Rare sightings and good bird migration in the second half of September at Besh Barmag

Text © Michael Heiß

Bird counters in September © Michael Heiß

The Besh Barmag bird migration bottleneck continues to captivate bird enthusiasts with its incredible observations, leaving up to seven passionate counters at the station enthralled.

While the last two weeks of September can be slow on certain days, especially under warm, clear blue skies, overall, the counters have witnessed a remarkable passage of birds.

Passerine migration still sees the dominance of wagtails and swallows. White Wagtail numbers have steadily increased since mid-September, reaching 3,800 individuals on 26 September (https://trektellen.nl/count/view/1533/20230926). Meanwhile, daily counts of Yellow Wagtails have been decreasing, although several hundred individuals still pass by every morning. Single sightings of Grey and Citrine Wagtails are a daily occurrence. Swallows are a common sight around the counting station and the bottleneck, often making it difficult to distinguish between migrating birds, reverse migration, or local birds feeding on insects. The peak observation was on 27 September, with approximately 13,500 Barn Swallows/Sand Martins/Hirundine species (https://trektellen.nl/count/view/1533/20230927).

As autumn approaches, the first finches are already on the move, with occasional sightings of Chaffinch, Hawfinch, and Siskin. Goldfinches and Greenfinches are increasing in numbers, forming small flocks by the end of September. The first Yellowhammer of the season was spotted on 30 September and Common Rosefinches remain a daily sight (https://trektellen.nl/count/view/1533/20230930).

To the delight of the counters, there have been regular sightings of migrating Jays, a phenomenon rarely observed in such numbers at Besh Barmag. They often pass by the counting station at close range, providing excellent views and photo opportunities, a humorous sight considering these forest species navigating the treeless steppe.

Steppe Grey Shrike at the counting station © Elvin Məmmədsoy

When it comes to rare sightings, the observations of Little Bunting, Oriental Skylark, and Steppe Grey Shrike have caused quite a stir at the counting station. The Steppe Grey Shrike spent four days at the station, delighting the counters with excellent views. The Oriental Skylark occurs annually in small numbers at Besh Barmag, it was, however, only well-recorded vocally, but unfortunately not seen well.

It’s worth mentioning that the migration of Black-winged Pratincoles is still ongoing, with numbers approaching 10,000 individuals for 2023, surpassing previous years’ counts.

Probably the same juvenile Sociable Lapwing was observed on 18 and 19 September, which are so far the only records for 2023.

Sociable Lapwing at the beach © Moritz Morteani

On the seaside, the waterbird migration continues in reasonable numbers, with an abundance of herons, egrets, Spoonbills, terns, waders and Garganeys. A moment of excitement occurred when a Pacific Golden Plover migrated south among Grey Plovers on 24 September, marking the first record for the migration count (https://trektellen.nl/count/view/1533/20230924).

So far, 288,067 south-flying and 47,562 north-flying birds have been counted. Statistically speaking, September provides the lowest numbers of individuals, so we can anticipate greater numbers and more exciting species in the next two months. Stay tuned!

If you’re interested in supporting this groundbreaking project in Azerbaijan, here are several ways to get involved:

Join Us: We still have available slots for participation in the coming autumn months, including October and November. This is an excellent opportunity to witness the diversity and abundance of eastern species. More information
Make a Donation: Even small contributions can have a significant impact on our financial stability and our ability to continue this vital work in the following year. Consider making a donation at https://birdingazerbaijan.org/donate/.
Explore Azerbaijan: Birding Azerbaijan offers tailor-made tours and collaborates with tour operators. The proceeds from these tours directly support the Besh Barmag Bird Migration Count. Why not join a spring trip in Azerbaijan in 2024? Learn more at https://birdingazerbaijan.org/travel/.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to sharing more remarkable bird migration experiences with you on this blog, Facebook and Instagram.

The Besh team also thanks OSME and FairWind for financial support!