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

2006: Most 14.5 300 Akgöl, Göksu Delta – 17.5 100 Sivas – 21.5 20 Ardahan – 21.5 80 Kars – 22.5
200 Bendimahi Marshes, Van Gölü – 25.5 130 Birezik (several pairs with youngs).
2007: Most 14.5 160 Akgöl, Göksu Delta – 17.5 30 Tödürge Gölü – 18.5 80 Erzinzan-Altunkent-
20.5 40 Ardahan – 20.5 50 Kars – 20.5 300 Saz Gölü – 21.5 250 Aydinlar -25.5 250 (several pairs
with youngs) River Euphrates S of Birezik
81. Purple Swamphen Porpohyrio porphyrio caspius Sultanhøne
2005: 13.5 4 Akgöl, Göksu Delta.
2006: 14.5 7 Akgöl, Göksu Delta.
2007: 14.5 15 Akgöl, Göksu Delta.
In Turkey represented by the grey-headed taxon caspius, sometimes regarded as a species of its
own. The Göksu Delta holds most of the Turkish population of 100-300 pairs. Best seen (although
rather distant) at the observation tower at Akgöl, and especially at the new small observation tower
on the northern edge of Akgöl.
In recent decades also observed at Ceyhan Delta, Akyatan Gölü and River Euphrates 10-15 km.
south of Birezik, at latter site up to 10 in May 2007 (Green & Moorhouse 1994, Blomdahl 2007, P.
van der Heide & Olof Jönsson per e-mail).
82. Common Crane Grus grus Trane
2005: 17.5 1 at nest in swamp area east of Ardahan - 18.5 1 at nest in large swamp near Igdir.
2006: 17.5 2 (pair with nest) Sivas – 17.5 1 Sivas-Kizildag Gecedi – 21.5 2 Ardahan.
2007: 17.5 3 (of which a pair with nest) Sivas – 17.5 2 Tödürge Gölü -20.5 1 Ardahan.
The Turkish population is 100 -300 pairs, mainly in the highlands of Central and E Anatolia.
83. Great Bustard Otis tarda Stortrappe
2007: 21.5 1 Bulanik north of river Murat, NW of Rustemgedik.
Local breeding bird in C and E Turkey, mainly between Mus and eastwards to the Iranian border.
Turkish population 145-4000 pairs (Tucker & Heath 1994). The main area is the steppe and arable
landscape at Bulanik, especially north of the River Murat. Here up to 155 birds gathers in spring
(Soner Bekir pers. comm), and onto mid May flocks still occurs, e.g. 75 NW of Rustemgedik and
26 north of Yoncali in 2007 (Olof Jönsson in sms). In both Gosney (1992) and Green & Moorhouse
(1995) the area is not well described and areas N of river Murat largely ignored.
The best areas are reached from northbound roads at Rustemgedik. Here, turn left in the middle og
the village (when a red brick house is visible) and follow the road across river Murat. Here, scan the
fields for bustards (and cranes – see Demoiselle Crane), then drive north for some km.´s to a
unnamed village. Here, turn west at dirt road for 1-5 km. The road passes a hill on the left in the
direction of River Murat. From the top of the hill, 75 bustards were seen in one morning in May
2007. Continue along the dirt road to several small unnamed villages and scan the fields. It is easy
to keep the direction to the River Murat, either via compass or smiply note the large mountains in
the background. Another very good areas for bustards are the agricultural land north of Yoncali ca.
10 km. west of Bulanik. Take roads leading north across the bridge at River Murat and search in the
vicinity of the villages Adidar, Saripinar, Siradere and Sehittahir (Sober Bekir pers. comm).
Other areas are Tuz Gölü (e.g. small group observed by DOF Excursion 1970) and semi-desert
around Ceylanpinar.
84. Oystercatcher Haematopus ostrelegus Strandskade
2005: 16.5 3 between Erzinzan.and Mescan.
2006: 14.5 2 Göksu Delta.