Turkey. The South-east. A report on birds seen on a trip to South-east Turkey. 26 April 11 May River Euphrates at Birecik May 2013

Transcription

1 Turkey The South-east A report on birds seen on a trip to South-east Turkey 26 April 11 May 2013 River Euphrates at Birecik May 2013 By Henk Hendriks

2 INTRODUCTION This report covers the 16 day trip I made to South-east Turkey together with Wiel Poelmans in April/May Back in 1984 I birded Turkey on a 7 week trip, driving by car from The Netherlands and covering around km during that trip. I returned especially to Turkey to try to observe 3 target species: Caspian Snowcock (only heard in 1984), Kurdistan (Redtailed) Wheatear (missed in 1984) and Iraq Babbler (found near Birecik since 2006) Wiel visited Turkey in June 1991 and had missed the Wheatear and of course the babbler. We could have achieved this easily within a week s time but we decided to include a visit to the site of the recently rediscovered Brown Fish Owl. Though we both have observed Brown Fish Owl several times in Asia, we really wanted to see this western subspecies. The extra time we had was also used to find several other good species not seen by me since 1984 and to photograph birds. So we had a very enjoyable trip and besides our targets we observed species like See- Partridge, Black Francolin, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Pallid Scops Owl, Black-winged Pratincole, Little Swift, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Lesser Shorttoed Lark, Bimaculated Lark, Citrine Wagtail, Radde s Accentor, White-throated Robin, an unexpected Pied Wheatear, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Ménétries s Warbler, Graceful Prinia, Moustached Warbler, Caspian Reed Warbler, Upcher s Warbler, Olive-tree Warbler, Sombre Tit, Krüper s Nuthatch, Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Dead Sea Sparrow, Chestnut-shouldered Petronia, Pale Rock Sparrow, Red-fronted Serin, Asian Crimson-winged Finch, Desert Finch, Blackheaded Bunting and Cinereous Bunting. We were lucky that we were able to join a Dutch group of birders on their boat trip to observe the Fish Owl. Besides that I contacted Basar Safak at Camardi to book accommodation at his pension and to book the trip to observe the snowcocks. Visa On arrival you have to pay 15 to enter the country. Getting There- Flight We flew with Turkish Airlines from Brussels to Istanbul and on to Antalya on our way in and from Adana to Istanbul and on to Brussels on our way out of the country. We had to pay 320 for this ticket. Getting around Car Wiel booked a car ( a Renault Clio) through Sunny cars at National Rent-a-Car. We paid 480 for 16 days including all insurances and unlimited mileage. When we arrived at Antalya airport they upgraded us to a more spacious Ford Focus. We drove some 3500 km. Nowadays 4, 6 lane highways connect the larger cities and so it is easy to get around. Gasoline prices are high. Between 4.52 and 4.58 TL. for a litre of unleaded fuel. Accommodation Hotel Yas Vedi in Manavgat: 25 pp. Breakfast included Cheaper options are available in the area, but this hotel is conveniently located on the way to the starting point for the Fish Owl excursion. Pension Safak in Camardi, Demirkazik: 30 pp All meals included Star hotel in Akseki: 30 TL pp Breakfast included Köst hotel in Eregli: 30 TL pp Breakfast included Motel Mirkelam in Birecik: 25 TL pp. Pension Karadut in Karadut(Nemrut Dagi): 40 TL pp. Breakfast included Pension Melkem in Tasucu: 35 TL pp. Breakfast included Airport hotel Adana: 50 TL pp. Breakfast included ~ 2 ~

3 Money The currency used in Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TL) During our stay the exchange rate was: 1 TL = 0.42 It was easy to obtain cash from ATM machines. We also brought some cash euros which were also widely accepted. Language Still only few people speak reasonable English but the language is no problem to get around easily. Health & Safety Though Birecik is very close to the Syrian border, we did not notice any extra military activity or nervousness while staying in this area. We always felt very safe. The food was excellent and very tasty. During our stay we were never sick. Beer is more expensive and sometimes harder to get in the more conservative Islamic east. Weather The weather was excellent. Nice and mostly sunny with temperatures between degrees. Only Birecik was very hot in the middle of the day. The last days of our stay we had overcast weather conditions in the Adana area. We had a very heavy downpour one afternoon with large hail stones in the Nemrut Dagi area. Equipment We brought a scope with us which we used for scoping the snowcocks and at lakes and marshes. We used Voices of Europe etc for identifying bird songs/calls. Acknowledgements Peter Logtmeijer for providing us with the Gosney guides. The Dutch team of Vincent Douwes, Luuk Punt, Casper Zuyderduyn, Noël Aarts, Wouter Teunissen and Frank van Duivenvoorde who we joined on the Fish Owl trip and who we met several times in the course of the trip, for organising the Fish Owl trip and for giving us up-to-date info on sites and birds. References Books Field Guide to the birds of Britain & Europe - Collins Birds of the Middle East & North Africa P.A.D. Hollom Field Guide to the Birds of the Middle East - Porter Reports & Articles Turkey June 1991 By Frank Dorèl Turkey June/July 2004 By Kasper Hendriks Turkey 9 30 July 2011 By Ruben Vlot. Turkey/Birecik January 2011 By Graham Talbot Turkey 24 June 8 July 2012 By Stefan Cherrug 2 site guides of Turkey Dave Gosney. Useful Adresses Özcan KILIC Vigotour info@vigotour.com Contact address for organising the Brown Fish Owl boat trip. He charges 500 for a group (limited to 8 persons) Basar Safak ozsafak@hotmail.com Contact address for organising the snowcock trip and booking accommodation at his pension in Camardi. The snowcock trip is 50 a person. ~ 3 ~

