This stunning male Caucasian Grouse gave truly exceptional views. (Dani López-Velasco)

TURKEY & CYPRUS 15 – 30 MAY / 2 JUNE 2013

LEADER: DANI LÓPEZ-VELASCO

What a great trip! Turkey has more to offer, in terms of birds, landscape and culture than most other countries in the whole Western Palearctic, and this year´s tour certainly lived up to the high expectations. Birdquest’s 2013 tour to Turkey and Cyprus was a tremendous success, basically seeing every Turkish bird speciality that was on offer in our itinerary. We recorded 265 species, including such highly sought-after birds as the stunning and near mythical Caucasian (Caucasian Black) Grouse- of which we had absolutely walkaway views-, Caspian Snowcocks uttering their mournful, Curlew-like calls against snow-capped mountains, See-see Partridge, Black Francolin, White-headed Duck, hundreds of Yelkouan Shearwaters crossing the Bosphorus strait, Pygmy Cormorant, four species of vultures (including Bearded and Cinereous Vultures). We were also privileged to see several Eastern Imperial and White-tailed Eagles, excellent scope views of a perched male Levant Sparrowhawk. Great Snipe, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Armenian and Caspian Gulls, as well as great studies of Pallid and Eurasian Scops Owls. We had once in a lifetime views of the bird of the trip, the impressive and recently rediscovered Brown Fish Owl, White-throated Kingfisher, colourful Bluecheeked Bee-eaters at their breeding colony, Syrian Woodpecker, beautiful Masked Shrikes, Sombre Tit, displaying Bimaculated Larks, White-eared (a mega rarity!) and White-spectacled Bulbuls. We saw an

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impressive 29 species of warblers, including Caucasian (Mountain) Chiffchaff, Eastern Bonelli´s, Green (split from Greenish), Upcher´s, Olive-tree, Icterine, Barred, Ménétries´s, stunning Rüppell´s and endemic Cyprus, Iraq Babbler, delightful Krüper´s and large Western Rock Nuthatches, Rosy Starlings, fabulous Whitethroated Robins, scarce Kurdish, Cyprus and Finsch´s Wheatears, localized Semicollared Flycatchers, Pale Rockfinch, Yellow-throated and Dead Sea Sparrows, Radde´s Accentor, Eurasian Crimson-winged and Desert Finches, Red-fronted Serin and Cinereous and Cretzschmar´s Buntings. We were all eagerly waiting for first Turkish birding, and after an early, and quick, breakfast at our hotel in Gaziantep, a short drive saw us at our first destination, Isikli. We spent the morning walking up the mountain and birding around the rocky areas with scattered bushes above the village. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and we enjoyed some truly great birding! Good birds were everywhere, and at times it was difficult to know where to look. A singing male White-throated Robin performed superbly, as did several Pale Rockfinches, uttering their strange, insect-like songs. Eurasian Hoopoes, Red-rumped Swallows, Eastern Rock Nuthatches, Upcher´s Warblers, a pair of Finsch´s Wheatears and Rock Sparrows were all on show. After a bit of searching, we found our main target, the localized Kurdish Wheatear, of which a pair was seen feeding young very well in its nest. It was very good bunting habitat, and we had excellent scope views of semenowi Cinereous, Cretzschmar´s and Black-headed Buntings. At some nearby natural grasslands we had great views of displaying Bimaculated Larks, our only ones of the trip, as well as several Greater Shorttoed Larks. Overhead, a pair of Long-legged Buzzards were seen, and a rather unexpected sighting was that of a flying European Nightjar being mobbed by a Common Kestrel. We had an excellent kebab lunch at a local restaurant, followed by an afternoon visit to a nearby woodland area, where highlights included Syrian Woodpecker, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Sombre Tit. Afterwards, we headed towards Bireçik, on the Euphrates, where we first stopped at a small park and cafe, famous for being one of the most reliable places in the world to see Pallid Scops Owl. Luckily, within minutes of arriving, we found a roosting bird. We had the chance to study it in detail with the scope, checking all the subtle identification details that set it apart from the similar Eurasian Scops Owl. Before sunset, we visited the nearby pistachio fields, where our main target, the Yellow-throated Sparrow, was soon located, and we enjoyed excellent views of several birds. Also in the area were Dead Sea Sparrows, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robins and Eastern Olivaceous Warblers.

Pallid Scops Owl showed, as usual, very well at Bireçik café. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

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Scarce Kurdish Wheatears (left) and stunning White-throated Robins (right) gave excellent views on our first day. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

The next morning we spent several enjoyable hours birding around some flooded gravel pits, where many interesting species were logged. Lots of Pygmy Cormorants were present, and Little Bitterns were everywhere, showing themselves right out in the open. Many herons were around, including Squacco, Purple and Black-crowned Night Herons. Several flocks of Northern Bald Ibis -part of the captive breeding programme that releases the birds during spring and summer, and then cages them in the winter so that they don’t migrate to dangerous (because of the shooting) areas further south- were also encountered, and amongst the ducks we found Garganey, Red-crested Pochard, including some stunning males, and two pairs of Ferruginous Ducks. A single Grey-headed (Purple) Swamphen showed briefly, and a few waders were also scoped, including Temminck´s Stint, Little Ringed Plover and several Spur-winged Lapwings. Noisy Pied Kingfishers were flying back and forth over the river, and a singing Black Francolin eventually gave great views. We had fabulous looks at two singing rubescens Ménétries´s Warblers, and a small group of Desert Finches were the only ones we saw during the whole trip. Bireçik is renowned as the most accessible place in the world to see Iraq Babbler, a recent coloniser from Syria and Iraq, and it didn´t take long before we had great views of several birds. Pleased with our sightings, we headed towards the famous Ibis Wadi, where we had lunch under the shade of the trees, seeing two Great Spotted Cuckoos and a few Whitespectacled Bulbuls. Several gulls were present on the riverbank, and included a few Armenian and a single Baltic (Lesser-black Backed). In the afternoon we visited a nearby area which is usually good for the shy See-see Partridge. We soon heard one, and after some careful scanning, we located a pair sitting on top of a rock. We enjoyed excellent views in the scope and when we left, half an hour later, both birds were still sitting at the same place! A pair of Ménétries´s Warblers showed very well too, as did a Syrian Woodpecker and a small group of Sombre Tits. On the way back to our accommodation, we checked an area of plains where we saw our only Montagu´s Harrier of the trip, a nice flock of European Bee-eaters, three brightly colored European Rollers, many Calandra Larks singing high in the sky and a pair of minor Lesser Shorttoed Larks. The last thing on the agenda was Little Swift, and as the sun was setting down, we had nice views of several birds flying around their breeding cliff, together with some Alpine Swifts.

Many Pygmy Cormorants (left) and showy Little Bitterns were present at Bireçik gravel pits. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

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Bireçik is the most accessible place in the world to see the localized Iraq Babbler. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

Next morning, we visited an impressive colony of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, a species that has become very scarce in the country in recent times. Several hundred birds were present, together with many European Bee-eaters, adding a splash of color to the steppe. We spent some time photographing these beautiful creatures until it was time to go back. On the way, we saw a Turkish rarity in form of two Black-winged Kites of the asian subspecies vociferus, which show very dark secondaries, as well as a couple of European Rollers. In the afternoon we did some birding at Nizip reservoir, where we saw several new species, including Black-necked Grebe, Great Egret, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Teal, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff and a nice flock of White-winged and Black Terns. A quick stop at Bireçik cafe produced 3 roosting Long-eared Owls, which showed very nicely.

Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters are always a delight to watch. (John Fraser)

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Asian Black-winged Kite, with a Hooded Crow (left) and Yellow-throated Sparrow (right). (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

The following day was mostly spent driving west, towards Tasuçu, which would be our base for the next two days. On the way, we spent a couple of hours looking for White-throated Kingfishers at a favoured area near Osmaniye, where we quickly succeeded, seeing at least three birds. The other target, Eurasian Penduline Tit, proved a bit more difficult, but after a while we eventually scored with excellent views of several birds. A singing Great Reed Warbler posed in the scope for ages, and a nice male Masked Shrike was the first of the trip. We also visited a nearby heronry, hosting several hundred pairs of various egrets and herons, but sadly the river island where it had been only a couple of weeks ago had apparently just been destroyed by some gravel pit works. Several Pied Kingfishers were seen nesting on a nearby river bank, where a migrant Wood Warbler was a good addition to our list. We continued our journey, stopping for lunch, çay and also for some much appreciated ice-creams, until we eventually made it to our lovely hotel in front of the Mediterranean ocean. A sumptuous dinner overlooking the harbour marked the end of the day.

Graceful Prinia carrying nesting material (left) and Masked Shrike (left). (John Fraser and Dani Lopez-Velasco)

We started our exploration of the Mediterranean coast with a visit to the Roman ruins of Uzuncaburç, stopping at several places along the way. We had several targets for the morning, and luckily we saw them all. First, Olive-tree Warbler, which was heard uttering its Great Reed Warbler-like song as soon as we step out of the vehicle, ended up showing nicely. Then, the stunning Rüppell´s Warbler, one of the best-looking Sylvia warblers in the world, proved easy to see, even in the scope! Lastly, Krüper´s Nuthatch, which again, we had no problem in finding once we reached good pine-woodland habitat. At least 5 of these delightful and near-endemic nuthatches were seen very well. Western Rock Nuthatches were certainly obliging and several Cretzschmar´s Buntings were also in evidence. We also added Barred Warbler, Blackcap and Eurasian Blue Tit to our list while admiring the spectacular ruins. After lunch and a siesta, we headed out to the Göksü Delta, where we set on a lovely walk along the beach towards the delta mouth. We were mostly looking for the Audouin´s Gull, and soon a few birds were located within a distant Yellow-legged Gull flock. We got closer to them and ended up having nice views of these attractive and fairly scarce gulls. Several first

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summer Sandwich Terns, a single Common Tern, a few Little Terns, a single Eurasian Oystercatcher and some Kentish Plovers were also present on the shore. On the way back we checked some shallow ponds, where good numbers of waders were present, which included Common Ringed Plover, Ruddy Turnstone and Little Stint, as well as some Black-headed Yellow Wagtails, while a singing Black Francolin was scoped for a few minutes.

Krüper´s Nuthatch. (John Fraser)

Both Olive-tree (left) and Rüppell´s Warblers (right) proved easy to see in the Mediterranean coast. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

We returned to the delta the next morning, visiting some of the areas we hadn´t explored the previous day. From one of the hides overlooking an extensive reedbed we had brief views of a singing Savi´s Warbler as well as a Grey-headed (Purple) Swamphen, and nearby we saw our only Great White Pelican of the trip. Also of note were a small flock of Eurasian Spoonbills, two distant Greater Flamingos, our first Ruddy Shelducks, a few Western Marsh Harriers patrolling over the reeds, a single Eurasian Hobby, small numbers of Slender-billed Gulls, a nice Little Owl and a late Red-throated Pipit. After lunch and some rest at the hotel we went back to the Delta. One of our main targets for the afternoon was the scarce Broad-billed Sandpiper, a peculiar sandpiper in many ways, being placed on it’s own genus, Limicola, and having a very odd-shaped bill. This sandpiper uses the area as a feeding and resting spot on its way to its breeding grounds in the wet taiga bogs in arctic northern Europe and Siberia. We visited a place where they had been seen a few days before, and luckily It didn´t take too long before we found them and enjoyed nice scope views of four breeding-plumaged adults. Several other waders were present, including Grey Plover, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper. After our success, and given that the winds had decreased, we decided to visit some nearby reedbeds, in order to try to improve our views of Savi´s Warbler. This turned out to be a good move, as we

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saw arguably one of the most unexpected birds of the trip in form of a Great Snipe, which was a muchwanted lifer for many! There were quite a few warblers around, mostly Great Reed and Caspian (Eurasian) Reed, as well as some Moustached Warblers, but, although a Savi´s Warbler was heard in the distance, it refused to come closer. A group of Bearded Reedlings gave nice views though, and on our way back, we saw several Spanish Sparrows using a White Stork nest as their breeding colony.

Adult male Bearded Reedling of the subspecies russicus, which is paler than nominate birds in western Europe. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

After dinner, we embarked on the ferry that would take us to the island of Cyprus. We were supposed to take a comfortable fast-ferry, but unfortunately it got cancelled a week before our arrival, so the only way we could get in time to the island was to take one of the slow ones, even though I have to admit that it wasn´t the most luxurious ship any of us had used. We did our best to get some sleep, and luckily most of us managed to rest for a while. We awoke to sunny skies and the view of the island of Cyprus ahead, while an unexpected Icterine Warbler decided to land on the ferry, giving great views. Once at Kyrenia (Girne) harbor, in Northern Cyprus, we loaded up the coach, and went to a nearby restaurant for a well deserved breakfast. In the process we managed to see one of the two island endemics in form of a nice Cyprus Wheatear sitting on the side of the street. Wow, pretty much the first bird to be seen after arriving to the island! Afterwards, we moved to our first proper birding destination, the maquis, woodland and hills around Bellapais (a small village which was home for some years to writer Lawrence Durrell, brother of the famous British naturalist, and writer, Gerald Durrell). Our main target here was the other island endemic, the Cyprus Warbler, and within minutes of arriving we had found a showy adult male in full song. Over the next hour we enjoyed cracking views of at least two other males, as well as a Cyprus Wheatear. With the two endemics already under our belts after just a couple of hours on the island, we decided to take it easy and we spent the afternoon relaxing in the hotel, and some of us even made good use of the swimming pool! A few birds were also seen in the hotel grounds, including Sardinian Warbler and yet another Cyprus Wheatear, which appeared to be everywhere.

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Within two hours of arriving to Cyprus, we had already scored both endemics, Cyprus Wheatear (left) and Cyprus Warbler (right) (Dani Lopez-Velasco and John Fraser)

We spent the next morning slowly making our way east along the northern shore of the island, making various stops along the way. A pair of Chukars were seen well from the road, and a single adult Great Spotted Cuckoo showed briefly. A stop at some impressive cliffs produced several Alpine Swifts, a large group of Western Jackdaws and a pair of Blue Rock Thrushes. This was our only chance for Spectacled Warbler during the whole trip, and after a couple of attempts, we finally managed to locate a singing male, which gave brilliant views. Eventually, we made it to the easternmost point of the island, where the bird highlight was definitely the second calendar-year Lanner Falcon that was perched on a nearby electricity pylon. We studied the bird in detail with the scope, going over all the identification field marks that set it apart from similar immature Peregrine and Saker. The outbound bird most likely belonged to the highly endangered, dark, southern-Europe feldeggii subspecies, and was apparently one of the first records for Cyprus. Not much else was around, apart from some distant European Shags of the Mediterranean subspecies desmarestii, and a pair of Spectacled Warblers. In the afternoon we visited some sewage works close to the airport. There were only a few birds around, and the strong smell didn´t help much either, but nevertheless we added a few species to our lists, including Peregrine Falcon, Northern Shoveler and Cetti´s Warbler. It was now time to head back to mainland Turkey, and thankfully there were no delays in our plane, arriving before midnight at our hotel.

