Day two followed an awkward situation at the accommodation we had booked. We needed to be up and out by 5am for our meeting with the guide to see the Brown Fish Owls. Our cabin was on a site that catered for weddings – and they had one booked. Further to that the gate is LOCKED over night with no staff on site. At first the manager agreed to have someone open the gate at 5am, then he was worried they may not get up, as were we. By 11.15pm the live entertainment was still going strong – and very loud – there is much stomping and loud ‘lullullullullulling’ (a high pitched noise made with the tongue) at Turkish weddings, well at that one at any rate, so having showered, we left and slept in the car.
Brown Fish Owl female
Brown Fish Owl male
The chicks have yet to emerge from the dark, nest cavity.
The image was achieved by over exposure and no flash was used.
The image was achieved by over exposure and no flash was used.
We had no problems seeing the owls – both parents and two
chicks almost ready to fledge.
Dawn at Oymapinar
Other birds seen included Crag Martin, Raven, Dipper, Turtle Dove, White Wagtail and Long-tailed Tit.
After a walk by the lake, guided by a couple of locals, we carried on to Tilkiler, a small village in the hills. We tried for Olive-tree Warbler, unsuccessfully but did see Golden Oriole before the rain set in.
We had a very late breakfast at a riverside garden restaurant, listening to Nightingale and watching Red-rumped Swallows and Swallows over the river, just as green as the reservoir that it had come from and flowing fast.
We drove to the plains where we worked the tracks along the canals seeing Little Egret, Squacco Heron, Black-winged Stilt, Sand Martin, Reed Warbler, Spur-winged Plover, Moorhen, Short-toed Lark, Hobby and Little-ringed Plover. Moving away from the water courses we tracked down Red-backed Shrike, Rufous Bush Robin and Stone Curlew.
Rufous Bush Robin
European Bee-eater
Blue - Identification to be confirmed
Hairstreak - identification to be confirmed
The mood was ruined by returning to the car to find the near front tyre flat, and on inspection after removal, in a dreadful condition. The spare was little better and was already flat in the boot. We drove slowly to a tyre place a few kilometers away, Chris had seen it on the way there - they patched both, we crossed fingers and hoped for the best.
On the way to our next accommodation, the Golbassi Otel, we added Woodchat Shrike, White Stork and Little Owl to the trip list.
Sunset at Golbasi Otel