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

2007: 24.5 and 25.5 2 Café Gülhane, Birezik (the owl cafe).
The 2005 bird posed freely from the trees just above the blue foountain near the main building. The
bird was never heard, but apart from wings penetrating slightly above the tail in certain positions,
all plumage characters observed and documented by several, most satisfied teams. In 2006, no birds
were present at the cafe area, but several observations done ca 5-800 m. further to the south along
the road along the river edge – in the vicinity of two, fenced football grounds and at the fire station.
In 2007, two lively birds were present at the 2005 site.
Sometimes reported from other areas in the Birezik region, including Halfeti. Overlaps in breeding
areas in SE Turkey, e.g. at Birezik, where claimed hybridization, but no real proofs.
Call would in most cases be the safest character if the bird not is seen very well: a loud and quick
series of diluted "wooh wooh wooh" - repeated once a second, thus quicker than the much more farcrying
and slower series from Scops Owl; typically only heard at close range.
When seen well, a paler and sandier bird than Scop´s Owl (looking like a real desert species), with
narrow streaks in crown and underbody, sandy sides to neck and buff line of spots in scapulars.
Wing generally shorter than in Scop´s Owl, often not reaching tip to pale, poorly barred tail. Wingtip
with narrow dark streaks. Feathers of tarsus do reach toes.
145. Alpine Swift Apus melba Alpesejler
2005: 13.5 6 Silifke - 14.5 10 Demirkazik, at lower part of the gorge - 17.5 2 migrating Hopa - 19.5
6 South Van Marshes - 23.5 2 Imamli - 24.5 1 Tarsus.
2006: 14.5 50 Istanbul – 14.5 3 Adana-Silifke – 16.5 4 Cirmar Bogazi, Demirkazik – 16.5 5
Cucurbak – 16.5 100 Kalki Dag – 17.5 4 Nigde – 19.5 1 migrating Kalkandere – 21-22.5 daily max.
30 Ishak Pasa – 23.5 20 Van Castle, Van – 24-26.5 daily max. 40 Birezik – 26.5 2 Adana.
2007: 14.5 2 Adana-Mersin – 14.5 7 Mersin-Erdemli – 15.5 75 Silifke – 15.5 3 Demirzili – 15.5 4
Imamli – 15.5 15 Pozanti-Demirkazik – 15.5 50 Demirkazik – 16.5 2 Cimbar Bogazi, Demirkazik –
18.5 30 Maden Köprubasi – 20.5 100 Ishak Pasa – 22.5 10 Hasankeyf – 25.5 45 clifs N of Birezik,
along River Euphrates.
146. Pallid Swift Apus pallidus Gråsejler
2005: 13.5 2 Silifke.
2006: 14.5 10 Adana-Silifke.
2007: 14.5 5 Tömük between Mersin and Erdemli.
The southeast corner of the Mediterranean region is the best area for this otherwise rather difficult
species in Turkey.
147. Common Swift Apus apus Mursejler
2005: Seen throughout, but rather scarce in the first part of the tour. 17.5 25 migrating Hopa was the
first larger numbers, followed by 20.5 130 South Van Marshes - 20.5 100 near Birezik - 22.5 100
Adana - 25.5 80 Adana Airport.
2006: Rather common, most 14.5 500 Adana-Silifke – 15.5 500 Karaman-Eregli – 16.5 400 Kalki
Dag – 16.5 100 Kalki Dag-Nigde – 21-22.5 daily max. 150 Ishak Pasa – 22.5 100 Dogubayazit –
23.5 200 Van – 23.5 150 South Van Marshes – 24-26.5 daily max. 200 Birezik.
2007: Most 15.5 100 Mersin-Pozanti – 16.5 150 Yesilhisar – 19.5 100 Ardahan -20.5 200 Kars –
20.5 400 Saz Gölü – 20.5 150 Dogubayazit – 20.5 450 Ishak Pasa – 22.5 200 Tatvan- 22.5 1.000
Bitlis – 22.5 120 Sucete, Raman Dagi – 22.5 100 Hasankeyf – 23.5 2500 Mardin – 23.5 100 Buzak
– 23.5 350 Buzak-Narince – 25.5 1500 cliffs N of Birezik, along river Euphrates.
The form pekingensis occurs in Eastern Turkey, judged from photoes, probably grading into
nominate apus. Pekingensis have slightly paler pinge to upper wing-coverts and ofter broader pale