4 DETAILED ITINERARY Day1: Friday 26 April. Wiel picked me up with his car at 6.00 am in the early morning. Through heavy traffic, especially around Antwerpen, we drove to Brussels Airport. Dropped the car at Budget Car Parking and at we flew with Turkish Airlines to Istanbul, where we landed at pm local time. The situation in the transfer area was rather chaotic and after paying 15 for our visa we finally received the correct information where to proceed to, for our connecting flight to Antalya. At pm we flew from Istanbul to Antalya where we arrived at pm. It took some time before we could collect our luggage but National Rent-a-Car quickly settled the paperwork for our pre-booked hire car. Instead of a Renault Clio we were upgraded to a brand new Ford Focus. Before we were on our way to Manavgat and with the help of google maps of Wiel s smartphone we arrived at hotel Yas Vedi around pm. We ate something, had a beer and went to bed. Day 2: Saturday 27 April We made a pre-breakfast stroll around our hotel and after breakfast we drove to Manavgat to buy bread, cheese and water. We then continued to Akseki, where we birded all day several areas around this village. We visited the cemetery of Akseki and both the old and the new site for White-backed Woodpecker (Gosney) and explored some roads out of Akseki. Species observed today include an unexpected calling Chukar, Booted Eagle, Levant Sparrowhawk,which flew over de cemetery, a pair of Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Masked Shrike, Sombre Tit, Krüper s Nuthatch, Eastern Bonelli s Warbler, a single Olive Tree Warbler, Rüppell s Warbler, Common Redstart ssp.samamisicus, Black-eared Wheatear, a single Tree Pipit, several Cretschmar s Buntings, Corn Bunting, Crossbill and European Serin. Mistle Thrush was extremely common in the woods around Akseki. But not a sniff of White-backed Woodpecker, though we briefly heard one call at the old site near Akseki. Late afternoon we drove back to Yas Vedi in Manavgat, where we met the group of Luuk Punt, Casper, Frank, Noël and Wouter. After dinner I phoned Ozkan of Vigotours to make sure that he would pick us up at the hotel and not at the petrol station along the D-400. Actually the hotel is situated along the road towards the starting point of the boat trip to look for the Fish Owl. Only Vincent Douwes, the eight member of the group, would be picked up at the petrol station. He would arrive from Cyprus that evening and spend the night in his car. Day 3: Sunday 28 April This was the day of the Brown Fish Owl. When I contacted Ozkan of Vigotours a month before, he mailed me that Wiel and I could join a Dutch group of 6 birders on this date to try for the Fish Owl. Group size is limited to 8 people only. So at 4.00 am we were all ready at the entrance of our hotel and waiting for Ozkan. When he arrived at 4.30 it turned out that he missed Douwe at the petrol station! So Luuk phoned Douwe, who was still waiting at the petrol station and the decision was quickly made that Luuk and Ozkan would drive back to the petrol station to pick him up. After the group was finally complete we drove to the starting point of the boat trip. It was a spacious boat and when we left for Big Canyon, we were offered coffee on board. Ozkan informed us that we would first try at Big Canyon and if we should fail, try at Little Canyon. But as soon as we arrived in the favourite area of the owl, we found one sitting on a rocky ledge of the cliff face. The next 30 minutes we had absolutely great views of this bird, and despite the poor light conditions we all made plenty of photo s. Despite the fact that Wiel and I had seen this species several times in south-east Asia, we felt pretty privileged to observe this rare semenowi subspecies of the Brown Fish Owl. Twice we observed a Blue Rock Thrush in the canyon, several European Crag ~ 4 ~

5 Martins and heard Rock Nuthatch. Satisfied we returned to the jetty, where we arrived around 8.00 am. Wiel and I intended to do some birding around the lake and then continue to Akseki, where we would stay overnight. The others would travel further towards Demirkazik. After some casual birding Wiel and I returned to our hotel and after lunch we drove to Akseki. On our way we searched some areas to try to find some orchids. We found some beautiful orchids at a cemetery, 19 km north of the junction towards Akseki. The whole afternoon was again spent birding around Akseki and along the road towards Aydinkent. At the cemetery of Aydinkent we observed a pair of Syrian Woodpeckers. We saw most of the species seen yesterday but added Little Owl, Common Cuckoo, Bee-eater, European Roller, Red-backed Shrike and a singing Nightingale to our list. European Scops Owl was heard in the middle of the day. We briefly heard a White-backed Woodpecker call at the old site of Gosney. We took a room at the Star hotel in Akseki, which was basic but clean and we had an excellent dinner at this hotel. A Tawny Owl was heard during the night in Akseki. Day 4: Monday 29 April Just after dawn we were present at the old site of White-backed Woodpecker. After an hour we left and tried at the new site, where we were again unsuccessful. At we decided to leave the area and to travel to Eregli. Our plan was to bird the marshy area around Eregli but it turned out that most of the area has turned into agriculture and the small, marshy area left was completely dry. Unexpectedly we bumped into a large flock of White Storks. In all directions we observed storks, on the ground as well as in the sky. Along the road we observed twice a soaring Long-legged Buzzard, a single Lesser Grey Shrike on a telegraph pole and plenty of Isabelline Shrikes. During a walk over the dry steppe, we had good views of displaying Calandra Larks, Short-toed Larks, a single Tawny Pipit and plenty of Lesser Short-toed Larks of the subspecies niethammeri. Some authors places this ssp. as ssp of Asian Short-toed Lark Calandrella cheleensis Late afternoon we drove to Eregli where we took a room in hotel Köst in the centre of town. Day 5: Tuesday 30 April After breakfast we drove first to the small village of Adabak (15 km from Eregli), where Wiel had good views of a small colony of Lesser Kestrels back in And we sure had excellent views and photo opportunities of the kestrels at this site. Rock Sparrows also showed nicely at this site. At am we continued from Eregli to Camardi where we arrived around noon. We were welcomed by Basar Safak, the son of Ali Safak, who I met in In 1984 I camped in his orchard and the photographs taken in 1984 and which I had brought with me, were much appreciated by Basar and his uncle Hassan. It turned out that Birding Breaks was also staying at his place. After lunch we drove to the nearby village of Emli and birded the fields and the canyon behind this village in the mountains of Demirkazik. We had no problem in locating several displaying Bimaculated Larks in the fields above the village. Horned Lark and Short-toed Larks were also recorded in this area. When we continued into the canyon we observed a single Chukar, a small flock of Alpine Swifts, Red-billed Choughs and Yellow-billed Choughs, Black Redstart, several Rock Buntings, a few Red-fronted Serins, Lesser Whitethroat and a gorgeous male White-throated Robin. During dinner we met the group of Birding Breaks lead by Rudi Debruijne. Day 6: Wednesday 1 May Today was an exciting day for me because I was hoping to obtain good views of Caspian Snowcock, a species I had only heard in july Basar told me that both the group of Luuk Punt and Birding Breaks had good views of this species but.. ~ 5 ~