This Chukar quietly fed in the early morning on the hotel grounds. (John Fraser)

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The following day was definitely going to be one of the most exciting days of the whole tour, as we were going to look for (Western) Brow Fish Owl, one of the most, if not the most, mythical and legendary species in the whole Western Palearctic! Brown Fish Owls of the western subspecies semenowi (those occurring in Turkey) are quite distinct, being much paler, buffier and less heavily streaked than leschenaultii from India to Thailand, orientalis elsewhere in eastern Asia to south-eastern China and Taiwan, and nominate zeylonensis in Sri Lanka. Their vocalizations differ too and are definitely a candidate for a future split. The species used to breed in Israel, but it was last seen there in August 1975. There are only two reliable records for Turkey since 1900, in the Adana region in April 1990 and in the Antalya region from October 2004, but the precise localities were never made public. Then, in the summer of 2009, big news shocked the birding community when Arnoud van den Berg et al announced that they had found a breeding pair somewhere in Turkey. However, due to conservation issues, the precise location was never given, but at least it raised hopes that more pairs could be found and perhaps their locations made public. The following year, a survey was conducted and a few more pairs were found, but the exact locations were again withheld. Finally, in the summer of 2011, and to the delight of every WP birder, news of a pair seen from a touristic boat on a canyon was published on the internet. At last, an accessible and public place for this mega species had been found! So, with this in mind, we excitedly left our hotel very early in the morning, arriving to the 'Green Canyon” (the place where they Owls had been found), before dawn. When we arrived, our boat was already waiting for us, and in no time we were slowly motoring towards the favoured area of one of the two pairs that inhabit the surrounding river canyons. It started getting light, and suddenly our captain said: “There it is!!” There, sitting motionless in a crevice, 80 metres from us, was a stunning adult Brown Fish Owl in all its glory! For the next half an hour we admired this superb bird with its glowing yellow eyes starring at us, while at the same time we had a warm coffee. What a moment! This was the Bird of the trip for many, and the main reason some had come on this tour, so we were all delighted. However, it wasn´t quite over yet… After that, we moved with the boat to another canyon, and within minutes we had found another pair of Brown Fish Owls. This new pair was ever closer than the previous bird, and we had absolutely terrific views of them against impressive scenery. Greatly satisfied with our sightings, we headed back to our accommodation for a proper breakfast. Afterwards, we drove towards our next destination, Akseki. In the afternoon we visited an area of scrubby oak woodland, where our main target, Eastern Bonelli´s Warbler, was pretty common and showed very well for all of us. Our first Booted Eagle, a nice pale morph bird, soared overhead with a Short-toed Snake Eagle, and after some work, we managed to lure into view a Middle-spotted Woodpecker. It took some time before everyone had satisfactory views of a fairly shy and elusive individual. A single Eurasian Nuthatch was our only one of the whole trip, while nearby a Masked Shrike posed nicely in the scope. At night, we went for some owling and were rewarded with excellent views of Eurasian Scops and Tawny Owls.

Brown Fish Owl of the very rare western subspecies semenowi. Bird of the trip (and we saw three of them!). (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

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Pair of Brown Fish Owls seen from a boat at the now famous Green Canyon. (John Fraser)

The next morning we explored an area of mixed forest located in the mountains above the village, where we found European Green Woodpecker, Wood Lark, Mistle Thrush, Krüper's Nuthatch and Common Chaffinch. We then settled back for the long drive east to Niğde, passing through the endless plains of Anatolia. We had a lunch break at a forested park where a few migrants were present, including Collared Flycatcher, Marsh and Garden Warblers and a Lesser Whitethroat. In the late afternoon we paid a visit to a small reservoir close to the city. Here, the highlight was definitely the group of 23 smart Greater Sand Plovers of the small-billed local columbinus race that were present on a short grassy area near the dam. Other interesting species seen here included Little Grebe, a flock of 110 Greatar Flamingos and several Ruddy Shelducks.

Eastern Bonelli´s Warblers, here a recently fledged juvenile, (left) and Cretzschmar´s Buntings (right), were fairly common in the Akseki area. (Dani Lopez-Velasco and John Fraser)

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We were up very early for our day out at the mighty Demirkazik – surely one of the highlights of any tour to Turkey. We arrived at the base of the mountain almost in the dark, where our local guide and friend Hassan Safak and his tractor were already waiting to take us all up to the high altitudes. The ride up was bumpy but all of us appreciated how much time (and energy) the tractor saved us! As soon as we arrived at the top of the road, we heard the distinctive and evocative, Curlew-like calls of our main target: the Caspian Snowcock. A group of Belgium birders were already at the spot, and they had just found a snowcock. Thankfully, they were kind enough to show it to us (thanks!), and we enjoyed good, albeit distant, views of this cracking bird. The bird was walking up the hill, but it soon was lost behind some rocks. No big deal though, as in the course of the morning we found a further three individuals, which sat right in the open, giving good and prolonged scope views. Mission accomplished! The weather was excellent, with clear blue skies and it soon started to warm up. Bird activity was also in full swing and there were good birds everywhere we looked! A pair of Golden Eagles soared overhead, Radde´s Accentors showed very well, several Red-fronted Serins flittered around, while a small group of Eurasian Crimson-winged Finches fed unobtrusively a few metres from us. With Alpine Accentor, brightly colored Common Rock Thrush and delightful White-winged Snowfinch as supporting cast, birding surely can´t get any better! Extremely pleased with our success, we headed back to the tractor, but unfortunately one of our experienced tour participants got his foot stuck in between two rocks and accidentally fell, breaking his leg in the process... That of course meant a change in the plans, as we rushed to take him to the local hospital, where I had to resurrect my medical skills as a trained doctor and check for myself the X-rays to give a proper diagnosis! After lots of arguing and many phone calls, an ambulance took him to a better hospital where, much to the relief of all of us, he had a successful surgery, and within two days he was recovering back home. While Soner was taking care of the ambulance transfer, we decided to do some birding nearby. It was fairly quiet though, with the only things of note being some penicillata Horned Larks, a pair of Red-fronted Serins, a single Ortolan Bunting and a small group of Eurasian Crimson-winged Finches. European Sousliks were also common in the area and we caught one with the hands to remove it from the road and take it somewhere safer. A big storm started to build up, the skies turned black, and we decided to call it a day, returning back to the hotel.

