wolfbirder
Well-known member
BACKGROUND
This report highlights what can be seen on a family holiday, based at the coastal resort of LARA BEACH, close to Antalya. Lara Beach comprises a line of purpose-built 4-5 star hotels, which would constitute some people's idea of hell. Unfortunately not my wife's! We always take our summer holiday around April/May as temperatures are more bareable. This co-incides with spring migration though. I always manage to squeeze in car hire for a few days birding, so this report shows what can be seen on day trips from the hotel base.
The weather was mainly sunny, though occasionally overcast, with one day of particularly strong winds. The temperature varied from 65-80F approximately, or 19-25C. We did have some overnight rain.
LITERATURE
Books obviously include Gosney's inevitably partly outdated guides "Finding Birds In Turkey - Ankara to Birecik" (pages 30-32 for Akseki), and "Finding Birds in Western Turkey" (pages 18-22 for Korkutelli Hills, Tasagil & Managat (for Side)). I also found googled Bird reports invaluable on Birdtours.co.uk for areas like Seki and Gogubeli Pass, and information on Birdforum invaluable regards the Oymapinar Baraj.
Maps were critical, and as with the Gosney Guides, Antalya seems to be the dividing point, neccessitating acquisition of two maps if you want to cover all the areas. Freytag & Berndt maps are good, and available on their own site www.freytagberndt.com or from places like Amazon. The two I got were for "Turkish Riviera - Antalya-Side-Alanya", and "Turkish Riviera - Antalya-Kemer-Fethiye". The two maps cover either side of Antalya respectively.
DRIVING
I pre-booked a car (Hyundai) via Economy Car Hire for 4 days for £54, they have no excess charge and I have always found them to be very good - reliable and good value for money. The car was supplied by local company Life Car Hire, and I also paid £40 for a further 2 days hire later in the holiday.
I make the following points about driving in Turkey, as it is known to be perilous:-
* Always carry your car hire contract and driving licence (but do not leave them in the car).
* Go with the flow.
* Beware that "flashing" green traffic lights appears to mean that you go ONLY if it is safe to do so - such as when you are at central reservations of dual carriageways. Flashing red also seems to mean that you should give way to other traffic, rather than stopping full stop.
* ALWAYS check other traffic anyway at lights, as many Turks ignore them anyway. There are many late red light 'jumpers'.
* Avoid signs saying "Merkesi Sehir" in any towns unless you actually do want city centre.
* There are few police to be seen (just one traffic speed trap), but there is apparently radar controlled zones.
* Sleeping policemen are not painted, so keep your eyes open for unseen ramps. On country roads, deep ruts or holes are sometimes simply marked by a small boulder in the road.
* Signage is not always good, so study maps in advance, main centres for the direction you are going in will help you get to your destination. Some villages are not even signposted at all in the mountains.
* Petrol is expensive - about same as UK. I spent about £90 over my trips. You have to pay the attendant first, if tank is full he gives you back unused money. There are plenty of petrol stations on the main highways, but make sure you have a full tank before you venture out into mountainous areas.
That apart, its straightforward -
I was worried about wild dogs in Turkey, especially the notorious goat herders dogs that can be extremely defensive and aggressive, so be wary of birding out of the car near them. Threatening to throw rocks at any advancing dogs would seem to be the most favoured approach, but I did not encounter any threatening dogs, just dogs!
Much of rural Turkey is extremely poor and self-contained, people live off the land so in more remote or mountainous areas you will come across goats, cattle, donkeys, horses, & notably goat herders or shepherds hand-signalling for lifts back to villages. Also, if you stop in the mountains, the tranquility and peace may be broken by goat herders and their wives screaming communication across valleys to each other, it's all part of the experience that is Turkey.
My photos are often of scenery and I apologise for the lack of quality bird photos. I still hope they help future visitors.
Onto THE BIRDING.
I now split my report into 5 sections, all 'doable' on day trips, though depending on where you are based, you may want to repeat visit to maximise birding. All are east of Antalya except number 3 which lies west of the city.
