Impressions of autumn migration in 
mid-October along the ^ukurova 
coast, near the Belen Pass, southern 
Turkey 
Vincent van den Berk 
Between 11 and 17 October 1988, we hurried along the coastal wetlands 
in the ^ukurova between Mersin and Yumurtalik, in southern Turkey. 
The (^ukurova is located at the entrance to the Belen Pass, a known 
bottleneck for soaring migrants (Bijlsma 1987). We aimed to conduct a 
wader and waterfowl count within this period: autumn is still little 
covered. 
Figure 1. The Belen Pass and the Gulf of Iskendenin 
The autumn migration was well underway: warblers were everywhere, 
mostly Redstarts Phoenicums phoenicurus, Lesser Whitethroats Sylvia 
curruca, Garden Warblers S horin, and Blackcaps S atricapilla; flycatcihers 
were numerous. Willow warblers Phylloscopus trochilus were scarce, but 
Chiffchaffs P colybita were present in hundreds. Tens of Tree Pipits 
Anthm trivialis were present all along the coast; up to three Bluethroats 
Lusdnia svecica were recorded at five different localities and the first 
groups of Song Thrush Turdus philomelos and Robin Erithacus rubecula 
appeared. Whinchat Saxicola rubetra and Stonechat S torqmta were already 
numerous. There was a late Roller Coracias garrulus, some Hoopoes Upupa 
epops, at least three Wrynecks ]ynx torquilla and two or three parties of 
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