Volunteer from Kenya - Welcome Martha Mutiso

We are very pleased that for the 10th anniversary of the autumn count, BRC is able to welcome the first African volunteer into our project. Martha Mutiso is a Kenyan ornithologist and conservationist and having her join us is a small step towards improving the collaboration and conservation efforts along the eastern migratory flyway.

We would like to thank Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association whose financial support helped to realize this.

TWENTY-thousand Honey Buzzards and counting

Today we saw a first wave of Honey Buzzards coming over. A nice start, more to come ;) The first movements of harriers were noted as well. Every evening at 6pm GMT our daily counts are uploaded to Trektellen.org, and you'll find the automatically updated season totals. Check it!

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.