Snake in the pool

[Menthol]

Totally agree about the bountiful wildlife!

So far during my time in Turkey I have seen:

turtles
tortoises
wild boar
bats
rabbits
water snakes
numerous birds including an eagle (!) about a week ago (distressingly we also witnessed it being shot)
hawkmoth - thought it was a bat at first!
scorpion
cricket/grasshopper - today in Tuzla, it was about 5 inches long and a very dull dusty colour
numerous other unidentified and very large insects - are the very black, very large bumble bee looking things actually bees? Saw loads yesterday at the beach in Olu.

Still not seen a land snake or a lizard.
Still not seen the Calis kingfishers
Heard that there are foxes, hedgehogs and porcupines in Ovacik but not spotted any as yet
Am dying to spot dolphins and seals on a boat trip

Anything else I need to add to my 'Must look out for' list?

[paz]

The large "black" beetles that buzz are actually fruit beetles. Different types range in colour, most have an irredescent blue or purple underside/wings. They feed on fruits, especially figs. Often called "June Bugs".

[paz]

Yes, Menthol, about that list.  We have seen the kingfishers, an otter in Fethiye and by canal several years later. We have seen a hedgehog in at Mutlu hotel grounds, bright green, quite large lizards around Club E, pelicans, numerous herons, bee-eaters from Africa (birds) and all the other "usual" stuff, not yet the dolphins, though. Hopefully all the wildlife, if left to recover from the building work over recent years will get back to it's former glory.

[Scunner]

What are the bee like things that are often referred two as "two bodied" bees? Are they the ones that you are discussing? Scare people to death first time they see them but are pretty harmless as far as I can see.

[scorcher]

Ah you mean Gordybugs !

[paz]

I have seen very large black wasps with orange wings which are the same as the "tarantula hawk wasp" we used to have in California. These have very distinct divided bodies. Not to be messed with!

[Scunner]

Cheers paz I'll stop thinking how harmless they might be

[paz]

Sorry, maybe I should say "appear" the same...there are hundreds of varieties of insects out there...Deb

[KKOB]

I have seen very large black wasps with orange wings which are the same as the "tarantula hawk wasp" we used to have in California. These have very distinct divided bodies. Not to be messed with!

They're Hornets, or B52s as we used to call them.

[KKOB]

Menthol, you've also got a good chance of seeing Chameleons, Storks, Hoopoes, European Rollers, Bee Eaters.