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.
Finches and Buntings
Snow Finch Montifringilla nivalis - About 4 at Nemrut Dağı (either at the peak above the heads or around the car park) and at least 20 at Demirkazık.
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs - Seen in a few places, mainly wooded upland sites.
Serin Serinus serinus - One heard at Manavgat, up to 8 between Pozanti and Ҫamardi and at least a dozen at Akseki.
Red-fronted Serin Serinus pusillus - At least 3 in the Demirkazık area including a pair at Pınarbaşı
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Red-fronted Serins, Pınarbaşı, 16th-17th May |
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Greenfinch Chloris chloris (Carduelis chloris) - Only seen on 3 occasions all during the first week.
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis - Common throughout: a few seen nearly every day.
Goldfinch, Manavgat, 8th May |
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Linnet Carduelis cannabina - Small numbers at a few places.
Linnet, Demirkazık, 17th May |
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Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta - At least 6 (possibly 10+) in the Birecik area; they were seen best at the gravel pits to the north of the town but were frequently seen or heard flying over the high ground above the Ibis wadi the other side of the river.
Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguineus - Pairs seen on 3 occasions in slightly different places at Demirkazık - possibly all the same pair but more likely 2 pairs involved.
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Crimson-winged Finches, Demirkazık, 17th May |
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Rock Bunting Emberiza cia - One of my favourite birds: about 3 at Demirkazık.
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Rock Buntings, Demirkazık, 17th May |
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Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana - 2-3 at Demirkazık and singles singing in the Ihlara and Monastery Valleys in Cappadocia.
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Ortolan Bunting, Demirkazık, 18th May |
Ortolan Bunting, Monastery Valley, 19th May |
Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia - 10+ between Silifke and Uzuncaburç and then at least 2 at Durnalık.
Cretzschmar's Bunting, between Silifke and Dermicili, 10th May |
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Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cineracea - 3-4 at Durnalık but much more plentiful at Nemrut Dağı where about 8 seen each day (probably not all the same birds) without any effort. The race semenowi occurs here, much yellower than birds in western Turkey.
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Cinereous Buntings, Nemrut Dağı, 14th-15th May
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Cinereous Buntings, Durnalık, 11th & 13th May |
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Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala - Although present in the Göksu Delta they became much commoner after we'd left there with around 90 noted altogether. Durnalık was a particularly good site for them but this was a species that you were as likely to see beside the road when travelling as when out birding.
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Black-headed Bunting, Nemrut Dağı, 15th May |
Black-headed Bunting, Göksu Delta, 10th May
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Black-headed Buntings, Birecik, 12th May
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Black-headed Bunting, Durnalık, 11th May |
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Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra (Miliaria calandra) - Only 8 seen, mostly while travelling.
Next page: Non-avian wildlife (except butterflies & moths)