6 At 4.30 am we drove with Hassan and Basar in his Lada Niva to the site, just above the obvious gorge, which is supposed to be the best site for Caspian Snowcock during the month of May. We arrived at 5.30 at the site where to my surprise we bumped into 4 Belgian birders. Within 5 minutes Hassan found us a Snowcock and during the next hour we had excellent views of a pair in the scope, about halfway up the slope. We also observed single birds higher up on the crags itself. After this great success we started to bird in the immediate vicinity of our observation site and were lucky to find two pairs of Radde s Accentor. Other species seen include several Alpine Accentors, White-winged Snowfinch, Horned Lark and Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush. We decided to drive back down and at 8.45 we enjoyed a late breakfast. We then returned to the area above the mountain lodge, where we quickly found Finch s Wheatear, Horned Lark and Red-fronted Serin. After a short break at lunchtime at our hotel we returned again to the area above the mountain lodge. We spent some time at a water tank and were rewarded with great views of 2 Asian Crimson-winged Finches. A short stroll into the gorge did not give us the desired Wallcreeper but we saw several Lesser Whitethroats, Western Rock Nuthatches and a passing Golden Eagle. During dinner we met Stefan, Per and his son from Sweden. A European Scops Owl was calling most of the night, just outside our pension. Day 7: Thursday 2 May Before breakfast we birded around our pension and had good views of Black-headed Bunting and had unexpected views of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. We discussed last night our options and decided that we would visit the Sultan Marshes today. It turned out that it took less than 2 hours to drive from Camardi to the HQ of the Sultan Marshes. We arrived at am and the guards of the reserve offered us a boat trip to the deeper part of the lake, where we had chances to observe among others White-headed Duck. But as they charged 100 for this trip we politely turned their offer down. We scanned the area from the watch tower and saw among others Garganey, Red-crested Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Great Egret, Little Egret, Squacco Heron, plenty of Marsh Harriers, a single Purple Swamphen, Little Ringed Plover, Whiskered Tern, White-winged Tern, Great Reed Warbler, Isabelline Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail and a flyby Redthroated Pipit. We then turned back to the main road and entered the reserve a few km to the east along an obvious dirt track (Gosney). We had a few very enjoyable hours in this part of the reserve. Marshy areas held a nice variety of waders like Black-winged Stilt, Northern Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Redshank, a group of about 50 Ruff and a few Common Snipes. Other interesting species recorded in this section of the park include Short-toed Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, a flock of Collared Pratincoles, 3 Glossy Ibis, White storks, Gull-billed Terns, European Bee-eater and in the reed beds Waterrail was heard and both Moustached Warbler and Sedge Warbler were observed. We finally ended up at another watchtower which was pretty rundown. Here we bumped into another party of 3 Scandinavian birders. Best species seen around the watchtower was an adult Citrine Wagtail. At pm we left the area and started our long drive to Birecik. At pm we arrived at Mirkelam Motel, Birecik where after some discussion we were offered the last room in this motel. Here we met Stefan, Per and his son again and together we had dinner. Day 8: Friday 3 May At dawn Wiel and I drove the short distance to the northern gravel pits along the western side of the Euphrates. Our target for this morning was Iraq Babbler, a lifer for both of us. This species was discovered in 2006 at this site and has been yearly observed since then. ~ 6 ~

7 As visiting Iraq and Syrie cannot be recommended for the time being, this is the only realistic site to observe this species. Wiel was the first to find one, but before I could focus on the bird it flew of. Meanwhile we were joined by Stefan and Per and sometime later Per saw briefly a bird, which I only saw in flight. But fortunately it did not take long before another bird climbed up in the tall reed and gave excellent views. I think that the species is breeding in the beginning of May and therefore probably easier to observe later in the season, when the young have fledged and small flocks travel around the reed beds. In the process we also had good views of a Little Crake at the muddy margins of the reed beds. Other notable species seen include Pygmy Cormorant, Little Bittern (common), Squacco Herons, Black-crowned Night-Herons, Glossy Ibis, Pied Kingfisher, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Ménétries s Warbler, Moustached Warbler, Graceful Prinia and Waldrapp, feeding in the fields next to the gravel pits. At 9.00 am we had a late breakfast and then drove to the wadi, just next to the Bald Ibis enclosure. When we entered the wadi we met a Dutch birder, Hennie Lammers and his wife Lies, who I know from my home area. In the small orchard in the beginning of the wadi we located a singing male Chestnut-shouldered Petronia, which gave great views. We birded the wadi for an hour but besides some Ménétries s Warblers and some migration of Honey Buzzards it was rather quiet. A record shot of a raptor, which flew high over the wadi, turned out to be a Lesser Spotted Eagle. After a break at our hotel and lunch we birded the southern gravel pits in the afternoon. The area is much smaller but also less disturbed and we spent an enjoyable couple of hours in this area. Late afternoon we went to the tea garden for the Pallid Scops Owl. After drinking some tea, suddenly a group of Dutch birders entered the garden. Luuk, Wouter, Casper, Noël, Vincent and Frank joined us at our table and of course we had a lot to talk about. They came from Nemrut Dagi, which was very good. A lot of migration and no problem in finding the Kurdistan Wheatear. After more tea we were finally shown the pair of Pallid Scops Owls at their regular daytime roost. The last hour of the day was spent together with them at the northern gravel pits where we had good views of several Iraq Babblers. After this very successful day we decided to have dinner together at the Kyi restaurant, which is beautifully situated on the banks of the Euphrates with good views of the town of Birecik on the other side of the river. Day 9: Saturday 4 May While the Dutch group opted to visit the wadi in the early morning to try for See-see Partridge, Wiel and I decided to visit the gravel pits first. Hennie Lammers had given us site details of a breeding site of Iraq Babblers and we would like to take photographs of this species. Unfortunately when we arrived at this particular site, 3 cars with Scandinavian birders also arrived at the exact same site, which gave too much disturbance to try to photograph the babblers. So we quickly drove to the wadi where we arrived at The Dutch group just returned after having nice views of a pair of Seesee Partridges in the wadi. Wiel and I decided to take our chances and after 30 minutes we actually found another pair, further down the wadi, which gave brief views before they flew of. At the beginning of the wadi we found a singing Upcher s Warbler. We then returned to the northern gravel pits where we birded until noon. At we drove to Halfeti, to try to find among others Pale Rock Sparrow. It was rather hot but we did find a pair of Eastern Rock Nuthatches. Then we received a phone call that the Dutch had found a breeding pair of Pale Rocksparrows. They gave us details how to get there and when we arrived we had good views of this pair. Arriving back in Birecik we had a drink in the teagarden where we observed the pair of Pallid Scops Owl again in the same tree. Wiel opted to stay at our hotel room, so I decided to spend the late afternoon at the gravel pit area again. And this time I got lucky as several Iraq Babblers showed very nicely, close along the track and gave me the opportunity to take some good photo s. ~ 7 ~

