Acknowledgements 
I thank OSME for financial support which helped to make this survey possible, 
Mark Cocker for very useful advice and a good map of the area and Tekin 
Kuc,uknalbant for his company and advice in the mountains. The people of 
Yusuf eli, Altiparmak and Yaylarlar were helpful and generous and I particularly 
thank Idris for provision of mules. Owen and Alun Mountford were good 
companions in the field and gave me names to apply to some of the beautiful 
plants of the Kackar. 
References 
Cramp, S & Simmons, K E L (eds) (1980) The Birds of the Western Palearctic Vol 
2, Oxford University Press 
Davis, P H (ed) (1978) Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands Vol 6 Edinburgh 
University Press 
Dubin, M & Lucas, E (1989) Trekking in Turkey, Lonely Planet Guides 
Lang, J T & Cocker,M (1992) A nest of Caucasian Blackcock (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi) 
in Turkey, Sandgrouse, Vol 13, part 2, pp 102-103 
Ian Green, 87 Sprowston Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 4QJ, UK. 
First observations of a possible Basra 
Reed Warbler in Turkey 
Yves Bertault and Jean-Yves Fremont 
During a birding trip to Turkey in April 1987, we observed several 
species of migrant Acrocephalus and Hippolais Warblers. These included 
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus, Reed Warbler A scirpaceus 
(notably fuscus race in Istanbul), Marsh Warbler A palustris (along 
Euphrates River near Birecik), Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida 
(Birecik, Tasucu) and Upcher's Warbler H languida (Tasucu, Goksu 
Delta). However, the observation of an Acrocephalus warbler showing 
characteristics of Basra Reed Warbler A (arundinaceus) griseldis was 
exceptional, possibly being the first record for Turkey, and thus worthy 
of documentation. The bird was observed on 21 April, in the late 
afternoon, 10 km north-east of Kilis and 43 km S-SW of Gaziantep in 
southern Turkey. It was seen mainly in bushes adjacent to an area of 
marsh. 
Despite its elusive behaviour we were fortunate enough to obtain good 
views and took the following description: 
18 
