MONTENEGRO – a birding trip to the south-western Balkan in May Part II, an annotated bird list

As a supplement to Montenegro, a birding trip to the south western balkan in May here the Detailed Birdlist.

A total of 161 species were recorded

 

1          Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) – only 1 Vranjina fishermen harbour on 05 May 2022 (supposed to be rare)

2          Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) – 3 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

3          Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) – throughout in low numbers mainly Skadar Lake

4          Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) – 1 male Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

5          Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) – 1 male in flooded meadows Moraca river at Vranjina

6          Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) – 2 male, 1 female in flooded meadows Moraca river at Vranjina

7          Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca) – 2 Mt. Rumija on 6/14 May 2022

8          Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) –  good numbers only Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

9          Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) – in small no. occasionally Skadar Lake

10        Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) –  occasionally Skadar Lake, mainly on Moraca river

11        Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) – only 2 sightings, 1 Buljarica Marsh other Durmitor NP

12        Common Wood-Pigeon (Columba palumbus) – Durmitor 9/10/11 May 2022

13        European Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia turtur) – rare, 1 Bobija on 05 May 2022

14        Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) – quite common throughout

15        Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) – prevalent, but seldom seen

16        Eurasian Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) – 1 singing reluctantly down from Mt. Rumija on 08 May 2022

17        Alpine Swift (Apus melba) – if seen, in flocks, up to 20 Vranjina on 14 May 2022

18        Common Swift (Apus apus) – occasionally, e.g. 3 Velji vrh on 14 May 2022

19        Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) – 1 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

20        Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) – common

21        Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) – common

22        Eurasian Thick-knee (Burhinus oedicnemus) – in suitable habitat quite common, e.g. Ulcinj Salina, more in the blog

23        Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) –  Ulcinj Salina on 14 May 2022

24        Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) – 4 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

25        Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) – 4 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

26        Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) – 20 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

27        Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) – 6 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

28        Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) – 15 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

29        Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) – 4 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

30        Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) – 3 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

31        Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) – 5 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

32        Ruff (Calidris pugnax) – 10 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

33        Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) – 500 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

34        Dunlin (Calidris alpina) – 300 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

35        Little Stint (Calidris minuta) – 20 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

36        Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) – 1 Buljarica Marsh on 07 May 2022

37        Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) – 1 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

38        Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) – 16 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

39        Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) – 3 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

40        Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) – 6 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

41        Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) – 3 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

42        Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei) – 2 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

43        Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) – common around Skadar Lake

44       Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) – common around Skadar Lake, even more on coast

45        Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) – 8 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

46        Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) – abundant around Skadar Lake floods

47        Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) – regular in small no. around Skadar Lake floods

48        Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus) – abundant in good no.

49        Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) –  abundant in smaller no., flocks frequently

50        Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) –  daily over Skadar Lake, excellent sightings of 35 ind. on 05 May 2022

51        Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) – 1 heard Buljarica Marsh on 14 May 2022

52        Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) – frequent

53        Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) – rare, but at Buljarica Marsh & over Velji vrh

54        Great Egret (Ardea alba) – 1 sighting: 6 Vranjina fishermen harbour on 07 May 2022

55        Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) – abundant

56        Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) – 3 following days near cattle in flooded meadow near Skadar Lake

57        Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) – in the 1st week common to abundant, later: rare

58        Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) – 5 Moraca at Bistrica–riparian wood on 04 May 2022

59        Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) – 20 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

60        European Honey-buzzard (Pernis apivorus) – frequent, perfect migration of 12 ind over Stari Grad on 13 May 2022

61        Short-toed Snake-Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) – occasionally over Skadar Lake National Park

62        Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) – 1 Velji vrh on 03 May 2022

63        Eurasian Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) – 1 Plavnica Eco Resort on 09 May 2022

64        Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus) – 1 male Vodopad Nijagara on 05 May 2022

65        Levant Sparrowhawk (Accipiter brevipes) – occasionally Mt. Rumija, more in the blog

66        Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) – 1 Vranjina fishermen harbour on 14 May 2022, chased by Barn Swallows

67        Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) – 1 female NP Durmitor on 11 May 2022

68        Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) – 1 Skadar Lake National Park on 06 May 2022

69        Eurasian Scops-Owl (Otus scops) – min 2 Wasteland Podgorica on 08 May 2022

70        Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) – 1 heard Biogradska Gora on 11 May 2022

71        Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) – common but shy

72        European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) –  commmon

73        European Roller (Coracias garrulus) – 1 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

74        Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) – 1 Virpazar Riparian Wood on 09 May 2022

75        Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus) – 1 Zminje Lake/ NP Durmitor on 10 May 2022

76        White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) – 1 Crna poda/ NP Durmitor on 10/11 May 2022, more in the blog

77        Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) – 1 Hotel SOA on 09 May 2022

78        Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus) – 1 Plavnica Eco Resort on 05 May 2022

79        Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor) – 1 Skadar Lake National Park on 04 May 2022

80        Gray-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus) – 1 Biogradska Gora Lake on 12 May 2022

81        Eurasian Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) – occasionally heard, mainly riparian woods

82        Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) – 1 male Mt. Rumija on 06 May 2022

83        Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) – common, more in the blog

84        Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae) – frequent, often over Velji vrh

