Birding Serbia in the 2020

As the year is closing, I am looking back to realise, despite it being such an awful year, it’s far from the worst I had, it doesn’t even come close (it’s the mileage that’s killing me, I guess). Yet, I feel depressive and so tired – and I haven’t even caught Covid yet (but did something else, a friend of mine asked: Are you sure it’s not malaria?).

Birdwise, I am lagging some 10 to 15 species behind my usual tallies, considering everything – not too bad at all. I was mostly birding once per week (and sometimes fewer). But I rarely made a longer excursion, although after a few months it became possible. If I check my lists, I’d probably discover that more than 90% comes from my local patch, Beljarica.

However, here’s a series of photos telling a nicer and more diverse story than I remember:

Spring

Ortolan Bunting (near Belgrade)

European Roller (near Belgrade)

Autumn

Zajecarsko Beer in a garden with plum trees and Sombre Tits (Jerma River Canyon)

A Yellowhammer in the same garden (Jerma River Canyon)

Pear brandy on the Global Big [Birding] Day (in the Deliblato Sands Reserve)

That Great Black-Backed Gull that is supposed to overwinter at sea and not the Danube in the land-locked Serbia

Winter

One for the Christmas: European Robin

Yours truly

And my cat giving me the look

I wish you all a happy, healthy and bird-rich new 2021.

Cover photo: Great Egrets in glorious October sunshine at Beljarica Levee