Ornitravel

Ornitour Lake Bafa
Smyrna Kingfisher and Krueper`s Nuthatch

Magnificent Lake Bafa is a birder’s paradise and a botanist’s dream! The numerous silted areas contain a variety of marshes and lakes, the largest being Lake Bafa a former bay approximately 5 x 12 kilometres in size. The area forms one of Europe’s largest bird refuges and is part of the “Aydin” nature park. During our field trips we will visit various landscapes from the jagged Latmos Mountains in the east to the Meander River Delta in the west. Lake Bafa is not only a wonderful location but is is also an ideal starting point for ornithology field trips as it is possible to visit numerous habitats only a short drive away. During spring excursions the splendid display of orchids and countless anemones have to be seen.

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Price per person
Double room£1,060.00
Single room£1,200.00
includes £90.00 airport taxes & fuel surcharge

Private Tours
1-7 persons from £1,095.00

click here to download tour-programme

Dates
  1. Sat., 20. Dec. 2008 - Sat., 03. Jan. 2009
  2. Sat., 04. Apr. 2009 - Sat., 18. Apr. 2009
  3. Sat., 18. Apr. 2009 - Sat., 02. May. 2009
  4. Sat., 19. Dec. 2009 - Sat., 02. Jan. 2010
Price includes
Number of participants
8 – 18 persons
Private-Tour available throughout the year: 1 - 7 persons; 1 week from £915.00 / 2 weeks £1,095.00
Travel guide
Klaus Lechner (15.03.-29.03.08) / Volker Konrad (12.04.-26.04.08)
Weather conditions
In December 8-20ºC, in April 15-28°C. Rainfall from November to May possible. The programme may be modified depending on conditions.
Level of difficulty
Slow walking-tours, partly stony paths
Note
- Special date (1 week tour): 27.10.-03.11.07; Price p.P. £860 (double room) / £920 (single room)
- Extension week/s possible either here, at Lake Van, in Cappadocia or at the Goksu Delta.
Alterations
The programme is subject to change.


Day 1

Arrival

Transfer from Airport Izmir (approximately 2 hours) or Airport Bodrum (approximately 40 minutes) to our Holiday Resort Lake
Bafa. Depending on the time of day, first observations in the extensive grounds of the holiday resort and at the lake. Between April and November it is possible to dine under the pergola only 10 metres away from the lakeshore. Here you can sometimes see Ruddy Shelduck, Common Kingfisher, Little Egret, Squacco Heron, Black-necked Grebe or even White-tailed Eagle.

Day 2

Marble Quarries, Gardens, Maquis, Lakeshore

Walking-tour through the valley of a brook to ancient marble quarries through olive groves and gardens to a reeded area with many small springs that have their source on a peninsula close to the ancient settlement Ioniopolis. This was formerly a breeding place for Smyrna Kingfisher. Back to the holiday compound through a small scrub forest with myrtles. Towards evening we will climb up through the natural olive groves to the edge of the Mediterranean forest with arbutus trees and Turkish pines where Krueper‘s Nuthatch can be found. Up here where you can occasionally find wild boar, Long-legged Buzzards and White-tailed Eagles, we have a magnificent view of Lake Bafa and the Latmos Mountains. Continue along the edge of the forest, descent to a shrine and walk back along the lakeshore. Depending on the season, at night we can listen to the monotonous call of Scops Owls, the hooting of Tawny Owls or the long drawn-out call of the Little Owl.

Day 3

Meander Valley, Milet, Didyma

Ancient Milet was situated on a peninsular at the Gulf of Latmos south of the Meander River delta which has gradually been cutting off the city from the sea during the course of the last 2000 years. Even today in spring and winter the river still floods some of the large excavation areas. In the harbour area, which in former times was kept open artificially, Pied Avocets can often be seen. White Storks nest on the tall pistachio trees at the old Ottoman cemetary; sometimes even Great-spotted Cuckoo can be seen. The graves are inhabited by Caspian Pond Turtles and numerous Greenbacks. A colony of Lesser Kestrels can be found at the huge Temple of Apollo at Didyma. Afterwards observations at the Meander River where there is evidence of Pygmy Cormorant in the ruins. The flat silted areas on the lake shore have many interesting waders.

