Rock Dove

63.6

Tbilisi centre

63.6

Tbilisi centre

Yellow-legged Gull

4.5

Batumi seafront

4.5

Batumi seafront

Lesser Black-backed Gull

13.6

Batumi seafront

4.5

Batumi seafront

9.1

Batumi city centre

Buzzard

9.1

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

9.1

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

Pied/White Wagtail

9.1

Batumi seafront

9.1

Batumi seafront

White-fronted Goose

4.5

Batumi city centre

Mute Swan

0

Batumi seafront

Ruddy Shelduck

4.5

Batumi seafront

Alpine Swift

4.5

Batumi city centre

Pallid Swift

4.5

Batumi city centre

Little Bustard

4.5

Sakhalvasho

Woodpigeon

18.2

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

Turtle Dove

9.1

Sakhalvasho

Laughing Dove

9.1

Tbilisi Airport

Common Sandpiper

13.6

Mtskheta S/ Jvari Monastery

White-winged Black Tern

0

Tbilisi N

Common Tern

0

Batumi NE

Great Black-headed Gull

4.5

Mtskheta S/ Jvari Monastery

Mediterranean Gull

4.5

Batumi seafront

Caspian Gull

68.2

Tbilisi centre

Armenian Gull

4.5

Mtskheta S/ Jvari Monastery

Yelkouan Shearwater

0

Batumi seafront

Black Stork

4.5

Sakhalvasho

Cormorant

9.1

Mtskheta S/ Jvari Monastery

Shag

4.5

Batumi seafront

Little Bittern

0

Tbilisi centre

Night Heron

4.5

Batumi city centre

Little Egret

4.5

Mtskheta S/ Jvari Monastery

Cattle Egret

0

Shida Kartli, Georgia

Grey Heron

9.1

Mtskheta S/ Jvari Monastery

Osprey

9.1

Batumi city centre

Honey-buzzard

40.9

Mtskheta/ Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

Griffon Vulture

4.5

Gelati

Black Vulture (Cinereous Vulture)

0

Dzedzileti, Georgia

Short-toed Eagle

9.1

Kutaisi S

Lesser Spotted Eagle

9.1

Batumi city centre

Booted Eagle

22.7

Sakhalvasho

Steppe Eagle

4.5

Batumi city centre

Sparrowhawk

4.5

Batumi city centre

Marsh Harrier

13.6

Sakhalvasho

Hen Harrier

13.6

Batumi Botanical Gardens

Pallid Harrier

9.1

Sakhalvasho

Montagu's Harrier

18.2

Sakhalvasho

Black Kite

27.3

Tbilisi centre

Long-legged Buzzard

0

F92G+G6G, Martvili, Georgia

Roller

4.5

Sakhalvasho

Kingfisher

0

Batumi NE

Bee-eater

40.9

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

Middle Spotted Woodpecker

4.5

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

Green Woodpecker

4.5

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

Kestrel

0

Tbilisi N

Hobby

18.2

Mtskheta S/ Jvari Monastery

Peregrine

9.1

Batumi Botanical Gardens

Ring-necked Parakeet

0

Batumi city centre

Lesser Grey Shrike

0

Tbilisi N

Red-backed Shrike

0

X637+W8 ქვახვრელის სკვერი, Kvakhvreli, Georgia

Jay

13.6

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

Magpie

9.1

Gelati

Hooded Crow

72.7

Tbilisi N

Raven

4.5

Tbilisi Airport

Blue Tit

13.6

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

Great Tit

18.2

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

Woodlark

4.5

Batumi city centre

Short-toed Lark

0

Dzedzileti, Georgia

Bimaculated Lark

0

Tskaltubo E, Georgia

Sand Martin

18.2

Batumi Botanical Gardens

Crag Martin

13.6

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

Swallow

68.2

Tbilisi centre

House Martin

27.3

Tbilisi centre

Mountain Chiffchaff

4.5

Sakhalvasho

Chiffchaff

4.5

Sakhalvasho

Blackcap

9.1

Sakhalvasho

Goldcrest

4.5

Batumi Botanical Gardens

Wren

4.5

Batumi Botanical Gardens

Krüper's Nuthatch

9.1

Batumi Botanical Gardens

Western Rock Nuthatch

4.5

Tbilisi centre

Starling

0

Japana

Song Thrush

4.5

Batumi city centre

Mistle Thrush

0

Zestafoni, Georgia

Blackbird

13.6

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

Robin

4.5

Batumi Botanical Gardens

Collared Flycatcher

4.5

Sakhalvasho

Black Redstart

0

მშვიდობის ქუჩა, Martvili, Martvili Municipality 3100

Redstart

4.5

Batumi Botanical Gardens

House Sparrow

50

Tbilisi centre

Dunnock

4.5

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

Grey Wagtail

0

Shida Kartli, Georgia

Meadow Pipit

4.5

Batumi city centre

Tree Pipit

4.5

Batumi Botanical Gardens

Water Pipit

4.5

Batumi seafront

Chaffinch

27.3

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

Hawfinch

4.5

Batumi city centre

Common Rosefinch

4.5

Batumi seafront

Greenfinch

4.5

Batumi Botanical Gardens

Ortolan Bunting

4.5

Kutaisi S

White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:10

17:30

4

at 12:50

4 S

maximum 22C, minimum 17C, light SW, sunny intervals in morning, becoming cloudier in afternoon with very heavy shower at ttime from 15:33, low cloud over mountains throughout and poor visibility there.

Another great day for raptor migration along the coast (1,200+) as seen from the apartment balcony with a number of kettles and long glides; added two more raptor-types during the day.

