Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 26 Apr 15
Cirl Bunting at Babadag on 20 Apr
Continuing in Turkey, on Monday I visited the area around my friends house in Ovacik, near the tourist resort of Hisarinou. I heard and then found a pair of Syrian Woodpeckers although, skittish, I was unable to photograph them but a male Cirl Bunting sang and posed for the camera. A Masked Shrike was singing and the most common bird remained the Jay. In the afternoon, I drove to Dalyan and visited the Kaunos rock tombs and ruins. Once more Western Rock Nuthatches were very evident and a pair of White Storks were overhead. As we walked the ruins and the lake side, at least 100 Little Egrets were present and overhead a Short-toed Eagle and Common Buzzard performed well. In the same area Eastern Black-eared Wheatears were common and a few Woodchat Shrikes were seen. A pair of Purple Herons chased each other over the marsh before landing and the only Cormorant of the trip was seen along the Koyciez River before we did a bit of shopping. Stopping at Chalis Beach, Fetihye, was not very impressive but a pair of Gull-billed Terns were present and a Great Reed Warbler was heard.
On the 21st, I retuned to Babadag and the meadow I’d visited on Sunday. Most of the Serins had moved on along with the Red-fronts. However, a few good birds were seen with a male Finsch’s Wheatear and the Whinchat still being present. Eastern Black-eared Wheatears were once again common as were Cretzschmar’s Buntings. A male Ruppel’s Warbler was singing as was a Cirl Bunting and a couple of Mistle Thrushes flushed. A pair of Masked Shrikes were present and I eventually saw a Treecreeper. Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers were very vocal and a Coal Tit appeared briefly. In the Fetihe Fish Market for lunch the last bird of the day was a Grey Wagtail in the canal that runs through the town.
On Wednesday, I headed for the Korkoutelli Hills area as mentioned in the Gosney guide. Many of the roads had expanded which changed the environment and possibilities for stopping easily but we pushed on. At Seki the usual farmland birds were present, Crested Larks, Corn Buntings and Starlings. A couple of Feldegg Yellow Wagtails were on the wires and a Calandra Lark flew across the road. Spanish Sparrows were seen and Finsch’s, Northern and the ubiquitous Eastern Black-eared Wheatears were well represented. Stopping for a comfort break a male Eastern Orphean Warbler sang and showed nearby. At the Essenkoy junction a Rock Sparrow and several Linnets were seen and at the Cavdir drinking trough, the habitat and layby had changed dramatically from what I remembered and seemed less appealing to the birds. A highlight here however was an adult Golden Eagle drifting above the hillside, a Hobby and an Eastern Subalpine Warbler. Calandra Larks were common on the farmlands towards Sogut and a European Roller was seen perched on roadside wires. Long-legged Buzzards were along the road to Korkoutelli as were Woodchat Shrikes and Calandra Larks. In the Korkoutelli area Eastern Black-eared Wheatears were once again common and a few Western Rock Nuthatches were seen. With the search for the target bird proving difficult (early in the season) we went for a mixed kebab in the town. Luckily, I met a group of visiting birders and asked if they’d had any luck with a White-throated Robin, fortunately they spoke English and said they’d seen one on the opposite side of the road to where I was looking. I made for the area about 4Km east of Korkoutelli on the road to Emali. I watched any area of rocky scrub noting Cretzchmar’s Buntings, Eastern Orphean Warblers and a pair of Black-eared Wheatears. The male then chased a bird which once it settled back down was a crack male White-throated Robin, which fed underneath me in the open for about 5 minutes. I went for the camera but it had retreated. Probably and early arriving male, I was lucky to see it as it wasn’t singing. When I visited the area in May 07, the species was probably the most common and obvious in the area. At Seki lake on the way home, a Little Ringed Plover and Great Crested Grebe were present with 4 Grey Herons flying above me.
