Bird Camp Besh Barmag 2016

Participants of the camp © Harald Ris

During 16-19 September the Bird Camp Besh Barmag was arranged at the watchpoint areas of the bottleneck. It was a joint arrangement by Nature Friends Azerbaijan, SOF BirdLife (the Swedish BirdLife partner) and the AOS (Azerbaijan Ornithological Society, the Azeri BirdLife partner). The camp was sponsored by BirdLife partners in Germany, Sweden and Switzerland and also by OSME (Ornithological Society of the Middle East).


We were 8 Swedes, 16 Azeris and 3 Germans covering the bird migration passing this important bottleneck for four full days and during the process also learning, socializing and enjoying camping in the bushland near the Caspian Sea. We also had a day visit with another 20 Baku ecology students one day and the RSPB-run Sociable Lapwing survey also camped with us.

Enjoying bird migration at Besh Barmag © Michael Heiß

Spotting a harrier © Michael Heiß

Stunning close encounter with a Pallid Harrier © Emil Lundahl

Hoopoe in flight © Emil Lundahl

Greater Flamingo on migration © Michael Heiß

Birds in the sky © Michael Heiß

Some 150 (!!) species, of which 20 raptor species, were recorded during those four days alone and some 65.000 birds noted on migration. The weather was overcast with drizzle the first two days and sunny the last two days so bird migration intensity varied. Besh Barmag continues to impress with spectacular migration birding and we hope that migration & conservation activities here can be more firmly established.


Migration was strong of sea birds with more than a thousand of herons/egrets/spoonbills, nearly 10.000 dabbling ducks (of which 4.000 Garganeys), 3.000 White-winged Black Terns and among many waders both Sociable Lapwings and Black-winged Pratincoles. About 20 Montagues Harriers passed us as did 4 fine males Pallid Harrier and six species of eagles (single digit numbers). Eastern delights among passerines overhead included tens of Citrine Wagtails, Tawny Pipits, Rose-coloured Starlings and Rollers. More than 3.000 Blue-cheeked bee-eaters were counted!
In the drizzle the bushes and scrubs were alive with migrants; warblers, Red-backed Shrikes, Thrush Nightingales, lots of Red-breasted Flycatchers, a few Nightjars, a Corncrake, hemprichii-Stonechats and among those single Paddyfield Warbler, Green Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Pied Wheatear and a trapped Scops Owl.

Migrating flock of Black-winged Pratincoles © Michael Heiß

Tomas pointing at a flushed Nightjar © Emil Lundahl

Resting Tawny Pipit in the steppe © Emil Lundahl

Rosy Starling among Common © Emil Lundahl

European Bee-eater on migration © Emil Lundahl

Often mixed with the greener counterpart the Blue-checked Bee-eater © Michael Heiß

Migrating Ruffs were a regular sight © August Thomasson

Mixed flocks of Spoonbills and ducks © August Thomasson

Glossy Ibis © August Thomasson

Up to 117 migrating Caspian Terns were observed per day © August Thomasson

Spotted Flycatcher resting in bushes © Michael Heiß

Great Reed Warbler © Emil Lundahl

Pia giving a lecture in bird ringing © Emil Lundahl

Setting up the mist-nets © Sabina Bunyatova

Everybody helps © Sabina Bunyatova

A trapped Lesser Whitethroat © Sabina Bunyatova

Garden Warbler © Sabina Bunyatova

Tomas releasing a trapped bird © Michael Heiß

Final dinner with excellent Azeri cuisine in a traditional restaurant in Baku © Michael Heiß

More about the Bird Camp and our records and many more photos can be seen at our Facebook pages and the daily numbers at trektellen.org


Tomas Axén Haraldsson
camp initiative holder and organiser