Marmaris (Turkey):
June 1998
Andy Musgrove
Introduction
A last minute cheap package deal
to the horribly touristy resort of Marmaris in south-west Turkey.
Due to Trudy's increasing pregnancy, we didn't get out and about
all that much but I did get up early virtually every morning and
walk into the hills surrounding the town, where a few nice things
were seen. I also managed to get attacked by two large dogs one
morning! The only new species for me were Kruper's and Rock
Nuthatches, but other pleasing sightings were Middle Spotted
Woodpeckers, Great Reed, Olivaceous and Ruppell's Warblers and
Masked Shrike. A bus trip on the last day to Koycegiz Golu was
enjoyable, although we didn't see much, and had we managed to
locate the bus station earlier in the week we would gone out more
frequently.
Systematic List
Little Egret Egretta
garzetta
Four at Koycegiz Golu on 16/6.
White Stork Ciconia
ciconia
One on a rooftop nest in Koycegiz,
plus another flying over the town, on 16/6. Also, at least four
more from the bus on the way back from Koycegiz to Marmaris in
the lowland arable fields.
Honey Buzzard Pernis
apivorus
One soaring to the east of
Marmaris on 12/6 and one displaying over hillsides between
Marmaris and Icemeler on 13/6.
[Accipiter sp.]
One soaring over hills to the
west of Marmaris on 10/6, carrying food, presumably for a mate or
nestlings. Looked closest to A. nisus but distant views so
couldn't rule out A. brevipes. Too small for A.
gentilis.
[Buteo sp.]
One frequented the island at the
mouth of Marmaris Bay (10/6, 11/6, 13/6); initially thought to be
B. rufinus, since appeared quite long-winged (and B.
buteo was not mapped as breeding in this area). On later
viewing though, I don't think it was obvious enough to be Long-legged
Buzzard, wasn't at all rufous, didn't have a pale enough tail,
and the breast "U" marking seemed to indicate Common
Buzzard. Additionally, another bird was seen close by but briefly
in the hills above Marmaris on 15/6 which also looked more like
Common Buzzard.
Kestrel Falco
tinnunculus
One male seen in Marmaris on 12/6.
[Kestrel sp.]
Unidentified Kestrels were seen
near Icmeler on 10/6 and 13/6.
Eleonora's Falcon Falco
eleonorae
Singles were seen over Marmaris
beach front at dusk on 10/6 and 15/6, possibly hunting the
congregations of hirundines at this time of day.
Peregrine Falco
peregrinus
Singles in the hills around
Marmaris on 11/6, 12/6 and 13/6, one being flushed from a rocky
outcrop and the other two being fly-overs.
Chukar Alectoris chukar
Groups of three flushed in the
hills above Marmaris on 13/6 and 15/6.
Yellow-legged Gull Larus
cachinnans
Common in Marmaris Bay, and also
small flocks regularly seen flying inland high overhead. None
seen on the ground or on the water close by but general
appearance appeared to be that of L. c. michahellis.
Common Tern Sterna
hirundo
One flying around Marmaris
Harbour on 10/6.
[Tern sp.]
One at Koycegiz Golu was too
distant without a scope, and had gone by the time I walked along
the shore. Probably a Whiskered Tern but others such as Gull-billed
or Common couldn't be completely ruled out.
Feral Pigeon Columba
livia
Small numbers around Marmaris but
not abundant.
Collared Dove Streptopelia
decaocto
Common around Marmaris; no sign
of any Palm Doves.
Turtle Dove S. turtur
Singles in the hills around
Marmaris on 12/6, 13/6 and 15/6.
Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula
krameri
One perched on wires in Marmaris
on 12/6; calling noisily and flew off as I approached. No others
seen so perhaps a recent escape. Not known to be occurring
ferally here.
Little Owl Athene
noctua
One on a roof-top in the middle
of Marmaris early morning on 12/6. One heard in the hills east of
Marmaris on 14/6 and another seen at dusk on the western
outskirts of Marmaris.
Swift Apus apus
A handful seen around Marmaris
only on 10/6 and 12/6.
Alpine Swift Apus melba
A few seen over Marmaris but more
common over the surrounding hills and, especially, over the
island at the mouth of the bay, where c300 on 11/6 was the
maximum count. Other flocks of c50 were noted.
Roller Coracias
garrulus
One seen from the bus about 10
miles north of Marmaris on 16/6.
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos
medius
Common in the hills around
Marmaris.
Sand Martin Riparia
riparia
Two were on wires in Koycegiz on
16/6.
Swallow Hirundo rustica
Very common throughout.
