A – Hills along the Bosphorus
The narrow sea strait between Europe and Asia pushes all bird migration happen over this narrow corridor. 5 months a year, bird migration can be enjoyed. White Stork, Black Stork, Common Buzzard, Honey Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Levant Sparrowhawk can be seen in highest numbers. A good day in April or September can yield over 10.000 birds a day!
B – Belgrade Forest
An early morning visit to this mature beack/oak forest yields a good collection of forest birds, including Marsh Tit, Hawfinch and Short-toed Treecreeper. Semi-collared Flycatcher regularly breeds in selected sectors of the forest. Grey-headed, Grey, Great-spotted, Middle, Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers can be regularly seen.
Black Sea Coast
This is the place to look for divers, waterfowl, gulls and terns. Spring and autumn provide exiting times to see the migration of birds along the shore.
C – Lake Terkos
The wooded shores of the lake gives a good feeling to be out in nature. Spring and summer visit yield bee-eaters, orioles and warblers. The reedbeds are home to Purple, Little and Squacco Herons and Pygmy Cormorants. The pristine habitats near the lake is home to Short-toed (Snake), Greater Spotted and Booted eagles.
D – Lake Büyükçekmece
This lake is probably the ‘hottest’ birding spot in the whole city. The lagoons south of the lake hold Mediterranean, Little, Yellow-legged and Slender-billed gulls, waders and herons whole year around. In cold winters waterfowl is abundant and include Red-breasted Goose, Whooper Swan, Red-crested Pochard and White-headed Duck. In summer Black-headed Bunting and Calandra Larks can been seen in the fields north of the lake.