Kulu Golu

Checked out the steppe lake near Kulu. The salıne water remaıns unfrozen and supports some wınter waterfowl. There was a small group of Whooper Swan and several flocks of Whıte-fronted Goose (totally 600-700). A group of Mallard on the dıstant bank numbered 30 or so. There was only a few dıstant large gulls whıch I couldnt work out.

On patrol were a couple of Long-legged Buzzards, female Hen Harrıer, Kestrel and Lıttle Owl.

Most ımpressıve was the large numbers of Calandra Larks. Several large flocks ın varıous areas of marshy steppe and plough must have totalled 1.5-2 thousand. There was at least 4 or 5 Lesser Short-toed Lark, several small groups of Crested Lark and I stıll cant decıde whether there were some Skylarks ın wıth them.

Trıed a rubbısh tıp towards the east of Kulu. Could not understand why there was not a sıngle gull there.

Istanbul to Ankara

I was tryıng to work out the spectrum of large whıte-headed gulls possıbılıtıes in thıs area. Yellow-legged Gull (below top ) seem to be the maın large gull around Istanbul. Armenıan Gull breed ın central Turkey so probably not outsıde the realm of possıbılıtes. Also maybe Heuglıns Gull could turn up round here. Caspıan Gull ıs also lıkely ın thıs regıon. The bırd, second from top (below) appears to show some Caspıan features. Well hopefully we get some bıgger gull flocks further south to get out teeth ınto them.

Mainly travelling at the moment.
Travel shots here:
http://peteralfrey.blogspot.com/

(Hooded Crow)

Kumkapi

Had a look round the fishing harbour of Kumkapi.

A few Laughing Doves in the village. Large numbers of Black-headed Gulls (1000s), low hundreds of Yellow-legged Gull, one Common Gull, two Shag and small groups of Yelkouan Shearwater in the Marmara Sea.

Shipka to Instanbul

Had a juvenile Goshawk and Merlin at Shipka before heading off on our journey. Now at Instanbul which was a long journey due to a snow storm last night.

The journey through Thrace was characterised by snow covered farm land. A few Buzzards dotted around, Hooded Crows, the odd flock of Common Gull, Jackdaws and one flock of 50+ larks over the road.

Got to Instanbul with an hour of light- thousands of gulls (mainly Black-headed) in the Marmara Sea near the fishing port. A couple of Sandwich Terns buzzing around, a flock of Coot on the sea and a few Great-crested Grebe.

Top to bottom: Syrian, Great-spotted, Black (female) and Syrian Woodpeckers.

Spent the day round Shipka village and the Shipka monastery- Quite a high density of Syrian and Great-spotted Woodpecker (do these species hybridise?) in the same habitat. There were two Black Woodpeckers in the pines by the monastery.

Great Tit is an abundant bird round here. Also recorded multiple (upto 10) Crossbills, Marsh Tit, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Nuthatch, Blue Tit, Siskin, Chaffinch, Tree Sparrow, Starling, Wren, Jays and single Hawfinch, Bullfinch, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Goldcrest and Raven.

Shipka

Had a quick look around this village, Shipka- Syrian Woodpecker in Paul's neighbours garden and had this Grey Grey Shrike in nearby fields.

For other observations:

http://peteralfrey.blogspot.com/

Bulgaria- Sofia to Shipka

On the way to Shipka, had to stop along the main road after noticing hundreds to thousands of passerines in trees with Buzzards mowing through them. Mixed flocks of Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammer- I think I may have found where all the British ones have gone:-)

The Common Buzzard (below) is a juvenile- it has a pale iris, streaking on the breast as opposed to barring and a diffuse tail band. Forsman says that intermediate birds from the contact zone in Scandanavia between vulpinus (Steppe Buzzard) and nominate buteo, winter in the Balkans and in Turkey. Along a one mile section of road there must have been 50-70 birds. Also a couple of Hen Harriers.