After an intense week of field work, Sarah and I are now resting up in Silifke, on the southern Mediterranean coast of Turkey.

Fortunately, we have begun finding much better locations, and getting some good recordings, which is a relief. Chaffinches and Coal Tits are fine, but when they are the ONLY species one hears…

We have been in mixed deciduous forests, high mountain pastures and freshwater roadbeds. Highlights that come to mind are recording birdsong amid the ruins of the ancient city of Termessos, having a pair of Buzzards circling and calling overhead near the snow line, and hearing Chukars in the pre-dawn.

The photo is my recording gear at the the place I recorded the Chukars. Sarah had a great view of them a few metres away in the half-light, the male standing on a rock, puffing out his breast feathers and singing for his nearby mate.

Tomorrow morning we’ll go out to the Göksu marshes in the morning and try for a recording. We had a quick reconnoitre this evening, and found a location where a Black Francolin was sitting on a post – a good welcoming omen.

This last week has been quite exhausting, with early morning starts, usually followed by a day of driving to a new area and a late-afternoon search for a dawn recording location. After a week of insufficient sleep, we’re looking forward to a day or two here to rest, get our washing done, and recharge our batteries; electrical AND personal.

I’d also like to get a blog post or two composed, so drop back in a day or so.

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