8 Dinner again at the Kyi restaurant and Luuk gave us some site info about 2 waterholes just north of the small village of Yeniakpinar. Day 10: Sunday 5 May Wiel decided to start a little later this morning, so I returned before to the wadi to try for better views of the See-see Partridge. It did not take long before a male Seesee Partridge flew in and landed on the edge of the cliff in full view, where it started to call. After a few minutes I walked even closer but that was too much. After this success I drove to the southern gravel pits where I observed at least 2 calling males Black Francolin and at a small waterhole drinking Desert Finches. After breakfast we drove from Birecik to Nemrut Dagi. On our way we made a short detour to a site where Ruben Vlot and his group observed Blue-cheeked Bee-eater in From the Dutch we got info that the birds were still there. Just before Hilvan we turned south-west on the 390 and after 13/14 km we arrived at the small village of Estagfirullah. We saw at least 5 Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters among the more numerous Bee-eaters. After we crossed the river Euphrates at Kayali by ferry we arrived at Karadut Pension in the village of Karadut. The Dutch told us that pension Cesme (5 km further up the road, just outside the National Park) was closed and recommended pension Karadut instead. It later turned out that pension Cesme was still open. Late afternoon we drove up the mountain and explored a side road, recommended by Ruben Vlot. The waterhole which was very good in July 2011 was less interesting in May, because there was plenty of water in the vicinity available for birds. Highlight was the observation of a pair of Kurdistan Wheatears, just next to the road. Cinereous Buntings were rather common and we also observed Black-eared Wheatear and Rufous-tailed Thrushes. We then continued to the top itself and visited the famous site with the huge stone heads. Because it was Sunday, many people visited the site but still it made rather an impression on us. Horned Larks and White-winged Snowfinches were seen on our way up the mountain. At the top 2 Rufous-tailed Thrushes, Northern Wheatears and 2 migrating Pallid Hariers. As a thunderstorm was nearing we quickly walked down and we reached the car just in time. Day 11: Monday 6 May After an early breakfast we drove up to pension Cesme and birded the area around the pension for 2 hours. There was a lot of bird activity and we saw the following species: European Bee-eater, Red-backed Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Red-rumped Swallow, Great Tit, Cetti s Warbler, Willow Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Upcher s Warbler, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, White-throated Robin, Rufoustailed Thrush, Black-eared Wheatear, Kurdistan Wheatear, Black-headed Bunting, Goldfinch, Eurasian Linnet and a soaring Golden Eagle. From there we birded the side road again until noon. We returned to our pension to have a break and lunch. From we birded the orchards near our pension which gave us several Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robins and a small flock of Long-tailed Tits ssp. tephronotus. Late afternoon was again spent along the side road. Here we met 3 Danish birders. In the afternoon we saw plenty of Cinereous Buntings, Rock Nuthatch, Rock Sparrow and a few Finch s Wheatears. Day 12: Tuesday 7 May From am we birded in the orchard around our pension. Again several confiding Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robins and at least twice a singing Olive Tree Warbler. After breakfast we drove up towards Cesme. Just before Cesme we observed a calling Eastern Rock Nuthatch. At Cesme we met the Danish again and after checking the immediate area around the pension we continued to the summit area. We walked up to the summit (we saw 2 Yellow-billed Choughs on the way up) and it turned out that ~ 8 ~

