TURKEY - a report from a birdwatching trip to Central ... - Netfugl.dk

61. Steppe (Common) Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus Steppevåge (Musvåge)
2005: Most noticeable was 255 2 nd cal. years migrating at Hopa during the massive Honey Buzzard
migration 18.5. Otherwise frequently observed, especially in wooden areas, although never
matching Long-legged Buzzard in numbers. Some beautiful foxy-red birds observed.
2006: On migration: 19.5 204 Kalkandere – 20.5 10 Izikdere-Hopa – 20.5 160 Hopa – 20.5 29
Borcka. All migrating involved 2 cal. Year birds. Otherwise rather common in wooden hilly
landscape, most 17.5 3 Karhan – 19.5 4 Sivri Kaya – 20.5 3 Ardahan-Kars.
2007: Rather widespread throughout, with some concentration of probably settling migratory birds,
most 19.5 15 Cam Gecedi – 20.5 4 Tendürek Gecedi. On migration 18.5 7 Toprakkale between
Yoncalic and Maden Köprubasi – 18.5 2 Maden Köprubasi – 19.5 229 Hopa (1 3 rd cal. year, the rest
2 nd cal. years).
The breeding population of Turkey is estimated to 5.000-25.000 pairs (Gensbøl 1995) mainly in the
northern part of the country.
In spring migration, 136.327 counted at NE Pontics in 1994, with peak first half of April. At Eilat,
Israel max. 465.827 counted in spring, with max. Day counts of 130.000 (Shirihai et al. 2000).
Autumn migration at Borcksa/Arhavi in NE-Turkey is massive, with 205.000 counted in 1976
daily max. 55.000), and around 200.000 in 1985 (M. Henriksen pers. comm). Controversially, the
species is much scarcer in Eilat in autumn, where majority crossed Red Sea via Saudi Arabia and
Yemen to Djibouti and on to the wintering quarters in East Africa.
A frustrating large individual observed Ardahan in May 2007.
62. Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus Hvepsevåge
2005: 18.5 extensive migration along the Black Sea Coast: at around 08:00 245 passed Rize in a
single group, and between 10:15 and 12:20 3.615 passed Hopa. The migration was easily observed
from the outskirts of the town; we predicted the light easterly wind to make the crossing
immediately east of the town, which proved right! Other observations: 17.5 19 migrating Ovitdagi
Gecedi – 19.5 17 migrating Halikisla – 20.5 1 Gulicar – 21.5 1 Birezik.
2006: On migration: 18.5 170 ad. Kalkandere – 20.5 17 Debarapazi-Hoba – 20.5 480 Hopa – 20.5 1
Borcka. Other observations: 18.5 1 ad. Mercan-Askale – 20.5 1 Artvin-Savsat – 24.5 1 ad. Siverik-
Kahta – 25.5 1 Birezik.
2007: 19.5 470 ad. migrating Hopa – 22.5 2 migrating Sucete, Raman Dagi – 23.5 1 migrating
Diyarbakir-Siverik – 25.5 1 migrating River Euphrates S of Birezik.
Regarding the very large migration noted autumn 1976 at Borcksa (137.600), we suspected this
region to be a main migration routes used also in spring. At Eilat, Israel 250.000-850.000 pass each
spring with peak early May (Shirihai 1996) and daily counts exceeding 200.000! Of these, a
considerable part eventually heads for Europe via Iskenderun into Central and Western Turkey, but
still leaving hundreds of thousands possible heading for Eastern Russia and Central Asia. In spring
1994, 25.183 were counted during an 8 weeks survey (Magnin & Yarar 1997). In theory, days with
50-100.000 could pass Hopa area first part of May, but this is still to be discovered! 9.5 2004 1190
passed Kazbegi, Georgia (Alfrey & Spittle 2004). In NE-E- winds, the migration of raptors pass
near the Black Sea coastline, and are observed from the outskirs of the town. In light and westerly
winds the main migration pass higher up in the mountains, closer to the passes between Hopa and
Borcka.
Very few has visited this area in recent years in autumn. 7.9 2001 1191 Honey Buzzards among
with e.g. 369 Black Kites were passing near Hoba within a few hours (Wierda 2001).
It is recommended that more actual raptor migrations counts are being arranged, especially
regarding the huge amount of new information about ID and ageing published in recent years.
Scarce breeder in Turkey. Some hundreds pairs breeds, mainly in the NW (Gensbøl 1995).