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Turkey: August 5-28, 2003,
Mialet 48110 Sainte Croix Vallée Française
E-mail: msiol@yahoo.fr
Participants: Mathieu Siol, Vincent Mouret, Manuel Ibanez
Accommodation: No accommodation at all! We did the entire trip in a tent but sometimes it was not useful since it was possible to sleep outside without getting cold. There was absolutely no problem to sleep. Be aware that in some parts of Turkey, especially in mountains it can be very cold during the night, even in summer.
People: as is said in many trip reports Turkish (including Kurdish) are very friendly. We were offered tea and dinner many times.
Localities: most of the localities are mentioned in the two "Finding Birds in Turkey" (Eastern Turkey & Ankara to Birecik). For some localities, I have tried to explain how to reach them. In other cases I refer to the very accurate trip reports that we used:
Target species: during this trip we managed to see the majority of our target species (plus some unexpected): Dalmatian Pelican, Pygmy Cormorant, Ruddy Shelduck, Marbled Duck, White-headed Duck, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Black Vulture, Pallid Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Levant Sparrowhawk, Caspian Snowcock, Black Francolin, Chukar, See-see Partridge, Little Crake, Grey-headed Swamp-hen, Spur-winged Plover, Red-wattled Lapwing, Red-necked Phalarope, Armenian Gull, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Striated Scops Owl, White-breasted Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Syrian Woodpecker, Asian short-toed Lark, Bimaculated Lark, Shore Lark, Desert Lark, Citrine Wagtail, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Radde's Accentor, Rufous bush Robin, White-throated Robin, Isabelline Wheatear, Finsch's Wheatear, Red-tailed Wheatear, Barred Warbler, Menetrie's Warbler, Ruppell's Warbler, Graceful Warbler, Upcher's Warbler, Mountain Chiffchaff, Green Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher, Sombre Tit, Kruper's Nuthatch, Rock and Eastern Rock Nuthatches, Masked Shrike, Rose-coloured Starling, Dead Sea Sparrow, Yellow-throated Sparrow, Pale Rock Sparrow, Red-fronted Serin, Scarlet Rosefinch, Crimson-winged Finch, Lichtenstein Rosefinch, Mongolian Trumpeter Finch, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Grey-necked Bunting, Cinereous Bunting, Black-headed Bunting.
Nonetheless we failed to see some target species: Greater sand Plover, Olive-tree Warbler, Demoiselle Crane, White Pelican, Caucasian Black Grouse, Twite, Paddyfield Warbler, Imperial Eagle, Saker.
All in all we managed to see or heard some 251 species, which is quite good. Nonetheless, it is certain that august is not the best month to bird this (huge) country. Birds are much more difficult to find then.
Itinerary:
August 5: Arrived at 15h at Istanbul Airport. IstanbulAbant.
August 6: Abant-Ankara-Kulu.
August 7: Kulu-Konya-Beyşehir-Akseki.
August 8: Akseki-Eregli.
August 9: Eregli-Aladag Mountain.
August 10: Aladag Mountain.
August 11: Aladag Mountain Göksu Delta.
August 12: Göksu Delta
August 13: Göksu Delta Tarsus Delta Durnalik
August 14: Durnalik Isikli Birecik.
August 15: Birecik.
August 16: HalfetiNemrut Daği.
August 17: Nemrut DağiCizreSirnakSiirt25km before Bitlis.
August 18: 25km before Bitlis TatvanBulanik.
August 19: BulanikVanErçek Golü.
August 20: Erçek GolüVanBendimahi marshes Dogúbayazit.
August 21: Dogúbayazit.
August 22: Dogúbayazit Igdir Aras valley Kars.
August 23: Kars Cildir Ardahan Yusufeli.
August 24: Yusufeli Sivri Kaya.
August 25: Sivri Kaya 30km before Gelinkaya.
August 26: 30km before Gelinkaya Erzurum toward Ankara.
August 27: Ankara Abant.
August 28: Abant Istanbul.
Total: 7378 km.
August 5:
We arrived at Istanbul at 15h (temperature 29°C) and one hour later we were on the road to Ankara. A short stop on a highway station just before Akyazi produced :
White Wagtail >10
House Sparrow
Red backed Shrike 3
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Nightingale 1
Goldfinch
We followed the major road until we reached the road which leads to Abant. We climbed through the wooded valley (indicated in Gosney).
Bullfinch 1
Chaffinch 5
Robin several
Wryneck 1
We slept to the col surrounding the lake Abant. Very cold night with strong wind.
August 6:
Woke at 6h00. Short walk around the col, in the forest and on the shrubby slopes.
Scarlet Rosefinch 3 seen (7-8 heard)
Stock Dove >10
Eurasian Nightjar 1ad+1young
Hoopooe 4
Skylark 7
Shore Lark 5
Barn Swallow numerous
Tree Pipit 1
White Wagtail several
Robin several
Whinchat 1
Stonechat numerous
Blackbird numerous
Song Thrush several
Mistle Thrush several
Barred Warbler 1
Common Whitethroat 3-4
Goldcrest several
Coal Tit Numerous
Kruper's Nuthatch 5 of these wonderful little birds!
