Cappadocia

Flowers, birds and ancient sites of Anatolia

A Greentours Trip Report
2nd to 12th May 2014

Led by Başak Gardner and Phil Benstead

Daily report written by Phil Benstead and Başak Gardner

Day 1 Friday 2nd May arrival

After a full day of travel we all arrived from different directions and met up at the gate in Istanbul.
Başak turned up unexpectedly too (although her luggage stayed in Istanbul...). On the ground in
Konya we had an inevitable wait whilst Başak did the necessary paperwork about her missing bags
and then we met up with our driver for the next ten days and headed into town.

Day 2 Saturday 3rd May Çatalhöyük

After our late arrival last night we opted for a nice soft start this morning and eventually met up at
1030 after enjoying a breakfast looking out over the rooftops of Konya. Our drive to the famous
excavated ruins of Çatalhöyük took us across the floor of the Konya Basin, the lowest part of the
Central Plateau, but still around 900 m asl. In the crops as we drove we started to admire a beautiful
purple larkspur (Consolida orientalis). We did not stop many times en route but we just had to stop by
a fallow field that was filled with white storks. Calandra and crested larks were obvious and the
occasional red-backed shrike made itself apparent.

Çatalhöyük was quite something, a mound rising up out of the surrounding flat steppe, seemingly
created by layers of habitation going back an incredible 8,800 years. One of the cradles of civilisation
as we know it. We checked out the museum, enjoyed the mock-up house of the era and wandered
the site, visiting the two covered and thoroughly fascinating excavations. Beside the paths Başak
introduced us to our first steppe plant species; Consolida orientalis, Lamium orientalis, Peganum harmala
and Adonis aestivalis.

Inside the first covered dig we tested our animal track knowledge on a range of wonderful tracks in
the fresh dust. Phil pointed out a singing hoopoe and we also heard a nightingale back near the bus.
Başak found some tree sparrows and we wandered the ground in between the excavation enjoying
the flora and attendant hummingbird hawk-moths. A male penduline tit appeared briefly with a
beakful of nesting material and golden orioles sang from hidden perches.

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 1

After an hour-and-a-half we were done and headed into nearby Çumla to find a restaurant. Here
Başak introduced us to red carrot juice (aka hot turnip juice) which I think we all found to be
completely revuggerating, although there may have been some secret admirers around the table
(there was! John!). The food though was excellent and we got stuck in.

Back-tracking we made sure we had time to stop to enjoy some of the dry steppe and drainage
channels that we had passed on our way out in the heat of the day. Phil called a stop when he
spotted a black stork skulking in a ditch and we reversed back to check him out and walk along the
ditch. Sadly the bird had a nasty mangled leg, although seemed quite fit. The drainage channel
produced some nice Nigella segetalis, and plenty of Acrocephalus warblers. Penny spotted our first and
only damselfly – the prosaic common blue-tail – and our first black-headed wagtails appeared too.

More stops for flora produced Anchusa azurea, Achillea lycaonica, Conringia orientalis and Onopordum
karduchorum. A thistle-loving longhorn beetle (Agapanthia cynarae) and we enjoyed ‘scope views of
the numerous and very cute Asia Minor sousliks as they went about their business. Nearby their
neighbours the isabelline wheatears went about theirs. Overhead invisible bee-eaters called and then
it was time to get back to the hotel and the first plant checklist session.

After dinner we walked over to the Mevlana Culture centre and took in the spectacle of a bunch of
whirling dervishes for a couple of hours. The huge amphitheatre was crammed full of people, mostly
locals and made for quite an evening, although it was hard to journey to the divine in the presence of
so many mobile phones...

Day 3 Sunday 4th May Konya and Düden Gölü

Most of the team elected to get cultural in the morning, accompanying a local guide on a tour of the
museum and stretching their legs on the walk to the old mosque. Meanwhile the staff did their big
picnic shop. No picnic for us though today, after checkout we sauntered to a nearby restaurant to
sample the local cuisine. Replete we dozed through the short journey to Kulu, as we neared the place
we started noting a few more wetland birds through the windows. A yellow-legged gull batted past.
Gull-billed terns became frequent and at least one of us was getting excited about the impending
visit to Düden Gölü. For Phil it was a return to the site after half-a-lifetime away. Unfortunately the
weather gods had other ideas...

Arriving at the hotel we jumped out to discover that it really was very windy. A big front was
pushing in and promising some rain in the very near future. After sorting out our rooms we jumped
back into the bus for the short ride down to the lake. Despite the poor conditions (at least the rain
stayed off) we did have a nice little session here.

Flamingos were the big hit and we even got some to fly... A few duck were present; a pair of mallard
and two shelduck flew by. Waders scampered along the muddy fringes. Black-winged stilts
struggled to stay upright. Avocets swept their recurved bills back and forth. Kentish plovers zoomed
about. A single dunlin looked monstrous amongst the larger numbers of brightly plumaged little
stints. Perched on a nearby spit we ogled a fine adult slender-billed gull – a glorious bird. In the
fields behind the lakeshore we scoped up calandra larks and flushed more elusive red-throated
pipits. Battling into the wind we watched a small party of feeding white-winged terns. A white stork
calmly walked in front of the van at one point. Beautiful Mediterranean gulls flew past but did not

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 2

stop sadly. Somewhat wind-blasted but fairly pleased with our haul of birds we headed back to the
hotel and dinner.

For dinner Başak organised a massive mixed grill for us in the restaurant next door to our modest
hotel which was a great success. Served on two trays the size of stable doors, we grazed on lamb
kebabs, chicken wings and other meaty treats. The proprietors opening up the place just for us on
their day off!

Day 4 Monday 5th May Düden Gölü and on to Cappadocia

Light rain greeted those on the optional early morning trip at 0600. Stopping by the small grove of
trees down by the lake it became apparent that a light ‘fall’ of migrants had occurred. The small
number of trees here produced a nice selection of migrants, including golden oriole, spotted
flycatcher and red-backed shrike. Searching through the blackcaps revealed the first olivaceous
warbler and chiffchaff of the trip. A lone bee-eater flew overhead. A black-headed bunting flew out
of the trees arrowing straight for a wandering red fox that had a bird clamped in it’s jaws, the beast
skulking off upon discovery looking suitably guilty.

Nearby the lakes held a good number of birds. Flamingos had spread themselves thinly across the
entire surface of both waterbodies and probably numbered 10,000 plus. Shame we did not find out
about the lurking vagrant lesser flamingo reported the week before until after we had left the site...
Shelduck were much more obvious than yesterday and the distinctive call of the ruddy shelduck
allowed two flyover birds to be added to the growing list.

One of the undoubted highlights of the morning session were encounters with all three marsh tern
species, white-winged black terns were abundant, two whiskered terns patrolled the small lake and
three or four black terns were also recorded. Spur-winged plovers materialised – where had they
been yesterday? A large number of slender-billed gulls were present this morning too. The fields
around the edge produced many views of the excellent lesser short-toed lark and monstrous
calandra larks were singing high in the sky. But all-too-soon it was time to get back for breakfast.

Heading on in the van we stopped briefly on our drive to take in the salty steppe vegetation and
enjoy the suite of birds that call this inhospitable place their home. Kentish plovers were found in
abundance, lesser short-toed larks called all around us and everywhere displaying isabelline
wheatears danced in the air. Sousliks kept a low profile as there were many predatory long-legged
buzzards in the area. We found the tiny endemic Onobrychis paucijuga there.

