This is the second section of the trip report and contains details and photos of the birds and wildlife seen. This section spans several pages: a link to the next page appears at the bottom of this one, or go to the report index.
For details of the itinerary and photos of scenery and historic sites, go to the first section.
Robins, Chats and Thrushes
Rufous Bushchat (Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin) Cerotrichas galactotes syriaca - A bird I was really hoping to see even though they're not so much a Turkey speciality, so I was pleased to find them quite common, although we didn't see any after we left Nemrut Dağı. Over 20 seen in total including at least 8 at Durnalık.
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Rufous Bushchat, Durnalık, 13th May |
Rufous Bushchat, north of Birecik, 12th May |
Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos - Common in the lush valleys in the north of the area visited: south from Ҫamardi, the Ihlara Valley and Monastery Valley.
Nightingale, near Ҫamardi, 13th May |
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White-throated Robin Irania gutteralis - Delightfully common both around Durnalık and between Karadut and Nemrut Dağı. The splendid males proved very easy to see although the females were much more shy. A total of 32 bird/days though this may have included some duplication with the same birds seen on different days.
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White-throated Robins, Durnalık, 11th & 13th May |
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Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros - A total of 14: a singing male at Demirkazık and the remainder all in Cappadocia. They belonged to the race ochruros, the males showing a diffuse orange lower belly - on some this was barely discernible whereas on others it was very obvious.
Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus - A pair at Akseki. The race samamisicus, "Ehrenberg's Redstart", is supposed to inhabit the mountains in central Turkey so I'd have expected them to belong to this form, however the extent of white in the wing was much less than this form should show. Not sure if they could be first-summer though?
Redstart, Akseki, 22nd May |
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Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina - Although none recorded until after we'd left Birecik they then became very common with getting on for 100 seen.
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Isabelline Wheatears, Demirkazık and Pınarbaşı, 17th May |
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(Northern) Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe - Common at Nemrut Dağı and around Demirkazık but elsewhere one between Beyşehir and Akseki was the only record.
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Wheatears, Demirkazık and Pınarbaşı, 17th May |
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Finsch's Wheatear Oenanthe finschii - I expected this to be a fairly easy species to see but it actually proved much harder for me. In the end I managed to find 3 at Demirkazık, but these were not seen well, and then a singing male nearby at Pınarbaşı that finally provided satisfactory views.
Finsch's Wheatear, Pınarbaşı, 18th May |
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Eastern Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe (hispanica) melanoleuca - At least 27 at 4 well-spread sites.
Kurdish (Red-tailled) Wheatear Oenanthe (xanthoprymna) xanthoprymna - Very easily found at Nemrut Dağı where several pairs seen between the entry gate (where one pair was breeding) and the very top (where a male appeared to be paired to a Black-eared Wheatear). Also seen a little further down the hill at Karadut.
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Kurdish Wheatears, Nemrut Dağı, 14th May |
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Rock Thrush (Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush) Monticola saxatilis - 2-3 at Nemrut Dağı, 3 at Demirkazık and 1 at Göreme. A delight to see a couple of these in full display, although it would have been nice if they could have posed for the camera a bit better!
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Rock Thrush, Demirkazık, 17th May |
Rock Thrush, Göreme, 20th May |
Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius - One at the bottom of the road leading up to Karadut and Nemrut Dağı and 1-2 males in the Ihlara Valley.
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Blue Rock Thrush, near Karadut, 15th May |
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Blackbird Turdus merula - Fairly common in some areas.
Blackbird, Durnalık, 13th May |
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Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus - Seen bewteen Dermicili and Uzuncaburç and at Akseki.
Next page: Warblers and Flycatchers
