BCUG Archives

Interesting records in 2011

Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus)
Georgian name - mtsire chvama
- at least 230 were counted on Jandari Lake on 14 January 2011, Gardabani district, Eastern Georgia, border with Azerbaijan;
- at least 43 were on 23 January on Kumisi Lake, Marneuli district, Eastern Georgia;
- 7 individuals were watched on 29 January in flock together with 22 Great Cormorants in historical center of Tbilisi City (lower Metekhi bridge, Orthatchala district);

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Georgian name - ghamis ghkancha
Rare to uncommon migratory breeder at wetlands on lowlands (lakes, rivers with dense shrubs and trees on banks). More common in East. No data on numbers and population trends. Widespread but not numerous passage migrant. Occasional winter visitor.
- four were recorded in central part of Rustavi town on 17 January.

Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus)
Georgian name - thvalshavi
Uncommon, locally common, passage visitor across Georgia. More often recorded at Black Sea coast, in arid areas of eastern regions and at Javakheti Upland. A little more widespread in autumn with peak in the end of September - first half of October. Occasional winterer.
- single was recorded on 17 January in Gori town, Shida Kartli Region, Eastern Georgia; 4th winter record since 1972.

Peregrine (Falco peregrinus)
Georgian name - shevardeni
Widespread but rare year-round resident, passage and winter visitor.
Single wintering individuals were recorded:
- in central part of Tbilisi City (Sololaki district) on 7 January;
- in Vake Park (NW part of Tbilisi) on 12 January;
- in Tbilisi ZOO on 17 January;
- in Gori town (Shida Kartli Region, E Georgia) on 4, 12 and 20 January;
- in Batumi seaside park (Ajaria Autonomous Republic, SW Georgia) on 9 January;
- in Rokiti village (Baghdati district, Imereti Region, Western Georgia) on 2 January.

Common Grus (Grus grus) [RUKHI TZERO]
Very rare summer breeder at wet meadows in eastern part of Lesser Caucasus and common passage visitor. Occasional winterer.
- three were watched at left side of Choloki River valley in NW part of Kobuleti Lowland on 7 January, that is second winter record to Georgia since 1973.

Kruper''s Nuthatch (Sitta krueperi)
Georgian name -
Year-round resident with local seasonal movements. More common in NW and (Abkhazia, Svaneti) and SW (Ajaria) parts of Georgia. Data on occurrence in other regions of Georgia is very incomplete. Recorded from sea coast to upper tree limit, perhaps 2000m a.s.l.
- two single individuals were watched in mixed flocks of tits and other small Passerines on 3 February in Vere River gorge lower Betania monastery, NW environs of Tbilisi City;
- at least 15 individuals were observed in Baghdati town, Rokiti and Dimi villages (Baghdati district, Imereti Region, Western Georgia) on 24-27 February;

Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
Georgian name - narchita
Numerous flocks (from 5 to 20 birds) were observed in parks and gardens in- and around Kutaisi, Bagdati town, Rokoti and Dimi villages (Imereti Region) during last week of February.
Unusual concentration, caused probably by extremely unfavorable weather conditions at Lesser and Greater Caucasus.

Pine Bunting (Emberiza leucocephalos)
Georgian name - thethrthava grata
- about 20 individuals were counted in large (350+ individuals) mixed flock of finches and buntings in fields near locality Betania at Trialeti Ridge (SW environs of Tbilisi City) on 19 January 2011.
Very rare irregular winterer or occasional visitor to Georgia. 12th known record since 1965.