BCUG Archives

Interesting records in 2010

Mediterranean Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) [khmelthashuasghvis qarishkhala]
Rare but regular winter visitor in coastal waters with dates of presence from end of October to the end of March. Occasional visitor to other seasons. Usually observed as single specimens, rarely by two or three individuals.
- six individuals were watched on 12 January at Black Sea coast from high rocks near Sarpi village and single was in Chorokhi River mouth, Ajaria, SW Georgia.

Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) [vardispheri varkhvi]
Rare but regular visitor without breeding at large lakes of Javakheti Upland in Samtskhe-Javakheti Region, S Georgia. The nearest site of breeding is southern, Turkish, part of Khozapini Lake ["Aktas Golu" in Turkish language] (Yarar, M.1995. Aktas Golu: a new pelican breeding site on the Turkish-Georgian border. OSME Bulletin 35: 46-48). Rare in small numbers irregular winter visitor at wethlands of coastal lowlands, vagrant to other areas.
- two were on 12 January at former fish-ponds at right side of Chorokhi River mouth, 2 km S of Batumi, Ajaria, SW Georgia;
- from two to six were watched several times in the end of January – first half of February in various sites in lower part of Chorokhgi River valley, Ajaria, SW Georgia; most of record were at small lakes and ponds in left side of mouth;
- two were recorded on 2 February at Black sea coast in Natanebi River mouth, Guria Region, W Georgia; - two flocks (ca.25 individuals) were at Bugdasheni Lake, four were at Khanchali Lake and at least 11 at Madatapa Lake, Samtskhe Javakheti Region, S Georgia on 30 April; - at least 110 individuals were counted on 1 May in Georgian (northern) part of Kartsakhi Lake, Samtskhe Javakheti Region, S Georgia + about 150 were observed in Turkish (southern) part of lake, that may be classified as a very high count.

Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) [khutchutcha varkhvi]
As non-breeding summer visitor recorded on lakes of Javakheti Upland, Breeding colony is known at small islands in Turkish (southern) part of Kartsakhi Lake. Very rare occasional winter visitor in small numbers at Kolkheti Lowland, at Black sea coastal wetlands and along sea coast.
- single was recorded several times in the end of January – first half of February at wetlands in Chorokhi River mouth, Ajaria, SW Georgia;
- two were watched on 30 April in NE part of Khanchali Lake, Samtskhe Javakheti Region, S Georgia; at least seven (six in one flock + single) were at lake on 3 May;
- at least 19 were in Georgian part of Kartsakhi Lake (along northern bank) on 1 May;
- three were watched in two flocks (ca.25) of Great White Pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) on 30 April at Bugdasheni Lake, Samtskhe Javakheti Region, S Georgia.

Unidentified pelicans (Pelecanus spp.) [varkhvebi]
- three were observed on 18 January flying to W direction across Paleostomi Lake, westren part of Kolkheti Lowland, W Georgia.

White-tailed Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) [phsovi]
Formerly rare breeder on Kolkhida Lowland and in flood-lands of large rivers of East. Extirpated as a regular breeder in 1950''s (Abuladze, Eligulashvili, 1996). In the middle of 1990’s again become to nest at Kolkheti Lowland and in several sites of SE. At present estimated 2-3 pairs, probably a little more. Rare passage and winter visitor.
- single immature was recorded on 16 April at bank of Mtkvari (Kura) River in Gardabani forest-game reserve;
- solitary adult individual was recorded on 12 May flying along the edge of Ispani II mires in W environs of Ochamuri village, Kobuleti Lowland, Ajaria, W Georgia.

Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) [phaskunji]
Uncommon migratory breeder in eastern areas and rare in Western Georgia. Most common vulture during the breeding season. Very rare to rare on passage. Distributed along the southern slopes of Main Caucasian Range and its spurs, at the Likhi Ridge, Iori Table-land, Tsiv-Gombori Ridge, along valleys of large rivers in Eastern Georgia. Occurs in open, arid
areas in upland, foothill, low and mid-mountain belts. Georgian population estimated at ca. 150 breeding pairs.
- single adult was observed on 11 April in at height about 100 m in Saburtalo district of Tbilisi City; vagrant to urban areas;
- two soaring at height of 50-100 m adult individuals were watched on 27 April in central part of Mtskheta town, Eastern Georgia; vagrant to urban areas;
- single adult bird was watched on 16 June at right side of Rioni River valley near Samtredia town, Imereti Region, W Georgia; occasional non-breeding summer visitor to area;
- six solitary individuals were recorded on 12 October to western direction along Mtkvari River valley in western environs of Gori town, Eastern Georgia; high concentration during migration;

Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) [begobis artsivi]
Rare year-round resident, passage migrant and winter visitor.
- two individuals, probably pair, were watched on 4 May in eastern part of Trialeti Ridge in locality Gokhnari;
- single individuals were recorded on 5 and 7 May in NW environs of Signagi town, Kakheti Region, Eastern Georgia;
- single was observed on 21 May in Ksani River valley 1 km N of Aghaiani village, E Georgia;
- two solitary individuals were recorded on 26 May along borders with Azerbaijan (near David Gaveji cave monastery) at Udabno Ridge, SE Georgia;
- solitary was observed on 16 June flying in fields near Samtredia town, Imereti Region, W Georgia; occasional non-breeding summer visitor to area, a few of summere records to area;

Barn Owl (Tyto alba) [bukhrintsa]
Rare sporadic year-round resident. New bird species to Georgia. First non-confiremed records were in late 1990''s. Nesting was confirmed in 2002. The breeding distribution in Georgia covers Black Sea coastlands in Western Georgia. For breeding prefers open areas with small wetlands, ditches, canals, rivers, gardens, ruins, etc. where snow cover is very brief. No data on population size, probably up to 25-30 pairs or a little more nests in country. Present status of the local population can be characterized as stable with slight hints of increase.
- pair (on 6 January) and solitary individuals (at least 4 times) were watched during second half of December 2009 and first half of January 2010 at the territory of former fish farm, right side of Chorokhi River, 1-2 km S of Batumi, Ajaria, SW Georgia.

Great Rosefinches (Carpodacus rubicilla) [didi kochoba]
Rare and sporadic year-round resident at Main Caucasian Range and some its spurs.Typical species-indicator of sub-nival altitudinal belt, where they are nesting at the heights of 3000-3500 m a.s.l., and feeding mainly in alpine and sub-alpine belts - in summer not lower 2500-2700 m, in winter - 1900-2000 m. In foothills they appear seldom, only in the most severest winters and under unfavorable feeding. Probably several hundred pairs nests in Georgia (Loskot, 1991).
- about 220 individuals were recorded at right side of Tergi (Terek) River valley along Georgian Military Road in settlements between Kobi village and Stepantsminda, N Georgia, on 9 and 10 January after heavy snowfalls on 3-6 January. The largest flock of about 150 birds was recorded in Stepantsminda on 10 January;
- small flock (seven birds) was watched on 14 January at motor-road under Jvari Pass (2379 meters above sea level), Main Caucasian Ridge, N Georgia;
- at least six adult individuals, including two adult males and four females, and nine young birds were recorded during 3,5 hours (9:20 -12:45) excursion under Gergeti glacier on 14 August;
- totally ca 20 individuals, from ¾ were young birds were recorded at SW slope of Mt. Kuro at heigts 1870 – 2050 m above sea level in evening (16:15-18:30) on 14 August;
- four were near Sameba Church and single male at Tergi River bank lower 1 km of Stepantsminda on 15 August;
- three individuals were watched at right side of Snostskali River valley near Sno village on 17 August;

Crimson-winged Finch (Rhodopechys sanguinea) [phrthatzithela meosphia]
Status largerly uncertain. Occasional visitor or very rare summer non-breeding visitor or very rare sporadically nesting summer breeder. Probably a small population may survive on gentle slopes with gravel or stony substrate and rocky outcrops and poor vegetation at mountain meadows in western and southern parts of Javakheti Upland, along borders with Armenia and Turkey, but nesting not confirmed by any factual materials (nests, clutches, eggs). A few of spring and summer records to Georgia.
- two solitary males were recorded during 8 days field works in highland of Samtskhe-Javakheti in S Georgia – one at left slope of Paravani River valley in southern environs of Akhalkalaki town on 27 April and second on 4 May in stony canyon near Satkhe village, Ninotsminda district; a few of summer records to Georgia.