2nd week of April all of our key destinations in the Danube Delta were visited in order to gain actual information`s and complete preparation works before the photography season starts. During this time we have made bird observation in the northern part of Delta, along Sulina branch, in the Macin Mountains National Park and around Sinoe lagoons. Beside bird watching our photo boat and drinking hide were improved and now ready for use! The weather was quite unfriendly, rainy and in some days cold and windy.
On the lakes in the northern part of the Danube Delta held hundreds of Little Gulls, we counted more than 2000+ individuals feeding with swarming Chironomids together with Black-headed Gulls and newly arrived Common-, Whiskered and Black Terns. Some solitary pairs of Red-necked Grebes already choose nesting places and displaying to mates. Glossy Ibises roam in big numbers and feed in the flooded habitats. Still a lots of `Delta birds` on the way to breeding places and all going to arrive by the end of April.
Little Gull over the Danube Delta (Photo: Zoltán Baczó)
Pair of Caspian Gull (Photo: Zoltán Baczó)
In the Măcin Mountains National Park a few characteristic species already arrived. We have found 3 Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush territories where males sang and displayed actively. 5-6 pair of Isabelline Wheatears in territories, a single male Pied Wheatear with completely white back (indicate a hybrid with Black-eared?) and numerous Calandra Larks over agricultural fields.
Male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush in the Măcin Mountain National Park (Photo: Sándor Borza)
Isabelline Wheatear (Photo: János Oláh)
Salted lagoons/lakes of Black Sea coast were mostly dry until mid April when rains flooded lots of places and transform excellent habitats for waterbirds, especially for waders. Exactly in time of our visit heavy rains flooded Vadu, where numbers of waterbirds increased noticeably. 10-12 Collared Pratincoles already arrived, some Kentish Plovers starts breeding, Common Redshanks, Black-winged Stilts displayed over territories and many more migrants feeds in a shallow water, such as Wood Sandpipers, Marsh Sandpipers, Ruffs, Greenshanks, Spotted Redshanks, Avocets, Black-tailed Goodwits, Whimbrels, Red-crested Pochards, Garganeys, Eurasian Wigeons and so on.
Collared Pratincole in the rain (Photo: János Oláh)
Male Kentish Plover (Photo: János Oláh)
Among raptors we saw a few Long-legged Buzzards, an adult male Pallid Harrier, 4-5 Montagu`s Harriers, 2 Hen Harriers, Marsh Harriers, first Hobbies of the season and a 2cy Saker Falcon. Red-footed Falcons expects in any minutes.
Saker Falcon (Photo: János Oláh)
All in all birdlife of the Danube Delta noticeably increase every day and by the end of April become excellent destination for both, birdwatchers and bird photographers as well!
We are looking forward for an exciting new season.
Yours sincerely,
Sakertour team
Great-black headed Gull is a real Danube Delta speciality. (Photo: Zoltán Baczó, May 2011)
