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Bird Watching
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Most Turkish people - though friendly and hospitable - seem to find it baffling that anyone would actually want to go out walking and watching birds. However, the Dalyan Delta is a conservation area and the beach (Iztuzu Beach) where marine turtles lay their eggs is fully protected (when we were there in May we saw the remains of many newly hatched turtle eggs on the beach and one distinctive track where a turtle had come up the beach, laid her eggs and returned to the sea). The Dalyan Delta is one of the most amazing areas for birding in Turkey. The area has vast wetlands, rivers, the 12km long Koycegiz Lake, cultivated fields, mountains and both pine and deciduous forests.
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As we don't drive our birdwatching is limited to that which can be achieved on foot. There are a lot of relatively easy walks around Dalyan, the longest one to Iztuzu (Turtle) Beach via the mountain road - very scenic and productive for birds but a very long hot slog. Trips to historic sites and ruins also provide good birdwatching opportunities. There is no denying that without a car you are limited in the birds you can expect to see but, given that restriction we had a pretty good tally. As well as birds we saw plenty of (harmless) water snakes, freshwater turtles, blue crabs, tortoises, lizards, and frogs, Hoopoes, Bee-eaters, Kingfishers and Syrian Woodpeckers.
Species List:
- Greater Flamingo - a single bird in all white plumage seen on 2 occasions in the shallow lake behind Iztuzu Beach (at the "road" end of the beach).
- Purple Heron - very common around the whole area; several seen in flight over Dalyan as well as individuals seen in the wetlands from the Iztuzu Road
- Grey Heron - not as common as Purple Herons but several seen in the wetlands, reedbeds and lagoon.
- Squacco Heron - 2 seen perched in reeds in Dalyan river on the way to Koycegiz Lake and a party of 3 flying low overhead and then perched in low trees in farmland wetlands behind Dalyan.
Little Egret - very common in the area; seen regularly in the wetlands and at the base of the crag on the Iztuzu Road.
- White Stork - extremely common everywhere in and around Dalyan. A pair with 2 young occupied a nest on a telegraph pole within yards of our hotel and other nesting pairs where everywhere.
- Mallard - not as common as you'd expect but a pair seen in the lagoon by the Ekin Club
- Golden Eagle - 1 pair seen from the Iztuzu Road flying above the mountain crag opposite the wetlands.
- Long Legged Buzzard - 1 seen from the Iztuzu Road flying above the mountain crag opposite the wetlands.
- Common Buzzard - seen on a couple of occasions from the Iztuzu Road and flying over the Dalyan River.
- Lanner Falcon - 1 seen flying from the wetlands over the Iztuzu Road.
- Red Footed Falcon - 1 female seen perched on the telegraph wires along wetlands stretch of Iztuzu Road.
- Kestrel - very common; seen most days and in most areas around Dalyan, especially Iztuzu Road and near the Dump.
- Lesser Kestrel - a pair flying round the crag next to the Iztuzu Road.
- Little Owl - common around Dalyan; 1 seen every day in the chimney cavity of the house opposite the hotel.
- Scops Owl - common; heard all over the place (even in daylight) and a pair were chased away from our hotel balcony one night by a little owl which then perched in triumph in the tree a few yards away!
- Coot - 2 seen swimming in Dalyan River.
- Kentish Plover - a pair at the road end of Iztuzu Beach
- Woodpigeon - fairly common in the farmland areas.
- Collared Dove - very common everywhere!
- Swift - small numbers.
- Alpine Swift - 1 or 2 interspersed with swifts.
- Swallow - hundreds everywhere (and nesting all over Dalyan!).
- House Martin - common in amongst the swallows.
- Roller - 1 perched on the reeds in the River and a pair nesting in the mountain crag next to the Iztuzu Road.
- Jay - just 1 seen, near Iztuzu Road.
- Red Backed Shrike - just 1 (in the past we have seen them everywhere) perched on a fence in the fields behind the town.
- Crested Lark - common on farmland areas and several seen beside Iztuzu Road.
- Isabelline Wheatear - 1 seen on the mountain crag next to the Iztuzu Road.
- Yellow Wagtail - 1 (male) seen at the beach.
- Rufus Bushchat - common in the farmland areas.
- Reed Warbler - common everywhere.
- Black-headed Bunting - several seen in the fields next to the Iztuzu Road.
- Blue Rock Thrush - 1 (male) on the mountain crag next to the Iztuzu Road.
- Rock Nuthatch - several seen on the mountain crag next to the Iztuzu Road and in the ruins of historical site at Tlos.
- Spotted Flycatcher - 1 seen hunting from the telegraph wires beside Iztuzu Road
- Raven - 2 flying over Iztuzu Road from the wetlands
- Hooded Crow - very common and seen everywhere, especially farmland and rubbish dump.
- Penduline Tit - several nests seen (hanging from trees over the rhynes in wetland area and over the river) plus 3 separate sightings of both male and female birds.
- Great Tit - common.
- Greenfinch - 1 or 2 seen in trees in front of hotel.
- Goldfinch - common in the fields.
- Redpoll - small flock seen in the fields next to Iztuzu Road.
- House Sparrow - very common everywhere.
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