51

Y

Mute Swan

Cygnus olor

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

15:30

17:30

1

1 Adult

maximum 30C, minimum 25C, light E, hot, dry. with sunshine all day, some murk over mountains

46

N

Ruddy Shelduck

Tadorna ferruginea

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

15:30

17:30

2

maximum 30C, minimum 25C, light E, hot, dry. with sunshine all day, some murk over mountains

60

N

Ruddy Shelduck

Tadorna ferruginea

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

13:00

18:00

1

in park, not sure wild

maximum 30C, minimum 24C, light W, hot, dry. with sunshine all day, some high cloud over coast, some murk over mountains.

60

Y

Alpine Swift

Tachymarptis melba

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

3

3 S

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

298

Y

Pallid Swift

Apus pallidus

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

1

at 14:55

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

296

Y

Little Bustard

Tetrax tetrax

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:45

17:20

1

one S at 16:07

1 S

maximum 27C, minimum 23C, light W, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

149

Y

Feral Pigeon

Columba livia f. domestica

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:10

17:30

3

maximum 22C, minimum 17C, light SW, sunny intervals in morning, becoming cloudier in afternoon with very heavy shower at ttime from 15:33, low cloud over mountains throughout and poor visibility there.

Another great day for raptor migration along the coast (1,200+) as seen from the apartment balcony with a number of kettles and long glides; added two more raptor-types during the day.

1047

Y

Feral Pigeon

Columba livia f. domestica

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

14:30

19:30

6

maximum 23C, minimum 18C, light SW, sunny morning, more cloud later, dry.

1047

Y

Feral Pigeon

Columba livia f. domestica

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

16:10

18:30

19

still around from yesterday

1047

Y

Feral Pigeon

Columba livia f. domestica

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

5

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

1047

Y

Feral Pigeon

Columba livia f. domestica

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

15:30

17:30

5

maximum 26C, minimum 22C, light SW, sunny morning, dull afternoon, turning into heavy rain (cloudburst) by early evening.

1047

Y

Feral Pigeon

Columba livia f. domestica

Batumi Botanical Gardens

41.6992332

41.7166192

13:20

18:00

1

maximum 28C, minimum 23C, light SW, cloudy but dry morning, sunny afternoon and evening.

1047

Y

Feral Pigeon

Columba livia f. domestica

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

13:00

18:00

79

maximum 30C, minimum 24C, light W, hot, dry. with sunshine all day, some high cloud over coast, some murk over mountains.

1047

Y

Feral Pigeon

Columba livia f. domestica

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

14:00

18:00

4

maximum 32C, minimum 24C, light W, hot, dry. with sunshine all day.

1047

Y

Feral Pigeon

Columba livia f. domestica

Kutaisi S

42.2181209

42.7802433

08:30

14:00

1

maximum 28C, minimum 20C, light E, violent thunderstorm at breakfast time, heavy rain, short power cut, then cloudy, but becoming brighter as day wore on.

1047

Y

Feral Pigeon

Columba livia f. domestica

Kutaisi S

42.2181209

42.7802433

14:00

16:00

3

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, light NE, sunny all day, dry.

1047

Y

Feral Pigeon

Columba livia f. domestica

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

41.6962719

44.775687

11:50

17:00

20

maximum 26C, minimum 20C, light NE, hazy sunshine all day, shower in evening.

Made Tbilisi Botanical Gardens today from 11:50-17:00 – such gardens used to be common in England but not any more. This one is very special with enormous range of plants. The enormous range and numbers of insects suggests that they don’t overuse pesticides and herbicides: butterflies were everywhere on their flower beds. Also saw the menacing looking Oriental Hornets and a Caucasian Squirrel.

1047

Y

Feral Pigeon

Columba livia f. domestica

Tbilisi centre

41.7226819

44.7905609

16:30

19:00

4

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

1047

Y

Feral Pigeon

Columba livia f. domestica

Mtskheta/ Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

41.8452525

44.7302142

12:15

13:45

6

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

1047

Y

Feral Pigeon

Columba livia f. domestica

Tbilisi N

41.74074

44.7809416

10:30

1

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

1047

N

Feral Pigeon

Columba livia f. domestica

Tbilisi centre

41.7226819

44.7905609

12:00

17:00

16

maximum 28C, minimum 20C, light N, cloudy, light rain in afternoon.

1047

Y

Woodpigeon

Columba palumbus

Batumi Botanical Gardens

41.6992332

41.7166192

13:20

18:00

1

2

maximum 28C, minimum 23C, light SW, cloudy but dry morning, sunny afternoon and evening.

270

Y

Woodpigeon

Columba palumbus

Batumi Botanical Gardens

41.6992332

41.7166192

14:00

17:30

3

maximum 29C, minimum 24C, light W, a wet day, heavy rain in morning and evening, afternoon was dry and muggy, hardly any sun.

270

Y

Woodpigeon

Columba palumbus

Kutaisi S

42.2181209

42.7802433

08:30

14:00

2

maximum 28C, minimum 20C, light E, violent thunderstorm at breakfast time, heavy rain, short power cut, then cloudy, but becoming brighter as day wore on.

270

Y

Woodpigeon

Columba palumbus

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

41.6962719

44.775687

11:50

17:00

9

maximum 26C, minimum 20C, light NE, hazy sunshine all day, shower in evening.

Made Tbilisi Botanical Gardens today from 11:50-17:00 – such gardens used to be common in England but not any more. This one is very special with enormous range of plants. The enormous range and numbers of insects suggests that they don’t overuse pesticides and herbicides: butterflies were everywhere on their flower beds. Also saw the menacing looking Oriental Hornets and a Caucasian Squirrel.

270

Y

Turtle Dove

Streptopelia turtur

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

13:30

17:00

4

some Turtle Dove. (4 S at 14:20)

4 S

maximum 26C, minimum 22C, light S, glimpses of sun in morning but monsoon continued with very heavy conditions, multiple layers of swirling cloud and mist in almost calm conditions, light rain early afternoon becoming torrential by tea time, drier evening.

