News, Lesser Spotted Eagles beat the record!

26.09.2014

Lesser Spotted Eagles beat the record!

An amazing 20 000 eagles have been counted in just one day!


Last Monday I have finished a Via Pontica bird autumn migration tour with our friends from Swallow Birding. Given the recent weather – rain, rain and rain, which resulted in very high waters in most of the Burgas wetlands, we did very well. We managed to catch up with the last Red-necked Phalarope, 2 Temminck’s stints and 6 Marsh Sandpipers, plus other goodies such White and Dalmatian pelicans, Ruddy Shelduck and Gull-billed Tern, the three marsh terns and many others. Passerines included Red-breasted flycatchers, Lesser and Middle Spotted woodpeckers, Wryneck and Sombre Tit and of course numerous Red-backed Shrikes.

Above all were the raptors with Levant Sparrowhawk, Long-legged Buzzard, Red-footed Falcon,  Montague’s Harrier, Goshawk, Short-toed and Booted eagles, Black kite and Steppe Buzzard all seen. There were also good numbers Lesser Spotted eagles which peaked on the last day when we have counted no less than 4500 + eagles in just 3 hours. 

However, two days later, on 24th September, a group of Belgium and Holland birders counted the amazing 19 418 Lesser Spotted eagles. That beats the previous record set up back in 2008 when 16 000 + eagles have been counted on 28th September! You can see their records here -

http://www.trektellen.nl/trektelling.asp?telpost=1143