Bosporus
Migrants and Mosques

Saturday 15 - Saturday 22 September 2012 (8 days)

The Bosporus at Istanbul is unique. Nowhere else offers the magnificent spectacle of thousands of hawks, buzzards, eagles and storks soaring overhead, together with the chance to explore one of the world's most vibrant and romantic cities. We also spend three nights at the historic city of Bursa and go in search of mountain specialities, migrant waders and waterbirds.



Istanbul enjoys a justifiable reputation as one of the world's great cities, and for many centuries was the capital of the civilised world. For the last 3,000 years, firstly as Byzantium, then Constantinople, and latterly as Istanbul, it has held importance in the Greek, Roman and Ottoman empires. Much of this can be traced to its strategic position guarding the crossroads between Europe and Asia. It is this position at the entrance of the narrow channel running between the Mediterranean and Black Sea which also explains its importance as a migration watch-point, and particularly so for large soaring birds.

Approaching from the steppes of Western Russia and the forest and mountains of eastern Europe, migrant raptors are channelled down the Thracian peninsula and, on northerly prevailing winds, across the city and the narrow straits which are never much more than a mile wide. We will observe the unique spectacle of birds approaching over the mosques and skyscrapers of the city from the two Çamlica Hills on the Asian shore. Both hills are well wooded and also provide excellent opportunities for searching out migrant passerines. We will visit the principal historical monuments - Topkapi Palace, Aya Sofya and the Blue Mosque.

Bursa, lying a hundred miles to the south-west of Istanbul, is also an ancient capital of the Ottoman empire and enjoys a magnificent location on a hillside between Uludag Mountain, the highest in Western Turkey, and the fertile plain below. Our stay allows us to visit the Uludag National Park, the three principal lakes in Western Turkey and the ancient city of Nicaea.

Accommodation: We stay in good quality three-star hotels with en suite facilities throughout.

Principal Leader: Tim Earl

Numbers: Max. 14 clients

Prices: £ 1,595

Single supp.: £ 165

Deposit: £ 300 per person

The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of return economy scheduled flights London-Istanbul, airport taxes, full board accommodation, coach transport, incidental tips, and the services of the leader(s).

The price excludes travel insurance, optional tip to local driver, drinks and other personal expenses.

Bosporus map

Outline Itinerary
Day 1 We catch a morning flight from Heathrow to Istanbul arriving at our comfortable hotel in Kadiköy on the Asian shore in the early evening. Overnight Istanbul
Day 2We spend the morning on the Çamlica Hills enjoying our first taste of the raptor migration. After lunch we leave Istanbul and take the vehicle ferry across the neck of the Bay of Izmit and travel on to Bursa via the western shore of Lake Iznik. Our hotel is on a hill in the spa resort of Çekirge with wonderful views over the city from the restaurant and bedroom windows. Overnight Bursa
Day 3After breakfast we begin our ascent of Uludag, the "great mountain". At the top, beyond the ski resort, Red-fronted Serin, Shorelark and both Rock Thrushes occur. Overnight Bursa
Day 4We start our day at the eastern end of Lake Apolynt, at the village of the same name, which is still largely dependent on the traditional fishery and seemingly lost in the middle agesWe spend the afternoon and early evening at Kus Cenneti or "bird paradise" on the eastern shore of Lake Manyas. This is a stronghold of Dalmatian Pelican. Overnight Bursa
Day 5After a visit to the beautiful Yesil Cami mosque in Bursa we begin our return journey to Istanbul stopping at a wonderfully located restaurant on the shore of Lake Iznik for lunch. Overnight Istanbul
Days 6-7 Late September each year is the period which traditionally yields the best raptor passage with the greatest variety of species. We will spend much of our time on the Çamlica Hills observing this passage and searching the woodland for other migrants. In addition, we will make excursions to the European shore to visit the principal monuments and the world famous covered bazaar. Two nights Istanbul
Day 8We spend our final morning on the Çamlica Hills before returning over the Bosporus suspension bridge and catching our afternoon flight to Heathrow arriving back in London mid-evening.

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