Red-rumped Swallow H.
daurica
Small numbers around Marmaris,
mostly on the outskirts of the town but some along the beach and
also at the beach at Icmeler. Birds seen entering a mosque,
presumably nesting. Also seen from the bus between Marmaris and
Koycegiz.
House Martin Delichon
urbica
Very common.
White Wagtail Motacilla
alba
Small numbers along the beach at
Marmaris and at Koycegiz Golu.
Nightingale Luscinia
megarhynchos
One singing on the east side of
Marmaris on 14/6.
Redstart Phoenicurus
phoenicurus
Female seen in the pines behind
the beach to the west of Marmaris on 10/6; no proof of breeding
seen but seems possible.
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe
hispanica
Around the rocky areas on the
eastern side of Marmaris, one juvenile was seen on 12/6 and on 14/6,
a female and two juveniles were seen perching on fences and
rooftops on the edge of town.
Blackbird Turdus merula
Small numbers in the hills around
Marmaris, but not a garden bird.
Fan-tailed Warbler Cisticola
juncidis
At least three singing around
Koycegiz Golu on 16/6.
Cetti's Warbler Cettia
cetti
Two on the eastern side of
Marmaris on 14/6, four at Koycegiz Golu on 16/6.
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus
scirpaceus
At least two singing along the
shores of Koycegiz Golu.
Great Reed Warbler A.
arundinaceus
At least eight singing along the
shores of Koycegiz Golu, some of which were seen very well
perched high on reed-tops.
Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais
pallida
Initially (and hopefully) strung
for Olive-tree Warbler, these were common in Marmaris, even in
any scrubby areas within the town, and at least three were also
heard at Koycegiz. Song rather reminiscent of Reed Warbler but
ascending and descending a scale in a cyclical manner.
Ruppell's Warbler Sylvia
ruepelli
Small numbers seen in the pines
and scrub on the outskirts of Marmaris; very skulking and
probably more common than it appeared.
Sardinian Warbler S.
melanocephala
At least two on scrubby slopes on
the western side of Marmaris on 13/6.
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos
caudatus
Small flocks seen in the pine
woods around Marmaris.
Coal Tit Parus ater
Small numbers in the pine woods
around Marmaris.
Blue Tit P. caeruleus
Small numbers in the pine woods
around Marmaris.
Great Tit P. major
Small numbers in the pine woods
around Marmaris.
Kruper's Nuthatch Sitta
krueperi
Common in the pinewoods around
Marmaris, even down to sea-level. Very vocal and obvious.
Rock Nuthatch S.
neumayer
Good views around rocky outcrops
on the eastern side of Marmaris: two on 12/6 and four on 14/6.
Masked Shrike Lanius
nubicus
Two were seen on 13/6 on the
outskirts on Marmaris, one of which was in scrub just behind
Macdonald's.
Jay Garrulus glandarius
The distinctive black-capped race
was common around the outskirts of Marmaris.
Magpie Pica pica
A few seen around the eastern
side of Marmaris.
Hooded Crow Corvus
cornix
Small numbers around Marmaris,
including amongst the hotels.
[Raven? Corvus corax]
A bird flying off a rocky outcrop
on the eastern side of Marmaris directly into the sun was almost
certainly this species.
House Sparrow Passer
domesticus
Common around Marmaris.
Chaffinch Fringilla
coelebs
Fairly common in the pinewoods
around Marmaris.
Greenfinch Carduelis
chloris
Common in Marmaris.
Goldfinch C. carduelis
Common in Marmaris.
Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza
caesia
A pair in a low scrubby valley on
the eastern side of Marmaris on 14/6.
Corn Bunting Miliaria
calandra
One was seen at Koycegiz Golu on
16/6, with another from the bus on the way back to Marmaris.
Non-avian
sightings:
A bizzare looking insect flying
about the hills around Marmaris was similar to the Nemoptera
bipennis pictured on p107 of Chinery (Insects of Britain and
Western Europe) although a different patterning (markings on
forewings more like dark crescents) and was presumably of the
same family.
Many butterflies went
unidentified but two new species were recorded. Single Two-tailed
Pashas were seen on 10/6 & 13/6, the latter seen well on the
ground drinking from irrigation water, and Ilex Hairstreak was
netted from the scrubby slopes around the town. In addition to
these two species, other identified butterflies were Swallowtail,
Scarce Swallowtail, Bath White, Clouded Yellow, Long-tailed Blue
and Small Heath. Additionally, a Jersey Tiger was also seen.
A snake was seen (and
photographed badly) swimming in Koycegiz Golu and various lizards
were also noted. Additionally, Red Squirrel and Brown Hare were
also recorded.
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