Where The Wind Takes Me!: Republic of Georgia - Batumi Raptor Count

Sunday, 19 August 2018

Republic of Georgia - Batumi Raptor Count - The Count Begins!

The Batumi Raptor Count season has started. There are two stations which are strategically positioned within the bottleneck. There is an imaginary line between both stations where birds are counted as they cross it. The sightings are recorded on palmtop devices with distance zones included with the sightings. Some double counts are identified on the palmtop so that the computer program that calculates the true count can be tested. Radio contact is maintained between the stations maximizing the return of identified groups of birds.

Station one is situated on the coastal side of the Black Sea. The viewing area covers an area of lowland and populated areas. Station two is situated closer to the mountains and overlaps with station one on the west side of the valley and the viewing area extends into the mountains to the east.

The first few days have seen a steady build up of migrating birds. The highest number was yesterday over 800+ raptors but the figures are low in migration terms. It is not possible to identify all the harriers that pass over the stations therefore the birds are classed as MonPalHen. These are the counts from the stations I have been on so far.

Please visit the BRC link below where the full days count is shown.

(Sparrowhawk)

Station 2 – 17/8

Levants Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier c35, Booted Eagle 5, Black Kite 5, Honey Buzzard c250, White Stork 23.

(Pallid Harrier)

Station 1 – 18/8

Palid Harrier 2, Montagus 41, Marsh Harrier 23, MonPalHen 81, Booted Eagle, Short Toed Eagle 3, L,esser Kestrel, Levant Sparrowhawk, Black Kite 4, Honey Buzzard 7.

(Lesser Crested Eagle)

Station 2 – 19/8

Palid Harrier 2, Montagus 12, Marsh Harrier 48, MonPalHen 42, Lesser Spotted Eagle 3, Booted Eagle 11, Short Toed Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Levant Sparrowhawk, Black Kite 72, Honey Buzzard 659, Osprey, Hobby, Black Stork.