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

2006: First observed 18.5 4 Baskarschmag. Abundant throughout eastern Turkey, with largest
numbers 21.5 80 Kars-Halikisla – 21.5 10 Halikisla-Igdir – 22.5 25 Bendimahi Marshes-Van – 22.5
25 Van Hills. Westernmost observation 23.5 1 Silvan-Diyarbakir.
2007: First noted 16.5 1 Demirkazik – 16.5 5 Cucurbak-Elmali – 16.5 5 Elmali-Kavdarli – 17.5 3
Cöl Gölü – 18.5 3 Askale-Gelinkaya. Abundant in the east, most 20.5 20 Kars-Halikisla -20.5 15
Halikisla – 21.5 30 Serpmetas – southwesternmost observations 24.5 4 Nemrut Dagi – 24.5 1
Damlica.
171. Shore Lark Eremohila alpestris penicillata Bjerglærke
2005: 14.5 1 Demirkazik - 14.5 4 near Cucurbak - 16.5 9 Ovitdagi Gecedi (2800 m.) - 18.5 5 Ishak
Pasa - 18.5 4 Tendurek Gecidi (2644 m.) - 19.5 5 Ishak Pasa - 19.5 2 Caldiran.
2006: 16.5 12 Demirkazik – 18.5 6 Ovitdagi Gecedi – 19.5 4 Ovitdagi Gecedi – 21.5 2 Ishak Pasa –
22.5 2 Ishak Pasa – 22.5 3 Tendürük Gecedi – 22.5 2 Gulicar.
2007: 15.5 2 Demirkazik – 18.5 6 Ovitdagi Gecedi – 19.5 1 Cam Gecedi – 23.58 Nemrut Dagi
Occures in highland plains and stone-covered hillsides with sparse vegetation up to the snowcovered,
hardly vegetated region. All observations were made >1700 m. Several breeding pairs
involved.
Penicillata is a strange-looking taxon! The yellowish-white throat is completely surrounded by
black, in certain males leaving a characteristic "black-faced" impression; the connection rarely
appears thin and almost broken. Has pale yellow tinge to throat, but sometimes weak enough to
create a white-throated impression, probably affected by wear. Male have curious long, bowed
"viking-helmet" horns, and often showed a strong pinkish-buff tinge to hindneck. Upperparts
otherwise rather pale brownish-grey, at most with very faint greyer streaks. Females had less
developed black head-pattern, often slighlty pale-spotted forehead, shorter horns and greyer- more
streaked mantle.
Certain birds matched bicornis (S Asia Minor and Levant; (Svensson 1994), Lebanon (Cramp
(1988) in nape to mantle being almost uniform pinkish-buff and face white. Cramp (1988) claims
that "specimens examined from Ankara and Taurus belongs to neither race". Probably, this is
caused by individual variation in penicillata as such birds also observed well to the north, away
from range of bicornis.
172. Sand Martin Riparia riparia Digesvale
Locally very common.
2005: Most 20.5 1000 South Van Marshes and 21.5 at least 5.000 gravel pits north of Birezik (at
breeding colony). Otherwise regularly seen in hundreds.
2006: Most 14.5 400 Göksu Delta – 17.5 2.000 Sultan Sazligi – 22.5 600 Bendimahi Marshes, Van
Gölü – 22-23.5 daily max. 500 South Van Marshes – 25.5 600 Birezik.
2007: Most 14.5 400 Akgöl, Göksu Delta – 21.5 200 Bulanik – 22.5 300 Sucete, Raman Dagi –
22.5 50 Hasankeyf – 24.5 500 Birezik – 25.5 100 Birezik plantations.
173. Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris Klippesvale
Widespread in hilly and mountain areas.
2005: 13.5 4 Pozanti - 14.5 2 Canardi - 14.5 10 Demirkazik - 14.5 2 Cucurbag - 14,5 1 Kalki dag -
16.5 1 Basmarschmag - 16.5 2 Gelinkaya - 16.5 10 Ovitdagi Gecedi - 17.5 2 Hopa - 17.5 3 Artvin -
17.5 1 Ardahan - 18.5 1 Igdir - 19.5 5 Van Hills - 20.5 5 Baykan - 22.5 10 Durnalik
2006: 15.5 1 Adabag-Pozanti – 16.5 10 Cimbar Bogazi, Demirkazik – 16.5 50 Kalki Dag – 18.5 3
Mercan-Askale – 18.5 1 Gelinkaya – 19.5 4 Sivri Kaya – 20.5 1 Izikdere-Deberapazi – 20.5 1