Red backed Shrike numerous
Jay
Hooded Crow
Raven 2
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Linnet several
Greenfinch several
Wryneck 1
Lake Abant:
Grey Wagtail 3
Mallard >10
Scaup 5
Black Redstart several
4,5km after the lake going down the valley, a track on the left:
Green Warbler 4
Red breasted Flycatcher 1 female
Great spotted Woodpecker 1
Coal Tit
Peregrine Falcon 1
Dunnock 1
Kruper's Nuthatch 1
road between Abant and Ankara:
Goshawk 2
Booted Eagle 3
Buzzard 1
Long legged Buzzard numerous
Lesser spotted Eagle 1
White Stork several
Ankara-Kulu:
Lesser Kestrel >15
Long legged Buzzard 3
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Black eared Wheatear 2
Crested Lark 1
Lesser Grey Shrike 3
Kulu Golü: fantastic scenery, a beautiful turquoise lake surrounded by steppes.
Black necked Grebe hundreds
Flamingo numerous
Greylag 25-30 at the northern edge of the lake
Shelduck 2
Ruddy Shelduck >1000 !!! Magnificent!
Mallard several
Garganey 4
Red crested Pochard appx. 10
Whiteheaded Duck 35 (southern part of the lake, see Gosney)
Marsh Harrier 4
Moorhen 34
Coot several
Black winged Stilt numerous
Avocet appx. 30
Stone Curlew heard
Little ringed Plover 1
Kentish Plover numerous
Little Stint numerous
Ruff numerous
Spotted Redshank 1
Greenshank several
Marsh Sandpiper 1
Green Sandpiper 2
Common sandpiper several
Black headed Gull numerous
Yellow legged Gull (or Armenian Gull ? I have to say that we didn't pay much attention to them)
White winged Black Tern 6
Stock Dove several
Collared Dove
Hoopooe 1
Skylark some
Crested Lark several
Short toed Lark numerous
Asian Short toed Lark numerous
Calandra Lark thousands in the hill surrounding the lake before dusk!
Sand Martin quite numerous
Barn swallow numerous
Tawny Pipit 2
Isabelline Wheatear numerous
Starling numerous
Rose-coloured Starling 3 imm.
House Sparrow
Magpie
Blackheaded Bunting 1
Yellow Wagtail numerous (including feldeggi)
We failed to see any Greater Sandplover but probably didn't spend enough time looking for it.
August 7:
Woke up at 5h45. Beautiful.
Lapwing 8
Hobby 1
Long legged Buzzard 1
Curlew 1
Common Snipe 1
Little Egret 1
Woodchat Shrike 1 juv.
Rook numerous
Kulu-Konya: huge cultivated steppes.
Woodchat Shrike 1
Roller 1
Black headed Bunting 3
Little Owl 1
Konya Beyşehir:
Crested Lark several
Rock Sparrow 1
White Stork 1
Golden Eagle 1 imm.
Woodchat Shrike several
Lesser Grey Shrike 7-8
Red Backed Shrike 1
Beyşehir Golü:
Reed Warbler 3
Little Grebe several
Great crested Grebe several
Coot numerous
Kingfisher 1
Grey Heron
Squacco Heron 1
Great White Egret 1
Common Sandpiper 2
White Wagtail
Bee-eater 1
BeyşehirAkseki:
Long tailed Tit race 'tephronotus' appx. 10
Rock Nuthatch 2
Jay
Short toed Eagle 1
Black eared Wheatear lots
Masked Shrike 8!
Red Backed Shrike 15
Lesser Grey Shrike 4
Blue Rock Thrush 1
Rock Sparrow several
Tawny Pipit 3
White Wagtail
Sombre Tit 5
White Stork
Reptiles Laudakia stellio (agama) basking on rocks, Lacerta pamphylica, 1 Testudo graeca and a Telescopus fallax (snake) scratched on the road.
Akseki Graveyard:
Syrian Woodpecker 3
Scops Owl 1 roosted in a cypress
Blue Tit several
No Olive-Tree Warbler.
Km7,9 (see Gosney):
Kruper's Nutatch 2+heard
Short toed Eagle 1
Blue rock Thrush 1 during the climb
Black eared Wheatear numerous during the climb
Coal Tit
Wheatear 1
Short toed Treecreeper 1
"Walled plantation" (see Gosney):
Rock Nuthatch 2 heard
Sparrohawk 1
Olive Tree Warbler a call was thought to be attributable to this species
Alpine Swift 7-8
August 8:
woke up at 6h00. "Walled plantation" and around. Very hot.
Sparrowhawk 1
Hoppooe 2
Syrian Woodpecker 2+2 heard
Black eared Wheatear numerous
Blackbird
Barred Warbler 1
Lesser Whitethroat lots
Garden Warbler 2
Common Whitethroat 1
Ruppell's Warbler 4 including one very fine male seen at close range
Oriental Warbler (Phylloscopus orientalis) 1
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 2 seen+1 heard
Sombre Tit >15
Blue Tit several
Great Tit several
Masked Shrike >10!
Red Backed Shrike 2
Woodchat Shrike 2
Lesser Grey Shrike 1
Rock Nuthatch 2
Cretzschmar's Bunting 1 female
Hooded Crow
Kestrel
House Sparrow
Reptiles: a fine Eirenis modestus (snake) was found active.
Akseki graveyard:
Syrian Woodpecker 2
Jay
Scops Owl 2 roosted (fantastic views at very close range)
Blue Tit several Testudo graecaKm7,9:
Black eared Wheatear several
Ruppell's Warbler 5
Oriental Orphean Warbler (crassirostris) 1+heard
Kruper's Nuthatch 1+ heard
Green Woodpecker heard
AksekiEregli: superb road by the mountains
Serin
Wheatear several in altitude
Sombre Tit 1
Raven 2
Red backed Shrike 2
Rock Nuthatch 1
Kruper's Nuthatch heard
Rock Sparrow numerous
Lesser Grey Shrike 4
Masked Shrike 4
Black eared Wheatear 1
Syrian Woodpecker 3
Goldfinch
Hoopooe 2
Little Owl 2
Kestrel 2
Long legged Buzzard some
Stone Curlew
Reptile: a magnificent Coluber schmidtii was found to be scratched on the road.
