Rep of Georgia - Batumi Raptor Count - Clicker mania on the hills!

I have been alternating my visits to the two stations which both give a different prospective over the landscape. Gabi spotted an unusual migrant in the form of a Pintail the other day. This was my first duck of the trip but sadly I could not lock the camera onto it.

The Rollers are seen along the coast from station one with over c111 on the 24^th. A Spotted Flycatcher was also seen at the top of the hill to station 2. Small flocks of Turtle Dove are now passing through.

A Lesser Spotted Eagle has been the star of the show recently although a thermaling flock of over 300 White Stork was an impressive site! The c20,000 Honey Buzzards passed from station one on the 25^th. The flow of birds is almost constant with the rattle of clickers from the hill as the birds pass over the transect line.

Black Kite integrate into the Honey Buzzard flocks with Short Toed Eagle and more numerous Booted Eagle adding a further edge to the scanning process.

For exact numbers please visit the BRC link below where the full days count is shown.

(Swallowtail)

There is no shortage of things to see whatever the day. The days are flying by the way! A visit to the theatre to watch traditional Georgian dancing was an amazing spectacle followed by table tennis in the floodlit park. 

(Chinese Screw Orchid)

The atmosphere in Batumi is wonderful and I look forward to visiting town again in the near future!