The 23rd of April – St George’s Day and our 27th Wedding Anniversary and yes, you do get less for murder. Firstly as Saklikent Gorge – well worth a visit, several Crag Martins were above us and I also saw a Beautiful Damselfly and a Green-eyed Hawker. A Grey Wagtail was also in the gorge. After this we visited a few Lycian sites with our friends stopping for lunch at Tlos which is an impressive set of ruins complete with large amphitheatre. Here nothing new with Cretzschmar’s Buntings and Eastern Black-eared Wheatears being the order of the day. A Short-toed Eagle was above the hills and several butterflies were seen with the highlight being a Chapman’s Blue.
On Friday, we were on our own so we drove to the other Lycian sites at Letoon, Xanthos and Petara. All very interesting and impressive places which are worth a visit but Petara probably being the pick of the bunch. At Letoon, finally some waders a Wood Sandpiper and a Common Snipe were near to the Terripin and Tortoise pools and 6 European Beeaters flew through calling as they went. At Xanthos more Eastern Black-eared Wheatears, a Whinchat, Masked Shrike, Sand Martins and a fly through Hobby. Woodchat Shrikes were the order of the day at Petara although I did see a Squacco Heron and a Black-winged Stilt. A Calandra Lark and White Stork were seen as we travelled back to Fetihye and in the evening I visited the woods at Hisarinou seeing another Kruper’s Nuthatch and a couple of Long-tailed Tits.
The following day, I had asked Clive if he knew of any coastal marshes. He said he had “Hashed” around one – On On! So he took me there. Just west of Fetihye on the D400 towards Dalaman is a sign for Yaniklar. On the way Alpine Swifts were numerous over the Chalis Beach area. Take the exit and head under the road. On the left as you rise over the hill there are some seasonal pools and these were excellent for a short impromptu look which yielded a few good species. At least 4 Little Bitterns were here with a Little Egret, Squacco Heron and Black-crowned Night Heron. A female Little Crake appeared briefly and at least 4 Wood Sandpipers were obvious with a Little Ringed Plover. We proceeded to the coastal marsh which had good numbers of Little Egrets on it. As we walked around a female Marsh Harrier quartered the marsh and a few Long-tailed Tits were in the trees. I noticed some perched birds and I couldn’t believe it when I saw 12 Pygmy Cormorants perched on snags in the water. Not an easy bird in Turkey but it does appear to be increasing in coastal wetlands in the west. A couple of Greenshanks called as they went with some Wood Sandpipers and a Purple Heron rose from the reeds. As we walked I heard but couldn’t locate a reeling Savi’s Warbler and on the way back to the car, I was bitten by a F---ING dog. A scrawny little shit of a thing, smaller than a poodle sidled up growling and then just bit me! Drawing blood, and biting through my trousers, I wasn’t happy and the stupid Cloggy owner didn’t even look apologetic which incensed me and she was lucky I didn’t drive back in the car and run her and her little shit of a dog over. The only thing that stopped me was the very large dog that was with them which would probably have taken my leg off. NOT BLOODY HAPPY!!!! My friend then took me to the vets? for some iodine and antiseptic cream. Anyway, a burger and a great coffee later, I had recovered my composure. Deb and Carol just laughed when they were informed, which once more caused what I think is referred to in Officer Circles as “visible irritation”.
On the 26th we flew back to Istanbul from Dalaman at 0755 arriving in the city at about 1130. Alpine Swifts were above the hotel and obviously breeding in the area as were Laughing Doves. A few Shags were seen flying along the Sea of Marmara with numerous Yellow-legged Gulls. A walk in Gulhane Park in the afternoon saw the Tulips in bloom which was impressive and in the park Ring-necked and Alexandrine Parakeets were obvious. As I sea watched from the hotel window at least 4 Bottlenose Dolphins in a small pod were seen crossing the bay. The end of a fantastic week. Thanks to Clive and Carol for putting up with us and sharing our Wedding Anniversary celebrations.
Highlights of the Week: A White-throated Robin is always a special bird but the Pygmy Cormorants were also and unexpected addition to the Turkish List – “It’s All About The List”
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
Follow us:
