Great Reed Warbler

Massive for a warbler and almost Thrush sized,mostly concentrated in aquatic vegetation emerging from shallow standing water, fresh or brackish, especially in strong, tall, and dense reeds fringing banks or swamps making Dalyan Delta and Köycegiz Lake the ideal location.

All populations migratory, populations winter in Africa south of Sahara they arrive back in Dalyan around April and will depart through September, indeed numbers appear high in June with decreasing numbers as September approaches.

Bird does not normally allow close approach, but usually not difficult to observe; becomes wary when pressed, frequently changing perch and finally flying off. Locating birds is easy as it has a loud raucous song guttural (frog-like) croaking or harsh grating sounds, usually sung form near the top of the reed making it easily visible,. Sings more or less throughout day from arrival on breeding grounds or at least once territory established, with pre-dawn chorus of remarkable volume; persistent song even around midday characteristic of unpaired males; snatches also given throughout night, especially if moonlit.

The main populations are found on both the eastern and western reed beds as you approach the lake from Dalyan.

You can find the best ways up to these reedbeds on the page Dalyan River and Köycegiz Lake

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Image by Cristian Mihai