August 9:
woke up at 5h45
Ayranci dam (15km before Eregli marshes) and towards Eregli marshes:
Grey Heron appx. 10
Night Heron 3
Great White Egret 1
Little Egret several
Ruddy Shelduck 4
Black Kite 1
Kingfisher 1
Green Sandpiper 1
Red backed Shrike 1
Lesser grey Shrike 3
Long legged Buzzard some
Lesser Kestrel numerous
Roller 4
Little Owl 1
Eregli marshes: we were unable to locate any water at Eregli which was quite depressing. The marshes seemed completely dry.:
Red backed Shrike 3
Asian short toed Lark >30
Rock Thush
Isabelline Wheatear very numerous
Marsh Harrier 1
Little Owl 3
Spanish Sparrow some
Rock Nuthatch 1
Crested Lark 2
Roller several
Lots of sousliks. Reptiles included several Laudakia stellio and Ophisops elegans
Drove to Aladag Moutain. Arrived there around 13h.
Demirkazik (track climbing from the mountain center and slopes just before Pinarbasi):
Chough several
Linnet numerous
Wheatear numerous
Ortolan Bunting 2
Whitethroated Robin 1 male and 1 female
Rock Nuthatch 2
Kestrel 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Crag Martin numerous
Radde's Accentor 1!
We wanted to reach the base of the "jeep road" by car but it proved to be impossible for our car to climb such a very dirt and rough track (see the israeli report at http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/tripreports/Turkey00.html). So we decided to take the tent and some warm clothes and as little food and water as possible. We intended to climb as far as possible and to reach the 'chromium mine' the next day early in the morning. The climb is very long and hard, and it was very hot yet. Half an hour later a man with a tractor kindly took us until the base of the "jeep road". During the climb we saw:
Red backed Shrike 2
Black headed Bunting 1
Common Whitethroat 2
White throated Robin 1 male
Rock Thrush 2
Choukar heard only
Crimson winged Finch appx. 15 just on the rocky piton on the left of the "jeep road" cross.
August 10:
woke up at 5h00 and just when we began to climb, Ali Safak went
by with a tractor in the night. To reach the good place to look for the Snowcocks
(see the israeli report) took us 1h45 but I have to say that it was very fast
(we didn't want to arrive too late). The scenery is simply breathtaking.
Alpine Accentor 3
Snow Finch appx. 50
Shore Lark appx. 20
Wheatear numerous
Alpine Chough numerous
Rock Pigeon some
Red fronted Serin 20 far up in the mountain, just beyond the last crags (alt. appx. 3200m). Very confiding, they allowed splendid views
Crag Martin several
House Martin very numerous
Caspian Snowcock 1 seen and heard calling loudly which produced a fantastic ambiance. What a bird! Very good views of the bird feeding, calling, in flight and running through the rocks !!! Just when we arrived to the site Ali Safak and an american tourist (who climbed in tractor) said us that they had just seen 4 Snowcocks in flight but that they had gone, which was a bit depressing. Nonetheless we decided to stay and try to find it by ourselves while Ali and the tourist climbed down. The bird was located around 8h00.
We saw several Ibex on the summit.
During the climb down to the car (very long):
White throated Robin 2
Crimson winged Finch 1
Rock Thrush 1 female
Rock Nuthatch 2
Finsch's Wheatear 1 male between Pinarbasi and the "gorge" (see Gosney)
In the afternoon we intended to try the "Gorge" (site 2 in Gosney) but a party of two turkish families offered us some tea. We stayed for the rest of the afternoon with them and eventually were invited to eat.
Slept in the plateau surrounding Demirkazik.
August 11:
Emle valley (Aladag mountain part two in Gosney and see also http://www.osme.org/osmetrip/turk7.html ). Beautiful scenery!
Golden Eagle 1imm+1ad.
Rock Bunting 3
Garden Warbler 1
Coal Tit numerous
Black Redstart numerous
Wheatear numerous
Blackbird 2
Mistle Thrush some
Rock Nuthatch 78
Goldcrest 1+heard
Goshawk 1 imm.
Stock Dove 1
Serin
Chukar 1 ad.+9 youngs. Brilliant views!
Chaffinch
Chough some
Jay 5
Crag Martin several
Woodlark heard
Hoopooe
Cretzschmar's Bunting 1 juv.
White throated Robin 2
Spotted Flycatcher 1
Kestrel
Reptiles: between Demirkazik and Camardi a Lacerta media was seen.
Göksu delta:
Greyheaded Swamphen 6 just near the holiday village at dusk
Yellow vented Bulbul: 1 in the holiday village
August 12:
Göksu delta (Agköl):
Yellow vented Bulbul 7
White breasted Kingfisher 1 just near the holiday village on an electric line! Great!
Crested Lark numerous
Graceful Warbler quite numerous
Sardinian Warbler
Penduline Tit >20
Reed Warbler numerous
Great reed Warbler several
Kingfisher 2
House Sparrow
Mallard very numerous
Grey Heron lots
Purple Heron several
Marsh Harrier common
Greyheaded Swamphen 6-7
Little Egret several
Great crested Grebe several
Redshank 10
Kentish Plover several
Curlew 1
Hoopooe 3
Great spotted Cuckoo 1 juv.
