Euphrates in early morning sunlight |
Down at the waters edge the early morning sunlight made the nearby bridge and accompanying reflections a delight. Soon we were off on our official pre-breakfast trip to Birecik Gravel Pits - another reminder of North Kent! Similar species too - mallard, reed warbler, chiffchaff, house sparrow, sand martin (here there are two large nesting colonies), moorhen, coot and little grebe.
Bald Ibis |
Lilac-breasted Roller |
One of the target species for this early morning jaunt was Iraq babbler and it wasn't too long before Mitko had found a pair, as we watched them perch high up in the reeds a little bittern flew in. Some briefly spotted a marsh warbler, but it was only a fleeting glimpse. Menetries warbler was another star of the day, singing from the back of a tree and proving how challenging birdwatching can sometimes be!
Soon breakfast called and we made our way back to base. Fed and watered we decided to give the owl another go on our way out. The park warden had prepared himself well and armed with his binoculars he pointed straight at the owl perched mid-height in the first tree we had checked the day before. As we watched, a small group of locals started to gather and then starling and buntings began to mob, forcing the owl higher in the tree. We decided the owl had had enough attention from man and birds for one day and left for our next port of call.
Pallid Scops Owl |
Birding side-tracks alongside the Euphrates River we caught up with dead sea sparrow, and their nest. Golden oriole showed well to some of us and not at all to others!
Birecik reservoir was next - we walked along the gravel bank getting great views of red-crested pochard female and seven chicks, two pied kingfisher hovering and feeding - there appeared to be an exchange of a small fish at one stage. Pygmy cormorant, ferruginous duck, common sandpiper, wood sandpiper, temminck's stint, willow warbler, great crested grebe, rufous bush-chat, and a flock of slender billed gulls were seen. Many spotted flycatchers were around, in fact they were numerous throughout the day. On our way back into town we stopped at the bald ibis centre where they are provided with a safe haven for them to come and go as they please, but where food and nesting sites have been provided. Our enthusiastic guide explained how few there were and how they are being supported both in Turkey and Syria. Unfortunately the person heading up the Syrian project had recently been killed in the unrest, and no up to date information was available on the birds there.
See-see Partridge |
During the course of the afternoon we arrived at an area that was supposedly good for coursers and partridge. We wandered up a steep incline, looked at wild flowers, the occasional insect, admired the view but all decided that this had been an "unnecessary walk". Time to move on and find a rather more necessary destination!
The Unnecessary Walk |
We got back to town with a few drops falling and just had time to check the cliffs one last time for little swift. Sure enough, Trevor spotted some alpine swift ahead of us and as in previous years the little swift were with them. It was great to see the comparison between alpine and little - both size and shape with the little swift blunt tail showing well against the ever-darkening sky. We just got back to the hotel in time as the heavens opened and the daily afternoon clearing up shower took it's hold. Dinner in the restaurant, and then off to bed before our last full day in Turkey tomorrow.