Overview
A large and shallow lake with small islands and extensive reedbeds, Ulubat lies on the southern shore of the Sea of Maramara and has excellent wetland birds in summer and during passage periods.
The reedbeds are found mainly on the western and north-western shores of the lake with olive groves and tamarisk scrub, marhes and wet meadows around the remainder. The lake is fed by the Mustafakemalpassa River and the Kocacay links Ulubat to the sea.
Birds
Notable Species
Reedbed breeders include Pygmy Cormorant, bitterns and herons, Eurasian Spoonbill and harriers as well as passerines such as Savi's Warbler and Great Reed Warbler and Penduline Tit.
On shores and islands there are marsh terns, Collared Pratincole and Spur-winged Plover, grebes and Ferruginous Duck also occur in summer.
The scrub and farmland around the lake has Lesser Kestrel, Golden Oriole and Ruppell's Warbler and Eastern Olivaceous Warbler.
Both pelicans can be seen through most of the year but are not known to breed, regular passage birds include both storks, Red-footed Falcon, Great Snipe and other waders, gulls and terns.
In winter large numbers of waterfowl occur including Smew, and Great White Egret is regular.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Pygmy Cormorant, Great White Pelican, Dalmatian Pelican, Great Bittern, Little Bittern, Squacco Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Purple Heron, Black Stork, White Stork, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Tufted Duck, Smew, Short-toed Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Collared Pratincole, Kentish Plover, Spur-winged Plover, Little Stint, Ruff, Great Snipe, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Common Tern, Whiskered Tern, Black Tern, European Bee-eater, Eurasian Hoopoe, Black-headed Wagtail, Savi's Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Ruppell's Warbler, Penduline Tit, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Spanish Sparrow, Black-headed Bunting
Other Wildlife
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Site Information
History and Use
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Areas of Interest
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Access and Facilities
The nearest major town is Bursa, 35km to the east, which is easily reached by road from Istanbul. Head east from Bursa and take the road to Akcalar when the lake comes into view, this leads to the eastern shore of the lake.
Following the shore eventually leads to a raised track which runs from the village of Ulubat along the western shore.
Contact Details
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External Links
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Content and images originally posted by Steve