Heading on the weather started to look increasingly grim unfortunately. We set out our lunch at an
Iris sprengeri site but by the time the team returned from their unsuccessful search (too late? too over-
grazed?) we were just in time to experience some very windy weather, complete with lots of flying
dust and some rain. We retreated to the van to eat our picnic... The outcop had produced a few
plants though Acinos arvensis, Alkanna pseudotinctoria, Nonea stenosolen, Cnicus benedictus and
Verbascum vulcanicum.

Whilst Başak and the botanists had been unsuccessful with their main plant target at the site they did
come back with news of a big finch. Phil slipped back for a look and despite the appalling conditions
he found two fantastic crimson-winged finches butching about in the gully below the outcrop. Also

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 3

here a male Finsch’s wheatear, so despite it being a botanical low point for the team we did well with
some of the speciality upland birds. Eventually we drove on to our cave hotel in Göreme.

Driving on we skirted the cone of the impressive former volcano (Hasan Daği). It was fantastic to
suddenly be confronted by the totally weird geology of Cappadocia; one minute you are driving
through Turkey and the next you are in the most amazing, scarcely credible scenery. Most of the
hoodoos show signs of ancient or modern use by man and then abruptly you descend into the tourist
trap that is Göreme. Every available building in this small village having been turned over to some
tourist purpose or other and suddenly we were surrounded by people from all over the world who
have come to gawp like us at this astonishing region and its many treasures.

Our hotel was charming, most rooms hacked into the soft volcanic tuff and we settled in pleased that
we would be staying for three nights. As we got ready for checklists and dinner the screaming of
common swifts could be heard overhead, occasionally joined by the hysterical calls of their larger
cousins, the alpine. Over dinner we met Kerem our local guide for the Cappadocia leg of the tour
and checked the weather forecast...

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 4

Day 5 Tuesday 6th May Cappadocia
Balloons everywhere there were at dawn, but they soon disappeared from view into the low cloud.
First thing Phil went out for a pre-breakfast walk around the nearby Pigeon’s Valley. A nice little
walk with plenty of birds to look at and listen to. A Cetti’s warbler sang invisibly from a thicket and
irate olivaceous warblers chased lesser whitethroats around. Light rain fell too and although this
stayed off for most of time after breakfast we sadly seldom saw the sun during the day.

Kerem had a packed programme for us today. En route to the Underground City we stopped in a
vacant lot on the edge of town. An olivaceous warbler regaled us as Başak pointed out a number of
new plants for us. Glaucium corniculatum, Papaver hybridum and lacerum, Hypecoum pendulum,
Trigonella caurolescens and Ajuga chamaepitys.

Whilst most of the group went underground for an hour to visit the labyrinthian city complex, the
rest of us headed out of town a short distance and found a surprisingly satisfying flora to engage us
whilst we waited. Matthiola longipetala, Lamium orientalis, Silene subconica, Anchusa azurea, Astragalus
pinetorum, Scorzonera cana and Hypecoum pendulum were seen here. A big oil beetle was a big hit with
Phil. Heading back into town we had time for a cup of tea before the rest of the team emerged from
their subterranean wanderings for refreshments. Driving on we stopped along the road for our first
Egyptian vulture and inevitably started poking around too. Başak found a nice purple-shot copper
which posed lethargically in the decidely cool weather.

Ortahisar next for a sit-down lunch in a small restaurant and Başak bought us a bag of dried
mulberries for dessert. Refuelled we headed along a delightful back road that produced great flowers
at every one of the three or four stops that we enjoyed during the remainder of the afternoon. The
first stop was prompted by a splendid display of roadside Roemeria hybridum but further examination
of the fields here produced a good number of other plants Silene otites, Paracaryum calycinum,
Astragalus tigridis, Aethionema arabica and Vicia pubescens. Phil chased snake-eyed lizards over the soft
volcanic soil, Penny found a Glanville fritillary and a chukar flew low along a nearby gully. All
around us black-headed buntings were singing.

Our next stop was intended to be cultural but the curator of the cave church in question was absent
without leave so we turned to plants. Nearby our first Muscari tenuiflorum had Sue dancing a jig, a
lovely golden Onosma bornmuelleri wowed us and the Euphorbia anacampceros and Asyneuma
lobellioides here were very pretty.

Driving on we stopped again when Başak spotted some nice patches of Salvia cryptantha. Also here
our first Gladiolus atroviolaceous, a splendid plant.

Next we stopped at a viewpoint looking out over a hoodoo-riddled gully and cliff and Kerem gave
us a quick geological lecture. Overhead a long-legged buzzard soared and the sun nearly came out.

Our last stop of the day was the jewel on the crown of this fantastic stretch of road and was
discovered last year by an intrepid Greentours balloon team. As the dusk flight of balloons took off
from Göreme we wandered this delightful patch of steppe. Invertebrates were more obvious here
with a fine spurge hawk-moth found roosting on the ground at one point and our first sleepy lesser
chequered blue too. Başak was kept very busy here as everyone started finding exciting plants. The
blousy yellow sprays of Arnebia densiflora looked unreal bursting from the soil in ready-made
bunches. A frothy white clump of Iberis taurica was splendid. The incredible large-flowered Salvia

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 5

blepharochlaena and cushions of beautiful deep pink Convolvulus assyriaca were ogled by all. Short-
toed larks sang above us as we guzzled tea and nibbled on the aptly-named Turkish Delight and
chunks of halva. It was hard not to feel very content. Refreshed we did one last wander down a
nearby gully for a beautiful yellow rose (hemisphaerica), that provided a stunning contrast to the dry
steppe and backdrop of eroded tuff cliffs and hoodoos.

A great day of culture and botanical activity, we returned tired to the hotel for dinner and some of us
may have over-indulged the tasty beef-and-beans dish.

Day 6 Wednesday 7th May Cappadocia

Another chilly start to the day but the rain stayed off and the sun even came out for us towards
lunchtime. Phil kicked off proceedings by taking a small team out birding before breakfast and we
had a good time along Pigeon’s Valley. Birds spotted included a great view of a singing Cetti’s
warbler, golden oriole, jay and Syrian woodpecker. The horse that bit Sue very hard though was not
part of the programme – a spiteful little beast.

The cool weather this morning suited our plans as we were taking the Bagildere valley trail, a 4-
kilometre downhill walk. We had barely started when we stopped to buy nick-nacks and gulp down
freshly squeezed orange juice from a trackside stall. A new Muscari caucasicum appeared quickly by
the wayside. Birds were evident all around, we watched Syrian woodpeckers, singing nightingales
and there was even a hoopoe for Penny (albeit distantly). Lathyrus brachypterus was abundant in the
area.

During the latter half of the walk the sun finally broke through the cloud for the first time in many
days and things warmed up rapidly until we were suddenly in the presence of many species of
butterfly. Niobe fritillaries were present in surprising numbers and we also spotted our first small
heath, osiris blue, brown argus and small copper. Eventually we emerged at the road and there was
the bus and driver waiting to whisk us off for lunch in a pleasant underground restaurant in
Göreme.

After lunch Kerem took us to the mirror church. Whilst the team cultivated themselves their leaders
either identified plant specimens or poked about. Phil found a widespread Allium scorodoprasum
growing under the nearby cliff and nearly saw the endemic lizard... The hot sun had brought out yet
more butterflies including our first Queen-of-Spain fritillary and the Glanville fritillary was flying
here too.