272

Y

Turtle Dove

Streptopelia turtur

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:45

17:20

1

1 S at 16:20

1 S

maximum 27C, minimum 23C, light W, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

272

Y

Laughing Dove

Spilopelia senegalensis

Tbilisi centre

41.7226819

44.7905609

16:30

19:00

1

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

1048

Y

Laughing Dove

Spilopelia senegalensis

Tbilisi centre

41.7226819

44.7905609

12:00

17:00

4

maximum 28C, minimum 20C, light N, cloudy, light rain in afternoon.

1048

Y

Laughing Dove

Spilopelia senegalensis

Tbilisi Airport

41.5692683

45.0452472

17:30

19:00

1

maximum 33C, minimum 22C, light N, cloudy sunny, dry.

1048

N

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Kutaisi S

42.2181209

42.7802433

08:30

14:00

2

maximum 28C, minimum 20C, light E, violent thunderstorm at breakfast time, heavy rain, short power cut, then cloudy, but becoming brighter as day wore on.

215

Y

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Kutaisi S

42.2181209

42.7802433

14:00

16:00

1

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, light NE, sunny all day, dry.

215

Y

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Mtskheta S/ Jvari Monastery

41.8378854

44.7287082

11:00

12:15

1

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

215

Y

White-winged Black Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Tbilisi N

41.74074

44.7809416

10:30

4

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

259

N

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo

Batumi NE

41.6708131

41.6862492

17:30

1

on the sea

250

N

Great Black-headed Gull

Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus

Mtskheta S/ Jvari Monastery

41.8378854

44.7287082

11:00

12:15

1

1 Juvenile

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

225

Y

Mediterranean Gull

Ichthyaetus melanocephalus

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

13:00

18:00

3

3 adult  following trawler offshore

3 Adult

maximum 30C, minimum 24C, light W, hot, dry. with sunshine all day, some high cloud over coast, some murk over mountains.

226

Y

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:10

17:30

150

150 S

maximum 22C, minimum 17C, light SW, sunny intervals in morning, becoming cloudier in afternoon with very heavy shower at ttime from 15:33, low cloud over mountains throughout and poor visibility there.

Another great day for raptor migration along the coast (1,200+) as seen from the apartment balcony with a number of kettles and long glides; added two more raptor-types during the day.

1283

Y

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

14:30

19:30

29

maximum 23C, minimum 18C, light SW, sunny morning, more cloud later, dry.

1283

Y

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

16:10

18:30

27

still around from yesterday

1283

Y

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

400

total of about 400 Caspian Gull S (continuous, mainly juveniles, estimated total),

400 S

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

1283

Y

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

15:30

17:30

30

maximum 26C, minimum 22C, light SW, sunny morning, dull afternoon, turning into heavy rain (cloudburst) by early evening.

1283

Y

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Batumi Botanical Gardens

41.6992332

41.7166192

13:20

18:00

42

maximum 28C, minimum 23C, light SW, cloudy but dry morning, sunny afternoon and evening.

1283

Y

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Batumi Botanical Gardens

41.6992332

41.7166192

14:00

17:30

30

2 2nd-summer, 23 Adult, 5 Juvenile

maximum 29C, minimum 24C, light W, a wet day, heavy rain in morning and evening, afternoon was dry and muggy, hardly any sun.

1283

Y

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

13:00

18:00

119

85 unaged following trawler offshore

1 2nd-summer, 16 Juvenile, 7 Adult

maximum 30C, minimum 24C, light W, hot, dry. with sunshine all day, some high cloud over coast, some murk over mountains.

1283

Y

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

14:00

18:00

121

14 2nd-summer, 42 Juvenile, 65 Adult

maximum 32C, minimum 24C, light W, hot, dry. with sunshine all day.

1283

Y

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Kutaisi S

42.2181209

42.7802433

07:00

29

on stones on the River Rioni, soon after dawn, 29 Caspian Gull (22 ad, 4 2s, 3 juv)

22 Adult, 3 Juvenile, 4 2nd-summer

maximum 32C, minimum 24C, light W, hot, dry. with sunshine all day

1283

N

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Kutaisi S

42.2181209

42.7802433

08:50

09:30

38

on stones on river

2 2nd-summer, 2 Juvenile, 34 Adult

maximum 33C, minimum 24C, light E, much hotter today, dry. with sunshine all day.

1283

Y

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Kutaisi S

42.2181209

42.7802433

08:30

14:00

27

19 Adult, 8 Juvenile

maximum 28C, minimum 20C, light E, violent thunderstorm at breakfast time, heavy rain, short power cut, then cloudy, but becoming brighter as day wore on.

1283

Y

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Kutaisi S

42.2181209

42.7802433

14:00

16:00

18

16 Adult, 2 Juvenile

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, light NE, sunny all day, dry.

1283

Y

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Tbilisi centre

41.7226819

44.7905609

16:30

19:00

12

1 2nd-winter, 1 Juvenile, 10 Adult

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

1283

Y

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Mtskheta S/ Jvari Monastery

41.8378854

44.7287082

11:00

12:15

47

41 Adult, 6 Juvenile

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

1283

Y

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Tbilisi N

41.74074

44.7809416

10:30

29

2 Juvenile, 27 Adult

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

1283

N

Caspian Gull

Larus cachinnans

Tbilisi centre

41.7226819

44.7905609

12:00

17:00

12

10 Adult, 2 Juvenile

maximum 28C, minimum 20C, light N, cloudy, light rain in afternoon.

1283

Y

Yellow-legged Gull (michahellis)

Larus michahellis michahellis

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

13:00

18:00

2

1 juvenile following trawler offshore, other just offshore

2 Juvenile

maximum 30C, minimum 24C, light W, hot, dry. with sunshine all day, some high cloud over coast, some murk over mountains.

