Antalya - 3
The last full day in the country, and not satisfied with my return of two newbies, we headed back to the Korketeli Hills. Focussing on this only, I drove further along the windy road of a couple of days earlier stopping frequently to scan and climb up the rocky escarpment. Today was much more rewarding.
Heading all the way to the end of the road, a single Lesser Short-toed Lark was found along with a couple of Isabelline Wheatear just by the roadside.
One side of the road was predominated by agricultural land whereas the other featured rocky outcrops that led uphill onto the ridge-line. I decided to climb this with the hope for more. It was great.
Firstly, two Wryneck were flushed from the short pines that were scattered along the landscape. Then a Rock Nuthatch, a species I was keen to see flew across before disappearing out of view, and what turned out to be my only sighting. Barn Swallow were passing through in modest numbers accompanied by four Red-rumped Swallow. Small flocks of Linnet were enjoying the warm sunshine, with Greenfinch there too. Common birds but nice to see.
The final stop was Termessos, not really featured in the trip reports that I had found but a must visit for the following reasons. It costs a modest 5TL (£1) per person to enter the site, astoundingly cheap for what it offers. This roman site is stunning. A path winds up to the theatre which is set high up within the lower mountain ridge which in perfect light looked magnificent and was a great place to sit, relax, and take the whole thing in.
Then the birds. Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler were in full song, perhaps around five singing males with one particularly obliging around the car park. Other species seen here were Blue Tit, Great Tit, Asian Long-tailed Tit, and Eurasian Nuthatch.
The final bird was pure magic. The road winds back down, near to the entrance. I parked up and decided to walk a track that I noticed shortly before parking the vehicle. To a great extent, it was disappointing, hardly any birdsong on the way into the pine woodland.
After around ten minutes it was time to turn back, there was very little to see. Then a few birds started to sing. There was one I was totally unfamiliar with though and it grabbed my attention. Walking slowly into a deeper area of pine woodland, the bird turned out to be a Kruper’s Nuthatch that I watched for around ten seconds before it flew onto an adjacent tree. It was calling incessantly, sounding like an old bike pump, piercing the silence of the woodland.
An Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler was singing here too, and while walking through the woodland, three Tree Pipit flew up into the trees startled by my presence.
And so it came to pass that the final day produced four new species and six in total for the trip.
It was a fabulous trip, the first day wasn’t a total wash-out but it did rain for long periods. The subsequent days were lovely, plenty of sunshine coupled with fine local foods, great views across the bay, the marina, and the general atmosphere at a time of year where tourist numbers were low made for a relaxing experience. Driving in town however did add a few more grey hairs but I am re-assuring myself that these were restored by the evenings out at the many splendid restaurants that inhabit the old town.
Turkish Airlines too come highly recommended.
It was early in the season for the real push of migrants and local specialties but Easter fell when it did, the full moon in evidence shining brightly over the city.
The next visit will feature an Owl.
The first stop produced three vocal Sombre Tit, not a species I had expected in this specific area but great to stumble across. The air was cool and the climb up the hill was purposeful and was great to get the heart pumping. The views were wonderful.
Firstly, two Wryneck were flushed from the short pines that were scattered along the landscape. Then a Rock Nuthatch, a species I was keen to see flew across before disappearing out of view, and what turned out to be my only sighting. Barn Swallow were passing through in modest numbers accompanied by four Red-rumped Swallow. Small flocks of Linnet were enjoying the warm sunshine, with Greenfinch there too. Common birds but nice to see.
The final stop was Termessos, not really featured in the trip reports that I had found but a must visit for the following reasons. It costs a modest 5TL (£1) per person to enter the site, astoundingly cheap for what it offers. This roman site is stunning. A path winds up to the theatre which is set high up within the lower mountain ridge which in perfect light looked magnificent and was a great place to sit, relax, and take the whole thing in.
The final bird was pure magic. The road winds back down, near to the entrance. I parked up and decided to walk a track that I noticed shortly before parking the vehicle. To a great extent, it was disappointing, hardly any birdsong on the way into the pine woodland.
An Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler was singing here too, and while walking through the woodland, three Tree Pipit flew up into the trees startled by my presence.
And so it came to pass that the final day produced four new species and six in total for the trip.
It was a fabulous trip, the first day wasn’t a total wash-out but it did rain for long periods. The subsequent days were lovely, plenty of sunshine coupled with fine local foods, great views across the bay, the marina, and the general atmosphere at a time of year where tourist numbers were low made for a relaxing experience. Driving in town however did add a few more grey hairs but I am re-assuring myself that these were restored by the evenings out at the many splendid restaurants that inhabit the old town.
It was early in the season for the real push of migrants and local specialties but Easter fell when it did, the full moon in evidence shining brightly over the city.
The next visit will feature an Owl.
Comments
Post a Comment