The scenery around Demirkazik is breathtaking, especially under blue skies. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

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We enjoyed great scope views of Caspian Snowcocks (left) at Demirkazik. Common Rock Thrushes were a bit more obliging (left). (Dani Lopez-Velasco and John Fraser)

Next morning we visited the Sultan Marshes. There was a lot of water this year, and many of the fields were flooded, so the new boardwalk that headed into the reedbed and open water was particularly handy for us. It was quite windy, which didn´t make birding easy, but nevertheless we managed to see a few interesting species, including some Northern Lapwings, a marsh tern flock containing Whiskered, Black and Whitewinged Terns and a very showy pair of Bearded Reedlings. We then went for a walk around the drier fields, seeing lots of Isabelline Wheatears and Asian Short-toed Larks (there´s some controversy regarding the identification and taxonomy of the “Lesser” Short-toed Larks that occur in central Turkey, but we have decided to treat them here as Asian, as that´s what the IOC considers them to be). We also found a beautiful male Citrine Wagtail, and enjoyed great views of several Collared Pratincoles, while a Little Owl eating a snake sat in full view near our bus. In the afternoon we visited again the man-made reservoir near Niğde, seeing pretty much the same species as in our previous visit.

The Sultan Marshes hosted three species of Chlidonias marsh terns. Only Black-fronted Tern, the remaining member of the Chlidonias genus in the world, from New Zealand, was missing. Here, a beautiful adult White-winged Tern. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

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A single first summer male Citrine Wagtail (left) was seen at the Sultan Marshes, while taxonomically-complex Asian Short-toed Larks (right) were common. (Dani Lopez-Velasco).

The following day our excellent local guide Soner Bekir left, and my good friend and renowned Turkish birder Emin Yoğurtcuoğlu came to join us for the rest of the trip. We headed north to Kulu Gölü, arriving late morning. Masses of Greater Flamingos were spread over the saline part of the lake, while pink-flushed Slender-billed and Mediterranean Gulls and Gull-billed Terns busily flew overhead. A few roosting Common Shelducks were the first of the trip for us, as were two Lesser Kestrels. Good numbers of shorebirds were also present, including elegant Pied Avocets and long-legged Black-winged Stilts. After a quick lunch we visited Uyuz Gölü in search of the endangered White-headed Duck. After some careful scanning we found two nice, bright blue-billed White-headed Ducks, which showed well in the scope. A flock of Black-necked Grebes, 18 Greylag Geese and a single Ferruginous Duck were also present on the lake. It was now time to move on, and we continued our way north towards our accommodation near Gerede. After dinner we went on an exploratory outing to a secret spot where Boreal (Tengmalm´s) Owl – extremely rare in Turkey- had been found the previous spring. We spent some time looking for it, but unfortunately to no avail.

Long-legged Buzzards are a common sight in Turkey. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

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The next day was hopefully going to be a raptor day, but before that, we did some pre-breakfast birding along the forest in front of our hotel. Exploring the mixed woodland we found a very responsive European Green Woodpecker, Tree Pipit, a tiny Winter Wren, two nice Common Redstarts of the distinctive samamiscus subspecies (also known as Ehrenberg´s Redstart) showing a striking white wing panel, a singing Common Chiffchaff, several Song and Mistle Thrushes, active Coal and Great Tits, Short-toed Treecreepers, European Serin, two wonderful Common Bullfinches and a few Common Crossbills. This was a good warm up, but there was still plenty to come today, and after breakfast we headed towards Sorkun, where a local contact took us straight to an active nest of an Eastern Imperial Eagle. An impressive adult female was sitting on the nest when we arrived, and we enjoyed superb scope views of it. But the raptor show was far from over…We then continued to a local-run vulture feeding station, where large numbers of Cinereous (Eurasian Black) Vultures, up to 35, were present, together with 3 Bearded Vultures (Lammergeiers), a single immature Griffon and three Egyptian Vultures, no less than six Eastern Imperial Eagles of various age classes, two stunning White-tailed Eagles and a fine looking Lesser-spotted Eagle, all making for a truly impressive sight! We enjoyed amazing full-frame scope views of this large concentration of raptors, and later we had a delightful cup of local çay. We then continued our journey, making a stop at a nearby lake to look for Black Stork. We soon found one, from the moving bus, and stopped by the roadside, enjoying good views of this prehistoric looking bird. A quick scan at the lake revealed a pair of Common Cranes with tiny chicks, while a Common Quail was flushed from a nearby field and seen in flight briefly. Common Nightingales sang their beautiful songs from thick cover, although we managed decent views of one, while other birds seen here included a pair of European Stonechats, a singing Common Whitethroat and a few Red-backed Shrikes. After lunch we reassumed our journey, which proved uneventful until we reached Istanbul, where we took the ferry across the Bosphorus. We had great views of the Bosphorus bridge and the old city skyline as we travelled from Asia across to Europe, while at the same time large flocks of Yelkouan Shearwaters flew alongside our boat. That evening we had a sumptuous dinner, our last one of the main tour, in a lovely restaurant at the city centre.

It was pleasant to see fairly good numbers of Cinereous Vultures near Sorkun. (John Fraser)

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Lesser-spotted Eagle (left) and Eastern Imperial Eagle (right). (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

We had a morning in Istanbul, admiring again the superb architecture, including the impressive Hagia Sophia, built in the sixth century, which stood as the world's largest cathedral for more than a thousand years, before being converted into a mosque and as it stands now, a museum. During our sightseeing outing we managed to add a couple of introduced species to our list in the form of Rose-ringed and Alexandrine Parakeets. It was now time to head to the airport. After saying goodbye to those flying back home we went to the domestic terminal to take our flight to Trabzon. This went smoothly and after a drive along the Black Sea coast - making a quick stop at Rize harbor and seeing a Caspian Gull within a Yellow-legged Gull flock- we headed towards our hotel in the mountains, below Sivrikaya village, where we had dinner.

The impressive Hagia Sophia, in Istanbul, stood as the world´s largest cathedral for more than a thousand years. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

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The mountains around Sivrikaya are probably the most accessible and easiest place in the world to see the stunning Caucasian (Caucasian Black) Grouse, and that´s the main reason why birders come here – apart from its spectacular scenery of course. The Caucasian Grouse, locally called Blackcocks, have a rather limited distribution, breeding in the Caucasus and Pontic Mountains, on very steep, open slopes with low Rhododendron or other scrubs but in proximity to deciduous broad-leaf forest. Blackcocks are probably the least-known of all grouse in the world, and they are classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. So, with this near mythical bird as our main target for the day, we headed out into the dark, aboard a four-wheel drive school bus into the mountains. We slowly ascended a narrow track which zigzagged uphill, on a very steep slope. As dawn broke, we were already in position, scanning the slopes from a vantage point. It didn’t take long before we spotted our first male Blackcock!! Mission accomplished! We enjoyed good, albeit distant, views of this lekking male, until another male was found closer. This time, we could see the red cere above the eye, the white shoulder patch and the unique-shaped tail. Excellent stuff. Over the next hour we saw a total of 9 males, having good scope views of them. The birds were relatively distant (although you could see details with the scope), but that´s pretty much the way everyone sees them here, so we couldn´t complain at all. Therefore, we weren´t prepared for what happened next… Pleased with our observations, we continued along the track, until suddenly a black dot was spotted right next to the track. I couldn’t believe my eyes… We drove for a couple hundred metres, until we got close enough. There it was! A brilliant male Caucasian Grouse standing, motionless, just a few metres from our vehicle. WOW! We enjoyed the best possible views of this cracking bird, taking some really nice pictures of it, and studying its plumage in detail. I had never seen, nor dreamt of seeing, this elusive and shy species this well, ever. Not even our local driver had ever had these kinds of views. After a while, the bird flew off, and realizing how extremely lucky we had been, we kept driving along the track, making a couple of stops. Several interesting species were found here, although were of course eclipsed by the Blackcock, including 4 amicorum Ring Ouzels, 2 singing Marsh Warblers giving excellent scope views, a small flock of brevirrostrisTwite (a good candidate for a future split), plenty of coutellii Water Pipits and several nice Common Rosefinches.