54412

Y

Armenian Gull

Larus armenicus

Mtskheta S/ Jvari Monastery

41.8378854

44.7287082

11:00

12:15

2

2 adult

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

54413

Y

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Larus fuscus

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

13:00

18:00

1

1 juvenile following trawler offshore

1 Juvenile

maximum 30C, minimum 24C, light W, hot, dry. with sunshine all day, some high cloud over coast, some murk over mountains.

236

Y

Lesser Black-backed Gull (fuscus)

Larus fuscus fuscus

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:10

17:30

1

1 Juvenile

1 S

maximum 22C, minimum 17C, light SW, sunny intervals in morning, becoming cloudier in afternoon with very heavy shower at ttime from 15:33, low cloud over mountains throughout and poor visibility there.

Another great day for raptor migration along the coast (1,200+) as seen from the apartment balcony with a number of kettles and long glides; added two more raptor-types during the day.

54415

Y

Lesser Black-backed Gull (fuscus)

Larus fuscus fuscus

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

4

4 LBBG fuscus (2 ad, 2 juv, singles),

2 Adult, 2 Juvenile

4 S

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

54415

Y

Yelkouan Shearwater

Puffinus yelkouan

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

15:30

17:30

2

far out to sea.

maximum 30C, minimum 25C, light E, hot, dry. with sunshine all day, some murk over mountains

51698

N

Black Stork

Ciconia nigra

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:45

17:20

1

mixed up with a flock of Honey-buzzard at 15:34

1 S

maximum 27C, minimum 23C, light W, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

41

Y

Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Batumi NE

41.6708131

41.6862492

13:20

1

1 Adult

maximum 26C, minimum 22C, light S, glimpses of sun in morning but monsoon continued with very heavy conditions, multiple layers of swirling cloud and mist in almost calm conditions, light rain early afternoon becoming torrential by tea time, drier evening.

26

N

Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

13:00

18:00

3

1 Juvenile, 2 Adult

maximum 30C, minimum 24C, light W, hot, dry. with sunshine all day, some high cloud over coast, some murk over mountains.

26

Y

Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Mtskheta S/ Jvari Monastery

41.8378854

44.7287082

11:00

12:15

1

1 Adult

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

26

Y

Shag

Gulosus aristotelis

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

15:30

17:30

1

1 Adult

maximum 30C, minimum 25C, light E, hot, dry. with sunshine all day, some murk over mountains

27

N

Shag

Gulosus aristotelis

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

13:00

18:00

1

1 Adult

maximum 30C, minimum 24C, light W, hot, dry. with sunshine all day, some high cloud over coast, some murk over mountains.

27

Y

Little Bittern

Ixobrychus minutus

Tbilisi centre

41.7226819

44.7905609

18:00

1

On the river at 18:00 moving W, a Little Bittern.

1 W

maximum 26C, minimum 20C, light NE, hazy sunshine all day, shower in evening.

32

N

Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

6

6 Night Heron (1 group, rested around apartment blocks for a little while, 16:30)

6 S

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

33

Y

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

Mtskheta S/ Jvari Monastery

41.8378854

44.7287082

11:00

12:15

8

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

37

Y

Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis

Shida Kartli, Georgia

41.9848616

43.9555286

09:46

6

52121

N

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

54

54 Grey Heron (one flock 14:02)

54 S

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

39

Y

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

Mtskheta S/ Jvari Monastery

41.8378854

44.7287082

11:00

12:15

1

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

39

Y

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

16:10

18:30

1

floating S fairly high-up over sea

1 S

still around from yesterday

114

Y

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

24

an Osprey S in isolation at 13:22; overall Osprey 24 (steady passage, low-down)

24 S

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

114

Y

Honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:10

17:30

370

The first burst of migrants was noted from 12:40-12:55 with c460 noted passing to E, comprising 280 Black Kite, 180 Honey-buzzard; the raptors were kettling S over edge of overcast mountains using thermals generated on the coast. Around 14:40 had 22 Black Kite, 11 Honey-buzzard moving S. From 14:50-15:03 had 131 Black Kite and 60 Honey-buzzard gliding S, possibly using orographic lift but more likely at the end of their soar-glide mode of operation. Passage picked up as the weather deteriorated. From 15:06-15:24 370 Black Kite and 110 Honey-buzzard were kettling to S.Raptor passage then came to a halt with just one Booted Eagle seen diving out of the sky at 15:30 as rain started in earnest at 15:33. Crude raptor passage totals were 803 Black Kite (rounded 810), 361 Honey-buzzard (rounded 370).

370 S

maximum 22C, minimum 17C, light SW, sunny intervals in morning, becoming cloudier in afternoon with very heavy shower at ttime from 15:33, low cloud over mountains throughout and poor visibility there.

Another great day for raptor migration along the coast (1,200+) as seen from the apartment balcony with a number of kettles and long glides; added two more raptor-types during the day.

97

Y

Honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

1236

Honey-buzzard 1,236 (mainly from 15:19-15:39, 80% juvenile),

So in foul weather with onshore winds, a substantial part of the movement had moved to the coast: they hadn’t crossed the Black Sea, they were coasting to avoid poor visibility inland. The movement may have been underestimated. I kept a watch from 12:50-18:50 but there could have been earlier movements and the poor visibility made it difficult to be sure birds had not passed undetected.

1212 S, 24 SW

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

97

Y

Honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

13:30

17:00

73

7

Very little raptor migration today, though did have one kettle of 70 Honey-buzzard, 5 Black Kite, plus 2 Booted Eagle, setting off from a mountain to the N in a brighter interlude at 14:25 but not sure where glide took them as lost to sight.

Had further interesting records of Honey-buzzard: a male out on own over hillside to N at 14:37 and 14:47 in territorial flight and at 14:51 entering into display mode with diving and rearing and looking below as if young present (13520); at 16:12 2 dark (presumed female) Honey-buzzard were flushed off the road I was walking back down on in an area of dense vegetation; they flew off silently sidewise together keeping a very low profile.

