Skuas and Raptors

Text & Photos © M. Heiß

The numbers of migrating birds decrease day by day and the end of the spring count is near. Seawatching produced a good day of migrating Arctic Skuas together with Common Terns. Two exhausted Arctic Skuas rested along the beach. One of them was already dying, so I checked the beach the next day for more birds, when I found eight (!) dead along the shore.

Arctic Skua on the beach

Still alive - An Arctic Skua chasing a Sandwich Tern

Raptor migration still continues along the foothills with 700 Steppe Buzzards and 35 Steppe Eagles on one day. Only a few Honey Buzzards occured so far.

Large flock of migrating Steppe Buzzards

Steppe Eagle

Nice surprise - Demoiselle Cranes on migration

Distant view of Besh Barmag

Poisonous Levant Viper

After two killed Levant Vipers I was glad to find this one alive

Sheltopusiks are widespread and common in the foothills

Green Warbler in the bushes

Several Rufous Bush Robins sing in the bushes

A Cuckoo with its prey