Turkey is a diverse and distinct habitat for wild life; forests to wetlands, alpine to extensive steppes. The country is also on an important bird migration route between Europe and Africa. Therefore you can track down an estimate of 450 bird species, some of which can only be seen in this country, and not in Europe.

Season for bird watching extends from April through to November, and the best time interval to see the indigenous and reproducing species is between April and June. In order to trace various migrating species in the southeast, end of spring seems to be the best time of the year. A variety of birds of prey winter in Turkey. Again in the winter, Burdur Lake in central Anatolia is home to the endangered white headed duck.

This tour includes some of the most interesting and diverse birding locations in the country, and highlights of Istanbul and regional Cappadocia.

• 11 nights & 12 days - tour starts and ends in Istanbul
• a professional tour guide, and a birding specialist lead the tour in its entirety

• Accommodations in centrally located hotels and pensions
• All breakfasts, and half the lunches and dinners
• All entrance fees to sites and museums listed
• All tips, including your guide and driver
• Domestic flights; Istanbul-Ankara & Adana-Istanbul

day 1 - Istanbul --- Arrive in Istanbul; brief introduction on the tour, orientation and free time.

day 2 - Istanbul --- Today we will enjoy a full day of sight-seeing in the old part of the city. Tour includes Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and orientation and free time in the Grand Bazaar.

day 3 - Istanbul --- After breakfast, we will take a boat ride up the Bosporus strait. We will disembark at Sariyer- on the European side of the city- to see the local fish market, and for lunch. We will then drive further north towards the Black Sea, to a spot where we will watch the birds in spring migration, most probably including White and Black Stork, Black Kite, Egyptian Vulture, Sparrow Hawk, Buzzard, Honey Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle and perhaps Griffon Vulture, Imperial Eagle and Steppe Eagle.

day 4 - Cappadocia --- Today we fly to Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. Before we start our drive to regional Cappadocia, we will visit the unique Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, and the area known as old Ankara, or the inner citadel. En route we will visit a 13th C Silk Road Caravan-serai. As we arrive in Cappadocia, we will be searching for the Long-legged Buzzard and Alpine Swifts soaring above us. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

day 5 - Cappadocia - Sultan Marsh --- To the south of regional Cappadocia is the well known Sultan Marsh Bird Paradise (17.000 ha.), one of the most important wetlands in Turkey. This place has both fresh and brackish water ecosystems with a fascinating view of Mount Erciyes (3916 m.). Here at the wetland you will be able to see several water birds; Pygmy Cormorant, Dalmatian Pelican, Little Bittern, Night Heron, White Stork, Black Stork, Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, thousands of Greater Flamingo, Gadwall, White-headed Duck, Greater Sand Plover, Avocet, Mediterranean Gull, Slender-billed Gull and Gull-billed Tern, as well as the Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Lesser Short-toed Lark and Isabellina Wheatear on the surroundings steppes. Picnic lunch in the field.

day 6 - Cappadocia --- In the morning we will visit Goreme Open Air Museum with rock cut churches. En route we will see the Valley of Pigeons and Avcilar, a perfect location to get a general view of central Cappadocia. We will also visit the Byzantine military fortification known as Uchisar- built in a massive tufa rock-, and the underground city of Kaymakli. We will stop at convenient birding points along the road. We may spot Egyptian Vulture, Long-legged Buzzard, Roller and Rock Thrush.

day 7 - Adana - Akyatan Lake --- Today we leave Cappadocia for Adana, over the picturesque Taurus Mauntains. After lunch we will drive further south to Akyatan Lake on the Mediterranean. The wetland (7.500 ha. with dune zone) has varying salinity with the effect of the sea and freshwater systems. Here we will explore one of the largest dune zones in Turkey with reeds, salt pans and grass lands, in search for the Purple Gallinule, Black Francolin, Marbled Duck, White-breasted Kingfisher which are all rare birds, and breeding in the area. We may also see species like the White-headed Duck, Marsh Harrier, Spur-winged Plover, Stone-curlew and Rufous Robin.

day 8 - Goksu Delta --- After breakfast we will drive to Goksu Delta which is probably the best birding place in the country, with dune, salt water, channel and reed habitats. Here we will be able to see the species like Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Purple Heron, Spur-winged Plover, Marbled Duck, White-breasted Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher and Graceful Warbler. We will also be in search for different waders and sea birds, Greater Sand Plover, Audouin's Gull and Whiskered Tern.

day 9 - Goksu Canyon & Uzuncaburc --- This morning we will visit Goksu River Canyon. Here at the canyon we may watch the Griffon Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Spotted Eagle, Peregrine, White-throated Robin and Rock Nuthatch. Later in the day, in Uzuncaburc we will visit the ruins of the ancient Olba and the Zeus Temple. Here we’ll be watching for the Golden Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Scops Owl, Black-eared Wheatears, Ruppel’s Warbler, Yellow-vented Bulbul and Krupper’s Nuthatch while the Bee-eater can be seen in the spring migration. Picnic lunch in the field.

day 10 - Goksu Delta --- Today we are heading for the west part of Goksu Delta. We’ll be following a route passing through dunes, fresh and brackish water wetland ecosystems in search for the Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Ferruginous Duck, Marbled Duck, Purple Gallinule, Spur-winged Plover, Rufous Bush Robin, Graceful Warbler and Fan-tailed Warbler. Black Francolin may suddenly appear in front of us along the dunes. Picnic lunch in the field.

day 11 - Istanbul --- Back to Istanbul. Dinner will conclude the day.

day 12 --- Tour is over after breakfast.