9 we were the only visitors at the top and undisturbed we strolled around the site. Really impressive morning with beautiful light conditions. I discovered a male Kurdistan Wheatear and I spent the next hour trying to obtain photos of this bird. We returned to our pension and during our drive down we saw a soaring Steppe Eagle together with an adult Spotted Eagle, species we did not expect to see here and after lunch we left for Birecik in pouring rain and from time to time heavy hail stones. We tried to take a shortcut but that was not a very wise decision. On very small and deteriorated roads we finally made it to de D 400 and at we checked in again at hotel Mirkelam. Day 13: Wednesday 8 May From we birded the southern gravel pits. After a quick breakfast we continued to the small village of Yeniakpinar, to bird just north of the village and to check 2 waterholes for visiting passerines. Here we met Ahmet, a local guide who take birders with his tractor into the surrounding hills to look for Cream-coloured Coursers and Sandgrouse. But when we told him we did not want to use his services and intend to bird along the road on our own, he turned nasty. He did not speak English but he contacted a local guy, Mustafa in Birecik who speaks English on the phone, and this guy told me that we had to pay 30 TL pro person to bird along this road. This we refused and despite protests of both Mustafa and Ahmet we birded a couple of hours near Yeniakpinar, staying on a public road, which we never left. Along the road we met the Danish again. Late afternoon we birded the northern gravel pits, where we encountered a group of American birders. In the early evening we drove to the teagarden where we intend to observe the Scops Owl again and hopefully see them hunting. But we could not find the birds and the owner told us that last night the birds were disturbed by a group of birders who used a lot of flash, photographing them. Fact is that 2 German birders searched all afternoon and also later that evening and were unable to locate the birds. Day 14: Thursday 9 May In the early morning we drove again to the area of Yeniakpinar and bumped again into Ahmet. And again he asked for money and again I tried to explain to him that it is ridiculous to pay money for birding along a public road. Then he sent some boys from his village to throw stones into the waterhole to chase the birds away so we could not observe/photograph them! This guy surely loves nature and birds. (and money!) So we continued further along the road and returned later to the waterhole where we spent another hour, this time undisturbed. In the surrounding area, Pale Rock Sparrow turned out to be rather common and their typical song was heard frequently. Best species recorded at the waterhole and immediate surroundings were a subadult Lesser Spotted Eagle, a single Egyptian Vulture, European Turtle Dove, Ortolan Bunting, Pale Rock Sparrow, Short-toed Lark, Spanish Sparrow and Blackheaded Wagtail. At we returned to Birecik and packed our stuff for the long drive to Tasucu, Goksu delta. Arrived at Tasucu at pm and booked a room in a nice little pension (Pension Melkem), just on the waterfront. After dropping our gear, we drove to the Goksu itself and birded there until pm. Highlight was the observation of a single Jackal and the copulation of 2 Scheltopusiks, which is a large (1.20 m) legless lizard with 2 rudimentary legs. We also observed herons, Ruddy Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Tufted Duck, several wader species like Spur-winged Plover, Kentish Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint. When having dinner we bumped into the Danish again. ~ 9 ~

10 Day 15: Friday 10 May After breakfast we drove along the edge of the Goksu delta and birded the area until am. Notable was a single Common Raven. We then left Tasucu and drove to Adana where after some negotiating we got a nice room in the Adana Airport Hotel. We had a copious lunch at Ozturk Kebap, which was a recently opened place. They took pictures of us for their website! We then continued to Tuzla in the Tarsus delta, where we birded around Tuzla from pm. Here we saw a large group of Flamingos, herons, Spur-winged Plover, Little Stints, a single Temminck s Stint, a single Slender-billed Gull, Little Tern and Common Tern. A single Black-winged Pratincole was unexpected and at one time I discovered a Pied Wheatear along a sandy track. We made a lot of photo s to establish its identity as either Pied Wheatear or Cyprus Wheatear. After studying these, we came to the conclusion that it was a Pied Wheatear. On our way back to Adana we observed a White-throated Kingfisher on a road side wire. In the evening we walked to a nearby restaurant and while doing so we briefly saw a Barn Owl in flight. Day 16: Saturday 11 May At 8.00 we drove to the nearby airport, where we delivered the car. At we flew from Adana to Istanbul where we landed at am. At we left Istanbul and after 2 films we landed at pm at Brussels. It took almost an hour before our luggage came off. I heard that the next day the luggage handlers of Brussels Airport went on strike! Then it was quite a hassle to arrange transport to the parking area of our car. But finally we left Brussels and at pm we arrived at Geldrop. Henk Hendriks Geldrop June 2013 hhendriks@onsmail.nl Demirkazik area, canyon above the village of Emli May 2013 ~ 10 ~

11 SYSTEMATIC LIST OF OBSERVATIONS PODICIPEDIDAE Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 02-05: 20 at Sultan Marshes 20+ daily during the 4 days we spent in the Birecik area Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 02-05: 4 at Sultan Marshes PHALACROCORACIDAE Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 05-05: 1 during the crossing of the river Euphrates towards Nemrut Dagi. European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis ssp.desmarestii 10-05: 7 in the harbour of Tasucu. Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmaeus Up to 60 daily in the Birecik area. ARDEIDAE Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus A total of 30 exx recorded on 5 dates in the Birecik area. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 02-05: 6 exx at Sultan Marshes : 10 exx Birecik 04/08-05: A single bird at Birecik 09/10-05: 10 exx on 2 dates at Goksu delta. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 02-05: 50+ at Sultan marshes. A total of 13 exx on 4 dates at Birecik. A total of 8 ex on 2 dates at Goksu delta Great Egret Casmerodius albus 02-05: 4 exx at Sultan Marshes 04-05: A single bird at Birecik 09/10-05: A single bird at Goksu delta 10-05: 4 exx at Tuzla area. Little Egret Egretta garzetta 02-05: 20+ at Sultan Marshes A total of 30 exx on 5 dates Birecik 09/10-05: 10 at Goksu delta 10-05: 20 at Tuzla area. Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 02-05: 8 near Sultan Marshes A total of 9 exx on 2 dates in the Birecik area : 6 exx Goksu delta Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 27-04: 1 ex near Manavgat 02-05: 2 exx Sultan Marshes A total of 16 on 4 dates in the Birecik area : 2 exx at Goksu delta 10-05: 1 ex at Tuzla area. Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Daily morning and evening flights in the Birecik area exx counted on a roost near the bridge, Birecik CICONIIDAE White Stork Ciconia ciconia 29-04: Near Eregli large flocks were present. At one point the fields/steppes were full of storks as far as we could see. ~ 11 ~

12 02-05: 2 exx along the road near Konya : 5 exx near Sanliurfa : 1 ex near Mersin. THRESKIORNIKTHIDAE Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 02-05: 3 exx at Sultan Marshes : 3 exx at northern gravel pits, Birecik Northern Bald Ibis (Waldrapp) Geronticus eremita Observed at Wadi near enclosure and in the fields along the Euphrates PHOENICOPTERIDAE Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus phoenicopterus 10-05: 500+ at Tuzla area. ANATIDAE Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea 09/10-05: 1 pair with pulli Goksu delta Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Small numbers recorded at Sultan marshes, Birecik area, Goksu and Tuzla area. Garganey Anas querquedula 02-05: 20+ at Sultan Marshes. 1 pair seen daily at Birecik. Red-crested Pochard Aythya rufina 02-05: 10+ at Sultan Marshes. A total of 20 exx on 4 dates in the Birecik area. Max. of 10 on Common Pochard Aythya farina 02-05: 8 exx at Sultan Marshes : 20 Goksu delta. Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca 04-05: 1 pair Birecik, gravel pits : 2 males Birecik, gravel pits : 3 males + 1 female Birecik, gravel pits : 1 male Goksu delta. ACCIPITRIDAE Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes 27-04: 1 male at Akseki. Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 02-05: 1 ex near Camardi : 1 ex near Karadut. European Honey-Buzzard Pernis apivorus 03-05: a migrating flock of 22 exx at Birecik. Black Kite Milvus migrans 30-04: 2 exx near Birecik : 2 ex near Birecik : 1 ex near Birecik 09-05: 3 exx near Yeniakpinar Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus 09-05: 1 adult near Yeniakpinar. Short-toed Eagle Circaetus Gallicus 02-05: 1 ex at Sultan Marshes : 1 ex near Halfeti : 1 ex near Yeniakpinar. Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus 27-04: 1 ex between Manavgat and Akseki. ~ 12 ~