With time in hand we tacked on a visit to the Gomeda Valley. This was an excellent spot although
some, after the morning walk, did not have the energy to descend to the valley bottom. Başak
pointed out yet another strange Hypecoum procumbens near where the van was parked. The damp
stream valley was excellent for butterflies and we found our first (and only) Dalmatian ringlet,
together with a host of blues which were either roosting in the grass or mud-puddling on the track.
The vivid colours of Adonis blue were noted. The mud-puddlers included our first Bavius and
Amanda’s blue, as well as green-underside blue and osiris blue. We also finally found a small white
and added an orange-tip for our butterfly list, which was definitely struggling due the poor weather
we were experiencing . The sun really helped today!

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 6

Our last stop of the day was another cultural stop this time at the open air museum just before
closing when the insane crowds diminish somewhat. Kerem lead the team in one last time, once they
could be moved past the ice-cream and juice stands at the entrance that is. The churches were well-
recieved ending another great day and all fingers were firmly crossed for more settled weather
beacause tomorrow we enter the higher altitude parts of our journey.

Day 7 Thursday 8th May to Erciyes over the Topuz Daği

Today we checked out of our cave and headed out once more into the wild grey yonder. Would we
see the sun again? Before leaving Cappadocia though we dropped in on Pasabağ to say goodbye to
some hoodoos and check out the souvenir stalls and antique shops clustered around the carpark. An
hour here was sufficient so we drove the short distance to Avanos to visit the superb Güray ceramic
factory and museum. We were really lucky as the museum had just been opened a fortnight before
our visit and was a thing of beauty in itself. Hacked from the soft volcanic rock adjacent to the
equally underground ceramic works it was made of large connected vaulted chambers with exhibit
cases worked into every wall. Very impressive.

A side door took us from the cathedral-like hush of the museum into the hustle-bustle of the factory
and some tame ceramicists were hard at work for our viewing pleasure. Later we had a great
demonstration of the use of the kick-wheel to throw a pot whilst we drank tea and then Başak
bravely gave it a go for excellent comedy value. Finally it was time to look at the incredible finished
work of this excellent pottery, the high-end stuff was just incredible but you need a well-endowed
credit card to contemplate buying any of these truly wonderful objects. Fortunately though there
were pieces to suit all depths of pockets and tastes and most of us made a purchase of some kind.
During parts of this shopping/cultural process Phil had been wandering about finding hoopoes, bee-
eaters and black-eared wheatears in the neighbourhood...

Off we drove stopping at the top of a low pass – the Topuz – where we had an enjoyable half-hour of
botanical activity despite light rain. Arum elongatum, Silene cappadocica, Centaurea pichleri and
Acanthus hirsutus were some of the plants. Phil enjoyed the birding here finding singing ortolan
bunting, woodlark, red-backed shrike and having a brief encounter with a distant golden eagle.
Driving on we stopped at a roadside restaurant and enjoyed yet another pleasant meal as light rain
continued to fall.

As we had come over the pass we had seen the Erciyes volcano looming up ahead but as we got
closer the low cloud dropped and concealed it. Skirting the marshes we made a short stop to
photograph a roadside stork nest and Phil dashed over to a nearby drainage channel that was
choked with Ranunculus sphaerospernum. Frogs called, a purple heron flushed up and away and a
black tern batted past. We stopped to look at some nice patches of Hesperis bicuspidata (the purple
crucifer) and whilst the team went back for it Phil scanned a nearby ridge with his ‘scope and found
some orchids. Everyone joined him on the ridge when they came back and we had a pleasant time in
the light rain looking at the lovely yellow Orchis pallens and the deep purple Orchis pinetorum.

Back-tracking to the hotel we checked into a large and very empty ski-hotel, the plan being to gather
shortly to walk up to the nearest snow-patch for bulbs, but when it came down to it the heavens had
opened and none of us fancied it! Tomorrow perhaps?

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 7

Day 8 Friday 9th May Erciyes and Aladağlar
No Sultan Marshes visit this year, with little interest in birds amongst the team there was a
unanimous decision to have a lie-in instead! In its place an early morning assault on the Colchicum
szovitsii of the Erciyes volcano slopes was requested after yesterday evening’s wash-out performance.
Some us made it to the 06.30 startline and we trogged uphill in a fierce wind and the cold but
enjoying nevertheless the numerous Pulsatilla albana in the sward. Başak also spotted Minuartia
recurva, Draba polytricha and Herniaria glabra here. Eventually we got high enough to start finding the
tiny Colchicum in small numbers and as low cloud had completely enveloped us at this point we
elected to head back down for breakfast before we got lost forever.

Breakfast complete we took to the road for the 70 km drive round to the high Ala Daği. En route we
stopped for bread and then light rain and high winds started to become more obvious as we slowly
climbed to the road junction. Driving the road through the stunning scenery to the mine was
accomplished with just one stop for some obvious Iris schactii, which went down well with the team.
Aristolochia maurorum, Astragalus nitens, Solenanthus circinnatus, Polygala anatolica and Aethionema
iberideum were some of the other plants in the area. A superb male white-throated robin was a nice
surprise here and perched briefly for Phil. Drifts of snowfinches flew up in front of us occasionally.

As we got up above 2500 metres the rain turned to snow and we entered a very alpine scene, the
mountains around us covered in a fresh dusting of spring snow. Parking up at the mine most walked
with Başak to search for fritillaries. Phil checked the rather unsightly rubbish dump and got great
views of shorelark, snowfinch and alpine accentor. Walking further up the track produced water
pipits and a stunning male rock thrush. Just before we headed back downhill a good-sized group of
red-fronted serin swept in and landed amongst the buildings, beautiful birds.

Driving down we parked up and sorted out a meal. No textbook picnic for us, everyone stayed
firmly in the mud-filled van out of the weather. Başak brewed up some tea in the front, whilst Phil
prepared sandwich fillings and other sundries from the supplies in the back and passed them
forward. Snow fell horizontally throughout. We dropped a lot lower afterwards and found a superb
flower-rich site that quite took our minds off the wet weather. Iris schactii was found first. Then Başak
found some Iris sari and we found some lovely fresh examples including a memorable clump of four.
The cliff base was the favoured habitat of the very colourful and much-admired Onosma albo-roseum.
Başak was kept very busy as we also found Scilla sibirica subsp. armena, Lamium garganicum, Orthurus
heterocarpus and Anemone blanda. The big fritillary was still above us in the snow but we elected to
head downhill and were quickly rewarded with some sun for the first time in the day.

We drove the short distance to the Derebağ waterfall for a comfort stop and a cup of tea. Here in a
very short time we added mazarine blue and long-tailed tit to their respective lists. But tired and
windswept we did not stay long, instead we turned for the hotel and a big plant checklist session
before dinner.

Day 9 Saturday 10th May Büyük Gebzeli Geçidi, Tahtalı Daği and the
Püren Pass

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 8

Another transfer day was upon us and so we breakfasted and checked out in good order and got on
the road to ‘Maraş. Driving along through excellent scenery we made our first stop of the day at a
very high pass (Büyük Gebzeli). Başak lead the team up slope hunting out plants and finding
Fritillaria pinardi and other plants like Nonea pulla, Solenanthus stamineus, Myosotis alpestris and
Barbarea minor. Lower down some of us were enjoying the birds that included a pair of confiding red-
fronted serin, two male white-throated robins and our first stonechats and goldfinches. Penny found
a water pipit nest complete with eggs and white-throated robin and ortolan bunting were in song all
around us.