The impressive snow-capped mountains above Sivrikaya, part of the Pontic Alps range, are home to the mythical Caucasian Grouse. (John Fraser)

    16 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

Twites of the distinctive brevirostris subspecies, (left), as well as penicillata Horned Larks, (right), were common near Sivrikaya. (Dani Lopez-Velasco and John Fraser)

  Fully satisfied with our early morning outing, we returned to our hotel for a well deserved breakfast, making one last stop on the way at some coniferous woodland areas next to the river. Here, we had excellent views of several singing Green Warblers (split from Greenish Warbler), as well as Goldcrest, Eurasian Siskin, Common Crossbill and more Common Rosefinches. After breakfast we started our drive south towards Gelinkaya. At Ovit Gecidi pass we had a Bearded Vulture, a pair of Golden Eagles, several Horned Larks, a flock of Alpine Choughs, three Twites and a couple of Ortolan Buntings. We also scanned a cliff face where Wallcreepers are sometimes present, but they didn´t seem to be there this year. Continuing on our way, we made a brief stop near Ispir, mostly looking for Levant Sparrowhawk and Semicollared Flycatcher, but it was rather quiet and we saw little of interest. We had a quick lunch at Ispir and kept driving south, under a severe storm with high winds and lots of rain. Certainly not the best weather for any kind of birding! We finally made it to Gelinkya, and as luck would have it, the skies cleared up as soon as we step out of the vehicle. We didn´t have much time here, but thankfully our targets cooperated. First, Caucasian (Mountain) Chiffchaff, which were fairly common throughout the area, showed very well. Then it was time to search for the scarce Semicollared Flycatcher, a range-restricted species that is missed on most tours. Luckily I knew a favored spot from previous years, and within a few minutes we had found two pairs of these lovely flycatchers. Excellent! We enjoyed superb views of them, but it was getting late, so we returned to our vehicle, seeing European Honey Buzzard, Eurasian Hobby, Common Cuckoo and Lesser and Common Whitethroats along the way. We had done extremely well that day, but there was still one possible, although difficult, target left in the area: Levant Sparrowhawk. We checked a place where I had seen them nesting in the past, but they weren’t present this year. We kept looking from the vehicle, and, just when we were losing all hope, an adult male was unbelievably spotted from the moving vehicle, perched on an electricity pole. We stopped the bus, quickly step out of it, and enjoyed brilliant scope views of this beautiful raptor. What a great end to a highly successful day!

Caucasian Chiffchaff (treated as a subspecies of Mountain Chiffchaff), (left), and Semicollared Flycatcher, here a male (right) were observed in the Gelinkaya area. (Dani Lopez-Velasco and John Fraser).

    17 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

This male Levant Sparrowhawk marked the end of a highly successful day. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

Having seen pretty much all possible targets in the area, we enjoyed a fairly relaxed and pleasant final day of the tour. We spent the morning in the valley above Sivrikaya, looking out for Brown Bears, without luck, although a couple of distant Blackcocks were spotted amidst impressive scenery, as well as two Steppe (Common) Buzzard and a pair of lovely White-throated Dippers in the fast flowing stream. By the time we reached the pass, visibility was very poor and there was some heavy snowfall, so after a little wander – having a very unexpected sighting of a Green Sandpiper in a tiny pool almost completely covered by snow – we returned back to the vehicle. We had a good lunch back at the hotel, and in the afternoon we went for a short walk around the nearby ancient woodland. The weather was excellent and we very much enjoyed the quietness of this great forest. Several Common Crossbills, a singing European Robin, some tiny Goldcrests, and, best of all, two Green Warblers giving excellent views, were logged. We returned to our hotel, and had our last dinner of the trip.

Singing Green Warbler (left) and coutellii Water Pipit (right). (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

The next morning, the flight from Trabzon back to Istanbul and onwards to our various destinations went smoothly, marking the end of what had probably been one of our most successful ever tours to this amazing country, particularly thanks to a great, friendly and skilled group. I can´t wait to come back!

    18 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

Yelkouan Shearwaters certainly come close to shore while crossing the Bosphorus Strait! (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

Male Red-fronted Serins are stunning birds, and Turkey is a great place to see them. (John Fraser)

    19 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

Common Rock Thrushes are as colorful as many tropical birds. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

Common Rosefinch. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

    20 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR The species names and taxonomy used in the report mostly follows Gill, F & D Donsker (Eds). IOC World Bird Names. This list is updated several times annually and is available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org. Species which were heard but not seen are indicated by the symbol (H). Species which were only recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (LO). Species which were not personally recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (NL). Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g. it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

Caucasian Grouse ◊ (C Black G) Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi 9 birds, including a very confiding male, near Sivrikaya. Caspian Snowcock ◊ Tetraogallus caspius Four birds were seen very well in the scope at Demirkazik. Chukar Partridge (Chukar) Alectoris chukar Several birds showed well at Cyprus and near Demirkazik. See-see Partridge ◊ Ammoperdix griseogularis Excellent scope views of a pair near Halfeti.

Male See-see Partridge. (John Fraser)

Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus Singles or pairs seen on five different dates throughout the tour.

Male Black Francolin in Cyprus. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

    21 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

Common Quail Coturnix coturnix One seen and several more heard near Yeniçaga lake. Greylag Goose Anser anser A flock of 18 was present at Uyuz Gölü. Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Small flocks seen at various locations throughout the tour.

A pair of Ruddy Shelducks. (John Fraser)

Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna A pair was seen at Uyuz Gölü. Eurasian Teal Anas crecca Seen at Nizip reservoir and Nigde dam. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Small numbers seen at widely scattered localities. Garganey Anas querquedula Three birds seen were seen at Bireçik gravel pits. Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Three at Lefkoça sewage works in Cyprus were the only ones of the trip. Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina 20 were present at Bireçik gravel pits and small numbers at Göksü Delta. Common Pochard Aythya farina Small numbers were seen on 4 different dates. Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca 12 birds seen at 4 different places, with the first 4 at Bireçik gravel pits. White-headed Duck ◊ Oxyura leucocephala Two males seen very well at Uyuz Gölü. Yelkouan Shearwater ◊ Puffinus yelkouan Large numbers seen at the Bosphorus Strait ferry crossing.

Part of a large flock of Yelkouan Shearwaters. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Fairly common and widespread. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Fairly common at various wetlands. Black-necked Grebe (Eared G) Podiceps nigricollis Seen at Nizip reservoir and Uyuz Gölü. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus Seen at various wetlands, with large numbers present at Kulu Gölü. Black Stork Ciconia nigra A single bird showed well at Yeniçaga lake, and a pair was also seen near Ispir. White Stork Ciconia ciconia Small numbers seen at several locations. Northern Bald Ibis ◊ Geronticus eremita Free-flying birds of the captive breeding programme were seen at Bireçik. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Two small flock at Nizip and near Osmaniye.

    22 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Several birds at Göksü Delta. Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus Particularly common at Bireçik gravel pits.

Male Little Bittern. (John Fraser).

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Seen at various locations. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides A total of 24 individuals were seen throughout the tour. Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Widespread. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Fairly common and widespread. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 21 individuals were recorded throughout the tour. Great Egret (G White E) Ardea alba Two birds at Nizip reservoir were the only ones of the trip. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Fairly common and widespread. Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus A single bird was seen at Göksü Delta. Pygmy Cormorant ◊ Microcarbo pygmeus Good numbers were present at Bireçik gravel pits. European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis First seen in Cyprus, and then quite common at the Bosphorus. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Several birds seen during the Bosphorus ferry crossing. Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus A pair of the Asian subspecies vociferus was seen near Bozova.

Pair of Black-winged Kites. (John Fraser)

Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier) Gypaetus barbatus Great views of 3 birds near Sorkun and 1 at Ovit Gecidi Pass.

    23 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus A single bird was seen near Sorkun.

Adult Egyptian Vulture in flight. (John Fraser)

European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus Four birds were seen throughout the tour.

Adult female European Honey Buzzard with only three tail feathers left. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus A single immature was seen feeding with other vultures near Sorkun. Cinereous Vulture (Eurasian Black V, Monk V) Aegypius monachus Great looks at 25 birds near Sorkun. Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus A total of 7 birds recorded throughout the tour. Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina A bird in flight at Osmaniye and great looks at another one near Sorkun. Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus Five scattered sightings throughout the trip. Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca Great views of a nesting pair and at least 4 other birds near Sorkun. Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 2 pairs were seen at Demirkazik and Sivrikaya. Levant Sparrowhawk ◊ Accipiter brevipes We had fantastic views of a perched male near Ispir. Western Marsh Harrier (Eurasian M H) Circus aeruginosus Fairly common at suitable habitat. Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus A single male seen near Halfeti. Black Kite Milvus migrans Small numbers seen on four dates. Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus Widespread, small numbers seen at many localities.

    24 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

Common (Steppe) Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus Three birds seen migrating near Sivrikaya. Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni Two birds were seen at Kulu Gölü. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Fairly common and widespread. Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo Five widely scattered sightings. Lanner Falcon (Lanner) Falco biarmicus An unexpected sighting of a perched first summer at Cyprus. Peregrine Falcon (Peregrine) Falco peregrinus A bird seen at Cyprus at another near Akseki. (Grey-headed) Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio caspius Singles at Bireçik and Goksu Delta. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Small numbers seen at several wetlands. Eurasian Coot (Common C) Fulica atra Good numbers were seen at various wetlands. Common Crane Grus grus A pair with young was seen well at Yeniçaga lake. Eurasian Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus Two birds gave great views at Göksü Delta. Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus A single bird was seen at Göksü Delta. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Small numbers seen at various wetlands. Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Seen at Kulu Gölü and Uyuz Gölü. Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Small numbers were seen at Sultan marshes and Kulu Gölü. Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus Small numbers noted at several localities throughout the trip.

Spur-winged Lapwing. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

Grey Plover (Black-bellied P) Pluvialis squatarola A single bird was seen at Göksü Delta. Common Ringed Plover (Great R P) Charadrius hiaticula One bird was seen at Göksú Delta. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Small numbers seen at various wetlands. Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Several birds seen at Göksü Delta. Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaulti A flock of 23 columbinus was seen at Nigde dam.

Adult male Greater Sand Plover of the thin-billed columbinus race. (John Fraser)

    25 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

Great Snipe Gallinago media A single bird was seen at Göksü Delta. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Three birds were seen in Cyprus. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus A rather unexpected sighting of a bird at Ovit Gecidi pass Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Only 2 birds were seen during the tour. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Five scattered sightings. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres A flock of 7 birds were seen at Göksü delta. Little Stint Calidris minuta Small numbers were seen at various wetlands. Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii A single bird was seen well at Bireçik gravel pits. Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Small flocks were observed at several localities. Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus Great views of 4 of these much wanted sandpipers at Göksü Delta. Ruff Philomachus pugnax Five birds were seen at Nizip reservoir. Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola A flock of 27 was observed at Nigde dam. Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei Small numbers seen at Bireçik, Kulu Gölü and Göksü Delta.

Adult Slender-billed Gull. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

Black-headed Gull (Common B-h G) Chroicocephalus ridibundus A few birds seen at Kulu Gölü. Audouin’s Gull ◊ Ichthyaetus audouinii Eight birds were present at Göksü Delta beach. Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus Two birds seen at Kulu Gölü. Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans A single second summer was present with other gulls at Rize harbour. Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis Common along the coast. Armenian Gull ◊ Larus armenicus 15 birds, mostly immatures, were seen at Bireçik. Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus A single fuscus fuscus (Baltic Gull) was seen at Bireçik. Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica Small numbers seen at Kulu Gölü. Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis Seven birds were seen at Göksü Delta beach. Little Tern Sternula albifrons Fairly common at Göksü Delta. Common Tern Sterna hirundo Small numbers seen at Göksü Delta. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus Seen at various localities, with at least 25 at Sultan marshes. White-winged Tern (W-w Black T) Chilidonias leucopterus Small numbers seen at several locations. Black Tern Chlidonias niger Four birds seen at Nizip reservoit, together with several White-winged Terns. Rock Dove (R Pigeon) Columba livia Common. Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus Fairly common and widespread. European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur Widespread. Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Fairly common. Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis Fairly common. Alexandrine Parakeet (introduced) Psittacula eupatria A single bird seen at Istanbul. Rose-ringed Parakeet (introduced) Psittacula krameri Four birds seen at Istanbul. Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius Two birds seen at Bireçik and another one at Cyprus. Common Cuckoo (Eurasian C) Cuculus canorus A total of 7 birds seen throughout the tour. Pallid Scops Owl ◊ (Striated S O) Otus brucei We enjoyed great views of 2 different birds at Bireçik. Eurasian Scops Owl Otus scops Excellent looks at one near Akseki.

    26 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis Amazing views of 3 of this recently rediscovered species in Turkey. Tawny Owl Strix aluco One bird seen very well during an owling session near Akseki. Little Owl Athene noctua A total of 10 birds seen throughout the tour. Long-eared Owl Asio otus Three birds seen at Bireçik.

One of the Long-eared Owls of Bireçik café. (John Fraser)

European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus A rather surprising sighting of a bird in flight on our first day. Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba Small numbers seen at various locations. Common Swift Apus apus Common and widespread. Little Swift Apus affinis 15 birds seen at their nesting area near Bireçik. European Roller Coracias garrulus 11 birds were seen throughout the tour. White-throated Kingfisher (W-breasted K) Halcyon smyrnensis Three birds were seen well near Osmaniye. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Three birds seen at Bireçik. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus We enjoyed excellent views of a couple hundred birds at their colony. European Bee-eater Merops apiaster Fairly common and widespread, especially in the south. Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops Fairly common and widespread. Middle-spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius One bird was seen well near Akseki.

This Middle-spotted Woodpecker gave good views near Akseki. (John Fraser)

    27 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus Six birds were seen on the first three days of the tour. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major A total of six birds seen throughout the tour. European Green Woodpecker Picus viridis Seen at Akseki and Gerede. Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Small numbers seen at widely scattered locations. Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor Surprisingly, only three birds were seen during the tour. Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator Nine birds were seen throughout the tour. Masked Shrike ◊ Lanius nubicus Six of these beautiful shrikes were seen throughout the tour.