1 Adult Male, 2 Adult Female

70 S

maximum 26C, minimum 22C, light S, glimpses of sun in morning but monsoon continued with very heavy conditions, multiple layers of swirling cloud and mist in almost calm conditions, light rain early afternoon becoming torrential by tea time, drier evening.

97

Y

Honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:45

17:20

3200

A few juvenile were picked up in the piccies, looking less streamlined than the adults, but keeping up with them; maybe 50 overall. Counts were 1380 14:45-15:15, 1125 15:15-15:45, 450 15:45-16:15, 235 1615-16:45, 20 16:45-end. On arrival the birds were low-down over the Counting Station at the bottom of their glide; they immediately set upon finding a thermal (to form a kettle), no time wasted. There was no hesitancy in direction at any point. Towards the end though a few birds were flying low with less impetus, clearly looking for a resting place for the night.

3150 Adult, 50 Juvenile

3200 S

maximum 27C, minimum 23C, light W, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

97

Y

Honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:15

17:10

4800

all adult as far as could see; typical kettle and glide strategy, the kettle used for soaring on a thermal and the glide to make economical use of the height gained; c1500 from 14:30-15:00; c700 from 15:00-15:30; c1300 from 15:30-16:00; c1300 from 16:00-16:29 when stream seemed to slow markedly.

4500 Adult

4800 S

maximum 28C, minimum 24C, light SW, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

in vicinity of Batumi Raptor Count

97

Y

Honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Batumi Botanical Gardens

41.6992332

41.7166192

13:20

18:00

1

Had very close-up views of a Honey-buzzard adult female at 15:52, coming down into the trees for the night (13515).

1 Adult Female

1 Migrant

maximum 28C, minimum 23C, light SW, cloudy but dry morning, sunny afternoon and evening.

97

Y

Honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Batumi Botanical Gardens

41.6992332

41.7166192

14:00

17:30

9

12

Had 9 Honey-buzzard appearing over the top of the Gardens (1 14:38, 1 14:47, 6 14:58, 1 15:09), the singles in the lower levels of the mist gliding S (13505), the 4 (out of 6) going higher from local trees, quite full of energy, even a few dives at each other (13503). Cannot discount that these 4 are breeding birds, as 2 birds below altitude-wise look like sibling juveniles so treating them this way.

1 Adult Female, 1 Adult Male, 2 Juvenile, 5 Adult

5 S

maximum 29C, minimum 24C, light W, a wet day, heavy rain in morning and evening, afternoon was dry and muggy, hardly any sun.

97

Y

Honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

14:30

15:30

1

a Honey-buzzard adult at 15:13 floating very high-up over Batumi moving S

1 Adult

1 S

maximum 30C, minimum 25C, light E, hot, dry. with sunshine all day, some murk over mountains.

97

N

Honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

41.6962719

44.775687

11:50

17:00

1

Had 2 raptors in the air together: a female adult Honey-buzzard (13500) above a juvenile Steppe Buzzard at 14:20. A few Steppe Buzzard, maybe 3 birds in a family group, were in the trees on the edge of the Gardens, calling from time to time.

1 Adult Female

maximum 26C, minimum 20C, light NE, hazy sunshine all day, shower in evening.

Made Tbilisi Botanical Gardens today from 11:50-17:00 – such gardens used to be common in England but not any more. This one is very special with enormous range of plants. The enormous range and numbers of insects suggests that they don’t overuse pesticides and herbicides: butterflies were everywhere on their flower beds. Also saw the menacing looking Oriental Hornets and a Caucasian Squirrel.

97

Y

Honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Mtskheta/ Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

41.8452525

44.7302142

12:15

13:45

2

7

Raptors comprised just two birds but very interesting ones: 2 Honey-buzzard adult coming out of some trees to N of the Cathedral at 12:23 in agitated fashion.  Looked like a pair in breeding territory.

2 Adult

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

97

Y

Griffon Vulture

Gyps fulvus

Gelati

42.2964491

42.7705206

10:30

11:30

1

floating by

maximum 33C, minimum 24C, light E, much hotter today, dry. with sunshine all day.

1 Painted Lady, 1 small orange fritilliary

103

Y

Black Vulture (Cinereous Vulture)

Aegypius monachus

Dzedzileti, Georgia

42.4221595

42.5537286

14:06

1

a spectacular Black Vulture foraging from high-up to low-down

maximum 33C, minimum 24C, light E, much hotter today, dry. with sunshine all day

1029

N

Short-toed Eagle

Circaetus gallicus

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:45

17:20

1

1 on its own at 15:30

1 S

maximum 27C, minimum 23C, light W, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

1254

Y

Short-toed Eagle

Circaetus gallicus

Kutaisi S

42.2181209

42.7802433

08:50

09:30

1

an adult flying S at moderate height at 09:20

1 Adult

1 S

maximum 33C, minimum 24C, light E, much hotter today, dry. with sunshine all day.

1254

Y

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:10

17:30

3

From 12:40-12:55 1 Lesser Spotted Eagle S. From 15:06-15:24  2 Lesser Spotted Eagle S.

3 S

maximum 22C, minimum 17C, light SW, sunny intervals in morning, becoming cloudier in afternoon with very heavy shower at ttime from 15:33, low cloud over mountains throughout and poor visibility there.

Another great day for raptor migration along the coast (1,200+) as seen from the apartment balcony with a number of kettles and long glides; added two more raptor-types during the day.

52570

Y

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

3

3 S

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

52570

Y

Booted Eagle

Hieraaetus pennatus

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:10

17:30

6

From 15:06-15:24  5 Booted Eagle S. Raptor passage the. n came to a halt with just one Booted Eagle seen diving out of the sky at 15:30  as rain started in earnest at 15:33.