Driving on we continued on through a changing landscape, stopping briefly to admire a colony of

bee-eaters by the road and again to check out a field with our first Ixolirion tataricum. An eastern
steppe festoon here was our first. A stop in a small village secured our bread ration for the day.
Arriving at our lunch stop we searched the woods for the rather weedy but none-the-less exciting
Muscari mcbeathianum. Also here Penny found a few Orchis coriophora and there were many Orchis
morio and other stuff like Verbascum phoenicium, Silene capitellata, Minuartia hirsuta and Cnicus
benedictus. A few butterflies were flying here including our only long-tailed blue of the trip. It was
great to have some sun and be able to sit out and have a proper picnic.

After lunch we headed on again, eventually climbing up to the incredibly beautiful Püren pass. On
the other side we found the slopes were lightly covered in cedar, Cilcian fir and Juniperus excelsa and
stopped to search for fritillaries. Başak took the team up in search of Fritillaria amana and Phil went to
search out Fritillaria persica at a regular site. The regular site for persica sadly only contained two
decapitated plants but a beautiful Paeonia mascula and a Schneider’s skink were some compensation.
A calling bird here was probably the scarce white-backed woodpecker.

Luckily whilst the rest of the team could not locate an amana, Patricia had found some persica. We
searched high and low for amana, most people taking in the peony and eventually Başak found a
single flower, just past its best but a sure sign that we had missed the main flowering period this year
sadly. Other plants were Eremurus spectabilis and Hesperis campicarpa. Tired we headed for ‘Maraş
and the comfortable Saffron Hotel.

After dinner Başak took us out to sample the famous ice cream of this bustling town. The ice-cream
parlour was quite something and so was the incredibly glutinous ice-cream.

Day 10 Sunday 11th May the Ahir Daği

The last day in the field was a scorcher, the sun shone down, we did not have far to go to get into
habitat and the wildlife was fantastic. Climbing out of town we were soon on the lower slopes of the
Ahir Daği and stopped low down in a floriferous spot. Whilst the botanists grazed on the slope, Phil
checked out the butterflies finding the first skippers of the trip at last and photographing a tiny grass
jewel. The botanists found a number of new and interesting species on the slope including Linum
mucronatum, Teucrium multicaule, Cicer pinnatifidum, Coronilla orientalis and Crupina crupinastrum.

Moving on we did not have to wait too long before Sue squealed. She had seen our first immense Iris
kirkwoodi and was rather pleased. We bundled out of the van and enjoyed it. Phil went up round the
back of the bank that the plant was on but all the irises here were already over, so we got lucky with
this first perfect plant. Scarce swallowtails made an appearance here for the first time. Driving on we
came out on the high tops, scattered purple cushions of Onobrychis cornuta added a Scottish colouring

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 9

to the dry limestone hills and we also found Helleborus vesicarius. In the depression below us seasonal
shepherd communities went about their business, smoke curling from the chimneys of their simple
dwellings. Turning back in search of more iris we quickly found a very good track. Soon either side
of us were good numbers of Iris kirkwoodi, and we stopped for lunch at a good looking spot.
Incredibly the farmer here was just about to plough in the very field we found ourselves in to make
way for more cherry trees! He kindly stopped whilst we enjoyed the spectacle of this doomed iris
field. Many of the plants had huge, multiple heads and it was hard to watch when the tractor got
under way again during our picnic.

Moving on we had another pleasant hour on the dry slopes. Looking again at the amazing irises and
also finding many more plants including Salvia multicaulis, Paracaryum paphlagonicum and Cistus
salvifolius. Overhead a short-toed eagle showed Phil how to find reptiles and Phil took the lesson on
board and finally got a photo of the hyperactive skink in the grass – it was Mabuya vittata. Butterflies
were excellent with black-veined white and false apollo on the wing. Our only Turkish copper of the
trip and a good number of small Anatolian blues. Nine spotted moths (Amata phegea) were obvious.
Eventually we tore ourselves away and headed downhill again.

Dropping back down we stopped to enjoy some flowering Asphodeline globifera and this area was
very good for bush-crickets too. Our final stop on the hill was the same spot as our first as Başak had
noticed some Centranthus longiflorus that we had missed before. Phil was pleased to find Gerhard’s
black hairstreak here and a surprise Upcher’s warbler put in an appearance.

Driving back down to ‘Maraş we searched in vain for good habitat on the other side of town. The
smelly sewage drain we found producing our only greenfinches of the trip and a great little ice-
cream parlour (upwind!). Refreshed we headed for an early bath, a big checklist round-up, online
checking-in and the last supper. We said our goodbyes to Başak afterwards, she was leaving early in
the morning to make her date with the BBC tulip documentary film crew in the north-east of Turkey.
We wished her luck.

Day 11 Monday 12th May the journey home

A nice leisurely start and plenty of time to pack was a luxury on this busy tour. We all breakfasted
and then Phil and Cynthia looked around the local area picking up the last new bird of the tour –
laughing dove. Assembled we all headed out to the nearest supermarket and stocked up on Turkish
delight, halva and other goodies (pomegranate syrup being a firm favourite). The tiny airport was
just 15 minutes away and involved a walk of at least 75 metres from the van to the gate. The flight
was nice and short and then we were in Istanbul.

Phil tucked himself away and worked on the report and this devotion to duty cost him a sighting of
Kate Humble in departures... Gutting. By the time he resurfaced to see the crew off on their flight to
London it was all over.

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 10

 Systematic List Number 1 Plants
The majority of the taxonomic order and nomenclature has been taken from the Turkish Flora (edited
by P H Davis).

Acanthaceae
Acanthus hirsutus Çatal Höyük, Topuzdağı Pass

Anacardiaceae
Cotinus coggygria Ahır Dağ
Pistacia terebinthus East of Cappaodocia
Rhus coriaria Bağlıdere Valley, Ahır Dağ

Apiaceae
Astrodaucus orientalis around Tuz Lake
Ferula orientalis Cappadocia
Ferula rigidula Cappadocia, Aladağlar-Maden
Grammosciadum confertum East of Develi
Grammosciadum ptercarpum Püren Pass
Lecokia cretica Püren Pass
Oenanthe silaifolia en route to Develi
Scandix iberica around Ahır Dağ, Pancarlık Valley
Torilis leptophylla Ahır Dağ
Zosima absinthifolia Sarıca Church

Apocynaceae
Vinca herbacea Aladağlar

Aristolochiaceae
Aristolochia maurorum Bağlıdere Valley, Aladağlar

Asteraceae
Achillea biebersteinii on the roadsides around Konya
Achillea lycaonica Çatalhöyük
Bellis perennis scattered
Centaurea depressa widespread; Sille, Çatalhöyük, Ahır Dağ
Centaurea iberica scattered; Kulu Lake
Centaurea pichleri Melendiz Dağ, en route to Develi, Topuzdağı Pass
Centaurea triumfettii en route to Aladağ, around Kayseri
Centaurea urvillei ssp. armata Aladağ-Maden
Chardinia orientalis Ahır Dağ
Cirsium arvense subsp. vestitum around Konya; Kulu Lake
Cnicus benedictus Sille, Bağlıdere, Taşpınar
Crupina crupinastrum Ahır Dağ
Doronicum orientale Püren pass
Erigeron sp. Aladağ
Gundelia tournefortii scattered; South of Kulu, en route to Aladağ, Devrent

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 11

Onopordum karduchorum Çatalhöyük road
Scorzonera cana en route to Develi, Cappadocia area
Scorzonera eriophora very hairy..Bağlıdere Valley
Senecio vernalis widespread
Sonchus tenerrimus Kulu
Tripleurospermum decipiens Bağlıdere Valley
Tripleurospermum oreades Aladağlar-Maden
Xanthium spinosum Pancarlık Valley

