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One million raptors counted!

A day of 54,406 birds carries the Batumi count past one million raptors, with memorable encounters on station and 39 volunteers joining us so far this season.

By BRC18 Team
Category: Field updates Tags: milestone autumn-count brc18
One million raptors counted!
The station 1 team celebrating one million raptors counted at the Batumi bottleneck. Photo: Mitra Daneshvar

One million raptors counted! After a relatively quiet day, we were surprised to count 54,406 birds between our two stations the following day, carrying this season’s total past the million mark. The flight was dominated by Black Kites, including an exceptional white individual, and Steppe Buzzards, with our millionth bird passing quietly in their streams. Encounters with large eagles, Egyptian Vultures and a Crested Honey Buzzard spiced up the count.

A white Black Kite flying alongside a dark Black Kite against a pale sky.
An exceptionally white Black Kite alongside a regularly dark individual. Photo: Thijmen Stolk

Reaching these milestones is exhilarating, but the excitement we experience on station cannot be reduced to numbers alone. Each day, amidst the spectacular chaos of rising kettles and sprawling streams, we share special moments with individual birds. Where did you spend your summer? What is the view like from up there? What do you think about when you lock eyes with me?

A Marsh Harrier banking with its wings and tail spread against a blue sky.
An adult male Marsh Harrier passing overhead. Photo: Valentin Cordes
A Levant Sparrowhawk flying past a wooded hillside.
A close encounter with a Levant Sparrowhawk hurrying past station. Photo: Bart Hoekstra
Three juvenile raptors circling together against a blue sky.
Three juveniles sharing the sky, from top to bottom: Honey Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Black Kite. Photo: Valentin Cordes

These pictures celebrate a few of those moments, as well as the 39 volunteers who have joined us this season so far. A huge thank you to everyone who has shared the count with us!

BRC volunteers posing together on a balcony.
Some of the volunteers and trainees who have joined us this season. Photo: Elle Heiser
Redha scanning through binoculars beside a spotting scope, with misty hills behind him.
Scanning the skies, come rain, come shine. Photo: Thijmen Stolk
A dog sitting at the count station, looking out towards mountain ridges beneath a glowing cloudy sky.
With new people soon due to arrive and no end in sight for this year’s migration, who knows what we will see next? Photo: Olaf Gwiazdowski