Went "home" as in to our "Turkey escape" for a good chunk of the summer, two months. I forget how hot it actually gets in July and August.... ignore the weather apps, ignore average temperature charts. For well over a week the temperatures hit 42c-44c, it was brutal and to be honest apart from topping up the tan by the pool it was too hot to get out and do much walking and birdwatching.
For the first time ever I resisted giving the hire car firm my business and I used the local Bus service or cadged a lift now and again if I had anything large or heavy to carry.
Morning walks only, often 7am to 9am was enough.... it easily hit 38c at 9am!! carrying water, roaming dog prevention stick, binoculars and the bits and bobs that the wife needed me to carry meant that I didn't take the camera out too often.
Of course the height of summer slows the bird life down significantly and only the brave resident species showed in any sort of good numbers. Eurasian Jay, Syrian Woodpecker, Hooded Crow, Collared Dove, Laughing Dove.... and zillions of House Sparrows are the dominate species. The migrant species that showed well and daily were the beautiful Red-Rumped Swallows that hawked over the garden area for the whole two months supported by the Barn Swallow and House Martin. For a few days we had 40-50 Alpine Swifts.
Lesser Whitethroat became the default species as we got to the back end of August, virtually every bush or tree had multiples in them. From my balcony I could almost reach and touch them some evenings. Middle Spotted Woodpecker and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker were almost constant throughout the stay, the Middle Spotted at one point having 4 individuals in the same tree, along with a single Syrian and Lesser spotted, Fantastic.
One species that took me a little by surprise was the Eastern Black-eared Wheatear that were in very good numbers around the village and areas along my walks. I even had one individual that flew onto my roof while I was poolside. I took advantage of the good numbers and managed enough snaps to make the post worthwhile posting.
Other species that were around and about locally were Raven (including one day when 14 seen together flying noisily over the garden), Eastern Olivaecous Warbler, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Hoopoe, Green Woodpecker, Crested Lark, Woodchat Shrike, Turtle Dove, Masked Shrike, Spotted Flycatcher and Red-backed Shrike both of which numbers increased dramatically later in August and for the last week of the stay a large flock of 50+ European Bee-eaters roamed around. A single Lesser Grey Shrike in the garden was a garden first while two lifers were seen, a European Honey Buzzard over the garden and a Collared Flycatcher just outside the village.
Singles of the following were seen Golden Oriole, Red breasted Flycatcher, Short-toed Eagle, Eastern Oprhean Warbler, Rough-legged Buzzard, Corn Bunting, Rock Sparrow, Sombre Tit, Cirl Bunting, Whinchat, Common Nightingale and Kruipers Nuthatch.
the very variable Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
