Bits and Pieces

Doesn't everybody who goes to Istanbul want to see these? Fortunately they're quite easy

Laughing Dove at Pierre Loti

At Uzunhizirli Lake in Gallipoli a Red-crested Pochard provided the "tick" but this Pelican provided the drama

Uzunhizirli White Pelican

Near Eceabat a flock of Starling several thousand strong provided a late snack for a handful of raptors

some of c.5000 Starling

Sparrowhawk approach

Spot the Buzzard - one of four

Peregrine a welcome Turkish list addition

Common Buzzards were a regular feature throughout, and even in the marshes on the Greek border outnumbered Harriers 4:1

Winter Raptor #1

A Kestrel hunting at Enez on the Greek border and under the shadow of the huge and impressive Samothrace

Kestrel at Enez

Enez Lagoon and Samothrace

Still plenty more good birds and places to feature now I'm back to the cold and snow. Patches, here I come :)

Tales from the Interior

Well, first this happened ...

and then, even more out of the blue, this happened ...

White-headed Duck and Velvet Scoter in the same five minutes- a perfect way to end the week. I'll do a full review when I get back, and grill those gull photos ...

Bingo!

Back to the Pallas's Gull stakeout at dawn this morning and there it was waiting for me. For five minutes before it flew away again. Fortunately it returned half an hour later for a better grilling. You can just about tell from this shot that it is missing its right foot. Lots of pics to check through for a decent standing one.

More pics later, but for now this Long-legged Buzzard (also Common to the top) showed briefly and three Spotted Redshank were a welcome addition to my Turkish list

Tell-tail Sıgns

Started the day off determined to try for some shots of White-headed Ducks, and it worked rather well, with 14 found and quite close in.

a group of White-headed Duck hanging out wıth Pochard

Another group doing its own thing - feeding

and as close as İ could get

Further scanning revealed a redhead Smew and a few Wigeon - both unspectacular for the site but Turkey ticks nonetheless. Other birds on site were some Great Egret, proving I can annoy more than one if I really try, and a Kingfisher which was spitting out something. Couldn,t get good focus as I had driven past it and there was a weed in the way for auto.

Great Egrets wıth TEM - Istanbul's fast bypass - in the back

Out of focus but I'll get ıt next tıme

On to the next site and maybe the best find of the day -Pedro! He told me I had just walked under the bridge as a Pallas's Gull had flown over - the bad news! (but it ain't over yet). But he also shared some gen on Caspian Gull and Slender-bılled which came up trumps later in the day (obrigado!) at Menekşe - more on that later. The usual Marsh Harrier (actually two) was here, and also 22 Lıttle Gull. I returned wıth Pedro to check outthe White-heads again but the Smew as nowhere to be found - although a flock of Teal not seen earlier put in an appearance

The ubiquitous Marsh Harrier

Whoopers remain

After returning home and behaving like an adult for a while my wonderful wife took the info Pedro had given me and delivered my lenses directly in front of a lovely Slender-billed Gull. I'm still working on the Caspian pics. Another cracking day and off to Gallipoli (Gelibolu) tomorrow.Should be awesome :)

Slender-billed Beauty

Wallcreeper down and out

up before the imam, dawn skyline

15 minutes into day One and the quarry has started working again. Result? Wader pool filled in and the road into the quarry blocked by huge piles of rubble (on purpose. to close the road). So Wallcreeper is off the list. The former wonderpools of Snipe and Green Sand now look lıke thıs:

my beautiful wader pool, and former quarry entrance

Still. banged in an early Kingfisher. one Green Sand and 30-oddPygmy Cormorant.followed by a rıngtail Hen Harrier. Not to mention a fıne Great Egret

Pygmy Cormorants - a "gimme"

Hen Harrier

Great Egret not impressed with yours truly

On to patch number two for the bıg score of the day. First up were 73 Whooper Swan, followed by 4 White-headed Duck (sadly too far out for pictures)

First Turkey tick of the week, 73 Whoopers

Water level pretty hıh everywhere for decent waders, though İ have a spot for tomorrow. Third patch produced a nice male Marsh Harrier though

Another "gimme" - Marsh Harrier

Mornıng rounded off with some Black-necked Grebes and an attempt at Laughing Dove,but surprisingly none around the harbour. Black-necked Grebes not hard to come by, as you can see.

One of the commonest species on the lake

BN Grebes in the harbour and an unfortunate boat

Here I come ...

Rough-legged Buzzard, Caspian Gull, Pallas's Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Wallcreeper ... I'm coming for you. Meet me at Büyükçekmece. If you want to sort it out amongst yourselves I'm prepared to accept three from five.

Divit plus two

Dropped into south side of the harbour only to spot a single goose on the north side. Well, it had to be done ... drove round to the other side and (this must be the same goose, right?) put to bed any lingering doubt over its identity ...

Unable to fly or happy to be here?

No sign of blue "frosting" on the upperparts

Pink! (and long?)

As a bonus I was waylaid on my way there by three Greenfinch and 5 Redpoll feeding in the bushes.

I can see you

No - I can still see you