85        Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) – 2 Velji vrh on 04 May 2022

86        Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) – abundant but rarely seen

87        Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) – esp. widespread at Wasteland Podgorica

88        Lesser Gray Shrike (Lanius minor) – only arouond Skadar Lake, couples in display

89        Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) – 1 Buljarica Marsh on 14 May 2022

90        Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) – occasionally at riparian wood

91        Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) – very common

92        Eurasian Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) – 1 NP Durmitor on 11 May 2022

93        Yellow-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) – max. 100 Mt. Rumija on 6 May 2022

94        Eurasian Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) – not common

95        Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) -very common

96        Common Raven (Corvus corax) – frequent in low- & highlands

97        Coal Tit (Periparus ater) – 1 Hotel SOA on 12 May 2022

98        Sombre Tit (Poecile lugubris) – 1 NP Durmitor on 11 May 2022

99        Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris) – 2 Biogradska Gora Lake on 12 May 2022

100      Willow Tit (Poecile montanus) – 3 Mlinski Potok on 11 May 2022

101      Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) – 2 on the nest Plavnica Eco Resort on 05 May 2022

102      Great Tit (Parus major) – quite common

103      Eurasian Penduline-Tit (Remiz pendulinus) – 1 male in riparian wood of Moraca river at Bistrica on 04/06 May 2022

104      Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) – 7 Buljarica Marsh on 03 May 2022

105      Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) – quite common in dry, stony areas

106      Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) – 2 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022

107      Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida) – frequent, but with 1 exception only heard

108      Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina) – 2 Wasteland Podgorica on 05 May 2022

109      Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) – only 1 heard Buljarica Marsh on 14 May 2022

110      Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) – occasionally, e.g. 1 Plavnica Eco Resort on 05 May 2022

111      Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) –  a big flock over Moraca river at Bistrica on 06 May 2022

112      Eurasian Crag-Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) – 10 on overhanging nest Stari Bar on 13 May 2022

113      Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) –  abundant

114      Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) – frequent near Skadar Lake but in low no.

115      Common House-Martin (Delichon urbicum) –  frequent but low no.

116      Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) –  Mt. Rumija on 02/12 May 2022

117      Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia cetti) – super-abundant, but not seen

118      Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) – 3 Mt. Rumija on 14 May 2022

119      Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) – a couple Biogradska Gora Lake on 11 May 2022, more in the blog

120      Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca) – 2 NP Durmitor on 13 May 2022

121      Eastern Orphean Warbler (Curruca crassirostris) – heard around Mt. Rumija

122      Sardinian Warbler (Curruca melanocephala) – at least 2 heard Stari Bar on 13 May 2022

123      Eastern Subalpine Warbler (Curruca cantillans) –  common, esp.. Mt. Rumija

124      Greater Whitethroat (Curruca communis) – rare, 1 Buljarica Marsh on 05 May 2022

125      Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla) – 2 Mlinski Potok on 12 May 2022

126      Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) – 1 Biogradska Gora Lake on 12 May 2022

127      Eurasian Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) – 1 Mlinski Potok on 10 May 2022

128      Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) – 2 Biogradska Gora Lake on 12 May 2022

129      White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) – 2 Biogradska Gora Lake on 12 May 2022, more in the blog

130      European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) – common

131      Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) – frequent Durmitor NP

132      Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) – 1 Hotel SOA on 12 May 2022

133      Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) – common

134      Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) – 3 Biogradska Gora Lake on 12 May 2022

135      Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) – occasionally, 1 Wasteland Podgorica on 05 May 2022

136      European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) – 2 Mlinski Potok on 12 May 2022

137      Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) – common, but mainly heard

138      European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) – 1 Mt. Rumija on 08 May 2022

139      Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) – 1 male Hotel SOA on 10 May 2022

140      Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) – 1 male Mt. Rumija on 06 May 2022

141      Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush (Monticola saxatilis) – 2 (male & female) Mt. Rumija on 06 May 2022

142      Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) – 3 Buljarica Marsh on 07 May 2022

143      Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) – 2 NP Durmitor on 11 May 2022

144      Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe melanoleuca) – very common around Mt. Rumija

145      Dunnock (Prunella modularis) – 1 NP Durmitor on 11 May 2022

146      House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) –  super-abundant

147      Gray Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) – 9 Vodopad Nijagara on 11 May 2022

148      Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) – 2 Buljarica Marsh on 14 May 2022

149      White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) – quite rare

150      Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris) – 1 Wasteland Podgorica on 05 May 2022

151      Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) – 1 in display NP Durmitor on 12 May 2022

152      Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) – quite rare, 1 Mt. Rumija on 12 May 2022

153      Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) – 4 Stari Bar on 13 May 2022

154      European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) – 2 Wasteland Podgorica on 04 May 2022

155      Eurasian Linnet (Linaria cannabina) – 3 Wasteland Podgorica on 05 May 2022

156      European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) – frequent

157      Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) – occasionally, e.g. Wasteland Podgorica

158      Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra) – common in dry, stone areas

159      Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia) – 1 Mt. Rumija on 06 May 2022

160      Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) – occasionally, e.g. Wasteland Podgorica

161      Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) – 1 male NP Durmitor on 11, 1 male Biogradska Gora on 12 May 2022

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