A record of Aquatic Warbler from 
Turkey 
Guy Kirwan 
Between 5 and 7 September 1991, 1 was bird watching in the vicinity of 
Anamur (Southern Coastlands), Turkey. Principally, I was attempting to 
compare the migration of raptors (both numbers and direction) in the 
area with the observations of Vincent van den Berk, and others, at the 
Goksu Delta, approximately 120 km farther east. I was, however, also 
aware that the area might have potential for attracting unusual passerine 
migrants. The first Turkish record of Cyprus Warbler Sylvia melanothorax 
comes from this area (Kasparek 1986, Martins 1989, Kasparek 1990). 
On 5 September, I was investigating an area of reed-choked dykes and 
damp grassland to the south of the town in the late afternoon, when my 
attention was drawn to a movement in the nearest patch of reeds. 
Focusing my binoculars, 1 swiftly realised that I was observing a rather 
strikingly marked, bright, streaked Acrocephalus warbler. For the following 
five minutes, I watched the bird as it moved along the near side of a reed- 
filled ditch, at a distance of approximately five metres, until it eventually 
disappeared into rather thicker cover. I had only seen Aquatic Warbler 
Acrocephalus paludicola on one previous occasion (in Britain), but it 
required little to convince me that the bird I had just been watching was 
of this species. All the salient features Aquatic Warbler had been visible. 
1 took the following notes: 
Size and structure: size as Sedge Warbler A schoenobaenus, but with sharp, 
pointed tail feathers, and generally slimmer, slighter body appearance. 
Plumage: Head strikingly patterned, very crisp, straw-coloured central crown- 
stripe, wide and prominent, unstreaked, and graduating to a point on the nape; 
strongly demarcated by black, or near black lateral crown-stripes; slightly paler 
supercilium, distinctly flared behind the eye; eyeblack; pale lores and dull brown 
ear coverts combine to give bird rather 'bare-faced' expression. Breast and flanks 
pale buff ground colour, former with few dark brown streaks becoming more 
noticeable on the upper flanks and neck sides; belly off-white, unstreaked. 
Upperparts with rich straw-coloured tram-lines on sides of mantle; mantle 
heavily streaked black, streaks extending onto the deep buff coloured rump and 
uppertail coverts. Wings with dark, or nearly black centres to all feathers, with 
warm deep buff fringes. Tail dark with paler (browner) fringes to all feathers, and 
distinctly spiky appearance. 
Bare parts: legs and feet quite bright, flesh coloured. No call heard. 
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