The first half of 2018 produced limited number of interesting records, however there were three great additions to Turkish checklist. Mild winter did not stop the arrival of some interesting species to the Black Sea coast. 3 Common Scoter Melanitta nigra20 Jan Karasu, Sakarya and one at Yakakent Harbour, Samsun on 13 Jan. A single Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus was recorded between 25-27 Jan at İğneada Harbour, Kırklareli. Two Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor was video-recorded together at Lake Kulu on 5 Apr. A single Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus near Adana, on 6-14 Jan may indicate a future breeding site for the species. A wintering Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni was Göksu Delta 7 Jan. Baillon’s Crake Zapornia pusilla is still rarely recorded, one was present at Milleyha, Hatay between 31 Mar and 13 Apr.
The highlight of the period is certainly Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus on11 Mar Samsun, Kızılırmak Delta making up the second record for the OSME region. Four Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni on 28 Apr at Milleyha, Hatay confirms rare passage of the species in spring. At the same site the first Great Black Backed Gull Larus marinus was recorded on 31 Mar, with another single on 26 Jan at Küçükçekmece, İstanbul.The second addition to the national checklist is a single Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgulaat Milleyha, Hatay, well documented with photos. A group of 3 Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus, 3 was briefly documented on 15 Ocak, at Riva İstanbul.
The third addition to the national list was a Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis trapped and photographed at Aras Rringing Station, Iğdır on 24 May. Warm southern winds in early spring brought good species to the Mediterranean coastland. A single Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe monachaat Manavgat on 24 May, singles of Cyprus Warbler Sylvia melanothoraxatBoğazkent Antalya, on 11 Mar and Göksu Delta on 22 Mar, a Asian Desert Warbler Sylvia nana at Serik, Antalya on 22 Mar and singles of Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti at Serik Antalya on 24 Mar, at Manavgat on 25 Mar and at Çıralı, Antalya on 26 Mar. Finally a single Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos was present at Aras ringing station , Iğdır on 2 Mar.