6 S

maximum 22C, minimum 17C, light SW, sunny intervals in morning, becoming cloudier in afternoon with very heavy shower at ttime from 15:33, low cloud over mountains throughout and poor visibility there.

Another great day for raptor migration along the coast (1,200+) as seen from the apartment balcony with a number of kettles and long glides; added two more raptor-types during the day.

1589

Y

Booted Eagle

Hieraaetus pennatus

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

1

1 S

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

1589

Y

Booted Eagle

Hieraaetus pennatus

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

13:30

17:00

2

Very little raptor migration today, though did have one kettle of 70 Honey-buzzard, 5 Black Kite, plus 2  Booted Eagle, setting off from a mountain to the N in a brighter interlude at 14:25 but not sure where glide took them as lost to sight.

2 S

maximum 26C, minimum 22C, light S, glimpses of sun in morning but monsoon continued with very heavy conditions, multiple layers of swirling cloud and mist in almost calm conditions, light rain early afternoon becoming torrential by tea time, drier evening.

1589

Y

Booted Eagle

Hieraaetus pennatus

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:45

17:20

4

2 as singles on edge of main flocks; 2 took off from wood to N and then joined raptor stream from 15:58-16:00, one light, the other dark. The dark one lingered until 16:04,

4 S

maximum 27C, minimum 23C, light W, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

1589

Y

Booted Eagle

Hieraaetus pennatus

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:15

17:10

4

flying singly, slightly below in altitude the main Honey-buzzard stream

4 S

maximum 28C, minimum 24C, light SW, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

in vicinity of Batumi Raptor Count

1589

Y

Steppe Eagle

Aquila nipalensis

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

1

1 S

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

52583

Y

Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:10

17:30

1

a male Sparrowhawk flying low in hunting model at 12:50

1 Male

maximum 22C, minimum 17C, light SW, sunny intervals in morning, becoming cloudier in afternoon with very heavy shower at ttime from 15:33, low cloud over mountains throughout and poor visibility there.

Another great day for raptor migration along the coast (1,200+) as seen from the apartment balcony with a number of kettles and long glides; added two more raptor-types during the day.

109

Y

Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

1

1 S

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

104

Y

Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:45

17:20

1

in the main Honey-buzzard stream at 15:27

1 S

maximum 27C, minimum 23C, light W, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

104

Y

Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:15

17:10

1

1 S

maximum 28C, minimum 24C, light SW, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

in vicinity of Batumi Raptor Count

104

Y

Hen Harrier

Circus cyaneus

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

4

1 Female/immature, 3 Adult Male

4 S

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

105

Y

Hen Harrier

Circus cyaneus

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:45

17:20

1

a ringtail on its own at 15:26

1 Female/immature

1 S

maximum 27C, minimum 23C, light W, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

105

Y

Hen Harrier

Circus cyaneus

Batumi Botanical Gardens

41.6992332

41.7166192

14:00

17:30

1

Also had a ringtail Hen Harrier moving S low-down over the trees at 14:42

1 Female/immature

1 S

maximum 29C, minimum 24C, light W, a wet day, heavy rain in morning and evening, afternoon was dry and muggy, hardly any sun.

105

Y

Pallid Harrier

Circus macrourus

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

1

1 Adult Male

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

106

Y

Pallid Harrier

Circus macrourus

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:45

17:20

1

1 adult male S with Honey-buzzard at 15:27

1 Adult Male

1 S

maximum 27C, minimum 23C, light W, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

106

Y

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:10

17:30

3

From 13:05-14:11 2 Montagu's Harrier ringtails moving S. From 15:06-15:24  1 Montagu's Harrier ringtail S.

3 Female/immature

3 S

maximum 22C, minimum 17C, light SW, sunny intervals in morning, becoming cloudier in afternoon with very heavy shower at ttime from 15:33, low cloud over mountains throughout and poor visibility there.

Another great day for raptor migration along the coast (1,200+) as seen from the apartment balcony with a number of kettles and long glides; added two more raptor-types during the day.

107

Y

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

116

Montagu’s Harrier 116 (doubtless including some Pallid Harrier and other harriers)

116 S

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

107

Y

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

13:30

17:00

7

Some Montagu’s Harrier ringtails were fairly regular (total 5: 1 14:15, 2 15:00, 1 15:44, 1 15:50) plus a male at 15:00, neatly climbing just over the ridge and disappearing to S. A Montagu’s Harrier male was flying along the ridge at 15:57.

2 Adult Male, 5 Female/immature

1 E, 6 S

maximum 26C, minimum 22C, light S, glimpses of sun in morning but monsoon continued with very heavy conditions, multiple layers of swirling cloud and mist in almost calm conditions, light rain early afternoon becoming torrential by tea time, drier evening.

107

Y

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:45

17:20

6

6 ringtail small harrier S at 16:03-16:04 in middle of Honey-buzzard/Black Kite flock and with Booted Eagle at 16:03.

6 Female/immature

6 S

maximum 27C, minimum 23C, light W, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

107

Y

Black Kite

Milvus migrans

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:10

17:30

810

The first burst of migrants was noted from 12:40-12:55 with c460 noted passing to E, comprising 280 Black Kite, 180 Honey-buzzard; the raptors were kettling S over edge of overcast mountains using thermals generated on the coast. Around 14:40 had 22 Black Kite, 11 Honey-buzzard moving S. From 14:50-15:03 had 131 Black Kite and 60 Honey-buzzard gliding S, possibly using orographic lift but more likely at the end of their soar-glide mode of operation. Passage picked up as the weather deteriorated. From 15:06-15:24 370 Black Kite and 110 Honey-buzzard were kettling to S.Raptor passage then came to a halt with just one Booted Eagle seen diving out of the sky at 15:30 as rain started in earnest at 15:33. Crude raptor passage totals were 803 Black Kite (rounded 810), 361 Honey-buzzard (rounded 370).