Berberidaceae
Berberis crataegina Cappadocia

Boraginaceae
Alkanna orientalis widespread; around Cappadocia, Taşpınar
Alkanna pseudotinctoria widespread; around Cappadocia, Konya, Taşpınar
Anchusa arvensis Aladağ-Maden
Anchusa azurea scattered; around Kulu Lake, Develi road
Anchusa leptophylla widespread; Kulu area, Cappadocia
Anchusa strigosa Develi road, Ahır Dağ
Anchusa undulata subsp. hybrida Bağlıdere Valley, on the roadsides around Kayseri
Arnebia densiflora on the Zelve road in Cappadocia, Devrent
Asperugo procumbens widespread; Çatal Höyük, Kulu, Cappadocia
Brunnera orientalis Develi
Buglossoides arvensis Kayseri area, Uçhisar
Cerinthe minor scattered around Cappadocia
Cynoglossum montanum Püren Pass
Echium italicum Develi road
Heterocaryum szovitsianum Konya
Lappula barbata widespread; around Konya
Lappula squarrosa Konya
Lithospermum arvenis Kayseri area
Moltkia corulea scattered; near Cihanbeyli, Bağlıdere Valley
Myosotis alpestris scattered; Melendiz Dağ
Nonea pulla Aladağlar, Büyük Gebzeli Pass
Nonea stenosolon Zelve road in Cappadocia, Taşpınar
Onosma albo-roseum Aladağ, Püren Pass
Onosma aucherianum ?Taşpınar
Onosma bornmuelleri around Cappadocia
Paracaryum calycinum Cappadocia
Paracaryum lithospermifolium Cappadocia
Paracaryum paphlagonicum Ahır Dağ
Phacelia tanacetifolia a few km east of Cappadocia
Rindera lanata var. canescens Büyük Gezbeli Pass
Solenanthus circinnatus Aladağlar and Büyük Gezbeli Pass
Solenanthus stamineus Büyük Gezbeli Pass
Symphytum bornmülleri Büyük Gezbeli Pass
Symphytum brachycalyx Püren Pass

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 12

Brassicaceae
Aethionema arabicum Bağlıdere Valley
Aethionema cordatum Aladağlar
Aethionema iberideum Aladağlar
Aethionema membraneceum Aladağlar
Aethionema stylosum Büyük Gezbeli Pass
Alyssum minus Tuzla
Alyssum strigosum Aladağlar
Arabis caucasica Aladağlar
Aubretia canescens Aladağlar
Barbarea minor Melendiz Dağ
Barbarea plantaginea Aladağlar,Püren Pass
Boreava orientalis Derinkuyu
Bornmuellara glabrescens Taşpınar
Capsella bursa-pastoris scattered
Cardaria draba scattered, Çatalhöyük
Conringia orientalis around Cihanbeyli, Çatalhöyük
Conringia plansliqua Cappadocia
Conringia perfoliata scattered; Sille
Crambe orientalis Cappadocia
Descuraina sophia scattered; Sille
Draba bruniifolia Melendiz Dağ, Erciyes Dağ, Aladağlar
Draba polytricha Erciyes Dağ, Aladağlar
Erophila verna Aladağlar
Eruca sativa scattered; Cappadocia
Erysimum thrysoideum Aladağlar, Büyük Gezbeli Pass
Erysimum torulosum around Tuz lake
Erysimum sisymbriodes around Tuz Lake
Fibigia clypeolata Cappadocia
Fibigia eriocarpa Aladağlar
Hesperis bicuspidata Cappadocia
Hesperis campicarpa Püren Pass
Hesperis pulmonarioides Aladağlar
Hesperis steveniana Püren Pass
Iberis taurica Devrent
Lepidium perfoliatum Kulu
Lepidium caespitosum Kulu
Malcolmia chia Bağlıdere Valley
Neslia apiculata Cappadocia
Sinapis alba Çatalhöyük
Sisymbrium irio Kulu
Thlaspi annuum Bağlıdere Valley
Thlaspi violascens Bağlıdere Valley

Campanulaceae
Asyneuma labelioides Devrent
Legousia speculum-veneris scattered

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 13

Cannabaceae
Humulus lupulus Bağlıdere Valley

Caryophyllaceae
Cerastium perfoliatum en route to Develi
Gypsiphila venusta Devrent
Herniaria glabra Aladağlar
Holosteum umbellatum around Taşpınar
Paronychia argentea scattered
Scleranthus perennis around Konya
Silene aegyptiaca en route to Develi
Silene arguta Cappadocia
Silene capitellata Büyüz Gebzeli Pass
Silene cappadocica Taşpınar
Silene conoidea Cappadocia
Silene dichotoma Cappadocia
Silene latifolia Cappadocia
Silene longipetala Ahır Dağ
Silene otites Pancarlık Valley
Silene subconica roadsides around Konya, Pancarlık Valley
Silene supina Ahır Dağ
Spergularia maritima near Tuz Lake
Stellaria media Bağlıdere Valley
Minuartia leucocephala around Cappadocia
Minuartia hirsuta ssp. falcata Near Saimbeyli
Minuartia recurva Aladağlar

Chenopodiaceae
Halocnemum strobilaceum around Tuz Lake

Cistaceae
Cistus salviifolius Cappadocia
Helianthemum salicifolium en route to Develi

Convolvulaceae
Convolvulus arvensis Bağlıdere Valley
Convolvulus assyricus en route to Develi , Pancarlık Valley
Convolvulus betonicifolia Ahır Dağ
Convolvulus lineatus Devrent

Crassulacea
Rosularia globularifolia Püren Pass
Umbilicus erectus Püren Pass
Sedum laconicum Aladağlar

Cupressaceae
Juniperus oxycedrus Cappadocia

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 14

Juniperus excelsa Püren Pass
Juniperus sabina Erciyes

Dipsacaceae
Scabiosa rotata Ahır Dağ

Eleagnaceae
Eleagnus angustifolius Cappadocia

Ephedraceae
Ephedra major Devrent

Euphorbiaceae
Andrachne telephioides Aladağlar
Euphorbia anacampceros Cappadocia
Euphorbia denticulata Aladağlar,Püren Pass
Euphorbia rigida Cappadocia
Euphorbia szovitsii Devrent

Fabaceae
Anthyllis vulneraria Ahır Dağı
Astragalus adunca Sille
Astragalus acicularis en route to Develi
Astragalus brachypterus Cappadocia
Astragalus cadmicus around Tuz Lake
Astragalus christianus Konya, roadsides at Kayseri
Astragalus condensata Zelve area, Dervent, very prickly-shrubby, pale pink globose flower
heads
Astragalus eriophyllus Ahır Dağ
Astragalus gymnolobus Melendiz Dağ
Astragalus hamosus near Çatalhöyük
Astragalus macrocephalus Ahır Dağ
Astragalus macroscepus Cappadocia, Devrent
Astragalus microcephalus around Tuz Lake
Astragalus nitens Zelve area, Aladağlar
Astragalus odoratus Cappadocia
Astragalus pelliger Devrent, dwarf plant with big creamy flowers
Astragalus pinetorum Cappadocia
Astragalus persicus Sarıça Church
Astragalus tigridus Cappadocia, few leaflets, reddish flowers
Astragalus xylobasis Zelve area
Cercis siliquastrum Konya
Cicer pinnatifidum Ahır Dağ
Colutea cilicica Cappadocia,Ahır Dağ
Coronilla emerus Near Yahyalı
Coronilla orientalis Ahır Dağı
Coronilla scorpoides Ahır Dağı