White Stork 7
Lesser Kestrel 1
Glossy Ibis appx. 60
Flamingo 2
Yellow legged Gull some
Swift numerous
Barn Swallow numerous
Lesser grey Shrike 3
Raven 5
Rufous Bush Robin 2
Reptile, amphibians: Ophisops elegans, Bufo viridis
North of Agköl:
Graceful Warbler numerous
White breasted Kingfisher 1
Squacco Heron 1
White Stork lots
Moorhen 4
Coot 1
Great reed Warbler several
Crested Lark
Kingfisher 3
Rufous Bush Robin 1
Black winged Stint 1
Gull billed Tern 1
Lesser grey Shrike 2
House Sparrow
Paradeniz Golü:
Yellow vented Bulbul 1
Red rumped Swallow 1
Grey Plover 1
Common Sandpiper
Spur-winged Plover 2
White-winged Black Tern several
Great crested Grebe some
Slender-billed Gull 2
Kentish Plover 5
Little Stint 3
Whimbrel 1
Little Egret some
White Stork at least 2000 in flight!!
Agköl:
Grey Heron several
Purple Heron 1
Ruddy Shelduck 2
Mallard
Marbled Duck 2
Marsh Harrier 2
Water Rail heard
Moorhen
Redshank several
Greenshank heard
Yellow legged Gull
Whiskered Tern 1
Whitewinged Black Tern several
Swift numerous
Kingfisher 2
Whitebreasted Kingfisher 1
Hoopooe 3
Crested Lark
Graceful Warbler some
Reed Warbler some
Great reed Warbler some
Barn Swallow numerous
Red rumped Swallow several
Rufous bush Robin 1
Red backed Shrike 1
Yellow-vented Bulbul 4-5
Rose-coloured Starling 4 juv.
August 13:
Road to Gaziantep but we tried to find Black Francolin south of Tarsus near the village of Külakköy:
Black Francolin 1 female crosses the road just in front of the car
White-breasted Kingfisher 2
Turtle Dove 2
A short stop while we were on the highway produced Cyrtopodion kotschyi (Gecko), Laudakia stellio
Stop to the col 10 km before Durnalik:
Upcher's Warbler 1 just beside the road
Black eared Wheatear 1
Rock Nuthatch 2
Woodchat Shrike 2
Slept at Durnalik
August 14:
Durnalik, little cultivated valley with orchards and surrounding rocky plateau. What a place!
Long legged Buzzard at least 2
Turtle Dove several
Alpine Swift 2
Beeeater heard
Syrian Woodpecker several very well seen
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Yellowvented Bulbul 1
Rufous bush Robin 2
Black eared Wheatear numerous
Blue rock Thrush 2
Blackbird several
Garden Warbler 1
Barred Warbler 1!
Oriental Orphean Warbler 2
Lesser Whitethroat numerous
Upcher's Warbler >10! Very easy to get in the plateau surrounding Durnalik (see Gosney)
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 1
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Great Tit 1
Sombre Tit numerous
Rock Nuthatch 2
Eastern Rock Nuthatch >10 Wonderful views!!!
Red backed Shrike several
Masked Shrike 2
Woodchat Shrike 3
House Sparrow
Linnet
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Scarlet Rosefinch 2!
Lichtenstein's Rosefinch 6-7
Ortolan Bunting 4
Cretzschmar's Bunting 1 superb male singing
Cinereous Bunting 6, fantastic but a bit untamed
Reptile: Laudakia stellio, Apathya cappadocica (lizzard).
Isilkli:
Barn Swallow
Rufous bush Robin 3
Syrian Woodpecker 1
Black eared Wheatear >10
Blue Rock Thrush 1
Upcher's Warbler appx. 10
Sombre Tit 2
Red backed Shrike 1
Eastern Rock Nuthatch several
Rock Nuthatch 1
Woodchat Shrike 2
Cinereous Bunting 2
Reptile: Laudakia stellio, Chalcides ocellatus.
We failed to see any Redtailed Wheatear in both Durnalik and Isikli, but this species is notoriously elusive here. If you are not afraid to do some extrakilometres or if you are not in a hurry, try the archeological site of Nemrut Daği (north of Sanliurfa) where redtailed is unmissable (see august 16). Also no trace of Whitethroated Robin although the birds were common this spring (P.A. crochet comm.pers.). The vast majority of them have probably gone since they are known to be early migrants.
Birecik:
we went to the famous cafe to find the Striated Scops Owl but failed to see it (even the old man, famous for his keen eyesight was unable to find them). Quite disappointed, we crossed the Euphrate and went to the gravel pit:
Pygmy Cormorant 2
Dead Sea Sparrow 1 beautiful male
August 15:
"Wadi" near the Ibis center:
Menetrie's Warbler 6-7
Corn Bunting several
Crested Lark
Dead Sea Sparrow 1 female
House Sparrow
Rock Sparrow numerous
Lichtenstein's Rosefinch 7-8
Upcher's Warbler 3
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 2
Rufous bush Robin 2
Desert Lark 1 drinking in the wadi allowed very close examination
Black bellied Sandgrouse 1
Collared Dove
Hoopooe 3
Barn Swallow
Yellowvented Bulbul 1
Black eared Wheatear 4
Blackbird 1
Pygmy Cormorant 5 (on the Euphrate)
Squacco Heron 1
Swift
Kingfisher 1
Seesee Partridge 7 on the slopes of the wadi, very timid due to the fact that they are hunted by locals
Graceful Warbler 1
Woodchat Shrike 1
Orchards north of Birecik:
House Sparrow
Yellowthroated Sparrow 2
Syrian Woodpecker 1
Rufous Bush Robin 1
Graceful Warbler 1
Reed Warbler 1
At midday it was very hot and we decided to spend 2-3 hours resting near the Euphrate on the opposite side of Birecik:
Beeeater several
Pygmy Cormorant 5
House Sparrow
Graceful Warbler 4
Barn Swallow
Sand Martin
Reed Warbler
Great Reed Warbler 2
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 1
Hooded Crow
Whitewinged Black Tern 1
Gravel Sandpit:
Temminck's Stint 1!