810 S

maximum 22C, minimum 17C, light SW, sunny intervals in morning, becoming cloudier in afternoon with very heavy shower at ttime from 15:33, low cloud over mountains throughout and poor visibility there.

Another great day for raptor migration along the coast (1,200+) as seen from the apartment balcony with a number of kettles and long glides; added two more raptor-types during the day.

98

Y

Black Kite

Milvus migrans

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

2296

Black Kite 2,296 (a big rush from 15:26-15:30)

So in foul weather with onshore winds, a substantial part of the movement had moved to the coast: they hadn’t crossed the Black Sea, they were coasting to avoid poor visibility inland. The movement may have been underestimated. I kept a watch from 12:50-18:50 but there could have been earlier movements and the poor visibility made it difficult to be sure birds had not passed undetected.

2287 S, 9 SW

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

98

Y

Black Kite

Milvus migrans

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

13:30

17:00

5

Very little raptor migration today, though did have one kettle of 70 Honey-buzzard, 5 Black Kite, plus 2  Booted Eagle, setting off from a mountain to the N in a brighter interlude at 14:25 but not sure where glide took them as lost to sight.

5 S

maximum 26C, minimum 22C, light S, glimpses of sun in morning but monsoon continued with very heavy conditions, multiple layers of swirling cloud and mist in almost calm conditions, light rain early afternoon becoming torrential by tea time, drier evening.

98

Y

Black Kite

Milvus migrans

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:45

17:20

300

mainly seen later in the afternoon when kettles formed mainly of this species; again a number were flying lower than the main Honey-buzzard stream. About 50% were juveniles, so 150 of each phase.

150 Adult, 150 Juvenile

300 S

maximum 27C, minimum 23C, light W, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

98

Y

Black Kite

Milvus migrans

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:15

17:10

70

mixture of adult and juvenile; tended to fly lower altitude below the Honey-buzzard flocks; 6 projecting primary tips on juveniles

70 S

maximum 28C, minimum 24C, light SW, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

in vicinity of Batumi Raptor Count

98

Y

Black Kite

Milvus migrans

Dzedzileti, Georgia

42.4221595

42.5537286

14:06

2

2 Black Kite, one moving S over the canyon at Dzedzileti with another in territory

1 S

maximum 33C, minimum 24C, light E, much hotter today, dry. with sunshine all day

98

N

Black Kite

Milvus migrans

Tbilisi centre

41.7226819

44.7905609

12:00

17:00

1

a Black Kite high overhead at 16:27, from high-up coming down for the night, maybe a migrant..

1 Migrant

maximum 28C, minimum 20C, light N, cloudy, light rain in afternoon.

98

Y

Long-legged Buzzard

Buteo rufinus

F92G+G6G, Martvili, Georgia

42.452227

42.3770422

16:17

2

12

adult and juvenile up together

maximum 33C, minimum 24C, light E, much hotter today, dry. with sunshine all day

53012

N

Buzzard (Steppe - vulpinus)

Buteo buteo vulpinus

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

28

Steppe Buzzard 28 (main passing at 15:30)

28 S

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

53022

Y

Buzzard (Steppe - vulpinus)

Buteo buteo vulpinus

Tskhunkuri S, Georgia

42.388008

42.5727255

13:49

1

7

53022

N

Buzzard (Steppe - vulpinus)

Buteo buteo vulpinus

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

41.6962719

44.775687

11:50

17:00

4

12

Had 2 raptors in the air together: a female adult Honey-buzzard (13500) above a juvenile Steppe Buzzard at 14:20. A few Steppe Buzzard, maybe 3 birds in a family group, were in the trees on the edge of the Gardens, calling from time to time.

1 S

maximum 26C, minimum 20C, light NE, hazy sunshine all day, shower in evening.

Made Tbilisi Botanical Gardens today from 11:50-17:00 – such gardens used to be common in England but not any more. This one is very special with enormous range of plants. The enormous range and numbers of insects suggests that they don’t overuse pesticides and herbicides: butterflies were everywhere on their flower beds. Also saw the menacing looking Oriental Hornets and a Caucasian Squirrel.

53022

Y

Roller

Coracias garrulus

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

13:30

17:00

20

maximum 26C, minimum 22C, light S, glimpses of sun in morning but monsoon continued with very heavy conditions, multiple layers of swirling cloud and mist in almost calm conditions, light rain early afternoon becoming torrential by tea time, drier evening.

304

Y

Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

Batumi NE

41.6708131

41.6862492

17:30

1

at a river between the road bridge and the sea

300

N

Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:10

17:30

7

7 S

maximum 22C, minimum 17C, light SW, sunny intervals in morning, becoming cloudier in afternoon with very heavy shower at ttime from 15:33, low cloud over mountains throughout and poor visibility there.

Another great day for raptor migration along the coast (1,200+) as seen from the apartment balcony with a number of kettles and long glides; added two more raptor-types during the day.

303

Y

Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Batumi seafront

41.6453638

41.6074811

16:10

18:30

1

still around from yesterday

303

Y

Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

08:00

5

still around from yesterday

maximum 23C, minimum 17C, light SW, cool and misty start but afternoon and evening sunny and warm, dry throughout.

303

N

Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

170

Bee-eater, throughout, total 170 with some landing on trees and wires in the city.

170 S

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

303

Y

Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

13:30

17:00

137

good numbers of Bee-eater (137)

maximum 26C, minimum 22C, light S, glimpses of sun in morning but monsoon continued with very heavy conditions, multiple layers of swirling cloud and mist in almost calm conditions, light rain early afternoon becoming torrential by tea time, drier evening.

303

Y

Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:45

17:20

60

one flock of 30 landed all around me, catching insects, before resuming journey.

60 S

maximum 27C, minimum 23C, light W, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

303

Y

Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:15

17:10

6

6 S

maximum 28C, minimum 24C, light SW, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

in vicinity of Batumi Raptor Count

303

Y

Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Batumi Botanical Gardens

41.6992332

41.7166192

13:20

18:00

6

 few more Bee-eater in the trees

maximum 28C, minimum 23C, light SW, cloudy but dry morning, sunny afternoon and evening.

