Bird ID for Mediterranean Turkey (1 Viewer)

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BJS

Member

• Oct 2, 2015

• #1

Hi. This year and last I have seen these birds flying over two ancient sites (Xanthos and Tlos) not far from Kalkan. They are maybe about pigeon size, not raptors, fly in groups. They have quite broad wings with pale underneath and there is an impression of some yellow. The main identifying feature is this behaviour: they fold their wings in and dive then pull up to swoop back to the flock
Saw them today 2 October and the same time in years before
Any ideas?
Thanks
BJS

 

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Oct 2, 2015

• #2

pretty sure you saw white-spectacled bulbuls.

http://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-spectacled_Bulbul

 

B

BJS

Member

• Oct 2, 2015

• #3

Thanks Lou Don't think they were. We have these bulbuls around our villa so I know them quite well. These birds are about twice the size and have different wings. Also, tho I really needed a scope to confirm, they had shorter stockier heads and beaks

 

Z

Zheljko

Well-known member

• Oct 2, 2015

• #4

Glareola pratincola?

 

A

AllanM

Well-known member

• Oct 2, 2015

• #5

Sandgrouse sp.?

 

Rob Smallwood

Well-known member

• Oct 2, 2015

• #6

How many in the flock?

 

B

BJS

Member

• Oct 2, 2015

• #7

Zheljko said:

Glareola pratincola?

Click to expand...

Thanks but don't think so. It was mountainous region and they were flying quite high up

 

B

BJS

Member

• Oct 2, 2015

• #8

Hi Rob. Today about 4 or 5 but last year must have been about 15-20. Definitely not sand grouse. These were agile flying birds

 

B

BJS

Member

• Oct 2, 2015

• #9

Forgot to say, they had quite a burbling call

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Oct 2, 2015

• #10

Bee-eaters??

 

B

BJS

Member

• Oct 3, 2015

• #11

Thanks nutcracker. That's a possible! Certainly with the call. Do you know if they do that wing folded dive? I'll have to head out to Xanthos again in next day or so and see if I can get another look

 

B

BJS

Member

• Oct 3, 2015

• #12

Just checked out some clips on YouTube and think you are right. They were too far away and silhouetted for me to see the colours properly but the wing shape, size, sound and behaviour all seem right. Huge thanks! Amazed you could get that from my rather poor description

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Oct 3, 2015

• #13

BJS said:

Do you know if they do that wing folded dive?

Click to expand...

Classic Bee-eater flight behaviour, that's actually the statement that made me think of Bee-eater as an option in the first place :t:

 

A

AllanM

Well-known member

• Oct 3, 2015

• #14

BJS said:

Just checked out some clips on YouTube and think you are right. They were too far away and silhouetted for me to see the colours properly but the wing shape, size, sound and behaviour all seem right. Huge thanks! Amazed you could get that from my rather poor description

Click to expand...

Yep I don't think I would ever have arrived at bee eater from, pigeon sized, broad winged and yellow impression! Glad you seem to have got it now. :t:

 

B

BJS

Member

• Oct 3, 2015

• #15

Many thanks
BJS