A beautiful male Masked Shrike. (John Fraser)

Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus A single bird seen near Ispir, during the extension. Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius Small numbers seen at various woodland areas. Eurasian Magpie Pica pica Fairly common and widespread. Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Small flocks at Demirkazik and Sivrikaya. Alpine Chough (Yellow-billed C) Pyrrhocorax graculus Small numbers seen at Demirkazik and Sivrikaya. Western Jackdaw (Eurasian J) Coloeus monedula Fairly common and widespread. Rook Corvus frugilegus Small numbers seen at a few locations. Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Fairly common and widespread. Northern Raven Corvus corax Small numbers seen at various localities. Coal Tit Periparus ater Small numbers seen at several woodland areas. Sombre Tit ◊ Poecile lugubris Seen on three different dates at the beginning of the tour.

Sombre Tit. (John Fraser)

Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Pretty scarce, with sightings only at three localities. Great Tit Parus major Widespread. Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus Five birds gave excellent views near Osmaniye. Bearded Reedling (B Tit) Panurus biarmicus Great views of 2 groups at Göksü Delta and Sultan Marshes.

    28 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra Seen at four widely scattered locations. Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata Four birds seen well near Isikli.

Several displaying Bimaculated Larks were seen on our first day of the tour. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla Small numbers seen at several localities throughout the tour. Asian Short-toed Lark Calandrella cheleensis Seen at Sultan Marshes and Kulu Gölü. See Note. Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens Seen at Bireçik. Crested Lark Galerida cristata Fairly common and widespread. Wood Lark Lullula arborea (H) Heard only near Akseki. Horned Lark (Shore L) Eremophila alpestris Several birds seen at Demirkazik and Ovit Gecidi pass.

Horned Lark of the distinctive penicillata subspecies. (John Fraser)

White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis Second record for Turkey: a flock of 15 birds at Bireçik.

White-eared Bulbuls at Bireçik park. Escapes or recent colonisers from Syria? (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

White-spectacled Bulbul ◊ Pycnonotus xanthopygos Small numbers seen in the south. Sand Martin (Bank Swallow) Riparia riparia Fairly common and widespread, especially in the south. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Common and widespread.

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Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris Small numbers noted at various localities. Common House Martin (Northern H M) Delichon urbicum Widespread. Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica Fairly common and widespread in the south. Cetti´s Warbler Cettia cetti Heard at several spots, and two seen in Cyprus. Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita A singing bird was seen at Gerede. Caucasian (Mountain) Chiffchaff ◊ Phylloscopus sindianus lorenzii Several birds seen at Gelinkaya. See Note. Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler ◊ (Balkan W) Phylloscopus orientalis Six birds seen well at Akseki. Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix A single bird seen near Osmaniye.

Wood Warbler. (John Fraser)

Green Warbler ◊ (Bright G W) Phylloscopus nitidus Four birds gave great views near Sivrikaya.

Green Warbler showing its distinctive bright yellow supercilium and face. (John Fraser)

Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus Small numbers seen at various wetland areas. Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon A total of five birds were seen throughout the tour.

Moustached Warbler of the mimicus subspecies. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

    30 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Two birds seen at Bireçik gravel pits. Caspian (Eurasian) Reed Warber ◊ Acrocephalus (scirpaceus) fuscus Breeding birds seen at various spots. Note. Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris Two singing birds showed very well near Sivrikaya. Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Iduna pallida Fairly common and widespread.

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

Upcher’s Warbler ◊ Hippolais languida Seen well at Isikli and Durnalik.

Several Upcher´s Warblers were seen throughout the tour. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

Olive-tree Warbler ◊ Hippolais olivetorum We had excellent views of this large Hippolais warbler at Uzuncaburç.

The large primary projection and pale wing panel of Olive-tree Warbler set it apart from other Hippolais warblers. (Dani Lopez-Velasco).

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Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina A migrant landed on the ferry to Cyprus and gave fantastic views.

This Icterine Warbler landed in our ferry to Cyprus. (Dani Lopez-Velasco above and John Fraser below)

Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides Seen briefly at Göksü Delta. Zitting Cisticola (Fan-tailed Warbler) Cisticola juncidis Seen only in Cyprus, where several birds were observed. Graceful Prinia (G Warbler) Prinia gracilis Seen at Bireçik and Göksü Delta. Iraq Babbler ◊ Turdoides altirostris Excellent views of this recent coloniser at Bireçik gravel pits. Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Small numbers seen at widely scattered locations. Garden Warbler Sylvia borin A total of four birds seen throughout the trip. Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria One bird was seen briefly near Uzuncaburç. Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca Six birds were seen throughout the trip, with the first sighting at Durnalik. Eastern Orphean Warbler ◊ Sylvia crassirostris A singing male at Durnalik, and a further 2 at Uzuncaburç.

Male Eastern Orphean Warbler showing unusually plain and unspotted undertail coverts. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)  

    32 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis Seen at Yeniçaga lake and near Gelinkaya. Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata Only seen at Cyprus, where a few birds were seen well along the coast. Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala Several birds seen at Cyprus. Ménétries’s Warbler ◊ Sylvia mystacea A few birds showed well at Bireçik and Halfeti. Rüppell’s Warbler ◊ Sylvia rueppelli Two males of this stunning warbler were seen at Uzuncaburç. Cyprus Warbler ◊ Sylvia melanothorax This endemic warbler was seen several times in Cyprus. Goldcrest Regulus regulus Seen near Sivrikaya. Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Heard more often than seen in the North. Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea A single bird seen at Akseki cemetery. Krüper’s Nuthatch ◊ Sitta krueperi Several birds showed well at Uzuncaburç and Akseki. Western Rock Nuthatch ◊ Sitta neumayer A few birds studied at close quarters at Uzuncaburç and Akseki.

Western Rock Nuthatch. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

Eastern Rock Nuthatch ◊ (Great R N) Sitta tephronota Seen very well at Durnalik, Isikli and Halfeti. Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla Three were seen at a woodland near Gerede. Rosy Starling (Rose-coloured S) Pastor roseus Flocks of up to 40 birds seen near Bireçik, and 15 near Ispir.

Several fast-flying flocks of Rosy Starlings were seen near Bireçik. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris Common and widespread. Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus Four birds seen above Sivrikaya. Common Blackbird (Eurasian B) Turdus merula Small numbers seen at various locations. Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Only seen at Gerede. Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Seen at Akseki, Gerede and near Sivrikaya. European Robin Erithacus rubecula Only seen below Sivrikaya. Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos Seen at Yeniçaga and Gelinkaya. White-throated Robin ◊ Irania gutturalis This fabulous robin showed very well at Isikli and Durnalik.

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Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (R Bush R) Erythropygia galactotes Several birds seen at Bireçik and the Göksü Delta.

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin of the greyish syriaca subspecies. (John Fraser).

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Several seen in the mountains. Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus Males of the samamisicus ssp (Ehrenberg´s R) seen at Gerede.Note. European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola Only seen near Demirkazik and Yaniçaga. Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina Several birds seen at various localities, mostly in central Turkey.

Isabelline Wheatears are a feature of Central Turkey plains. (John Fraser)

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe A few birds seen in the mountains. Kurdish Wheatear ◊ Oenanthe xanthoprymna After some work, we eventually had good views of a pair at Isikli. Cyprus Wheatear ◊ (C Pied W) Oenanthe cypriaca Literally the first bird seen after getting out of the ferry in Cyprus. Eastern Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe (hispanica) melanoleuca Seen at various places, with up to 10 at Isikli. Finsch’s Wheatear ◊ Oenanthe finschii Two birds showed well at Isikli on the first day of the tour.

