Rarity: Eleonora's falcon flies over station 2

First rare migrant of the season! Today station 2 enjoyed close views of an Eleonora's Falcon soaring over the counters for a short time. This dark morph bird still shows retained juvenile flight feathers combined with moulted body plumage, indicative of a 2cy bird. It is the 3rd record for the Batumi Raptor Count, after two records from 2011 and 2012.

Migration is otherwise rather calm, with Honey Buzzards streams slowly building up. 3500 of them were counted this afternoon.

Photo by Bjorn Alards.

Photo by Bjorn Alards.

Start of the 10th autumn season count

Tomorrow the 10th edition of the Batumi Raptor Count officially starts! Last days team members were actively working to prepare the count. Our new count coordinators team (Aki, Xu & Hélène) and all counters will be happy to bring their scopes and clickers to the count stations tomorrow for the beginning of a new adventure.

Today a part of the team visited Kolkheti National Park to enjoy a different birding atmosphere. White-winged and Whiskered Terns were present, there were quite some Little Gulls and few Slender-billed Gulls, and as highlights were 3 White-tailed Eagles and some Ospreys.

Wish us good fortune in the months to come...!