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 15

Genista albida Zelve area, Devrent
Hedysarum cappodocicum Zelve area
Hippocrepis unisiliquosa Ahır Dağ
Lathyrus blepharicarpus near Saimbeyli
Lathyrus brachypterus Kızıl Vadi-Cappadocia, creamy white flwrs
Lathyrus cicera near Saimbeyli
Lathyrus nissolia Near Saimbeyli
Medicago minima Kulu
Medicago sativa scattered
Medicago radiata Ahır Dağı
Medicago polymorpha Ahır Dağı
Melilotus officinalis scattered
Onobrychis cornuta Aladağlar
Onobrychis paucigua Tuzla
Pisum elatius Cappadocia
Robinia pseudoacacia around Konya
Trifolium campestre Konya
Trifolium resupinatum around Çatalhöyük
Trigonella astroites Taşpınar
Trigonella caerulescens Cappadocia
Trigonella monantha Cappadocia
Vicia noeana near Çatalhöyük, near Develi
Vicia sativa subsp. nigra near Çatalhöyük, near Develi
Vicia tetrasperma Çatalhöyük
Vicia villosa Near Develi
Vicia pubescens Cappadocia

Fagaceae
Quercus cerris Ahır Dağ
Quercus infectoria Aladağlar
Quercus petrea Ahır Dağ

Fumariaceae
Corydalis erdelii Aladağlar, Büyük Gezbeli Pass
Fumaria asepala Cappadocia
Fumaria vaillantii around Çatalhöyük,Cappadocia

Geraniaceae
Biebersteinia orphanidea Aladağlar, Püren Pass
Blackstonia perfoliata near Çatalhöyük
Erodium absinthoides Aladağlar
Erodium cicutarium widespread
Erodium ciconium Pınarbaşı Valley
Erodium gruinum Cappadocia
Geranium cinereun subspecies palmatipartitus Püren Pass
Geranium divaricatum Püren Pass
Geranium purpureum Püren Pass
Geranium pyrenaicum Püren Pass

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 16

Geranium rotundifolium Püren Pass
Geranium tuberosum Aladağlar,Püren Pass

Globulariaceae
Globularia trichosantha Püren Pass, Erciyes

Hypericaceae
Hypericum hyssopifolium Cappadocia, Ahır Dağ
Hypericum lydium Ahır Dağ, Erciyes
Hypericum scabrum scattered; Cappadocia

Lamiaceae
Acinos arvenis around Kulu Gölü, Taşpınar
Ajuga orientalis scattered
Ajuga chamaepitys widespread
Lallemantia peltata Ahır Dağ
Lamium album scattered
Lamium amplexicaule scattered
Lamium garganicum Aladağlar, Püren Pass
Lamium truncatum Püren Pass
Marribium parviflorum Kulu area
Salvia blepharochlorea Devrent
Salvia caespitosa Zelve area
Salvia cadmica Sille
Salvia cryptantha Cappadocia,Ahır Dağ
Salvia multicaulis Ahır Dağ
Salvia verbenaca en route to Develi
Scutellaria orientalis east of Cappadocia, Erciyes
Scutellaria salviifolia Ahır Dağ
Sideritis lanata Taşpınar
Stachys annuus Taşpınar
Wiedemannia orientalis scattered; Cappadocia
Ziziphora capitata Bağlıdere Valley

Linaceae
Linum austriacum Cappadocia
Linum mucronatum en route to Develi
Linum hirsutum around Taşpınar

Loranthaceae
Viscum album Cappadocia

Malvaceae
Malva neglecta Cappadocia

Moraceae
Morus alba scattered
Morus nigra Sille

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 17

Nymphaeaceae
Nymphea alba Sultan Marshes

Oleaceae
Jasminum fruticans Red Valley-Cappadocia

Orobanchaceae
Orobannhe caryophyllacea Cappadocia
Orobanche cilica Taşpınar
Orobanche ramosa Ahır Dağ

Paeoniaceae
Paeonia mascula subsp. mascula in flower Püren Pass

Papaveraceae
Glaucium corniculatum scattered on the roadsides around Konya
Glaucium grandiflorum subspecies grandiflorum near Tuz Lake
Hypecoum imberbe Taşpınar
Hypecoum pendulum near Çatalhöyük
Papaver clavatum Ahır Dağ
Papaver hybridum scattered; Cappadocia
Papaver lacerum Kulu area
Papaver persica Ahır Dağ
Papaver stylatum near Çatalhöyük
Romeria hybrida around Tuz Lake,Cappadocia

Pinaceae
Abies cilicica Püren Pass
Cedrus libani Püren Pass
Pinus brutia Ahır Dağ
Pinus nigra Püren Pass

Plantaginacea
Plantago major Kulu arae

Polygalaceae
Polygala anatolica Cappadocia
Polygala papilionacea Aladağlar
Polygala prunosa Cappadocia

Primulaceae
Androsace villosa Erciyes Dağ,Aladağlar
Androsace maxima Cappadocia
Primula auriculata Aladağlar

Pteridophyta
Asplenium trichomanes Püren Pass

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 18

Ceterach officinarum Püren Pass
Cystopteris fragilis Aladağlar
Cheilanthes persica Püren Pass

Ranunculaceae
Adonis annua Çatalhöyük
Adonis aestivalis scattered; Cappadocia
Adonis eriocalycina around Tuz lake
Anemone blanda Aladağlar
Ceratocephalus falcatus Cappadocia
Clematis orientalis Bağlıdere Valley
Consolida orientalis widespread; near Çatalhöyük
Eranthis hyemalis (lvs) Aladağlar
Helleborus vesicarius Ahır Dağ
Nigella segetalis en route to Çatalhöyük
Pulsatilla ablana Erciyes Dağ
Ranunculus arvensis scattered
Ranunculus argyreus Cappadocia
Ranunculus constantinopolitanus scattered; Cappadocia
Ranunculus illyricus Saimbeyli (Muscari macbeathianum area)
Ranunculus damascenus Ahır Dağ
Ranunculus dissectus Melendiz Dağ
Ranunculus grandiflorus Melendiz Dağ
Ranunculus isthmicus widespread;Bağlıdere Valley
Ranunculus kotschyi Saimbeyli (Muscari macbeathianum area)
Ranunculus millefolius Saimbeyli (Muscari macbeathianum area)
Ranunculus myosuroides Büyük Gezbeli Pass
Ranunculus repens scattered
Ranunculus sphareospermum Paşabağ
Thalictrum minus Püren Pass

Resedaceae
Reseda lutea widespread

Rosaceae
Amygdalus orientalis Cappadocia
Amygdalus lycoides Aladağlar
Cerasus prostrata Püren Pass
Crataegus monogyna near Çatal Höyük
Geum urbanum Püren Pass
Orthurus heterocarpus Aladağlar
Rosa canina Bağlıdere Valley
Rosa hemispherica Bağlıdere Valley
Poterium minor scattered
Sanguisorba minor Taşpınar
Sorbus domestica Bağlıdere Valley
Sorbus aucuparia Püren Pass
Spiraea hypericifolia Cappadocia

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 19

Rubiaceae
Asperula pestalozzae Devrent
Cruciata taurica Cappadocia
Galium aparine Çatalhöyük
Rubia tinctoria Çatalhöyük

