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.
Warblers, Flycatchers and Babblers
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti - 1-2 heard at several sites but much only numerous in the Ihlara Valley where about 10 seen or heard.
Graceful Warbler (Graceful Prinia) Prinia gracilis - Pretty common and easy to find in the Göksu Delta; also numerous around the gravel pits on the north side of Birecik.
|
|
|
Graceful Warblers, Birecik, 13th May |
|
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus - Very common at Göksu Delta; much smaller numbers at Birecik. I'm sure I read somewhere that the Reed Warblers here were meant to be Caspian Reed Warblers, race (or species?) fuscus, however they looked pretty much like our birds to me. Not sure if my information was right though, other sources suggest that fuscus's range starts a little further east than this.
|
|
|
Reed Warblers, Göksu Delta, 10th May |
|
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus - About a dozen singing, some of them showing, mostly at Göksu Delta but also at Birecik.
|
|
|
Great Reed Warbler, Birecik, 13th May |
|
Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum - 2-3 males were singing between Dermicili and Uzuncaburç. Believing this species to be one of the most elusive of all the warblers I was surprised when one of them landed in full view in the dead lower branches of pine trees. It didn't stay in view for very long but it repeated this behaviour and a little distance away what was presumably a different bird behaved in the same way.
Olive-tree Warbler, between Dermicili and Uzuncaburç, 10th May |
|
Upcher's Warbler Hippolais languida - At least 2 were at Durnalık, though others were suspected but not confirmed. The only other one positively identified was at Nemrut Dağı.
|
|
|
Upcher's Warbler, Nemrut Dağı, 15th May |
|
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida - Common and widespread with about 50 seen at a variety of locations. The Ihlara Valley held an especially dense population.
Ménétries’s Warbler Sylvia mystacea - Only seen at the gravel pits on the north side of Birecik but here they were very easy to find with a dozen or so birds seen.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Ménétries’s Warblers, Birecik, 12th May |
|
Rüppell’s Warbler Sylvia rueppelli - A singing male at the top of a tall pine was a nice distraction from looking for the Olive-tree Warblers between Dermicili and Uzuncaburç.
Rüppell’s Warbler, between Dermicili and Uzuncaburç, 10th May |
|
Eastern Orphean Warbler Sylvia crassirostris - A singing male between Dermicili and Uzuncaburç (nearer Uzuncaburç) was my first, but this was followed by up to 4 at Durnalık and a similar number in the area round Nemrut Dağı.
|
|
|
Eastern Orphean Warbler, between Dermicili and Uzuncaburç, 10th May |
|
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca - Small numbers at many locations but many more (about 30) at Durnalık. The song differed significantly from European birds - typically full song consisted only of the warble that is heard much less consistently in the UK whereas the rattle that is so distinctive at home was given only occasionally in Turkey.
|
|
|
Lesser Whitethroat, Demirkazık, 17th May |
Lesser Whitethroat, Durnalık, 11th May |
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin - 2 at Durnalık.
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla - One at Göksu Delta.
Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix - One at the cemetery at Dermicili was, as always, a stunning beauty. This species only occurs in Turkey as a passage migrant.
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus - A fairly dull individual with a grey-streaked breast was at Durnalık. Willow Warblers do not breed in Turkey so this was presumably a spring migrant.
|
|
|
Willow Warbler, Durnalık, 11th May |
|
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata - A total of 6, all within about 20 miles of the Göksu Delta.
Spotted Flycatcher, Göksu Delta, 9th May |
|
Iraq Babbler Turdoides altirostris - About 4 birds at the gravel pits on the north side of Birecik.
|
|
|
Iraq Babbler, Birecik, 13th May |
|
Next page: Tits to Bulbuls