White Wagtail
Following the Euphrates south of Birecik
Whitewinged Black Tern hundreds with a great variety of plumage!
Pygmy Cormorant appx. 10
Moorhen several
Coot
Little Grebe >10
Barn Swallow
Sand Martin
Common Snipe 1
Graceful Warbler several
Common Sandpiper some
Wood Sandpiper 1
Yellow Wagtail "feldeggi" 5-6
Roller 1
Squacco Heron 7-8
Little Egret 1
Hoopooe
Little Bittern 1
Bee eater 1
Pied Kingfisher 9 !!!(2 just 2km south of Birecik and the rest following the track leading to the Syrian border. Approximately 12km south of Birecik, this track surrounds the river, this place is outstanding).
We gave another try to the SSO Cafe but were not rewarded of our efforts. Very disappointed by this new failure, we began to lose faith since we intended to leave Birecik the next day. We went to the other side of the Euphrate near the Kiyi restaurant (Gosney indicate that SSO was seen here in 1988). When we arrived there we asked for Baykush. The warden didn't seem to know where to look for. Just when we were leaving we saw a little 'owl' perched on a electricity pole.
Striated Scops Owl 1 at last!!! We were allowed a close examination of the plumage. No white band on the scapulars (a feature clearly shown by the Scops Owl we had seen in Akseki a few days before), fine streakings on the breast, sandycoloured.Great!!!
Slept between Birecik and Halfeti.
August 16:
Between Birecik and Halfeti. Steppe.
Little Owl 1
Blackbellied Sandgrouse 10
Blackeared Wheatear 1
Isabelline Wheatear 3
Bimaculated Lark 5, good views.
Ophisops elegans common.
Stop at Arraç, a little village 5-6 km before Halfeti, barren rocky landscape very good for reptiles.
Rock Nuthatch 1
Eastern Rock Nuthatch 2
Crag Martin several
Little Swift 1 above the gorge, west of the village
Apathya cappadocica in the rock crevices.
We were offered a cup of tea by the village "administrator".
Halfeti:
Redrumped Swallow appx.. 10
Little Swift 1 (nest found)
Cinereous Bunting 2
Eastern Rock Nuthatch 4 (2 of which were observed in the village itself)
Ortolan Bunting 1
Blackeared Wheatear some
Halfeti to Nemrut Daği: lots of shrikes (majority woodchat) and rollers
Nemrut Daği: beautiful scenery, a great place to visit. Loads of wheatears and superb archeological site. It deserves a visit.
Blackeared Wheatear appx.. 10
Wheatear 4-5
Isabelline Wheatear 3
Finsch's Wheatear 1 wonderful male
Redtailed Wheatear the most common in the upper part of the mountain. We saw at least 20 birds including three superb males. This highly elusive species elsewhere in the Palearctic seems to be easy to get here. This place is also known for Olivetree Warbler, Pale Rock Sparrow, Whitethroated Robin but we found none of these during our short visit.
Shore Lark Appx.. 20 near the tumulus.
Rock Thrush 1
August 17:
Road between Nemrut Daği and Cizre. Very hot especially when reaching the Syrian border. In Cizre it was very hot (around 50°C !!!). Not the optimal conditions to look for the Redwattled Lapwings but anyway.
Cizre:
Marsh Sandpiper 2
Kentish Plover several
Whitewinged Black Tern several
Pied Kingfisher 2!
Redwattled Lapwing 1 beautiful just north of the bridge (there are vantage points from the road). It was very difficult to see the bird when it was not active.
Road to Siirt and follow direction Tatvan. Slept 25km before Bitlis.
August 18:
Woke up at 6h00.
Ortolan Bunting 3
Roller 1
Menetrie's Warbler 1 female
Road to the other Nemrut Daği (North of Tatvan, see Gosney).
Nemrut Daği "crater lake" : beautiful crater with a big lake. Known for the relict population of Velvet Scoters which breed here, this is also a good site for Radde's Accentor. We saw none of these species here.
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Wheatear numerous
Bee-eater 7-8
Long-legged Buzzard 3
Pallid Harrier 1 male in flight!
Barn Swallow
House Martin
Sand Martin
Ortolan Bunting 7, we didn't see Greynecked Bunting in this area although several observers reported this species
Kestrel 2
Lesser Kestrel 2 (near Tatvan, not in the crater)
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail 1
Linnet several, we failed to see Twite although it has been reported
Shore Lark appx.. 10
Marsh Harrier 1
Crested Lark
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Rock Nuthatch 1
Hooded Crow
Redbacked Shrike several
3 Testudo graeca!
Nemrut DağiBulanik :
Whitewinged Black Tern numerous
Little Egret
Great White Egret 1
Lapwing numerous
Ruff some
Glossy Ibis 3
Yellow Wagtail
Rook
Greenshank 4
Wood Sandpiper 10
Roller several tens just aside the road!!!
Beeeater quite as numerous as Roller
Shorttoed Eagle 1
Longlegged Buzzard 2
Woodpigeon 2
Woodchat Shrike 8-9
Lesser Grey Shrike >40 !!! By far the most common of the shrikes
Redbacked Shrike 10
Corn Bunting several
Tawny Pipit 1
Murat Valley near Bulanik and Yonçali
Blacknecked Grebe several
Night Heron 45
Grey Heron 1
Little Egret several
White Stork numerous
Black Stork 4
Spoonbill 17!
