The first day of the 2026 autumn count

Today was the first day of BRC’s 18th autumn raptor count!

While raptor migration isn’t yet in full swing, our first European Honey Buzzards, Booted Eagles, White Storks and Black Storks rewarded our efforts scanning today’s sunny skies. Outside our protocol species, both stations enjoyed their first few European Bee-eaters moving through the bottleneck and Red-backed Shrikes around the count sites. Station 2 was also treated to wonderful views of a local juvenile Eurasian Goshawk overhead and its first brief glimpses of a Caucasian Viper.

With 17 raptors already counted, we look forward to watching this season’s total rise!

Counters scanning the sky with binoculars and spotting scopes at Station 1 — The Station 1 team on the first day of the count. Photo: Lauren Evans

Three smiling counters at Station 2, one looking through binoculars — The Station 2 team on the first day of the count. Photo: Valentin Cordes

Four White Storks flying together against a blue-grey sky — White Storks moving through the bottleneck. Photo: Jess Cosentino

A Red-backed Shrike perched among sunlit green leaves — A Red-backed Shrike near the count site. Photo: Valentin Cordes

A juvenile Eurasian Goshawk in flight seen from below — A local juvenile Eurasian Goshawk overhead at Station 2. Photo: Valentin Cordes