Rutaceae
Haplophyllum telephioides Devrent

Salixaceae
Salix eleagnifolius Çatalhöyük
Populus usbestanica Çatalhöyük

Scrophulariaceae
Anarrhinum orientale Ahır Dağ
Linaria chalepensis Ahır Dağ
Linaria corifolia east of Cappadocia
Linaria genistifolia Kızıl Vadi- Cappadocia
Linaria grandiflora near Çatal Höyük
Linaria simplex scattered
Parantucelllia latifolia scattered
Verbascum phoenicum Büyük Gezbeli Pass
Verbascum urceolatum Taşpınar
Verbascum vulcanicum Cappadocia (roadsides in the center)
Veronica arvenis scattered
Veronica orientalis scattered

Solanaceae
Hyocyamus niger Cappadocia
Hyocyamus reticulatus around Kulu Lake, Cappadocia

Styracaceae
Styrax officinalis Ahır Dağ

Thymelaeaceae
Daphne oleoides subsp. kurdica Aladağlar

Ulmaceae
Ulmus glabra Püren Pass
Ulmus minor Bağlıdere Valley

Urticaceae
Urtica dioica Konya

Valerianaceae
Centranthus longiflorus Ahır Dağ

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 20

Valeriana dioscoridis scattered; Ahır Dağ
Valeriana officinalis sacttered; Sille

Violaceae
Viola arvensis Ahır dağ
Viola kitaibeliana Melendiz Dağ

Monocotyledons
Amaryllidaceae
Ixilorion tataricum Aladağlar,near Saimbeyli

Araceae
Arum elongatum lower areas around Aladağlar, en route to Kayseri

Iridaceae
Crocus biflorus Büyük Gezbeli Pass
Crocus siehanus Aladağlar
Gladiolus atroviolaceus Bağlıdere Valley,near Taşpınar, Aladağlar
Gladiolus italicus Ahır Dağ
Gladiolus kotschyanus Ahır Dağ
Iris kirwoodii Ahır Dağ
Iris mesopotamica Sille, K. Maraş
Iris sari Aladağlar
Iris shachtii Aladağlar
Iris sprengeri Taşpınar

Liliaceae
Allium flavum Ahır Dağ
Allium scorodoprasum Bağlıdere Valley
Asphodeline cilicica Ahır Dağ
Asphodeline damascena Cappadocia
Asphodeline globifera Aladağlar
Bellevalia tauri Bağlıdere Valley
Colchicum szovitsii Aladağlar
Eremurus spectabilis Püren Pass
Fritillaria acmopetala Püren Pass
Fritillaria amana Püren Pass
Fritillaria aurea Aladağlar
Fritillaria persica Püren Pass
Fritillaria pinardii Aladağlar,Büyük Gezbeli Pass
Gagea bohemica Aladağlar
Gagea fistulosa Aladağlar
Gagea glacialis Melendiz Dağ
Gagea granatellii Aladağlar
Gagea peduncularis Melendiz Dağ
Gagea taurica Melendiz Dağ

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 21

Hyacinthus orientalis Püren Pass
Muscari armeniacum Cappadocia,Aladağlar
Muscari aucheri Melendiz Dağ
Muscari comosum Bağlıdere Valley
Muscari latifolium Erciyes Dağ
Muscari macbeathianum near Saimbeyli
Muscari neglectum Aladağlar
Muscari tenuiflorum Bağlıdere Valley
Ornithogalum narbonense Ahır Dağ
Ornithogalum oligophyllum Melendiz Dağ, Püren Pass
Ornithogalum orthophyllum Büyük Gezbeli Pass
Ornithogalum platyphyllum scattered
Ornithogalum pyrenaicum Bağlıdere Valley
Ornithogalum sorgerae Ahır Dağ
Ornithogalum sphaerocarpum Cappadocia
Ornithogalum umbellatum around Taşpınar
Ornithogalum wiedemannii Cappadocia
Tulipa agenensis Püren Pass
Tulipa armena near Saimbeyli (Muscari macbeathianum area)

Orchidaceae
Dactylorhiza osmanica en route to Develi
Orchis coriophora near Saimbeyli (Muscari macbeathianum area)
Orchis morio near Saimbeyli (Muscari macbeathianum area)
Orchis pallens Aladağlar, Erciyes
Orchis pinetorum Erciyes
Orchis tridentata near Saimbeyli (Muscari macbeathianum area)
Ophrys transhyrcana en route to Erciyes from east of Cappadocia

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 22

 Systematic List Number 2 Birds
Loosely following the order and nomenclature of the ‘Collin’s’ guide. Species in square brackets were
heard only (or recorded by other means; feathers, signs etc).

[Little Grebe] Tachybaptus ruficollis heard only at Sultan Marshes

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Kulu Gölü
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena 1 Sultan Marshes
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 1 Kulu Gölü and several Sultan Marshes
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus a male at the Sultan Marshes
Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 2 Kulu Gölü
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 6+ Sultan Marshes
Little Egret Egretta garzetta 6+ Sultan Marshes
Great Egret Egretta alba 4 Kulu Gölü 1 Sultan Marshes
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 1 Kulu Gölü and many Sultan Marshes
White Stork Ciconia ciconia high numbers east of Konya, scattered elsewhere
Black Stork Ciconia nigra 30 at the Sultan Marshes
Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia 1 Sultan Marshes
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber 4000+ at Kulu Gölü and 1 Sultan Marshes
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea a few Kulu Gölü
Shelduck Tadorna tadorna several Kulu Gölü
Wigeon Anas Penelope 3 Sultan Marshes
Teal Anas crecca several Sultan Marshes
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos a few at the Sultan Marshes
Pintail Anas acuta 4 Kulu Gölü, 2 Sultan Marshes
Garganey Anas querquedula several at Sultan Marshes
Shoveler Anas clypeata 2 males Kulu Gölü
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina 6+ Sultan Marshes
Pochard Aythya ferina 1 Sultan Marshes
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca 4+ Sultan Marshes
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus singles daily in Cappadocia
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus noted at all wetlands
Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus females near Tuz and Cappadocia
Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus widespread
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 1 adult Aladağlar
Booted Eagle Aquila pennata 1 Ahir Dağı
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni Konya and Kulu areas
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus scattered
Hobby Falco subbuteo Tahatli Dağları
Chukar Alectoris chukar scattered
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix 2 Aladağlar
Little Crake Porzana parva Sultan Marshes
[Moorhen] Gallinula chloropus Sultan Marshes
Coot Fulica atra Sultan Marshes
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Kulu Gölü & Sultan Marshes
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta frequent at Kulu Gölü
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola Kulu Gölü

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 23

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Kulu Gölü
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrines 1 Kulu Gölü
Spur-winged Plover Hoplopterus spinosus 1 Kulu Gölü and 3 Sultan Marshes
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Kulu Gölü
Redshank Tinga tetanus 2 Kulu Gölü
Greenshank Tringa nebularia 1 Kulu Gölü
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Sultan Marshes
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Kulu Gölü
Little Stint Calidris minuta Kulu Gölü
Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii 1 Kulu Gölü
Dunlin Calidris alpina max of 2 daily at Kulu Gölü
Ruff Philomachus pugnax common at Kulu Gölü and noted at Sultan Marshes
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus several on both visits to Kulu Gölü
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus singles at Kulu Gölü and at Sultan Marshes
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei 1 at Kulu Gölü
Common Tern Sterna hirundo 2 at the Sultan Marshes
Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica at all wetlands
Black Tern Chlidonias niger 2 at Kulu Gölü
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus small numbers at Sultan Marshes
Rock Dove Columba livia ubiquitous, most notably in the dovecotes of
Göreme
Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur 2 Cappadocia
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto widespread
Little Owl Athene noctua singles near Tuz Golu and also Sultan Marshes
[Scop’s Owl] Otus scops heard in Cappadocia
Common Swift Apus apus widespread
Alpine Swift Apus melba widespread
Roller Coracias garrulus common near Konya, just 1 in Cappadocia
Hoopoe Upupa epops widespread
Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopus syriacus scattered throughout
Crested Lark Galerida cristata common
Skylark Alauda arvensis scattered
Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla scattered
Lesser Short-toed Calandrella rufescens common Kulu Gölü
Lark
Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra common Kulu Gölü and Sultan Marshes
Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata east of Develi
Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris Erciyes and Aladağlar
Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris Aladağlar
Swallow Hirundo rustica widespread
Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica Ahir Daği
Sand Martin Riparia riparia at all wetlands
House Martin Delichon urbica scattered
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis 1 Kulu Gölü, and one Sultan Marshes
Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus good numbers at Kulu Gölü, also noted Erciyes and
Sultan Marshes
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta Aladağlar
Black-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava widespread in suitable habitat

