Organised a trip with some birding friends to this Ramsar wetland and migration hotspot. Fantastic scenery, friendly people and probably the best European birding I've yet experienced. 163 species in six days plus the spectacle of tens of thousands of waterbirds and a really heavy visible migration.
Memorable sightings included:
1,000s of Pygmy Cormorants and 100s of Dalamatian and European White Pelicans
Finding a breeding pair of Lanner Falcons
Watching Bee-eater, Red-footed Falcon and Lesser Kestrel flocks passing through
Seeing six species of bunting (Black-headed, Cretschmar's, Corn, Rock, Ortolan and Cirl!)
Seeing 14 species of warbler (inc. Olive Tree, Eastern Olivaceous, Eastern Orphean, Eastern Bonelli's
Watching massive flocks of gulls and terns passing through, inc. Black, Gull-billed and Whiskered Terns plus Slender-billed, Meiterranean and Little Gulls.
Sitting on a restaurant balcony over-looking the Lake and watching a Levant Sparrowhawk hunting, while a massive female Goshawk tried to catch pigeons in front of our noses!
Memorable sightings included:
1,000s of Pygmy Cormorants and 100s of Dalamatian and European White Pelicans
Finding a breeding pair of Lanner Falcons
Watching Bee-eater, Red-footed Falcon and Lesser Kestrel flocks passing through
Seeing six species of bunting (Black-headed, Cretschmar's, Corn, Rock, Ortolan and Cirl!)
Seeing 14 species of warbler (inc. Olive Tree, Eastern Olivaceous, Eastern Orphean, Eastern Bonelli's
Watching massive flocks of gulls and terns passing through, inc. Black, Gull-billed and Whiskered Terns plus Slender-billed, Meiterranean and Little Gulls.
Sitting on a restaurant balcony over-looking the Lake and watching a Levant Sparrowhawk hunting, while a massive female Goshawk tried to catch pigeons in front of our noses!
Getting a European Lifer (Rock Partridge) !!
Trip report in prep. if anyone wants a copy.
Cheers David Bowman