Batumi Raptor Migration Extravaganza

The following itinerary is indicative and the exact itinerary will be dependent on weather conditions and migration each day.

Day 1: Arrival

Upon arrival and meeting at Batumi Airport, we will first transfer to the hotel to relax, unpack and enjoy dinner.

Day 2: Sakhalvasho Raptor Observatory

Today we will visit the Sakhalvasho Raptor Observatory where we will stay until the end of the day watching raptor migration. We hope to see the first Lesser Spotted, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Pallid and Montagu’s Harriers, Steppe Buzzards and Black Kites in abundance. The area is also good for migrating passerines and species such as European Bee-eater and Roller. In the evening we will return back to the hotel.

Day 3: Shuamta Raptor Observatory

We will spend the entire day at the second, neighbouring station, called Shuamta Raptor Observatory. A delicious lunch will be served at the local family-run café, right at the station. Here we can enjoy a tasty Turkish coffee while watching raptor migration. The woodland also holds Green Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher and even species like Black Woodpecker. We hope to add species like Hobby, Red-footed Falcon, Steppe Eagle and Griffon Vulture to our raptor tally.

Day 4: Chorokhi River Delta & Sakhalvasho Raptor Observatory

Today we will visit the brilliant Chorokhi River Delta, where many migrants pause to feed and refuel or alternatively head back up to Sakhalvasho Raptor Observatory to enjoy evening migration of birds of prey. The delta can produce just about anything from Blue-cheeked Bee-eater and Arctic Skua to Black Storks and Whinchats. The mosaic of wetland habitats combined with scrub and the open Black Sea coast means that just about anything is possible.

Day 5: Shuamta Raptor Watchpoint Maltakva Beach

Before breakfast we will take a good look around our hotel, an area excellent for Krüper's Nuthatches. Depending on the weather forecast we will spend the day at one of two Raptor Observatories or alternatively Maltakva Beach. The beach is an excellent place to enjoy migrating shorebirds from Little Stint, Broad-billed and Curlew Sandpiper to Little, Armenian and Caspian Gulls, White-winged Terns, herons and egrets. Raptors filter overhead and Osprey can be found foraging over the estuary.   

Day 6: Batumi Boulevard & Chorokhi River Delta

This morning we may explore the Batumi Boulevard, a site that is great when the weather isn’t so good. Here many migrants often congregate in the seaside trees and scrub and the beach can be littered with Red-backed Shrikes, Whinchats and pipits. European Nightjar can often be found roosting in the trees. We might also check out a different area of the Chorokhi Delta where Little and Baillon’s Crakes often lurk along the marsh and pool edges, overflown by Black, Whiskered and White-winged Terns.

Day 7: Raptor watch points and Maltakva Beach

Today we will likely replicate day 4 with a visit to the Chorokhi River Delta and Sakhalvasho Raptor Observatory. As every day is different during autumn we expect to encounter new species and our raptor list is likely to have grown day on day!

Day 8: Raptor watch points and Maltakva Beach

On our last birding day in Batumi we will enjoy the raptor passage either from Shuamta or Sakhalvasho Raptor Observatory, or alternatively can explore one of the local national parks such as Mtirala. Our daily itinerary can be flexible and accommodate both the volume of raptor migration and your own preferences during the course of the week.

Day 9: Tour Concludes

Departure will be in the morning following breakfast with a transfer to Batumi airport.

The itinerary outlined is indicative and Wild Discovery reserves the right to alter the itinerary if conditions require.