Managed to get a few weeks local birding in April around the Mugla area of SW Turkey. Most was garden and Yesiluzumlu area birding but with a few trips to known hotspots for individual species. Was lucky enough to test my local knowledge skills as Jeff, my friend from England came over for a weeks birding where we were hoping to bag four or Five lifers for him and maybe a few for myself.
In the flatlands of Yesiluzumlu numerous Elm trees were in full bloom and laden with seed. For around a week I was treated to fantastic numbers of Hawfinch feeding in these trees. On one walk I counted at least 12 in one tree. Unfortunately by the time Jeff arrived at the end of April they had move through and couldnt get it on his year list.
Sparrowhawk over the garden
Stand off between Jay and Sparrowhawk in the garden that last for well over half an hour. The jay was uptight and agitated while the Sparrowhawk was pretty chilled out for the duration.
Hoopoe from the orchard close to the garden
Its always a treat to bird the Seki and Gocu Beli pass area. Around ninety minutes drive and rising from sea level to 2000m its a good location for a number of specialties. The targets here are Wallcreeper, White-throated Robin, Black Headed Bunting, Red fronted Serin, Rock Thrush, but the area holds loads of other great species such as Woodlark, Wryneck, Long-legged Buzzard, Sombe Tit amongst many others. I visited twice during April, on the second occasion Jeff made his first visit and was hoping for a few lifers. We managed three. Firstly a Marsh Warbler at the Roman Bridge area. With some stunning views af a pair of Penduline Tits and Cettis Warbler.
Marsh Warbler
Penduline Tit
Cettis Warbler
Long-legged Buzzard
The Seki area can turn up anything but White-throated Robin is the star species here. Not guaranteed but fairly reliable. On both of my visits I saw three individual males but no females which I presume hadn't arrived yet. Other species seen here were headlined by two singing Male Ruppells Warbler
White Throated Robin
Ruppells Warbler
Further up the mountain road is the summit of Gocu Beli. Here the star species is
Red-fronted Serin. Again both visits gave me great numbers and another lifer for Jeff.
Red fronted Serin
Linnet at the famous water trough near the Gocu Beli summit
Goldfinch at the trough
Red fronted Serin and European Serin
Northern Wheatear with food as it was feeding chicks in the wall of the water trough
Wryneck, one of a few seen on both visits
A trip out to Koycegiz lake to meet a fellow brit Paul is good to get a few wader species on the year list. Again I made a couple of visits here and on my first visit Yellow Wagtails were in massive numbers, I counted over twenty on a path right in front of me with more flying either in or out of the area. On the second visit a few weeks later we only managed a single bird. That time of year where species are moving through quickly.
Squacco Heron and Little Egret
Yellow Wagtail
The last birding site we visited was Patara Ruins.
White spectacled Bulbul was a target here which was fairly easy as was the pair of
Finches Wheatear. We were unable to locate a
White-throated Kingfisher but right at the death we got a final lifer for Jeff with a few
Black-headed Bunting.
Black-headed Bunting
White spectacled Bulbul
Ortolan Bunting were in good numbers early April but were harder to find by the end of the month, this one was seen at Patara ruins
Just a couple of other images that are ok are Hoopoe and Bee-eater, both species being seen regularly throughout my stay.
Purple Herons were seen well at most wetland spots, this was one of six at Zircon Beach wetlands
Common Kingfisher also at Zircon beach
Woodchat Shrike were here, there and everywhere
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