Ruddy Shelduck 38
Mallard
Marsh Harrier 1
Kestrel 1
Montagu's Harrier 20
Oystercatcher 2
Little ringed Plover 1
Lapwing numerous
Spurwinged Plover 5-6!!
Little Stint 1
Redshank 2
Spotted Redshank 6
Green Sandpiper several
Common Sandpiper several
Greenshank 2
Ruff numerous
Armenian Gull several
Gullbilled Tern 2
Little Tern 2
Whitewinged Black Tern numerous
Roller numerous
Crested Lark numerous
Yellow Wagtail numerous
White Wagtail several
Sand Martin numerous
Wheatear several
Isabelline Wheatear 4
Whinchat 1
Redbacked Shrike several
Lesser Grey Shrike several
Hooded Crow
Starling
Egyptian Vulture 1
There was no sign of the Demoiselle Cranes. It seems that the river is very disturbed and local fishermen occupied the islets. Nonetheless it seems that the cranes have been found this spring. If you have time to spend, it would be worthwhile to follow the river towards Agri (there's a track).
Lots of Mauremys caspica
August 19:
Murat Valley
White Stork several
Oystercatcher 3
Lesser Grey Shrike numerous
Woodchat Shrike 1
Roller appx.. 50
Beeeater >50
White-winged Black Tern numerous
Hobby 2
Montagu's Harrier several
Long-legged Buzzard 1
Glossy Ibis 3
Lapwing
Wood Sandpiper several
Green Sandpiper several
Common Sandpiper several
Crested Lark
Corn Bunting some
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Rook very numerous
Starling hundreds (but no Rose-coloured !)
Jackdaw several
White Wagtail 2
Yellow Wagtail numerous
Hoopooe 1
Ruddy Shelduck 3
Black-necked Grebe 1
Gull-billed Tern 4
Tatvan-Van
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Armenian Gull numerous
8km after Balatan a humid zone of marshes appear on the left of the road. A friend of mine have seen Baillon's Crake here in May 2003.
Whitewinged Black Tern numerous
Little Grebe
Blacknecked Grebe very numerous
Hoopooe 3
Night Heron 3
Grey Heron 3
Mallard very numerous
Gadwall several
Common Pochard numerous
White-headed Duck appx.. 20
Marsh Harrier 1
Coot numerous
Black-winged Stilt numerous
Lapwing numerous
Wood Sandpiper several
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper several
Redshank several
Ruff numerous
Black-headed Gull numerous
Slender-billed Gull 2
Mediterranean Gull 1
Armenian Gull
Yellow Wagtail several
Great Reed Warbler 1
Barn Swallow
Sand Martin
Syrian Woodpecker 1
South Van Marshes
White-winged Black Tern hundreds
Black-winged Stilt
Wood Sandpiper numerous
Green Sandpiper numerous
Marsh Sandpiper 2
Ruff numerous
Lapwing numerous
Blackheaded Gull numerous
Armenian Gull numerous
Ferruginous Duck 2!
Redcrested Pochard several
Mallard numerous
Gadwall several
Shoveler 2
Scaup 1
Common Pochard several
Yellow Wagtail numerous but no citrine among them
Barn Swallow
Sand Martin
Roller 2
Starling
House Sparrow
Coot
Hoopooe 2
Van Hills (see Gosney)
Common Whitethroat 1
Linnet
Blackeared Wheatear 5-6
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Wheatear several
Swift some
Alpine Swift 7-8
Rock Sparrow several
Rock Nuthatch 2
Eagle Owl an adult with 4 fledged youngs seen at very close range. Amazing views! The birds seemed completely unconcerned by our presence.
Nightjar 1
Grey-necked Bunting 1 beautiful male, very confiding. The only Greynecked of the trip! One of my most wanted bird for this trip.
Slept near Erçek Golü.
August 20 :
Erçek Golü, continuing on the Ozalp road, the Ercek Lake appears on the left hand side. A bit further there was a small lake, just to the right side of the road.
Reed Warbler numerous
Great Reed Warbler numerous
Marsh Warbler 1-2
Sedge Warbler several
Spotted Flycatcher 1
White Wagtail 3
Yellow Wagtail several, but again no Citrine!
House Sparrow
Starling
Penduline Tit 8-9
Common Sandpiper 4
Redshank 6
Slende-rbilled Gull 1
Armenian Gull 1
Black-headed Gull 3
White-winged Black Tern numerous
White-headed Duck 2 females
Common Pochard several
Mallard
Coot
Little Crake 1 juv.!
Night Heron 1
Little Grebe several
Blacknecked Grebe hundreds
Here we saw a Weasel and a Natrix tessellata.
We were disappointed not to find any Paddyfield Warbler in this nice spot!
Van Marshes
Little Grebe several
Coot
Mallard numerous
Gadwall several
Garganey 7-8
Common Pochard several
White-headed Duck 1
White-winged Black Tern very numerous
Whiskered Tern appx..15
Black-headed Gull numerous
Armenian Gull
Wood Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper 15!
Ruff numerous
Black-winged Stilt numerous
Avocet numerous
Starling
Lapwing
House Sparrow
Hoopooe 2
Beeeater numerous
Kestrel 1
Hobby 1
Yellow Wagtail numerous
Great Reed Warbler 1
Sedge Warbler 1
Barn Swallow
Rook
We then decided to go to the Bendimahi marshes (see Gosney)
Bendimahi Marshes
Montagu's Harrier 1
Hobby 1
Lapwing
Ruff
Blackwinged Stilt
Avocet
Red-necked Phalarope 10!