1) ANTALYA - LARA BEACH / PERGE ANCIENT SITE
2) AKSEKI
3) KORKUTELLI HILLS / ELMALI / GOGU BELI PASS / SEKI / TERMESSOS
4) KROPULU CANYON / KARABUCAK CANYON (KOYU)
5) MANAVGAT AREA - OYMAPINAR BARAJ / YAYLAALAN (ROAD TO IBRADI) / SIDE ANCIENT SITE / TITREYEN GOLU
This report highlights what can be seen on a family holiday, based at the coastal resort of LARA BEACH, close to Antalya. Lara Beach comprises a line of purpose-built 4-5 star hotels, which would constitute some people's idea of hell. Unfortunately not my wife's! We always take our summer holiday around April/May as temperatures are more bareable. This co-incides with spring migration though. I always manage to squeeze in car hire for a few days birding, so this report shows what can be seen on day trips from the hotel base.
The weather was mainly sunny, though occasionally overcast, with one day of particularly strong winds. The temperature varied from 65-80F approximately, or 19-25C. We did have some overnight rain.
LITERATURE
Books obviously include Gosney's inevitably partly outdated guides "Finding Birds In Turkey - Ankara to Birecik" (pages 30-32 for Akseki), and "Finding Birds in Western Turkey" (pages 18-22 for Korkutelli Hills, Tasagil & Managat (for Side)). I also found googled Bird reports invaluable on Birdtours.co.uk for areas like Seki and Gogubeli Pass, and information on Birdforum invaluable regards the Oymapinar Baraj.
Maps were critical, and as with the Gosney Guides, Antalya seems to be the dividing point, neccessitating acquisition of two maps if you want to cover all the areas. Freytag & Berndt maps are good, and available on their own site www.freytagberndt.com or from places like Amazon. The two I got were for "Turkish Riviera - Antalya-Side-Alanya", and "Turkish Riviera - Antalya-Kemer-Fethiye". The two maps cover either side of Antalya respectively.
DRIVING
I pre-booked a car (Hyundai) via Economy Car Hire for 4 days for £54, they have no excess charge and I have always found them to be very good - reliable and good value for money. The car was supplied by local company Life Car Hire, and I also paid £40 for a further 2 days hire later in the holiday.
I make the following points about driving in Turkey, as it is known to be perilous:-
* Always carry your car hire contract and driving licence (but do not leave them in the car).
* Go with the flow.
* Beware that "flashing" green traffic lights appears to mean that you go ONLY if it is safe to do so - such as when you are at central reservations of dual carriageways. Flashing red also seems to mean that you should give way to other traffic, rather than stopping full stop.
* ALWAYS check other traffic anyway at lights, as many Turks ignore them anyway. There are many late red light 'jumpers'.
* Avoid signs saying "Merkesi Sehir" in any towns unless you actually do want city centre.
* There are few police to be seen (just one traffic speed trap), but there is apparently radar controlled zones.
* Sleeping policemen are not painted, so keep your eyes open for unseen ramps. On country roads, deep ruts or holes are sometimes simply marked by a small boulder in the road.
* Signage is not always good, so study maps in advance, main centres for the direction you are going in will help you get to your destination. Some villages are not even signposted at all in the mountains.
* Petrol is expensive - about same as UK. I spent about £90 over my trips. You have to pay the attendant first, if tank is full he gives you back unused money. There are plenty of petrol stations on the main highways, but make sure you have a full tank before you venture out into mountainous areas.
That apart, its straightforward -
I was worried about wild dogs in Turkey, especially the notorious goat herders dogs that can be extremely defensive and aggressive, so be wary of birding out of the car near them. Threatening to throw rocks at any advancing dogs would seem to be the most favoured approach, but I did not encounter any threatening dogs, just dogs!
Much of rural Turkey is extremely poor and self-contained, people live off the land so in more remote or mountainous areas you will come across goats, cattle, donkeys, horses, & notably goat herders or shepherds hand-signalling for lifts back to villages. Also, if you stop in the mountains, the tranquility and peace may be broken by goat herders and their wives screaming communication across valleys to each other, it's all part of the experience that is Turkey.
My photos are often of scenery and I apologise for the lack of quality bird photos. I still hope they help future visitors.
Onto THE BIRDING.
I now split my report into 5 sections, all 'doable' on day trips, though depending on where you are based, you may want to repeat visit to maximise birding. All are east of Antalya except number 3 which lies west of the city.
1) ANTALYA - LARA BEACH / PERGE ANCIENT SITE
2) AKSEKI
3) KORKUTELLI HILLS / ELMALI / GOGU BELI PASS / SEKI / TERMESSOS
4) KROPULU CANYON / KARABUCAK CANYON (KOYU)
5) MANAVGAT AREA - OYMAPINAR BARAJ / YAYLAALAN (ROAD TO IBRADI) / SIDE ANCIENT SITE / TITREYEN GOLU
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