Z.J. Grabowski
Well-known member
Just back from „tick and rush“ one-week birding trip in South Eastern Turkey I would like to share some most recent hints on the area which could be useful for birders visiting in the next time.
Striated Scops Owl - Birecik , go to the famous “blue fountain” tea garden ! Gosneys description (site 8) is exact but the neon sign is no more Pepsi but Coca Cola J We were more then surprised as an young man (new owner of the café) answered in English to our standart “baykus?” question : “ do you want to see Striated Scops Owl? We have also Scops Owls and Long Eared Owls here…” This man can give you also recent hints for some rare species (Cream-coloured Cursor, Blue-cheeked Beeeater…) in the vicinity of Birecik. He knows a lot of bird species and many foreign birders visiting the area send him SMS messages about interesting sightings. SSO is breeding this year in one tree perhaps 6 m from the fountain and is very easy to see.
Blue-cheeked Beeeater – it seems there are no more BCB’s in Birecik. There is very good place to see them when you are going to Nemrud Dagi. From Sanli Urfa take a 885 road towards Siverek. About 35 km after leaving Sanli Urfa there is a little village Estafirullah some hundred meters from the main road on the left . There is a characteristic hill above the village. On the road between the main road and the village BSB’s can be easy seen.
Desert Lark – DL’s are on the plateau above the main wadi in Birecik. After you have entered the wadi you will see an orchard on your left side. Through this orchard leads a path on the plateau. Walk about 1 km on the plateau under the second electricity line. On 18/06 one DL was singing in the morning.
Red-tailed Wheatear – Nemrut Dagi archeological site (north of Kahta and Narince) is the easiest place to see them . There are lot of them in the summit region (above the parking ) and also in the lower parts . Summit region of Nemrut Dagi (2100 m) is also very good for Finch’s Wheatear. Cinereous Bunting (semenowi) is common in the slopes about 2 km before you reach the summit-parking. White-throated Robins and Upcher’s Warblers are also there. Pale Rock Sparrows were not singing as we were there (18/06)….and were impossible to find :-(
Between Narince and Karadut there is an obvious rock on the right side of the road with a big hole in it. This was a wonderful place for Greater Rock Nutchatch. Lesser Kestrel also breed there.
For Olive-tree Warbler go to the new site discovered 2004 by Danish Birdwatchers ( see report of Troels Eske Ortvad). This site is between Karaman and Bozkir (very suitable way to come back from Göksu Delta to Antalya via Akseki. Just try to stop on the roadside between 20 and 10 km before you reach Bozkir. We scored OTW there just leaving our car !
By the way : the yellow signed road from Bozkir to Akseki ( through Dereköy) is OK but the first 20 km a bit difficult. Very strange is the passage of the Dereköy village… You have to go between the houses and the road is just wide enough for one car… don’t worry you are on the right way. Just before reaching the Alcabel Pass (1824 m) the road becomes wide and very good.
Don’t go this way if some thunderstorms and heavy rainfalls are possible. Landslides will make this road impassable.
I will publish my full trip-report soon. If someone need recent information please contact me on PM.
Best regards,
Zbyszko
Striated Scops Owl - Birecik , go to the famous “blue fountain” tea garden ! Gosneys description (site 8) is exact but the neon sign is no more Pepsi but Coca Cola J We were more then surprised as an young man (new owner of the café) answered in English to our standart “baykus?” question : “ do you want to see Striated Scops Owl? We have also Scops Owls and Long Eared Owls here…” This man can give you also recent hints for some rare species (Cream-coloured Cursor, Blue-cheeked Beeeater…) in the vicinity of Birecik. He knows a lot of bird species and many foreign birders visiting the area send him SMS messages about interesting sightings. SSO is breeding this year in one tree perhaps 6 m from the fountain and is very easy to see.
Blue-cheeked Beeeater – it seems there are no more BCB’s in Birecik. There is very good place to see them when you are going to Nemrud Dagi. From Sanli Urfa take a 885 road towards Siverek. About 35 km after leaving Sanli Urfa there is a little village Estafirullah some hundred meters from the main road on the left . There is a characteristic hill above the village. On the road between the main road and the village BSB’s can be easy seen.
Desert Lark – DL’s are on the plateau above the main wadi in Birecik. After you have entered the wadi you will see an orchard on your left side. Through this orchard leads a path on the plateau. Walk about 1 km on the plateau under the second electricity line. On 18/06 one DL was singing in the morning.
Red-tailed Wheatear – Nemrut Dagi archeological site (north of Kahta and Narince) is the easiest place to see them . There are lot of them in the summit region (above the parking ) and also in the lower parts . Summit region of Nemrut Dagi (2100 m) is also very good for Finch’s Wheatear. Cinereous Bunting (semenowi) is common in the slopes about 2 km before you reach the summit-parking. White-throated Robins and Upcher’s Warblers are also there. Pale Rock Sparrows were not singing as we were there (18/06)….and were impossible to find :-(
Between Narince and Karadut there is an obvious rock on the right side of the road with a big hole in it. This was a wonderful place for Greater Rock Nutchatch. Lesser Kestrel also breed there.
For Olive-tree Warbler go to the new site discovered 2004 by Danish Birdwatchers ( see report of Troels Eske Ortvad). This site is between Karaman and Bozkir (very suitable way to come back from Göksu Delta to Antalya via Akseki. Just try to stop on the roadside between 20 and 10 km before you reach Bozkir. We scored OTW there just leaving our car !
By the way : the yellow signed road from Bozkir to Akseki ( through Dereköy) is OK but the first 20 km a bit difficult. Very strange is the passage of the Dereköy village… You have to go between the houses and the road is just wide enough for one car… don’t worry you are on the right way. Just before reaching the Alcabel Pass (1824 m) the road becomes wide and very good.
Don’t go this way if some thunderstorms and heavy rainfalls are possible. Landslides will make this road impassable.
I will publish my full trip-report soon. If someone need recent information please contact me on PM.
Best regards,
Zbyszko
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