Just back from Istanbul.
We were staying in Sultanahmet and I spent quite a lot of time with beer in one hand and binos in the other. all records below are bins only as I didn't take the scope - you need to do this if the Raptor spotting is high on the agenda (when I was there you couldn't get beyond aquila sp).
Good passage of lots of birds overhead in Sultanahmet but no raptors bar the local Peregrines and the odd Hobby. I guess there were loads up the Bosphorus on the narrow points but they weren't coming south of the Golden Horn.
Daily totals from the terrace (at Empress Zoe)
1-5 Storks
20+ Bee eater
50+ Yellow Wagtails
10-100+ Swallows
Single records
Common Rosefinch (good record I think?)
Serin
Ortolan Bunting
Crossbill
Purple Heron
Hoopoe
Local stuff
Parakeets
Alpine Swift
Laughing Dove
Ring Necked Parakeet
Sparrows and normal Tits
Other goodies
Topkapi Palace (trees in first courtyard best) and “Gülhane Park” see map
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl...8643187656295.000490ca7971c9c43985d&t=h&z=17l
30+ Red Breasted Flycatcher after overnight rain on one day, 5-10 most days
Spotted Flycatcher
Olivaceous Warbler 1-2 in Gulhane, 1 in Empress Zoe garden terrace
1 x Green Warbler and another possible Green Warbler (is this species exceptional in Turkey? I am certain of one of this species)
Blackcap
Red Backed Shrike
Syrian Woodpecker quite easy in Gulhane
Alexandrines Parakeet in the next boxes - very vocal
Further up the Bopshorus (Asian side)
Levant Sparrowhawks - hundreds!
2-3 Lesser Kestrel
15 Honey Buzzard
20+ Short Toed Eagle
Other larger Eagles, Aquila 20+
Many Yerlkouan Shearwaters including some views from a boat on the Bosphorus down to 20 yards. Interesting birds in moult that I was pleased to photograph and get to grips with.
Other stuff
Hummingbird Hawkmoth species
Other butterflies and lizards to be id'ed
Will be posting some shots soon. All in all pretty decent for casual birding in a big citywhilst with the family :t: