Practical information:
Flight Brussels – Antalya – Brussels: Thomas Cook Airlines, 230,00 Euro/p incl taxes and insurance
Car: Hyundai 4d diesel airco (= upgrade on arrival) 11 days: 357,28 Euro, incl a 10 Euro tip to get this upgrade
Itinerary: Antalya – Side – Göksu Delta – Kızkalesi – Yumurtalık – Gaziantep – Adana – Karaman – Beyşehir – Akseki – Antalya
Accommodation:
Side: Beach House Hotel: 32,50 Euro/night double room breakfast, a relaxing and friendly place to stay, close to the Roman archaeological sites, which are very impressive, and also, hold plenty of migrants, mainly warblers, shrikes, wheatears and buntings.
Kızkalesi: Yaka Hotel: 36,00 Euro/night double room breakfast, a little paradise on its own, hardly ever felt so welcome anywhere. Yakup, the owner, kindly gives warmth to the place with smiles and stories and good wine. Only a 20 minutes drive away from the Göksu Delta.
Yumurtalık: Öztur Otel: 25,00 Euro/night double room breakfast, the best otel in this small coastal town, friendly people, clean rooms, good value. An excellent base from which to visit the Çukurova, Toprakkale and the more eastern sites around Gaziantep.
Dinner:
Generally paid about 25YTL/p (outside the hotel) for a (vegetarian) dish, incl wine. Large servings everywhere.
Trip:
Day 1 (05/04/08) Arrival & drive to Side
We left Brussels at 10:20, arriving in Antalya at 15:20, temperature 15°C, cloudy. To enter the country you first join the long visa queue and then the long immigration queue. We lost some time here trying to do this the other way around. After getting our rental car we drove to Side (1 hour) and checked in in the delightful Beach House Hotel. We sat down for three minutes and went to the Roman site, just a 150 m walk away along the beach. Passing through a small tunnel we suddenly stood in this magnificent free and open-air museum. Ruins and stones, we went almost 2000 years back into time. No fences, no gate, no nothing. From the beach you can walk in. There are dunes, a little orchard, a lot of scrub, four camels and the impressive signs of an ancient civilisation everywhere. As beautiful as it was unreal. And the whole area, the rocky ground and the bushes, ... alive with migrants: Rüppell’s Warbler 10+, Eastern Orphean Warbler 5+, Cretzschmar’s Bunting 15+, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear 2, Whinchat 1, Resident Crested Lark, Cetti’s Warbler, White-spectacled Bulbul easy. For food we went to Trio’s Restaurant: vegetarian curry with more than one glass of wine: 40 YTL (20 Euro) for two.
Day 2 (06/04/08) Drive to Kızkalesi
Some Spoonbills flying west in first light. We went to the Roman site again for a morning walk, producing many Sylvia warblers, mainly Rüppell’s, Eastern Orphean, Lesser Whitethroat. Pretty much the same species we saw yesterday but also a Masked Shrike and a Night Heron. At 10:30 we started our journey to Kızkalesi. We knew it is was a long drive, we knew the Turks call it the snake road, but on the map it looks ok really. Paul McCartney must have been in this part of the country when he was inspired to write ‘The long and winding road’. Anyway it took us 7 hours to get to Kızkalesi and we declared to each other we were never ever going to take that road again. The scenery was great though and we had a stop at Mamure Kalesi (near Anamur), a famous, big and well-preserved 12th century castle. Weather along the way was not so good: rain at times and quite windy. At 17:30 we arrived in Kızkalesi and had a very warm welcome at the Yaka Hotel. Went for a short evening walk along the beach, with the impressive Maiden’s Castle sitting 200m out in the sea; and in the scrubby hills close to town, with sarcophagi scattered about. Laughing Dove is common in town. Had strawberries with whipped cream for dinner..
Day 3 (07/04/08) Göksu Delta and Valley
Disaster struck us. Our visit to the Göksu delta got blown away. Force 9 at sea and 8 in the coastal area. Bad luck. We could hardly get out of the car and only a fraction of what this fantastic wetland has to offer seemed to be present. Best bird of the day was definitely an imm Eastern Imperial Eagle, passing by at close range. The lakes were devoid of birds, anything smaller than an Imperial Eagle must have been sheltering. Ok, we saw some but got so frustrated with the storm that we forgot to enjoy it all. Well, here’s the list: White Stork, Short-toed Eagle, Marsh Harrier,Green Sandpiper, Temminck’s Stint, Little Stint, Spur-winged Lapwing, Black-winged Stilt, Glossy Ibis, Great Egret, Night Heron, Wigeon, Wryneck, Black-headed Wagtail, Ruddy Shelduck, Corn Bunting. Around noon we moved inland to the Göksu valley, west of Silifke. Wind couldn’t reach us here. Birding was fine with constantly some raptors overhead: Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle, Peregrine Falcon. Noisy Western Rock Nuthatches everywhere and plenty of Red-Rumped Swallows. Went back to Kızkalesi on the coast. Still as windy as it was before, but we saw some Audouin’s Gulls with the Maiden’s Castle and the setting sun in the background and the windscreen of our car on the foreground.
Day 4 (08/04/08) Göksu Delta and drive to Yumurtalık
Wind has dropped! We planned to drive further east in the afternoon and to spend the morning in the Göksu delta. What a difference with yesterday. The diversity and the sheer numbers of birds! We were a bit short of time, so couldn’t work the whole area but here are some of the highlights: Pallid Harrier 2 ad males, Steppe Eagle 1, Glossy Ibis, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, White Stork, Stone-curlew, Spur-winged Lapwing, Gull-billed Tern, Alpine Swift, Wryneck (same bird as yesterday but more happy), Calandra Lark, Greater Short-toed Lark, Red-throated Pipit, Woodchat Shrike, Whinchat, Graceful Prinia. In the afternoon we drove to our third base of operations, the Öztur Otel in Yumurtalık. This only took us about 3 hours along the excellent low-traffic toll motorway that starts in Mersin. Yumurtalık is a small coastal village in the Çukurova, Turkey’s largest alluvial plain, formed by the rivers Seyhan and Ceyhan. On the map it looks a bit like an enormous Göksu delta, and indeed, there are a lot of similarities: Flat (more or less), a lot of agriculture and many interesting wetlands. It is not an easy area to explore but on the other hand surprises await everywhere. During spring, many migrants cross the Gulf of Iskenderun, especially during easterly winds, making a stop in the food-rich Çukurova.
Day 5 (09/04/08) Çukurova
Disaster struck us again with its same cheap weapon: storm! Anyway, we went for it, taking cover and shelter wherever we could. On the road to Karataş and Tuzla we stopped here and there along the way and this produced a lot of birds: Corn Crake (1 calling), Black Francolin (2 calling), Short-toed Eagle, Calandra and Greater Short-toed Lark (many singing), White Stork, Spanish Sparrow (numerous), Kentish Plover, Common Crane, Pied Wheatear (1 male), Collared Patincole (hundreds), Great White Pelican (1 migrating), Red-rumped Swallow (numerous). A lot of birds were also present at Tuzla Gölü and, in spite of the wind, we had good views of Caspian Tern, Little Gull, Common Kingfisher, Kentish Plover, Nightingale, Wigeon, Teal, Garganey, Little Grebe, Greater Flamingo (800). The last hours of the day we spent in the eucalyptus forest south of Tarsus, a well known site for White-throated Kingfishers. Their calls are very distintive and very loud, so they‘re not so hard to find. We saw 3 or 4 individuals and heard some more calling. Other birds included Scops Owl, Greenfinch and Blackcap. Most of the day was a little disappointing due to the strong winds but this woodland was just great. In Adana, on the way back, we saw the very conspicious and attractive Sabancı Merkez Cami, the biggest mosque between Istanbul and Saudi Arabia, and then saw the very conspicious and less attractive McDonald, went in, sat down, had food, and had a smoke..inside. Best McDo ever.
Day 6 (10/04/08) Gulf of Iskenderun
Mosquitoes and prayers had given us a short night, but weather was fine again. This looked like a good raptor day. Roughly, the lowland between Ceyhan and Osmaniye is on the migration route. It’s a vast area, you need to drive a while before finding good lookouts (came across a nice colony of Bee-eaters this way) but it is worth the effort for large numbers of raptors and storks ride the thermals here. We didn’t give it too much time all together but here is what we had at different locations: Buzzard (50+), Long-legged Buzzard (30+), Short-toed Eagle (3), Lesser Spotted Eagle (30+), Black Kite (1), Alpine Swift (many), Common Crane (50+), Spanish Sparrow (1000s), White Stork (700). Sites included Toprakkale (with Chukar calling) and Yılankale (Snake Castle). Especially the Snake Castle is an incredible place to see. Birds here included Blue Rock Thrush, Little Swift and, surprisingly, White-throated Kingfisher. We had at least 4 birds in the arable land around the castle hill. And, not far from there, hovering above the Ceyhan river, that’s right.. Pied Kingfisher as well. On the way back, near Yumurtalık we heard quite many Black Francolins singing, but not a glimpse, and didn’t feel like flushing one. We ended the day with a very nice evening walk through fields and dunes and marshes about 15 km south-west of Yumurtalık. Common Crane, Marsh Harrier, Greater Short-toed Lark (70), Black-headed (many) and Blue-headed Wagtail (few), Hoopoe, Collared Pratincole (15) and, at last, a good view of a female Black Francolin. Back in Yumurtalık around 19:30. Had dinner in one of the three seashore restaurants. Omelette with feta, salad, french fries, macaroni, plenty, great and 25 YTL/p.
Day 7 (11/04/08) Gaziantep
We took the O-52 motorway east. A lot of migrating raptors and storks along the way in the area we visited yesterday. Several small flocks of Lesser-spotted Eagle. The fast O-52 is not the place to pull over, and besides, we were on a mission. We explored some hilly and stony areas near Gaziantep and this produced Hoopoe, Sombre Tit, Starling, Rock Dove and 8 migrating Black Kites. We went to Durnalık in the afternoon. Cool! We had Eastern Rock Nuthatch instantly. Too early in spring though for some of the more interesting summer visitors. Went along the path past the orchard. Lots of birds: White-spectacled Bulbul, Chiffchaff (many), some more Eastern and Western Rock Nuthatches, Sombre Tit, Rock Dove, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Common Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Collared Flycatcher (1 male), Eastern Orphean Warbler, Syrian Woodpecker. Time flies on days like these, but before turning back to the hotel we chiefly walked around a bit in the area south-east of Islahiye, very close to the Syrian border. It all looked very promising here but it got dark too fast. Best birds were White and Black Stork and a female Pallid Harrier. Back in Yumurtalık around 9 pm.
Day 8 (12/04/08) Drive to Side (inland route)
We left Yumurtalık at 8:30, determined not to take the very long, endlessly winding coastal road west towards Antalya. Up to Silifke traffic is straight and very smooth, but past this place, not at all, so here we went inland, and drove via Mut, Karaman and Bozkır. But here’s reality, there is no easy solution in passing the Taurus range, for these are truly mountains. Scenery again was magnificent, Raven and Lesser Kestrel were too. The high plateau north of the Taurus mountains is spectacular as well. We passed through a great steppe area west of Karaman and stopped near the village of Kayacılar, about 20 km east of Bozkır. Birding was superb here, with Bimaculated Lark (singing), Greater Short-toed Lark (many), Hoopoe, Isabelline Wheatear (many), Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Western Rock Nuthatch, Rock Sparrow, Serin. Continuing west we drove through the village of Sorkun, 15 km west of Bozkır. Several noisy and nervous flocks of Red-fronted Serin caught our attention. There must have been about a 150 of these birds! Further west is the Alacabel mountain pass (1824m). Many semi-high altitude birds here including Crossbill, Sombre Tit, Raven, Wood Lark, Serin, Wood Pigeon, Wheatear, Coal Tit and several Krüper’s Nuthatches. And off we went again. Finally arived in Side at 18:30, same Beach House Hotel, same ruins nearby. So we walked around there again: Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike(5+), Lesser Whitethroat, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Whitethroat, Rüppell’s Warbler 10+, Cetti’s Warbler, Cuckoo. It sure had been a long and tiring drive, but never saw so many different and spectacular landscapes in one day. And it was nice to be back in Side, it felt familiar and we knew the way to Trio’s Restaurant, curry and goulash, wine and apple tea. Costs 34 YTL all together.
Day 9 (13/04/08) Köprülü Kanyon
First things first, another morning walk in the field of ruins: about the same birds as yesterday evening, but at least 5 Barred Warblers had joined their company. After breakfast we drove to the Köprülü Kanyon and all the way up to the ancient Roman city of Selge. Had Dipper and Grey Wagtail along the river. Also a lot of woodland birds: Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Krüper’s Nuthatch, Goshawk (2), Serin. Higher up we added Blue Rock Trush, Western Rock Nuthatch and Griffon Vulture (5) to the day list. Here follows how not to do mountain roadside birding. 1: as you drive up a mountain road, constantly scan for raptors with open windows. 2: once you think you might have discovered something soaring, pull the handbrake, but not all the way up. 3: jump out of the car all excited, look at another Long-legged Buzzard, and then look at the car, all excited again, which is now going backwards on the steep mountain road. If you’re really really lucky, your wife might still be in the car, in which case you can run alongside the vehicle and communicate through the open window explaining that the handbrake has to be pulled higher up. At the end of each day there had been some incident that we considered ‘the thrill of the day’ but this was the thrill of the decade. Anyway, we both made it safe and sound to Selge. In Selge the theatre is fantastic and not to be missed. Back in Side we had a walk in the dunes before dusk, producing Tawny Pipit (2) and Lesser Short-Toed Lark (10). Dinner on the terrace of the Soundwaves Restaurant. Vegetable pancake, french fries etc, at 25 YTL/p. We ended the night at the Stones Bar: good music, cocktails (try one get one free).
Day 10 (14/04/08) Lake Beyşehir
Went far inland, all the way to Beyşehir Gölü. Through the Taurus mountains again of course: Short-toed Eagle (several), Booted Eagle (1), Sparrowhawk, Long-legged Buzzard (several), Raven (common), Mistle Thrush, Krüper’s Nuthatch (5+), Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. Beyşehir Gölü is a vast lake, with a variety of shore habitats. Birds here include: Black-headed Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Common Tern, Black-winged Stilt, Rook, Marsh Harrier, Calandra Lark. Isabelline Wheatear, Corn Bunting. In late afternoon, on the way back, we made a stop near the Alacabel mountain pass and stayed until dusk: Rock Bunting, Siskin, Crag Martin, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Blue Rock Thrush and European Souslik. In mountains, these diurnal mammals live on grassy plains. Several suitable sites can be found along the Akseki – Seydişehir road. Look for somewhat larger, often lower lying short-grassed meadows just next to the road, we saw several individuals and had superb views. Back in Side we went to the Stones Bar again, for dinner this time, but we could still try one cocktail and get one free.
Day 11 (15/04/08) Akseki & Manavgat
We visited the surroundings of Akseki. A high diversity of birds here, including Crossbill, Tree Pipit, Wood Lark, Serin, Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Krüper’s Nuthatch, Cuckoo, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Red-rumped Swallow, Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Common Redstart, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Masked Shrike, Raven, Jay. European Souslik and Persian Squirrel were quite easy as well. But right: no woodpeckers anywhere! Found it reasonably easy some years ago. Had the feeling that for these species density is much lower now. We didn’t use a tape but waited patiently and listened carefully. Maybe bad luck, or a bad search, or temperature rising too fast this particular morning. Should try again say mid March or so. The last hours of the day, thus the final moments of our trip, were spent on the coast again, on the beach along the river Manavgat. Absolutely fantastic: Collared Pratincole (30+), Glossy Ibis (flock), Little Egret (large flock), Spotted Redshank (1), Green Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, Garganey (350), Sand Martin, Sandwich Tern, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull (130), Little Gull (30+), Slender-billed Gull (150). Back to the hotel then, packing, we did not like the packing..
Day 12 (16/04/08) Morning departure
Very windy again, but never mind, we had to catch a flight.
Systematic bird list (186 species)
·Ruddy Shelduck – Tadorna ferruginea – Casarca: Göksu Delta
·Shelduck – Tadorna tadorna – Bergeend
·Tufted Duck – Aythya fuligula – Kuifeend
·Wigeon – Anas penelope – Smient
·Shoveler – Anas clypeata – Slobeend
·Mallard – Anas platyrhynchos – Wilde Eend
·Garganey – Anas querquedula – Zomertaling: Common, with large migrating flocks along the coast
·Teal – Anas crecca – Wintertaling
·Chukar – Alectoris chukar – Aziatische Steenpatrijs: Toprakkale
·Black Francolin – Francolinus francolinus – Zwarte Frankolijn: Frequently heard in the Çukurova, not an easy bird to get a view of
·Quail – Coturnix coturnix – Kwartel: Common migrant and summer visitor (partial resident)
·Great Cormorant – Phalacrocorax carbo – Aalscholver
·Shag – Phalacrocorax aristotelis – Kuifaalscholver: Quite common on the (rocky) coast
·Great White Pelican – Pelecanus onocrotalus – Roze Pelikaan: 09/04, 1 migrating over the Çukurova
·Black-crowned Night Heron – Nycticorax nycticorax – Kwak: Common migrant and local breeder
·Squacco Heron – Ardeola ralloides – Ralreiger: Common migrant and local breeder
·Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis – Koereiger: 06/04, party of 20 near Bozyazı
·Little Egret – Egretta garzetta – Kleine Zilverreiger: Common
·Great Egret – Casmerodius albus – Grote Zilverreiger: Quite common
·Grey Heron – Ardea cinerea – Blauwe Reiger
·Purple Heron – Ardea purpurea – Purperreiger: Quite common
·Black Stork – Ciconia nigra – Zwarte Ooievaar: 11/04, small numbers at Tahtaköprü Baraji (15km south-east of Islahiye, at the Syrian border)
·White Stork – Ciconia ciconia – Ooievaar: Widespread, with large numbers migrating north of the Gulf of Iskenderun, also regularly seen at nest.
·Glossy Ibis – Plegadis falcinellus – Zwarte Ibis: Quite common migrant and local breeder, seen regularly
·Spoonbill – Platalea leucorodia – Lepelaar: Quite common migrant and local breeder, seen regularly
·Greater Flamingo – Phoenicopterus roseus – Flamingo: 09/04, 800 at Tuzla Gölü
·Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis – Dodaars
·Great Crested Grebe – Podiceps cristatus- Fuut
·Black Kite – Milvus migrans – Zwarte Wouw: Small flocks (up to 8 birds) migrating north and east of the Gulf of Iskenderun
·Griffon Vulture – Gyps fulvus – Vale Gier: 13/04, 5 at the Köprülü Kanyon
·Short-toed Eagle – Circaetus gallicus – Slangenarend: Seen daily in low numbers
·Marsh Harrier – Circus aeruginosus – Bruine Kiekendief
·Pallid Harrier – Circus macrourus – Steppekiekendief: 08/04, 2 ad male in the Göksu Delta ; 11/04, 1 fem at Tahtaköprü Baraji (15km south-east of Islahiye, at the Syrian border)
·Goshawk – Accipiter gentilis – Havik: Regularly seen in mountainous habitat
·Sparrowhawk – Accipiter nisus – Sperwer
·Buzzard – Buteo buteo – Buizerd: incl vulpinus
·Long-legged Buzzard – Buteo rufinus – Arendbuizerd: Common in a variety of habitats
·Lesser Spotted Eagle – Aquila pomarina – Schreeuwarend: 10 & 11/04, small flocks (1-15) migrating through the Gulf of Iskenderun-area
·Booted Eagle – Aquila pennata – Dwergarend: 14/04, 1 in the Taurus mountains north of Manavgat
·Steppe Eagle – Aquila nipalensis – Steppearend: 08/04, 1 in the Göksu Delta
·Eastern Imperial Eagle – Aquila heliaca – Keizerarend: 07/04, 1 immature in the Göksu Delta
·Lesser Kestrel – Falco naumanni – Kleine Torenvalk: Seen on most days, but far less common than Common Kestrel
·Common Kestrel – Falco tinnunculus – Torenvalk
·Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus – Slechtvalk: 07/04, 1 in the Göksu valley, west of Silifke
·Corn Crake – Crex crex – Kwartelkoning: Several heard in the Çukurova
·Moorhen – Gallinula chloropus – Waterhoen
·Coot – Fulica atra – Meerkoet
·Common Crane – Grus grus – Kraanvogel: Regularly seen
·Oystercatcher – Haematopus ostralegus – Scholekster
·Black-winged Stilt – Himantopus himantopus – Steltkluut: Common
·Stone-curlew – Burhinus oedicnemus – Griel: 08/04, several birds in the Göksu Delta
·Collared Pratincole – Glareola pratincola – Vorkstaartplevier: 09/04, 500+ on dry fields in the Çukurova ; 10/04, 15 near Yumurtalık ; 15/04, 30+ on the beach of Manavgat
·Little Ringed Plover – Charadrius dubius – Kleine Plevier
·Ringed Plover – Charadrius hiaticula – Bontbekplevier
·Kentish Plover – Charadrius alexandrinus – Strandplevier
·Grey Plover – Pluvialis squatarola – Zilverplevier
·Spur-winged Lapwing – Vanellus spinosus – Sporenkievit: 07 & 08/04: Göksu Delta
·Lapwing – Vanellus vanellus – Kievit
·Little Stint – Calidris minuta – Kleine Strandloper
·Temminck’s Stint – Calidris temminckii – Temmincks Strandloper: Quite common
·Dunlin – Calidris alpina – Bonte Strandloper
·Ruff – Philomachus pugnax – Kemphaan
·Common Snipe – Gallinago gallinago – Watersnip
·Black-tailed Godwit – Limosa limosa – Grutto
·Common Sandpiper – Actitis hypoleucos – Oeverloper
·Green Sandpiper – Tringa ochropus – Witgat
·Spotted Redshank – Tringa erythropus – Zwarte Ruiter
·Greenshank – Tringa nebularia – Groenpootruiter
·Redshank – Tringa totanus – Tureluur
·Little Gull – Larus minutus – Dwergmeeuw
·Slender-billed Gull – Larus genei – Dunbekmeeuw: Not uncommon this time of year, mainly along the coast (max 15/04, 150 on the beach of Manavgat), but also seen inland (14/04, several at Beyşehir Gölü)
·Black-headed Gull – Larus ridibundus – Kokmeeuw
·Audouin’s Gull – Larus audouinii – Audouins Meeuw: 07/04, Kızkalesi, several birds at sea
·Mediterranean Gull – Larus melonocephalus – Zwartkopmeeuw: Quite common, max 15/04, 130 on beach of Manavgat
·Yellow-legged Gull – Larus michahellis – Geelpootmeeuw
·Lesser Black-backed Gull – Larus fuscus – Kleine Mantelmeeuw
·Little Tern – Sternula albifrons – Dwergstern
·Gull-billed Tern – Gelochelidon nilotica – Lachstern: Quite common
·Caspian Tern – Hydroprogne caspia – Reuzenstern: 09/04, Tuzla Gölü
·Sandwich Tern – Sterna sandvicensis – Grote Stern
·Common Tern – Sterna hirundo – Visdief
·Rock Dove – Columba livia – Rotsduif
·Wood Pigeon – Columba palumbus – Houtduif
·Collared Dove – Streptopelia decaocto – Turkse Tortel
·Laughing Dove – Streptopelia senegalensis – Palmtortel: Localy common, e.g. Kızkalesi
·Common Cuckoo – Cuculus canorus – Koekoek
·Scops Owl – Otus scops – Dwergooruil: Frequently heard
·Common Swift – Apus apus – Gierzwaluw
·Pallid Swift – Apus pallidus – Vale Gierzwaluw: Identified at Toprakkale
·Alpine Swift –Apus melba – Alpengierzwaluw: Quite common
·Little Swift – Apus affinis – Huisgierzwaluw: 10/04, 30+ at Yılankale (Snake Castle)
·White-throated Kingfisher – Halcyon smyrnensis – Smyrnaijsvogel: 09/04, 5+ south of Tarsus ; 10/04, 4+ near Yılankale (Snake Castle)
·Common Kingfisher – Alcedo atthis – IJsvogel
·Pied Kingfisher – Ceryle rudis – Bonte IJsvogel : 10/04, 1 at Ceyhan river, east of Ceyhan town
·Bee-eater – Merops apiaster – Bijeneter: 10/04, 25 at colony near Dörtyol
·Hoopoe – Upupa epops – Hop: Quite common
·Wryneck – Jynx torquilla – Draaihals: Quite common migrant
·Syrian Woodpecker – Dendrocopos syriacus – Syrische Bonte Specht: Regularly observed
·Calandra Lark – Melanocorypha calandra – Kalanderleeuwerik: Common, seen daily
·Bimaculated Lark – Melanocorypha bimaculata – Bergkalanderleeuwerik: Summer visitor ; 12/04, several near Kayacılar
·Greater Short-toed Lark – Calandrella brachydactyla – Kortteenleeuwerik: Common
·Lesser Short-toed Lark – Calandrella rufescens – Kleine Kortteenleeuwerik: Somewhat less common than previous species but observed almost daily
·Crested Lark – Galerida cristata – Kuifleeuwerik: Abundant
·Wood Lark – Lullula arborea – Boomleeuwerik: Not uncommon in the Taurus range, frequently seen or heard singing
·Skylark – Alauda arvensis – Veldleeuwerik
·Sand Martin – Riparia riparia – Oeverzwaluw
·Crag Martin – Ptyonoprogne rupestris – Rotszwaluw: 14/04, 10 near Alacabel mountain pass
·Barn Swallow – Hirundo rustica – Boerenzwaluw
·House Martin – Delichon urbicum – Huiszwaluw
·Red-rumped Swallow – Cecropis daurica – Roodstuitzwaluw: Common
·Tawny Pipit – Anthus campestris – Duinpieper: 13/04, 2 in Side
·Tree Pipit – Anthus trivialis – Boompieper: Common migrant and local breeder
·Meadow Pipit – Anthus pratensis – Graspieper
·Red-throated Pipit – Anthus cervinus – Roodkeelpieper: Common migrant
·Blue-headed Wagtail – Motacilla flava – Gele Kwikstaart
·Black-headed Wagtail – Motacilla feldegg – Balkankwikstaart: Abundant
·Grey Wagtail – Motacilla cinerea – Grote Gele Kwikstaart
·White Wagtail – Motacilla alba – Witte Kwikstaart
·White-spectacled Bulbul – Pycnonotus xanthopygos – Arabische Buulbuul: Common
·White-throated Dipper – Cinclus cinclus – Waterspreeuw: 13/04, Köprülü Kanyon
·Common Nightingale – Luscinia megarhynchos – Nachtegaal
·Black Redstart – Phoenicurus ochruros – Zwarte Roodstaart
·Common Redstart – Phoenicurus phoenicurus – Gekraagde Roodstaart
·Whinchat – Saxicola rubetra – Paapje
·Isabelline Wheatear – Oenanthe isabellina – Izabeltapuit: Common inland
·Northern Wheatear – Oenanthe oenanthe – Tapuit
·Pied Wheatear – Oenanthe pleschanka – Bonte Tapuit: O9/04, 1 male near Karataş
·Eastern Black-eared Wheatear – Oenanthe melanoleuca – Oostelijke Blonde Tapuit: Very common
·Blue Rock Thrush – Monticola solitarius – Blauwe Rotslijster: Quite common
·Blackbird – Turdus merula – Merel
·Mistle Thrush – Turdus viscivorus – Grote Lijster
·Cetti’s Warbler – Cettia cetti – Cetti’s Zanger: Common
·Graceful Prinia – Prinia gracilis – Gestreepte Prinia : 08/04, several in the Göksu delta
·Savi’s Warbler – Locustella luscinioides – Snor
·Reed Warbler – Acrocephalus scirpaceus – Kleine Karekiet
·Sedge Warbler – Acrocephalus schoenobaenus – Rietzanger
·Eastern Olivaceous Warbler – Acrocephalus pallidus – Oostelijke Vale Spotvogel: 15/04, 1 in Akseki
·Great Reed Warbler – Acrocephalus arundinaceus – Grote Karekiet: Locally quite common