Redshank several
Green Sandpiper several
Wood Sandpiper several
Common Sandpiper several
Temminck's Stint 1
Black-necked Grebe numerous
White-winged Black Tern numerous
Whiskered Tern several
Grey Heron 1
Purple Heron 1
Long-legged Buzzard 1
Yellow Wagtail numerous
White Wagtail
Citrine Wagtail 3 at last! 2km after the village just on the right side of the road there is a little marshy pool.
Slender-billed Gull 1
Armenian Gull
Coot
Little ringed Plover several
Greenshank 1
Barn Swallow
Sedge Warbler 1
Reed Warbler several
Great Reed Warbler
Rook
Marsh Harrier 1
Common Snipe 2
Spotted Crake 1
Towards Dogubayazit, beautiful scenery!
Long-legged Buzzard 5 including two dark
Kestrel 3
Roller 1
Water Pipit >10
Black Redstart 2
Linnet
Wheatear several
Dogubayazit and the surrounding area is absolutely breathtaking. The scenery is simply fantastic, with the white crown of Mount Ararat dominating all the plain.
Ishak Pasa Palace
Chukar 3 ad. +14 juv.
Black Redstart
Rock Sparrow numerous
Crag Martin numerous
Alpine Swift numerous
Snow Finch 2
Finsch's Wheatear 2 males +4
Rock Nuthatch 3
Kestrel some
Golden Eagle 1
Sparrowhawk 3
Hooded Crow
Magpie
Goldfinch numerous
Levant Sparrowhawk 1 female
Wheatear several
Slept near the palace. Very windy night.
August 21 :
woke up at 5h35. All the morning spent in birding around the Palace and the
surrounding mountains
Red-fronted Serin 1male+1female
Levant Sparrowhawk 2 (male+female)
Lesser Kestrel 1
Kestrel 23
Raven 2
Chough several
Chukar 1 ad.
Radde's Accentor 1 !! This bird was totally unexpected here since we had no trip reports in which it was mentioned. Very good views of this individual
Shore Lark appx.. 30
Grey-necked Bunting 2 probably this species (only seen in flight)
Cinereous Bunting 1 bird was thought to belong to this species but too far to allow a positive identification. Does anybody know about the occurrence of this species in this area?
Linnet
Black Redstart some
Rock Nuthatch >10
Gold Finch numerous
Wheatear numerous
Finsch's Wheatear 2
Mongolian Trumpeter Finch 1 beautiful male just above the cafe showed well, although briefly.
Approximately 4km after Dogubayazit towards Mt Ararat, there is a track running alongside the western face of Mt Ararat (it goes through impressive lava fields). We took this beautiful track in order to find a place to sleep. After a while you will see a little lake on the left of the track. There we slept
Cuckoo 1
Finsch's Wheatear numerous and very easy to see
Wheatear several
Green Sandpiper 1
Temminck's Stint 1
Mongolian Trumpeter Finch 3!!!
August 22 :
woke up at 5h40
We looked around the lake in the lava fields
Finsch's Wheatear very common
Wheatear several
Pied Wheatear a female was seen very well and was positively identified as a "pied". Was it a migrant or a local (Pied Wheatear has got an uncertain status in eastern Turkey)?
Yellow Wagtail several
Ruddy Shelduck 3
Pale Rock Sparrow 1 totally unexpected individual. Very good although brief views. P.A. Crochet has already observed the species in the plain near Dogubayazit
What a place !!! Pale Rock Sparrow, Pied Wheatear and Mongolian Trumpeter Finch seen within a 150m distance!
Common Whitethroat several
Rock Nuthatch several
Short-toed Eagle 1
We then followed the track which join the road DogubayazitIgdir
I cannot recommend you to go there enough! It's magical! You are on the feet of Mount Ararat and you run alongside a wetland called Saz Golü, which seems great. We did not spend enough time looking this wet area although Citrine Wagtail is said to be quite common there.
Finsch's Wheatear abundant, some of them even perched on the houses
Isabelline Wheatear numerous in the steppe likeplain below Mount Ararat
Tawny Pipit 4
Little Owl 2
Hoopooe 2
Marsh Sandpiper 3
Red-backed Shrike 1
Black-bellied Sandgrouse 1
Kestrel 4
Bee-eater numerous
White Stork appx. 60
Hobby 1
Montagu's Harrier 1 male
Longlegged Buzzard 1
After Igdir we followed the Aras river. There is a road by which you go alongside the Iranian border as well to the Armenian border while the Ararat is on your right hand side. You can also reach Azerbaidjan following this road. Problem: this is a quite sensitive area since military are very active. Do not leave the road after the control checkpoint and be careful when using optics as you can easily be considered as spies.
Roller numerous
Lesser Grey Shrike numerous
Beeeater appx.. 30
Pygmy Cormorant 4 (after the control checkpoint, do not stop there!)
Green Sandpiper
Glossy Ibis 1
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater 9! The species is not mentioned in the guides but allowed very close views along the road!
IgdirKars
Egyptian Vulture 3
Roller numerous
Kestrel
Shorttoed Eagle 2
Wryneck 1 just when the road crosses the Aras river (a good site for mystacea Ménétrie's warbler)
Griffon Vulture 3
Red-backed Shrike several
Lesser-Grey Shrike numerous
Great Tit 1
Long-legged Buzzard 3
Meadow Pipit 1
Marsh Harrier 3
Coot
Common Teal 1
Ruff several
Wood Sandpiper several
Marsh Sandpiper 1
Green Sandpiper several
White-headed Duck 1
August 23 :
Road from Kars to Cildir:
Ortolan Bunting heard
Long-legged Buzzard 9 including 3 dark
Snow Finch appx. 15
Willow Warbler 1
Black Redstart 1
Starling
Rosecoloured Starling 60 (no adults!)
