All of our tagged birds on the western flyway are now heading into the Middle East. Sanjar has reached Saudi Arabia, after a few days in northern Iraq, with Vyan following and currently in Iran. Shirin has left Nikoo on the Muş-Bulanık plains in Turkey, where Canan and Ajaz have just arrived from southern Russia.
Western flyway tagged birds 12th October 2015
In the east, Tesfaye and Maysa are still with the large flocks of Sociable Lapwings on the Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan border. Our survey teams reported a highest count of 3,340 – which is about one quarter of the global population estimate! We’ll have detailed reports from them soon when they are back in the office.
Eastern flyway tagged birds 12th October 2015
Looking at the tracking overall, this year three distinct routes are evident:
All tagged birds 12th October 2015
Meanwhile, Kiryl is still transmitting and still in Kazakhstan…