bunting, stone curlew, kestrel etc. Importantly it homes good numbers of breeding calandra larks.

Orchards

There are small orchards of carob and olive close to the wetland. They provide perches, shelter and breeding opportunity for some bird species.

It is easy to observe shrikes, hoopoe, owls, wood pigeons, cuckoos, buzzard and cardualines around these trees.