We made our annual winter waterbird count on the lower part (Carpathian Basin section) of the River Danube from Orsova to Bazias in Transylvania. This c.130 kilometer stretch of Danube usually holds 25,000-30,000 waterbirds in winter. Numbers also depend on ice cover of the upper Danube sections (mainly in Hungary) as well as the weather generally.

The Kazán-pass along the Danube                                                         Photo: Zoltán Petrovics

This year the count was only 18,459 waterbirds, of which the outstanding result was the record number of Smews. We counted a total 2,062 wintering birds of this lovely bird. The only species which was far less numerous as usual was the Coot. We only counted 1542 individuals which barely compares with the 8000+ last year though the water level of the Danube was very high!

Smews in a mixed diving duck flock along the Danube                                                            Photo: János Oláh

Velvet Scoters                                                                                                                         Photo: Dániel Balla

Other highlights included a Bernacle Goose (very rare bird inTransylvania), 5 Scaup, 3 Velvet Scoters, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 47 Goosanders, Sombre Tits and several Cirl Buntings. The latter two species are rare and restricted breeding birds in the Carpathian Basin.

Male and female Cirl Bunting                                                                                 Photos: János Oláh

Juvenile Goshawk at Orsova                                                                                   Photo: János Oláh

Sakertour team