Day 4

Meander River, Lake Azap

We have often detected nests of Eurasian Penduline Tits in the low-hanging branches of willows at the Meander River. Here we will look for the Smyrna Kingfisher. Lake Azap, a scenic spot and “Little Brother” of Lake Bafa, is a pure fresh-water lake with white water-buttercup, reed, bulrush and cattail – an eldorado for water and marsh-birds. Dalmatian Pelican, Purple Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Little Bittern, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill and Black Tern are species observed here.

Day 5

Davurlar National Park, Akgol

With the National Park’s beach as a starting point we proceed through a canyon with huge oriental planes and cypress trees and through Mediterranean forest with Arbutus trees. Depending on the season, dolphins can be seen in the sea as well as Eleonora‘s Falcons, Peregrine Falcons, Ruppell‘s Warblers, and Subalpine Warbler close to the sea. We can cross the woody mountains from north to south on a field-trip in approximately 4 hours. Many wild boar can be found here as well as huge oriental plane-trees near a spring. Western Orphean Warbler and Western Bonelli‘s Warbler can also be seen here. At the village of Doğanbey we arrive at the silted area at the shallow lagoon (Akgol). Dalmatian Pelicans, Stone Curlews and flamingos have been seen here.

Day 6

Latmos Mountains towards Sakarkaya

East of Lake Bafa a walkable forestry trail leads into the Latmos Mountains. Chukar Partridge and Bonelli‘s Eagle can be found here as well as Cinereous Bunting (beginning in May).

Day 7

Meander Delta

Starting at Akkoy village we descend through gardens with Rufous Scrub Robin, Olive-tree Warbler and Masked Shrike to the shallow Akgol lagoon. Longer field-trip through dwarf-shrub copses eastwards along the coast with a beautiful view of the extensive silted area. Great Egret and curlew can be seen here.

Day 8

Serçin, Arrival/Departure

Observations in the shallow wetlands, tamarisk copses and shore wood of the Meander River near Serçin at the western end of Lake Bafa.

Day 9

Twin Islands, Herakleia

Twenty minute boat trip from holiday resort to the beautiful lonley beaches on the northern shore of Lake Bafa - Ruddy Shelducks and Dalmatian Pelicans. Field trips on ancient paths to Herkleia.

Day 10

Priene, Karine

The impressive ruins of Priene are located below a steep rock face where Short-toed Snake-Eagle is resident. Magnificent view over the whole Meander Plain and to Lake Bafa. Afterwards walking-tour from the small fishing village Karine on a hillside path along the Akgol (often White-tailed Eagles) to the coast.

Day 11

Wetlands near Iasos

Observations at small, reeded lakes, afterwards to the ruins of Iasos where Lesser Pied Kingfishers could well be seen. The ancient city was formerly situated on an island. Walking-tour through a pinewood near the Temple of Zeus at Euramos to find Krueper`s Nuthatch.

Day 12

Monastery of the Seven Brothers, solitary farm in the Latmos Mountains

On a goat trail, with a beautiful view of Lake Bafa, we proceed through a landscape with olive trees and rocks to the Byzantine monastery ruin of the Seven Brothers, where you should look out for Eurasian Eagle-Owl and Cretzschmar‘s Bunting. During the ascent to an isolated farm it is possible to see Chukar Partridges and Bonelli‘s Eagles. Sometimes you can find brown bear droppings and discarded porcupine quills. The nocturnal porcupines are quite common in this area.

Day 13

Silted area Lake Bafa, Lake Azap

As bird species vary on a daily basis, especially in the migration period, we revisit these excellent field trip areas.

Day 14

Meander River, Akgol

Along the Meander River to its estuary. Observations of various waders and ducks on the salt marshes and mudflats at the Akgol.

Day 15

Departure

Transfer Bodrum or Izmir airport. Return flight.

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