Christmas waterfowl count in Western Bulgaria (1 Viewer)

For tenth year in a row volunteers from Balkani Wildlife Society and the Bulgarian Ornithological Centre (Institute of zoology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) have just finished the Christmas waterfowl count of on the wetlands in Western Bulgaria (excluding the Danube River). Despite the worsen weather around the action, that took part between 16 and 19 December, counting teams visited all wetlands in this part of the country, known to house water connected birds e.g. lakes, dam-lakes, quarries, rivers, fish ponds, deposit basins etc.). Highlights this year were the observations of White-tailed Eagles (making some Mallards disappear under the water surface when attacking them), White and Dalmatian Pelicans, Velvet Scotter, Long-tailed Duck, Red-breasted Merganser and many other unusual for the inland territories bird species. However overwintering Shelducks, Red-creasted Pochards, Ferruginous Ducks, Curlews, Lapwings and nice concentrations of Gadwalls were also recorded among the more typical Pygmy Cormorants, Goldeneyes, Tufted Ducks, Teals, Pochards and not the least Mallards.
As proofs for the existence of Avian Fly in Bulgaria are still lacking, hunting of waterfowl is forbidden in the country. There were some places, where in previous years the hunting pressure has been very sharp, but this year on the same places the birds were rather trustful. Hopefully this will give the opportunity of many birdwatchers to enjoy the thousands of Red-breasted Geese, wintering along the Northern Black Sea Coast from a very close distance.
BIRDWATCHINGBULGARIA.COM tried to help this annual initiative by providing vehicles for some of the destinations. The bad weather conditions required very much 4WD and this is where the robust company’s Lada Niva had a significant intervention (see the picture).