Rock Nuthatch 1
Armenian Gull
Great Crested Grebe 2
Coot numerous
Marsh Harrier 2
Lesser Kestrel 1
Aktas Golü, sitting on the border with Georgia, a wonderful place!
Ruddy Shelduck several
Dalmatian Pelican 12 seen at very close range (50m!). Fantastic! We didn't see any White Pelican here although this species seems to breed here (P.A. Crochet comm.pers.)
Long-legged Buzzard 5
Cuckoo 1
Road to Ardahan:
Hobby 1
Lesser spotted Eagle 1 feeding in a field!
Black Kite 1
Cuckoo 1
Marsh Harrier 5
Longlegged Buzzard >10
Spotted Eagle 1 totally unexpected adult, migrant ?
ArdahanSavsat
Egyptian Vulture 1
European Nuthatch 2
Great Tit 1 family
Blue Tit 3
Common Redstart 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Blackbird
Blackcap 1 male
We were unpleasantly controlled by a party of policemen who tried to frighten us, but as we had nothing to hide, we were on the road again an hour later.
August 24 :
Road Yusufeli-Ispir
Ortolan Bunting 1
Tree Sparrow 1
Chukar >30 (in 3 families)
Green Woodpecker 1
Common Whitethroat several
Lesser Whitethroat 5-6
Blackcap 1 female
Golden Oriole 1 female
Black Stork 1
Egyptian Vulture 1
Steppe Buzzard 1
Kestrel
Hobby 2
White Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Turtle Dove 2
Hooded Crow numerous
Crag Martin several
Rock Nuthatch heard
Wheatear several
Black-eared Wheatear 5-6
Great Tit
Mountain Chiffchaff 2!
Jay 1
During the climb to the Ovit Daği Gecidi we saw a wonderful Golden Eagle eating a prey!
Ovit Daği Gecidi
Kestrel
Hobby 1
Water Pipit numerous
Black Redstart several
Ortolan Bunting 2
Shore Lark >15
Wood Sandpiper 1!
Wallcreeper 1 seen very well!
Alpine Accentor 1
Sivri Kaya
Scarlet Rosefinch 3
White Wagtail
Common Crossbill 5-6
Wren 1
Robin 1+ heard
Green Warbler 4!
Mountain Chiffchaff 1
Meadow Pipit 1
Coal Tit
Bullfinch 2
Dipper 1
Honey Buzzard 1
Steppe Buzzard 1
Cuckoo 2
Black Redstart 2
Jay 1
Chaffinch
Great Tit 1
Wryneck 1
We slept on the track leading to the summer village, close to the blackcock site (see israeli report and Gosney). Thick fog.
August 25 :
Blackcock site: wake up short before dawn. Scanning of the slopes.
Golden Eagle 1 subad.
Steppe Buzzard 2
Pallid Harrier 1 juv. Very well seen
Bee-eater several in migration
Crag Martin several
Water Pipit numerous
Dunnock 3
Mountain Chiffchaff 2
Marsh Warbler 1
Common Whitethroat several
Black Redstart several
Whinchat 1
Rock Thrush 1
Raven 2
Wheatear several
Hooded Crow several
Serin 1
After 4 hours, we decided to try to walk through the rhododendron but didn't flush any Caucasian Blackcock. A bit frustrating but a good reason to come back. This bird is definitely very difficult to see in late summer.
We gave one more try by scanning the patch of rhododendrons in the valley, opposite to the road, but it produced nothing. Then decided to go towards Erzurum.
Long-legged Buzzard 1
Booted Eagle 1
Kestrel 1
Water Pipit numerous (Ovit Daği Gecidi)
Shore Lark several (Ovit Daği Gecidi)
Black Redstart
Crag Martin numerous
Wheatear several
Hooded Crow
Golden Oriole 1
Roller 3
Lesser Grey Shrike 4
Hobby 1
Rock Nuthatch 1
Green Sandpiper 1
White Stork
Eagle Owl 1 at dusk!
August 26 :
Made a stop at Gelinkaya. Superb habitat for flycatchers
Mountain Chiffchaff 2
Spotted Flycatcher appx. 10
Cetti's Warbler 2
Blackcap 1 male
Garden Warbler 1
Common Whitethroat 1
Lesser Whitethroat several
Green Warbler 1
Mountain Chiffchaff 1
Great Tit several
Hobby 3
Marsh Warbler 2-3
Golden Oriole 1
Hooded Crow numerous
Rook numerous
Jackdaw several
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Penduline Tit several
Road to Ankara:
Golden Eagle 1 subad.
Longlegged Buzzard numerous
Kestrel numerous
Lesser Kestrel several
Egyptian Vulture 2
Black Stork 1
August 27 :
From 100 km before Ankara to Abant:
Black Stork 5 together
Egyptian Vulture 2
Black Vulture 4 at last!
Long-legged Buzzard numerous
Kestrel numerous
River in the wooded valley
Robin 4+heard
Dipper 1
Jay
Collared Flycatcher 1 at least!
Green Warbler 1
White Wagtail 1
Grey Wagtail 1
Kruper's Nuthatch 1
Blue Tit
Chaffinch
Middlespotted Woodpecker 1 ad. seen very well
Next day spent to drive to Istanbul and wait in the Airport
Why not send us a report, or an update to one of your current reports?
