Records and photographs for Around the Region should be sent as soon as possible after the event to Around the Region, OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, U.K.   

The following assisted in the compilation of this review: Alexander Abuladze, Tamer Albayrak, Marc Almecija, Vasil Ananian, lan Andrews, Gunesin Aydemir, Mindy and Sherif Baha El Din, Murat Bogdocan, Judy Dawes, Barbaros Demirci, Majid Eb, Hanne & Jens Eriksen, Peter Flint, Daniel Gelbart, Jeff Gordon, Andrew Grieve, Haim Hovel, Fares Khoury, Elena Kreuzberg-Mukhina, Bahtiyar Kurt, Steve Lister, Graham Lobley, Brian Meadows, Lothar Muller, Damian Nowak, Yoav Perlman, Phil Roberts, Colin Richardson, Konrad Sachanowicz, Nir Sapir, Thomas Spencer, Andy Sprenger, David Stanton, Geoff & Hilary Welch, David Whaley, Reuven Yosef and Sadegh Sadeghi Zadegan.

The following records include several sightings from late 2002. Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena is a very scarce winter visitor, making one at Terkos Golu, on 14 December, and seven at Kizilirmak Delta, on 7 December 2002, of note. At least 3050 Great Crested Grebes Podiceps cristatus at Sanyer Baraji, on 23 February 2003, were at one of the few sites currently supporting such numbers. Black Stork Ciconia nigra is scarce in winter, being only found regularly at Gediz Delta, where 11 were present on 29 December; additionally, two were at Nallihan Kuscenneti, on 5 December 2002. Four Mute Swans Cygnus olor were at Birecik on 29 December 2002. Three Bean Goose Anser fabalis were at Seyfe Golu on 22 February 2003, but a Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis at Buyukcekmece, on 5 January 2003, was only the third record in Turkey. Eighty-nine Garganey Anas querquedula at Tuzla, Cukurova, on 22 December 2002, was significant for the season. An impressive 10,000 Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina were at Beysehir Golu, on 2 February 2003, and up to 130,000 Pochard Aythya ferina at Sodaligol, on 10 October 2002; the latter a huge post-breeding flock. Scaup Aythya marila is a very local winter visitor, thus 12 at Mert Golu, Igneada, on 23 January 2003, were notable. Three Eider Somateria mollissima were at Riva, Istanbul, on 8 September and one at Terkos Golu, on 8 December 2002; the 4-5th records. A Goosander Mergus merganser at Kucukcekmece, on 27 December 2002, was only the third record in the last six years. A Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica was at Tuzla, Cukurova, on 25 April 2003. A very large passage of Sociable Plovers Chettusia gregaria involved 115 through eastern Turkey on 20-30 October 2002. A single White-tailed Plover Chettusia leucura was at Mogan Golu, on 29 September 2002, and there were at least 300 Dotterel Charadrius morinellus at the southern part of Tuz Golu, on 30 April 2003. Of particular note was a Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius at Birecik, on 3 May 2003, which is only the third record. Five Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla were at Gokova, on 14 February 2003. A White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis at Gediz Delta, on 28 February 2003, was the first record for some years at a locality where the species was presumed to be locally extinct. This species has been absent from the area for several years. A Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus at Akyatan Golu, Cukurova, on 3-6 April 2003 represents the earliest-ever sighting in the country. A Tengmalm's Owl Aegolius funereus in the Aktas. Valley, on 7 April 2003, was only the ninth record.