SW Turkey – 3-10 June 2026
My wife and I spent a week on holiday just outside Oludeniz in Mugla Province, Turkey. We stayed at the excellent Montana Pine Resort which is on the lower slopes of Babadag Mountain (where all the parachutes launch from). All mammal sightings were from the hotel or just outside and this was far from a mammal expedition! I spent more time birding in the mountains early morning but that didn’t produce much in the way of mammals. I took my Topdon thermal imager and a torch. The Topdon is great for locating mammals and birds but not the sharpest for images. Not a huge amount to report but we did see Caucasian (Persian) Squirrels, Wild Boar, a few bats at dusk and a pair of Badgers at the edge of the hotel complex (around the Sunset Bar). I am not really sure of the taxonomic status of Badgers in Turkey. Is Caucasian Badger (Meles canescens) recognised or are they all nominate (M. meles)?
Caucasian Squirrel. Not often seen but can be heard regularly in the Pine trees outside the hotel complex.
Wild Boar. A family came right to the fence line around the hotel complex.
Bat sp!
Badger. One of two around the Sunset Bar area after 10pm. There is a small drinking pond in this area which clearly benefits them.
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