kuzeycem
Medicinal Birding
10 August 2014 - Bolu, Turkey
Leaving Ankara behind by 4:30, we got out of the car, into the freezing pine forests of Gerede, near 6:30. Right as we had our first steps we were greeted by a male Green Woodpecker. As we were watching it Mistle Thrushes, Chiffchaffs, Great & Coal Tits and Chaffinches were singing around. A while after Green Woodpecker flew away, we crossed paths with a juvenile Great Spottted Woodpecker. Spending time with it we heard our first Eurasian Treecreeper, and saw it shortly after. Meanwhile Krüper's Nuthatches were getting more active, hanging down form tree barks, as several Green Woodpeckers kept flying around. The first Crossbill flock of the morning also flew past.
Continuing, we hear a Coal Tit-like calls coming from the forest, only to find a Short-toed Treecreeper. Above us are Goldcrests and Coal Tits hopping from branch to branch, whilst Eurasian Nuthatches are looking for food in the canopy and a female Great Spotted is roaming the forest. While we were waiting for the treecreeper to reappear, another Crossbill flock distracts me, leading me to a tree with a treecreeper family on it. Crossbills on the other hand, have perched to a distant tree.
Around 7:30 we left the forest, but not before bumping into a cooperative Short-toed Treecreeper, Krüper's Nuthatches and Jays in the parking lot.
As the sun gets more prominent, we move to Dörtdivan; a steppe like area favoured by raptors.
Still cold, and foggy, we are not sure if we can find any raptors; but that slowly changes as Ravens and Long-legged Buzzards slowly start to make appearances, only to lead us to a superb subadult Eastern Imperial Eagle perched on a tree. As it flies away, we climb to a valley where Cinereous Vultures start to appear, but only in single digits. At one moment, 2 vultures appear over the horizon. The first one: Cinereous. The second one: Wow... That tail sure looks weird. An adult Lammergeier! An excellent bird, and we get superb views as it goes far away over the valley.
We consider where the bird might be heading, and make our way to a dumpster, where we find the "dragon of the skies", once again circling with Cinereous Vultures. An incredible creature.
We decide to use our spare time going back into the forest, looking for what we have missed. While on the road we pass a village, where many Cinereous Vultures soar the skies whilst House Martins and Barn & Red-rumped Swallow near our heads. As we exit the village, a small garden offers us birds like European Turtle Doves, Red-backed Shrike and Black-headed Bunting, as well as an astonishing juvenile Eastern Imperial Eagle, as close as it can be.
In the forests we search for Siskins, but only hear two birds, in the company of a noisy Great Spotted Woodpecker. Going even deeper in the forest, where Green Warbler breeds, we fail to find any; however a group of Dunnocks, a Firecrest and several Serins makes up for it.
Leaving Bolu at 12:00, with 55 species on the list.
Leaving Ankara behind by 4:30, we got out of the car, into the freezing pine forests of Gerede, near 6:30. Right as we had our first steps we were greeted by a male Green Woodpecker. As we were watching it Mistle Thrushes, Chiffchaffs, Great & Coal Tits and Chaffinches were singing around. A while after Green Woodpecker flew away, we crossed paths with a juvenile Great Spottted Woodpecker. Spending time with it we heard our first Eurasian Treecreeper, and saw it shortly after. Meanwhile Krüper's Nuthatches were getting more active, hanging down form tree barks, as several Green Woodpeckers kept flying around. The first Crossbill flock of the morning also flew past.
Continuing, we hear a Coal Tit-like calls coming from the forest, only to find a Short-toed Treecreeper. Above us are Goldcrests and Coal Tits hopping from branch to branch, whilst Eurasian Nuthatches are looking for food in the canopy and a female Great Spotted is roaming the forest. While we were waiting for the treecreeper to reappear, another Crossbill flock distracts me, leading me to a tree with a treecreeper family on it. Crossbills on the other hand, have perched to a distant tree.
Around 7:30 we left the forest, but not before bumping into a cooperative Short-toed Treecreeper, Krüper's Nuthatches and Jays in the parking lot.
As the sun gets more prominent, we move to Dörtdivan; a steppe like area favoured by raptors.
Still cold, and foggy, we are not sure if we can find any raptors; but that slowly changes as Ravens and Long-legged Buzzards slowly start to make appearances, only to lead us to a superb subadult Eastern Imperial Eagle perched on a tree. As it flies away, we climb to a valley where Cinereous Vultures start to appear, but only in single digits. At one moment, 2 vultures appear over the horizon. The first one: Cinereous. The second one: Wow... That tail sure looks weird. An adult Lammergeier! An excellent bird, and we get superb views as it goes far away over the valley.
We consider where the bird might be heading, and make our way to a dumpster, where we find the "dragon of the skies", once again circling with Cinereous Vultures. An incredible creature.
We decide to use our spare time going back into the forest, looking for what we have missed. While on the road we pass a village, where many Cinereous Vultures soar the skies whilst House Martins and Barn & Red-rumped Swallow near our heads. As we exit the village, a small garden offers us birds like European Turtle Doves, Red-backed Shrike and Black-headed Bunting, as well as an astonishing juvenile Eastern Imperial Eagle, as close as it can be.
In the forests we search for Siskins, but only hear two birds, in the company of a noisy Great Spotted Woodpecker. Going even deeper in the forest, where Green Warbler breeds, we fail to find any; however a group of Dunnocks, a Firecrest and several Serins makes up for it.
Leaving Bolu at 12:00, with 55 species on the list.