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 24

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola a fine male at Kulu Gölü
White Wagtail Motacilla alba small numbers throughout
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea scattered
Radde’s Accentor Prunella ocularis 1 Erciyes and quite common in the Aladağlar, a few
seen well
Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos frequently heard, seen a few times in Cappadocia
Rufous Bush-chat Cercotrichas galactotes 3 at Catal Hoyuk and 1 between Cappadocia and
Erciyes
White-throated Robin Irania guttaralis Aladağlar
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochuros Erciyes
Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus a few in Cappadocia and Erciyes, the lovely
samamiscus males being especially appreciated
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra 1 en route to Sultan Marshes
Stonechat Saxicola torquata just one seen Aladağlar
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe en route to Develi, Erciyes
Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina widespread
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica widespread and common
Finsch’s Wheatear Oenanthe finschii 2 near Taşpınar
Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis scattered
Blackbird Turdus merula only noted once Cappadocia
Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus pair in the Tahtalı Daği
Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti widespread but rarely seen
Eastern Orphean Sylvia crassirostris 1 Cappadocia open air museum
Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca scattered records
Whitethroat Sylvia communis scattered records
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla scattered
Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides 1 Sultan Marshes
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus Sultan Marshes
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus just 1 Sultan Marshes
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus Sultan Marshes where common
Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon Sultan Marshes where quite common
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita just one at Kulu
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus scattered
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata a few at Kulu and in Cappadocia
Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus Sultan Marshes
Coal Tit Parus ater seen in small numbers en route to Develi
Great Tit Parus major scattered throughout
Blue Tit Parus caeruleus some in Cappadocia
Krüper’s Nuthatch Sitta krueperi 1 near Saimbeyli
Western Rock Sitta neumayer scattered throughout
Nuthatch
Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus three at Catal Hoyuk and 2 with a nest seen just
outside Cappadocia
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus scattered sigh records Others heard
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio commonly recorded in suitable habitat
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor widely scattered in steppe
Jay Garrulus glandarius only noted in the hills east of Cappadocia

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 25

Magpie Pica pica widespread
Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Aladağlar
Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus Aladağlar
Jackdaw Corvus monedula scattered
Rook Corvus frugilegus Kulu and Cappadocia
Hooded Crow Corvus corone widespread
Raven Corvus corax rather uncommon
Starling Sturnus vulgaris widespread
House Sparrow Passer domesticus ubiquitous
Spanish Sparrow Passer hispanioliensis only recorded at Catal Hoyuk
Tree Sparrow Passer montanus reasonably frequent
Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia reasonably frequent - common in Cappadocia
Snow Finch Montifringilla nivalis Erciyes and Aladağlar
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs reasonably common
Red-fronted Serin Serinus pusillus Püren Pass and the Aladağlar
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis widespread
Greenfinch Carduelis chloris just one in Cappadocia
Linnet Carduelis cannabina Small numbers in the mountains
Rock Bunting Emberiza cia scattered
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana scattered
Cretzschmar’s Emberiza caesia 2 on Melendiz Dağı
Bunting
Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala common in suitable habitat thereafter
Corn Bunting Milaria calandra reasonably frequent in open country

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 26

 Systematic List Number 3 Butterflies
Swallowtail Papilio machaon Scattered
Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalarius Singles twice in Cappadocia
Clouded Apollo Parnassius mnemosyone Veronica saw one somewhere
Eastern Steppe Festoon Zerynthia deyrolli throughout
Eastern Wood White Leptidea duponcheli Probably this species noted in Cappadocia
Large White Pieris brassicae widespread
Green-veined White Pieris napi Various sites
Small White Pieris rapae scattered
Eastern Dappled White Euchloe ausonia Top of Love Valley, Cappadocia
Eastern bath White Pontia edusa Irene photographed one in Cappadocia
Orangetip Anthocharis cardamines scattered
Gruner’s Orangetip Anthocharis gruneri A few in Cappadocia
Sooty Orantetip Zegris eupheme Seen daily in Cappadocia
Berger’s Clouded Yellow Colias alfacariensis Cappadocia
Clouded Yellow Colias crocea Widespread
Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni One in Cappadocia
Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi scattered
Pfeiffer’s Green Hairstreak Callophrys paulae Probably this species on its foodplant Onobrychis
cornuta in the Aladaglar
Levantine Vernal copper Tomares nesimachus Several seen in Cappadocia and near Kulu Golu
Turkish Fiery Copper Lycaena ochimus 1 in Cappadocia
Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas widespread
Sooty Copper Lycaena tityrus widespread
Lesser Fiery Copper Lycaena thersamon scattered
Long-tailed Blue Lampides boeticus One in Cappadocia
Eastern Short-tailed Blue Cupido decoloratus Probably this species in Catal Hoyuk
Little Blue Cupido minimus Red Valley, Cappadocia
Osiris Blue Cupido osiris widespread
Green-underside Blue Glaucopsyche alexis widespread
Anatolian Green-underside Glaucopsyche astraea 1 in Cappadocia
Blue
Lesser Checkered Blue Scolitantides vicrama Cappadocia
Brown Argus Aricia agestis scattered
Blue Argus Aricia anteros Nigel photographed at least two in Cappadocia
Mountain Argus Aricia artaxerxes Nigel photographed at least two
Eastern Brown Argus Aricia eurypilus Cappadocia
Mazarine Blue Cyaniris semiargus Just two seen in Cappadocia
Amanda’s Blue Polyommatus amanda scattered
Adonis Blue Polyommatus bellargus scattered
Pontic Blue Polyommatus coelestinus 1 in Cappadocia
Small Anatolian Blue Polyommatus cornelia Noted in Cappadocia and also at the Ophrys
transhyrcana site en route to the Sultan Marshes
Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Not very common!
Chapman’s Blue Polyommatus thersites widespread
Large Tortoiseshell Nymphalis polychloros One in Capadocia

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 27

Painted Lady Cynthia cardui widespread
Queen of Spain Fritillary Issoria lathonia scattered
Glanville Fritillary Melitaea cinxia scattered
Knapweed Fritillary Melitaea phoebe scattered
Dalmatian Ringlet Protoerebia afra frequent in Cappadocia
Eastern Meadow Brown Maniola telmessia Yayladaği.
Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus widespread
Wall Brown Lasiommata megera scattered
Oberthur’s Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus armoricanus Catal Hoyuk
Aegean Skipper Pyrgus melotis Cappadocia
Hungarian Skipper Spialia orbifer Cappadocia
Mallow Skipper Carcharodus alceae scattered

Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 28