13 Western Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus 02-05: 20+ at Sultan Marshes. Daily up to 4 at the gravel pits, Birecik. Daily up to 4 at Goksu delta : 4 exx at Tuzla area. Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus 09-05: 1 ex near Yeniakpinar. Pallid Harrier Circus pygargus 07-05: 2 migrating birds at Nemrut Dagi. Common Buzzard Buteo buteo ssp.vulpinus 28-04: 2 exx near Akseki : 3 exx on transit to Nemrut Dagi : 2 exx near Birecik. Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus 29-04: 3 exx in the Eregli area : 2 exx in the Eregli area : 3 exx in the general area of the Sultan Marshes : 1 ex Halfeti. Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 01-05: 1 adult ex above the gorge, Demirkazik : 1 adult Nemrut Dagi. Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis 07-05: 1 imm. ex Nemrut Dagi. Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga 07-05: 1 adult ex together with the previous species at Nemrut Dagi. Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina 03-05: 1 ex Wadi, Birecik : 1 subadult near Yeniakpinar. FALCONIDAE Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Recorded on 10 dates. Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni 30-04: 60+ at colony of the village of Adabak, near Eregli. PHASIANIDAE Caspian Snowcock Tetraogallus caspius 01-05: 5 exx seen in the early morning, Demirkazik. One pair gave great views in the scope and could be observed foraging and calling for as long as we wanted. Chukar Alectoris chukar 27-04: 1 near Akseki 30-04: Heard and 1 seen, Demirkazik : 6 seen in the Demirkazik area : 1 Birecik. See-see Partridge Ammoperdix griseogularis 04-05: 1 pair briefly seen in the main wadi, Birecik : a calling male gave great views in the main wadi, Birecik. Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus 03-05: Several calling and 1 male seen, southern gravel pits, Birecik : 2 seen in the same area. 09/10-05: heard and 1 seen Goksu delta. RALLIDAE Water Rail Rallus aquaticus 02-05: Heard Sultan Marshes. Little Crake Porzana parva A total of 4 exx seen on 3 dates, northern gravel pits, Birecik ~ 13 ~

14 Grey-headed Swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus 02-05: a single bird Sultan Marshes : a single bird gravel pits, Birecik. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 02-05: 3 exx Sultan Marshes. Up to 20 exx daily at Birecik. Common Coot Fulica atra 02-05: 50+ at Sultan Marshes. Daily up to 50, Birecik area : 50+ at Goksu delta. RECURVIROSTRIDAE Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 02-05: 40+ at Sultan Marshes : 10+ Goksu delta 10-05: 20+ Tuzla area. GLAREOLIDAE Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola 02-05: 10 exx at Sultan Marshes. Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni 10-05: a single bird was observed in the Tuzla area. CHARADRIIDAE Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrines 09-05: 10+ in the Goksu delta : 30+ in the Tuzla area. Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 09-05: 3 exx in the Goksu delta. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius 3 to 4 exx observed daily in the Birecik area. Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus 02-05: 3 exx Sultan Marshes. Spur-winged Plover Vanellus spinosus Daily 2 to 5 exx observed in the Birecik area : 10+ Goksu delta : 10+ Tuzla area. SCOLOPACIDAE Little Stint Calidris minuta 03/04-05: 10 exx southern gravel pits, Birecik : 4 exx. Birecik : 20 exx Goksu delta : 10 exx Tuzla area. Temminck s Stint Calidris temminckii 10-05: a single bird Tuzla area. (Wiel only) Ruff Philimachus pugnax 02-05: 50+ at Sultan Marshes Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 27-04: 1 ex near Manavgat : a single ex near Camardi : 4 exx Birecik area : 1 ex Birecik area. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 03-05: 3 exx gravel pits, Birecik. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 02-05: 5 exx at Sultan Marshes ~ 14 ~

15 A total of 24 exx on 4 dates gravel pits, Birecik : 10+ at Goksu delta : 6 exx Tuzla area. Common Redshank Tringa tetanus 02-05: 2 exx at Sultan Marshes. A total of 7 exx on 4 dates gravel pits, Birecik Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago 02-05: 2 exx at Sultan Marshes. LARIDAE Slender-billed Gull Larus genei 10-05: 1 ex at Tuzla area. Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 02-05: 10 exx at Sultan Marshes. Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis 28-04: 10 exx lake near Manavgat. Small numbers along Euphrates, Birecik : 7 exx at Goksu delta : 30+ at Tuzla area. Armenian Gull Larus armenicus 03-05: a few identified between previous species at Birecik. Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 28-04: 2 exx near Manavgat 03-05: 1 adult bird Birecik. STERNIDAE Little Tern Sterna albifrons 02-05: 1 ex at Sultan Marshes : 40+ at Tuzla area. Common Tern Sterna hirundo 02-05: 4 exx at Sultan Marshes : 4 exx at Goksu delta : 6 exx at Tuzla area. Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica 02-05: 10 exx at Sultan Marshes. White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus 02-05: 20+ at Sultan Marshes. Daily between exx in the Birecik area : 10 exx at the Goksu delta. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrid 02-05: 60+ at Sultan Marshes. COLUMBIDAE Rock Pigeon Columba livia Daily observed Birecik area. Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus 27/28-04: single birds Akseki area. Single birds recorded in the Birecik area : 5 exx near Karadut. European Turtle-Dove Streptopelia turtur 28-04: 2 exx near Akseki : heard near Karadut : a single bird Yeniakpinar and 09-05: 2 exx. Yeniakpinar : 5 exx Goksu delta. Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto Daily observed. ~ 15 ~