303

Y

Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Batumi Botanical Gardens

41.6992332

41.7166192

14:00

17:30

3

few calling

maximum 29C, minimum 24C, light W, a wet day, heavy rain in morning and evening, afternoon was dry and muggy, hardly any sun.

303

Y

Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

მშვიდობის ქუჩა, Martvili, Martvili Municipality 3100

42.4076088

42.3696991

16:49

12

303

N

Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Dzedzileti, Georgia

42.4221595

42.5537286

14:06

6

2 lots of migrating Bee-eater moving S

6 S

maximum 33C, minimum 24C, light E, much hotter today, dry. with sunshine all day

303

N

Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

41.6962719

44.775687

11:50

17:00

25

3 groups of 5,15,5 drifting S

25 S

maximum 26C, minimum 20C, light NE, hazy sunshine all day, shower in evening.

Made Tbilisi Botanical Gardens today from 11:50-17:00 – such gardens used to be common in England but not any more. This one is very special with enormous range of plants. The enormous range and numbers of insects suggests that they don’t overuse pesticides and herbicides: butterflies were everywhere on their flower beds. Also saw the menacing looking Oriental Hornets and a Caucasian Squirrel.

303

Y

Middle Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocoptes medius

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

41.6962719

44.775687

11:50

17:00

1

male seen close-up on tree

1 Male

maximum 26C, minimum 20C, light NE, hazy sunshine all day, shower in evening.

Made Tbilisi Botanical Gardens today from 11:50-17:00 – such gardens used to be common in England but not any more. This one is very special with enormous range of plants. The enormous range and numbers of insects suggests that they don’t overuse pesticides and herbicides: butterflies were everywhere on their flower beds. Also saw the menacing looking Oriental Hornets and a Caucasian Squirrel.

61457

Y

Green Woodpecker

Picus viridis

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

41.6962719

44.775687

11:50

17:00

2

both yaffling

maximum 26C, minimum 20C, light NE, hazy sunshine all day, shower in evening.

Made Tbilisi Botanical Gardens today from 11:50-17:00 – such gardens used to be common in England but not any more. This one is very special with enormous range of plants. The enormous range and numbers of insects suggests that they don’t overuse pesticides and herbicides: butterflies were everywhere on their flower beds. Also saw the menacing looking Oriental Hornets and a Caucasian Squirrel.

308

Y

Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus

Tbilisi N

41.74074

44.7809416

08:50

1

1 1st-summer

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, light NE, sunny all day, dry.

116

N

Hobby

Falco subbuteo

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

12:50

18:50

1

1 S

maximum 24C, minimum 19C, moderate SW, monsoon continued from dawn with incredibly heavy rain in bursts from swirling clouds of all hues, easing from 16:00, becoming dry but still with swirling cloud cover, moving a little higher.

A most amazing day raptor-wise. Monsoon continues and it’s a fantastic day for coastal passage, right over my balcony, confirming one of my long-held Honey-buzzard migration hypotheses.

120

Y

Hobby

Falco subbuteo

Batumi Botanical Gardens

41.6992332

41.7166192

13:20

18:00

1

At 14:50 had a Hobby adult female flying S over the hill low-down.

1 Adult Female

1 S

maximum 28C, minimum 23C, light SW, cloudy but dry morning, sunny afternoon and evening.

120

Y

Hobby

Falco subbuteo

Tbilisi centre

41.7226819

44.7905609

16:30

19:00

1

at 18:00

1 Juvenile Male

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

120

Y

Hobby

Falco subbuteo

Mtskheta S/ Jvari Monastery

41.8378854

44.7287082

11:00

12:15

1

a female hunting low-down over mud flats at 11:47

1 Female

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, moderate NW, sunny all day, no clouds, dry.

120

Y

Peregrine

Falco peregrinus

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

14:45

17:20

2

at 15:27, adult female appeared for a moment under the raptor stream. Another was seen at 15:15 fringing a kettle of Honey-buzzard

1 Adult Female

2 S

maximum 27C, minimum 23C, light W, sunny all day with some cloud on mountains.

124

Y

Peregrine

Falco peregrinus

Batumi Botanical Gardens

41.6992332

41.7166192

14:00

17:30

1

an adult male Peregrine briefly circling over top of Gardens at 15:34.

1 Adult Male

maximum 29C, minimum 24C, light W, a wet day, heavy rain in morning and evening, afternoon was dry and muggy, hardly any sun.

124

Y

Ring-necked Parakeet

Psittacula krameri

Batumi city centre

41.6253825

41.622971

13:30

1

274

N

Lesser Grey Shrike

Lanius minor

Tbilisi N

41.74074

44.7809416

08:50

1

maximum 30C, minimum 20C, light NE, sunny all day, dry.

446

N

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

X637+W8 ქვახვრელის სკვერი, Kvakhvreli, Georgia

41.9560491

44.2139267

09:30

1

445

N

Jay

Garrulus glandarius

Sakhalvasho

41.6944586

41.7293023

13:30

17:00

1

maximum 26C, minimum 22C, light S, glimpses of sun in morning but monsoon continued with very heavy conditions, multiple layers of swirling cloud and mist in almost calm conditions, light rain early afternoon becoming torrential by tea time, drier evening.

449

Y

Jay

Garrulus glandarius

Batumi Botanical Gardens

41.6992332

41.7166192

14:00

17:30

1

calling

maximum 29C, minimum 24C, light W, a wet day, heavy rain in morning and evening, afternoon was dry and muggy, hardly any sun.

449

Y

Jay

Garrulus glandarius

Tbilisi Botanical Gardens

41.6962719

44.775687

11:50

17:00

3

seen and heard