·Sardinian Warbler – Sylvia melanocephala – Kleine Zwartkop: Local along the coast
·Rüppell’s Warbler – Sylvia rueppelli – Rüppells Grasmus: Common summer visitor, highest numbers at Side’s archaeological site
·Eastern Orphean Warbler – Sylvia crassirostris – Oostelijke Orpheusgrasmus: Common migrant and summer visitor, highest numbers at Side’s archaeological site
·Barred Warbler – Sylvia nisoria – Sperwergrasmus: No records before 13/04, but migration very conspicuous from then on, again highest numbers at Side’s archaeological site
·Lesser Whitethroat – Sylvia curruca – Braamsluiper
·Common Whitethroat – Sylvia communis – Grasmus
·Blackcap – Sylvia atricapilla – Zwartkop
·Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler – Phylloscopus orientalis – Balkanbergfluiter: 15/04, 1 in Akseki
·Common Chiffchaff – Phylloscopus collybita – Tjiftjaf
·Willow Warbler – Phylloscopus trochilus – Fitis
·Goldcrest – Regulus regulus – Goudhaan
·Collared Flycatcher – Ficedula albicollis – Withalsvliegenvanger: 11/04, 1 male in Durnalık
·Long-tailed Tit – Aegithalos caudatus – Staartmees
·Blue Tit – Cyanistes caeruleus – Pimpelmees
·Great Tit – Parus major – Koolmees
·Coal Tit – Periparus ater – Zwarte Mees
.Sombre Tit - Poecile lugubris - Rouwmees: Quite common
·Krüper’s Nuthatch – Sitta krueperi – Turkse Boomklever: Easily found in the wooded parts of the Taurus mountains, quite conspicuous
·Nuthatch – Sitta europaea – Boomklever
·Eastern Rock Nuthatch – Sitta tephronota – Grote Rotsklever: 11/4, 3+ in Durnalık
·Western Rock Nuthatch – Sitta neumayer – Rotsklever: Common
·Short-toed Treecreeper – Certhia brachydactyla – Boomkruiper
·Woodchat Shrike – Lanius senator – Roodkopklauwier: Common
·Masked Shrike – Lanius nubicus – Maskerklauwier: Chiefly seen in Side in the dunes and at the archaeological site, e.g. 5+ on 12/04
·Jay – Garrulus glandarius – Gaai
·Magpie – Pica pica – Ekster
·Alpine Chough – Pyrrhocorax graculus – Alpenkauw: Taurus mountains
·Red-billed Chough – Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax – Alpenkraai: Taurus mountains
·Jackdaw – Corvus monedula – Kauw
·Rook – Corvus frugilegus – Roek
·Hooded Crow – Corvus cornix – Bonte Kraai: Very common
·Raven – Corvus corax – Raaf: Common in the mountains
·Starling – Sturnus vulgaris – Spreeuw
·House Sparrow – Passer domesticus – Huismus
·Spanish Sparrow – Passer hispaniolensis – Spaanse Mus: Abundant in the Çukurova and around the Gulf of Iskenderun, resident and migrant (hundreds of flocks seen passing through!)
·Rock Sparrow – Petronia petronia – Rotsmus: Locally quite common
·Chaffinch – Fringilla coelebs – Vink
·Red-fronted Serin – Serinus pusillus – Roodvoorhoofdkanarie: 12/04, 150+ in Sorkun (15 km west of Bozkır)
·Serin – Serinus serinus – Europese Kanarie: Locally common (not at sea level)
·Greenfinch – Chloris chloris – Groenling
·Goldfinch – Carduelis carduelis – Putter
·Siskin – Carduelis spinus – Sijs
·Linnet – Carduelis cannabina – Kneu
·Crossbill – Loxia curvirostra – Kruisbek
·Rock Bunting – Emberiza cia – Grijze Gors: 14/04, 1 at Alacabel mountain pass
·Ortolan Bunting – Emberiza hortulana – Ortolaan: Quite common
·Cretzschmar’s Bunting – Emberiza caesia – Bruinkeelortolaan: Common summer visitor
·Corn Bunting – Emberiza calandra – Grauwe Gors: Common