16 Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis Small numbers (1 to 5) seen on 7 dates exx near Adana. CUCULIDAE Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius 02-05: 1 bird flew across the road near Camardi. Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus 28-04: heard near Akseki. Daily heard Demirkazik area and 1 seen on : 1 ex. Birecik 08-05: 2 exx near Yeniakpinar : 1 ex near Yeniakpinar. STRIGIDAE Barn Owl Tyto alba 10-05: 1 ex seen poorly in flight near our hotel in Adana. Pallid Scops Owl Otus brucei A pair seen twice on 03 and in the teagarden, Birecik. European Scops Owl Otus scops Heard on 2 dates near Akseki. Nightly heard near Safak pension, Camardi. Daily/nightly heard at pension Karadut, Karadut. Brown Fish-Owl Ketupa zeylonensis 28-04: excellent views of an adult bird on a cliff, during the organised boat trip by Vigotours. Little Owl Athene noctua ssp : 1 ex near Akseki : 1 ex near Eregli : 1 ex near Sultan Marshes : 1 ex on transit to Nemrut Dagi : 1 ex near Yeniakpinar. Tawny Owl Strix aluco 28-04: heard at Akseki. APODIDAE Alpine Swift Apus melba 30-04: a flock of 10 at Demirkazik. Common Swift Apus apus Observed. Little Swift Apus affinis 08-05: a flock of 10 exx at cliff, Birecik. ALCEDINIDAE White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 10-05: 1 ex on wire while driving back to Adana from Tuzla. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Single birds on 3 dates in the Birecik area. MEROPIDAE Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus 05-05: 5 exx at Bee-eater colony at the small village of European Bee-eater Merops apiaster Commonly encountered throughout. Observed on 10 dates. ~ 16 ~

17 CORACIIDAE European Roller Coracias garrulous 28-04: 2 exx near our hotel at Manavgat : 3 exx between Manavgat and Akseki. Up to 10 exx daily in the Birecik area : 4 exx Nemrut Dagi area. 08/09-05: 3 exx Yeniakpinar. UPUPIDAE Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops Observed. PICIDAE Green Woodpecker Picus viridis Single birds seen on 2 dates, Akseki area. Also regularly heard. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor 02-05: 1 ex. just behind our guesthouse, Camardi. Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius 27-04: 2 exx Akseki area : heard in the same area : 1 ex Akseki area. White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos 27/28-04: heard in the Akseki area. Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus 28-04: a pair at the cemetery of Aydinkent, west of Akseki. 03/04-05: heard at the beginning of the wadi, Birecik. ALAUDIDAE Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra 29-04: 20+ Eregli : 4 exx Eregli : 3 exx at the edge of Sultan Marshes. 08/09-05: single birds just north of Yeniakpinar. Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata 30-05: 10+ at Demirkazik. Just above the village of Emli. Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla A total of 10 exx on 2 dates in the Eregli area. A total of 4 exx on 2 dates near Yeniakpinar. 09/10-05: 2 exx Goksu delta Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens ssp.niethamerii 29-04: 30+ at Eregli. Note: some authors consider the ssp. occurring on the central plateau of Turkey as subspecies of Asian Short-toed Lark Calandrella cheleensis Crested Lark Galerida cristata Daily recorded. Wood Lark Lullula arborea 29-04: 1 ex. observed near Akseki : Heard at Demirkazik : Heard at Nemrut Dagi. Horned (Shore) Lark Eremophila alpestris Up to 30 daily in the Demirkazik area : 5 exx top of Nemrut Dagi : 6 exx top of Nemrut Dagi. HIRUNDINIDAE Bank Swallow Riparia riparia 100+ daily gravel pits, Birecik. ~ 17 ~

18 10-05: 50+ Goksu delta. Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris 28-04: 4 exx during Fish Owl trip. A total of 9 exx on 3 dates in the Demirkazik area. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Daily recorded. Red-rumped Swallow ecropis daurica A total of 8 exx on 2 dates in the Akseki area. A total of 9 exx on 3 dates Nemrut Dagi area. House Martin Delichon urbicum 01-05: 1 ex Camardi. Up to 40 exx daily around the bridge over the Euphrat, Birecik : 2 exx Tasucu MOTACILLIDAE Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris 29-04: 1 ex Akseki area : 1 ex Eregli steppes : 2 exx near Yeniakpinar. Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis 27-04: a single observation near Akseki was the only one of the trip. Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus 02-05: 1 ex. calling Sultan Marshes. Black-headed Wagtail Motacilla felldegg 02-05: common at Sultan Marshes. Up to 10 exx daily gravel pits, Birecik. 09/10-05: up to 20 exx at Goksu delta. Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola 02-05: 1 adult at Sultan Marshes. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 02-05: 1 ex along river, Camardi. White Wagtail Motacilla alba 27-04: 2 exx. Omapynar, Manavgat : 1 ex Akseki : 1 ex. Camardi : 2 exx Birecik : 1 ex. Yeniakpinar PYCNONOTIDAE White-spectacled Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos Up to 6 exx daily in the bushes and gardens of Birecik : 10 exx around Tasucu and Goksu delta. CINCLIDAE White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus 02-05: 1 ex along river, Camardi TROGLODYTIDAE Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes PRUNELLIDAE Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris 01-05: 4 exx at snowcock observation site, Demirkazik. Radde s Accentor Prunella ocularis 01-05: 4 exx ( 2 pairs) at snowcock observation site, Demirkazik. ~ 18 ~

