Combination of sightseeing and very gentle-paced birding produced
Levantine Shearwater as the highlight, with a flock of 10 seen from a
ferry crossing the Bosphorus. Other notables included a migrating flock
of 30+
European Bee-eaters and a good passage of
Red-breasted Flycatchers
(the first one I got onto being a nice red bird),
Spotted Flycatchers
and
Chiffchaff.
 |
| Levantine (Yelkouan) Shearwaters - not the dark vent and dark bar on underwing |
 |
| Alpine Swift |
The other "joy" of birding the Bosphorus has been practicing my
non-existent large gull ID skills, and all I've seen so far have been
Yellow-leggeds, though Caspian and Armenian Gulls are possible.
The big gap so far has been raptor passage - I've not managed to get to
any of the various watch points, but will have a couple of other visits
to the city in the coming weeks so hope to get a chance to try then.
Over and above the birding I must say that Istanbul is a fab place! This
is my first trip to Turkey but I get the feeling it won't be by last.
 |
| juv Yellow-legged |
 |
| juv Yellow-legged |
 |
juv Yellow-legged
|
 |
| juv Yellow-legged Gull |
 |
| 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull |
No comments:
Post a Comment