Female FInsch´s Wheatear. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

Common Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis Excellent views at Demirkazik.

    34 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius A total of six birds seen throughout the tour. Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Five scattered sightings. Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis A late migrant was seen near Nigde. Semicollared Flycatcher ◊ Ficedula semitorquata We enjoyed excellent views of this scarce bird at Gelinkaya. White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus A pair showed well feeding along the river below Sivrikaya. House Sparrow Passer domesticus Common and widespread. Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis Small numbers seen at various localities. Dead Sea Sparrow ◊ Passer moabiticus Several of these attractive looking sparrows were seen at Bireçik.

Male Dead-sea Sparrows are surely one of the best-looking sparrows in the world. (John Fraser)

Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus A single bird seen near Bozova. Pale Rockfinch ◊ Carpospiza brachydactyla Ten birds were seen at Isikli on the first day.

In some years, Pale Rockfinches can be almost absent from their breeding areas, although luckily it wasn´t the case this year. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia Seen at widely scattered locations throughout the tour. Yellow-throated Sparrow (Chestnut-shouldered S) Gymnoris xanthocollis Seen at Bireçik and near Nizip. White-winged Snowfinch (Eurasian S) Montifringilla nivalis Great views of this delightful bird at Demirkazik.

A nice and confiding White-winged Snowfinch at Demirkazik. (John Fraser)

    35 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris Five at Demirkazik and a pair at Ovit Gecidi pass.

Alpine Accentor. (John Fraser)

Radde’s Accentor ◊ Prunella ocularis Excellent views of two birds at Demirkazik.

Radde´s Accentor is one of the most-wanted species in Turkey. (Dani Lopez-Velasco and John Fraser)

Dunnock (Hedge Accentor) Prunella modularis Only seen near Sivrikaya. Black-headed (Western) Yellow Wagtail Motacilla (flava) feldegg Small numbers seen at various wetlands. Note.

Male Black-headed Yellow Wagtail. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

    36 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola A nice male was seen at Sultan Marshes. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea A total of seven birds seen throughout the trip, always near rivers. White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba Singles or pairs seen at various localities. Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis Singles at Gerede and Sorkun. Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus A single bird showed well at Goksu Delta. Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta Birds of the coutellii subspecies (Caucasian W P) seen at Sivrikaya and Ovit Gecidi. Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Small numbers noted at various woodland areas. Eurasian Bullfinch (Common B) Pyrrhula pyrrhula Three stunning males were seen very well at Gerede. Eurasian Crimson-winged Finch ◊ Rhodopechys sanguinea Ten birds were seen at Demirkazik. See Note.

We had good views of several Eurasian Crimson-winged Finches at Demirkazik. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

Common Rosefinch (Scarlet R) Carpodacus erythrinus Fairly common in the northeast. European Greenfinch Chloris chloris Fairly common and widespread. Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta Great views of three birds at Bireçik. Twite Linaria flavirostris Several birds of the distinctive brevirrostris subspecies seen at Ovit Gecidi and Sivrikaya. Common Linnet Linaria cannabina Widespread. Red Crossbill (Common C) Loxia curvirostra Small flocks were seen at various coniferous woodland areas. European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Fairly common and widespread. Red-fronted Serin ◊ Serinus pusillus Eight birds showed very well at Demirkazik. European Serin Serinus serinus Only seen around Gerede. Eurasian Siskin Carduelis spinus Two birds seen near Sivrikaya. Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra Fairly common and widespread. Rock Bunting Emberiza cia A singing bird was seen at Demirkazik. Cinereous Bunting ◊ Emberiza cineracea Six birds were seen at Isikli.

Male Cinereous Bunting of the yellowish semenowi subspecies. (Dani Lopez-Velasco)

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Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana A total of 7 birds were seen throughout the tour. Cretzschmar’s Bunting Emberiza caesia Four birds seen at Isikli and three at Uzuncaburç. Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala Fairly common and widespread.

Black-headed Buntings are both cracking and pleasantly common in Turkey. (John Fraser)

MAMMALS European Hare (Brown H) Lepus europaeus One was seen at Akseki. Persian Squirrel Sciurus anomalus Seen at Uzuncaburç and Akseki. European Souslik Spermophilus citellus Several seen around Dermirkazik.

European Souslik at Demirkazik. (John Fraser)

Red Fox Vulpes vulpes One was seen below Sivrikaya. Eastern Hedgehog (East European H) Erinaceus concolor One was seen near Gerede. Common Bottle-nosed Dolphin Tursiops truncatus A small pod was seen off Cyprus. Wild Goat (Ibex) Capra aegagrus Seen at Demirkazik.

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NOTES TO THE SYSTEMATIC LIST Asian Short-toed Lark Calandrella cheleensis Some authors, such as Roselaar, treat the population on the central plateau of Turkey (subspecies niethammeri) as part of the cheleensis group to which he gives full specific status under the name Asian Short-toed Lark. The IOC also accepts this, and therefore this form is included here as Asian Short-toed Lark C cheleensis. Further research, however, as well as the information that will appear in the soon to be published Handbook of Western Palearctic Birds, by Hadoram Shirihai and Lars Svensson, might help shed some light on this thorny issue. Caucasian (Mountain) Chiffchaff Phylloscopus sindianus lorenzii This form has variously been lumped in Common Chiffchaff P. collybita or Mountain Chiffchaff P. sindianus. Nowadays, the IOC treats the form occurring in Turkey, lorenzii, as part of Mountain Chiffchaff P sindianus. However, there is an increasing tendency to treat lorenzii as a species in its own right, and the IOC might split it in the future. Caspian (Eurasian) Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus fuscus Several authors, as well as the IOC, lump this eastern form in European Reed Warbler using the name European Reed Warbler for the enlarged species, although others give this subspecies full specific status. Caspian Reed Warbler is the breeding form in Turkey. However, European Reed Warbler passes through Turkey and may be overlooked. The two are notoriously difficult to identify in the field, although, amongst other things, fuscus tends to show colder plumage tones than scirpaceus Common (Ehrenberg´s) Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus samamisicus Common Redstarts breeding in central and eastern Turkey belong to the distinctive samamisicus subspecies, which shows a striking white wing panel, and are called Ehrenberg´s Redstart. As for now, the IOC doesn´t recognize this form as a separate species. Black-headed (Western) Yellow Wagtail Motacilla [flava] feldegg The IOC has split off “Yellow Wagtail” into Western Yellow Wagtail M.flava (with various forms occurring in Turkey) and Eastern Yellow Wagtail M. tschutschensis, both comprising many different subspecies. Some authors have proposed that all these forms in the Yellow Wagtail M. flava complex should be split off as separate species. Whilst we have not totally adopted this treatment, we have treated each of the proposed splits as ‘allospecies’. Each allospecies has a distinct English name (most of which were already in widespread colloquial use) and is identified in its scientific name by a trinomial with the superspecies name preceding it in square brackets. We have adopted this treatment to facilitate the accurate recording of the forms encountered. Eurasian Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguinea Crimson-winged Finch has now been splits off into African (R. alienus) and Eurasian (R. sanguineus) Crimson-winged Finches. Eurasian Crimson-winged Finch would then become monotypic and would be restricted to the Middle East and Western Asia. Twite Carduelis flavirostris The Asian populations of the brevirostris group are morphologically distinct from the nominate group of NW Europe and may well deserve recognition as a distinct species.

    39 BirdQuest Tour Report: Turkey & Cyprus 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com