19 TURDIDAE Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas galactotes 03-05: 1 ex Birecik, bushes, southern side of Birecik. 03/08-05: exx in the same area. A total of 8 exx on 2 dates around Karadut, Nemrut Dagi area. Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos heard at village of? heard at Camardi. White-throated Robin Irania gutturalis 30-04/01-05: Single birds seen Demirkazik area. A total of 29 on 3 dates in the Nemrut Dagi area, mainly around Karadut and Cesme pension. Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus A total of 6 exx on 3 dates in the Akseki area : 3 exx around Camardi : 2 exx around pension Cesme, Nemrut Dagi area. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros A total of 9 exx on 2 dates in the Demirkazik area. Whinchat Saxicola rubetra 27-04: 1 ex near Akseki : 2 exx Eregli area. Common Stonechat Saxiocola rubicola Single birds on 2 dates around mountain hotel, Demirkazik. Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe A total of 12 on 2 dates in the Demirkazik area. A total of 18 on 3 dates in the Nemrut Dagi area. Finsch s Wheatear Oenanthe finschii 01-05: 2 exx Demirkazik : 3 exx Halfeti. A total of 14 exx on 2 dates in the Nemrut Dagi area. Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka 10-05: 1 ex at Tuzla. Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica A total of 5 exx on 3 dates in the Akseki area. A total of 13 on 2 dates in the Nemrut Dagi area. Kurdistan (Red-tailed Wheatear) Oenanthe xanthoprymna A total of 15 exx on 3 dates in the Nemrut DFagi area. Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina Common around Eregli : 30+ at the edge of the Sultan Marshes. 08/09-05: 4 exx near Yeniakpinar : 1 ex near Tuzla. Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush Monticola saxatilis 01-05: 1 pair at observation site of the snowcocks, Demirkazik. A total of 8 exx on 3 dates at Nemrut Dagi. Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitaries 28-04: 2 exx during the Fish Owl boat trip : 1 ex at Demirkazik : 1 ex at Halfeti. Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus 01-05: 1 ex at Demirkazik. Common Blackbird Turdus merula Observed Akseki area and around Camardi : 1 ex at Karadut : 2 exx Tasucu. Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 29-04: heard Akseki. ~ 19 ~

20 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Very common in the Akseki area. SYLVIIDAE Cetti s Warbler Cettia cetti 27/28-04: seen and heard around our hotel, Manavgat : heard at the river, Camardi. Daily heard around Birecik. Daily heard Nemrut Dagi area. Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis Commonly recorded gravel pits, Birecik. Total of 10 exx on 2 days, Goksu delta. Savi s Warbler Locustella luscinioides 03-05: 1 ex. gravel pits, Birecik. (Wiel only) Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon 02-05: 2 exx at Sultan Marshes : 5 heard and 2 seen, northern gravel pits, Birecik : heard and at least 2 seen, northern gravel pits, Birecik. Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus 02-05: 1 ex seen and heard at Sultan Marshes. Caspian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus fuscus Common in marshy areas, Birecik. Also recorded Goksu delta. Great Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus 02-05: common Sultan Marshes. Common in marshy areas, Birecik. Common Goksu delta. Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Iduna pallida Daily recorded around Birecik. Daily recorded Nemrut Dagi area : 1 ex near Tasucu. Upcher s Warbler Hippolais languida 04-05: 1 ex singing at the beginning of the wadi, Birecik 06-05: 2 exx around pension Cesme, Nemrut Dagi area. Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum 27-04: 1 ex near Akseki : 2 singing exx around Karadut, Nemrut Dagi area. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis 03-05: surprisingly only briefly heard on this date. Eastern Orphean Warbler Sylvia crassirostris 06-05: 4 exx around pension Cesme, Nemrut Dagi area. Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis 01/02-05: 1 ex around our pension, Camardi : heard near Karadut, Nemrut Dagi area : 1 ex near Tasucu, Goksu delta. Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca Up to 10 exx daily in the Demirkazik area. Very distinctive song, compared to the simple rattle mostly made by our birds in the Netherlands. Ménétries s Warbler Sylvia mystacea ssp.rubescens A total of 26 exx on 4 dates in the Birecik area. Easily seen as the birds were extremely vocal during our visit. Some great views. Rüppell s Warbler Sylvia rueppelli 27-04: Good views of at least 2 different males in the Akseki area. More exx were heard : Heard in the Akseki area. ~ 20 ~

21 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 27-04: 1 ex by our hotel, Manavgat. 28/29-04: 2 exx in the Akseki area : 1 ex Camardi. Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus 06-05: 2 exx heard and seen near pension Cesme, Nemrut Dagi area. Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita 01-05: 1 ex Camardi 02-05: 3 exx Camardi : 1 ex in some trees in the village near Sultan Marshes : 1 ex Goksu delta. Eastern Bonelli s Warbler Phylloscopus orientalis 27-04: heard and 2 seen Akseki area : heard Akseki area : 1 ex seen Akseki. Goldcrest Regulus regulus 29-04: 3 exx Akseki area. MUSCICAPIDAE Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata A total of 3 exx on 2 dates near pension Cesme, Nemrut Dagi. TIMALIIDAE Iraq Babbler Turdoides altirostris 03-05: 3 exx northern gravel pits, Birecik : 8 exx northern gravel pits, Birecik. AEGITHALIDAE Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus ssp.tephronotus 06-05: a flock of 6/7 exx near Karadut, Nemrut Dagi area. PARIDAE Sombre Tit Poecile lugubris A total of 11 exx on 3 dates in the Akseki area. Coal Tit Periparus ater 28-04: heard Akseki : 1 ex Akseki area : 2 exx Demirkazik area, valley behind Emli village. Great Tit Parus major Recorded on 9 dates. Only a few (max.3) daily. Blue Tit Parus caeruleus 02-05: 1 ex.camardi. SITTIDAE Krüper s Nuthatch Sitta krueperi Easily seen around Akseki. A total of 14 on 3 dates in the Akseki area. Western Rock Nuthatch Sitta neumayer 28-04: heard during the Fish Owl boat trip : 2 exx. Dedmirkazik area. (Gorge) 06-05: 2 exx. Nemrut Dagi area. Eastern Rock Nuthatch Sitta tephronota 04-05: 4 exx. Halfeti : 1 ex near Karadut, Nemrut Dagi area. ~ 21 ~