As a supplement to Montenegro, a birding trip to the south western balkan in May here the Detailed Birdlist.
A total of 161 species were recorded
1 Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) – only 1 Vranjina fishermen harbour on 05 May 2022 (supposed to be rare)
2 Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) – 3 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
3 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) – throughout in low numbers mainly Skadar Lake
4 Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) – 1 male Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
5 Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) – 1 male in flooded meadows Moraca river at Vranjina
6 Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) – 2 male, 1 female in flooded meadows Moraca river at Vranjina
7 Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca) – 2 Mt. Rumija on 6/14 May 2022
8 Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) – good numbers only Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
9 Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) – in small no. occasionally Skadar Lake
10 Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) – occasionally Skadar Lake, mainly on Moraca river
11 Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) – only 2 sightings, 1 Buljarica Marsh other Durmitor NP
12 Common Wood-Pigeon (Columba palumbus) – Durmitor 9/10/11 May 2022
13 European Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia turtur) – rare, 1 Bobija on 05 May 2022
14 Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) – quite common throughout
15 Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) – prevalent, but seldom seen
16 Eurasian Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) – 1 singing reluctantly down from Mt. Rumija on 08 May 2022
17 Alpine Swift (Apus melba) – if seen, in flocks, up to 20 Vranjina on 14 May 2022
18 Common Swift (Apus apus) – occasionally, e.g. 3 Velji vrh on 14 May 2022
19 Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) – 1 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
20 Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) – common
21 Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) – common
22 Eurasian Thick-knee (Burhinus oedicnemus) – in suitable habitat quite common, e.g. Ulcinj Salina, more in the blog
23 Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) – Ulcinj Salina on 14 May 2022
24 Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) – 4 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
25 Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) – 4 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
26 Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) – 20 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
27 Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) – 6 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
28 Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) – 15 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
29 Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) – 4 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
30 Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) – 3 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
31 Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) – 5 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
32 Ruff (Calidris pugnax) – 10 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
33 Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) – 500 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
34 Dunlin (Calidris alpina) – 300 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
35 Little Stint (Calidris minuta) – 20 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
36 Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) – 1 Buljarica Marsh on 07 May 2022
37 Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) – 1 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
38 Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) – 16 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
39 Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) – 3 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
40 Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) – 6 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
41 Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) – 3 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
42 Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei) – 2 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
43 Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) – common around Skadar Lake
44 Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) – common around Skadar Lake, even more on coast
45 Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) – 8 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
46 Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) – abundant around Skadar Lake floods
47 Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) – regular in small no. around Skadar Lake floods
48 Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus) – abundant in good no.
49 Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) – abundant in smaller no., flocks frequently
50 Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) – daily over Skadar Lake, excellent sightings of 35 ind. on 05 May 2022
51 Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) – 1 heard Buljarica Marsh on 14 May 2022
52 Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) – frequent
53 Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) – rare, but at Buljarica Marsh & over Velji vrh
54 Great Egret (Ardea alba) – 1 sighting: 6 Vranjina fishermen harbour on 07 May 2022
55 Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) – abundant
56 Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) – 3 following days near cattle in flooded meadow near Skadar Lake
57 Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) – in the 1st week common to abundant, later: rare
58 Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) – 5 Moraca at Bistrica–riparian wood on 04 May 2022
59 Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) – 20 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
60 European Honey-buzzard (Pernis apivorus) – frequent, perfect migration of 12 ind over Stari Grad on 13 May 2022
61 Short-toed Snake-Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) – occasionally over Skadar Lake National Park
62 Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) – 1 Velji vrh on 03 May 2022
63 Eurasian Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) – 1 Plavnica Eco Resort on 09 May 2022
64 Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus) – 1 male Vodopad Nijagara on 05 May 2022
65 Levant Sparrowhawk (Accipiter brevipes) – occasionally Mt. Rumija, more in the blog
66 Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) – 1 Vranjina fishermen harbour on 14 May 2022, chased by Barn Swallows
67 Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) – 1 female NP Durmitor on 11 May 2022
68 Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) – 1 Skadar Lake National Park on 06 May 2022
69 Eurasian Scops-Owl (Otus scops) – min 2 Wasteland Podgorica on 08 May 2022
70 Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) – 1 heard Biogradska Gora on 11 May 2022
71 Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) – common but shy
72 European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) – commmon
73 European Roller (Coracias garrulus) – 1 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
74 Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) – 1 Virpazar Riparian Wood on 09 May 2022
75 Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus) – 1 Zminje Lake/ NP Durmitor on 10 May 2022
76 White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) – 1 Crna poda/ NP Durmitor on 10/11 May 2022, more in the blog
77 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) – 1 Hotel SOA on 09 May 2022
78 Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus) – 1 Plavnica Eco Resort on 05 May 2022
79 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor) – 1 Skadar Lake National Park on 04 May 2022
80 Gray-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus) – 1 Biogradska Gora Lake on 12 May 2022
81 Eurasian Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) – occasionally heard, mainly riparian woods
82 Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) – 1 male Mt. Rumija on 06 May 2022
83 Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) – common, more in the blog
84 Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae) – frequent, often over Velji vrh
85 Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) – 2 Velji vrh on 04 May 2022
86 Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) – abundant but rarely seen
87 Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) – esp. widespread at Wasteland Podgorica
88 Lesser Gray Shrike (Lanius minor) – only arouond Skadar Lake, couples in display
89 Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) – 1 Buljarica Marsh on 14 May 2022
90 Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) – occasionally at riparian wood
91 Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) – very common
92 Eurasian Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) – 1 NP Durmitor on 11 May 2022
93 Yellow-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) – max. 100 Mt. Rumija on 6 May 2022
94 Eurasian Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) – not common
95 Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) -very common
96 Common Raven (Corvus corax) – frequent in low- & highlands
97 Coal Tit (Periparus ater) – 1 Hotel SOA on 12 May 2022
98 Sombre Tit (Poecile lugubris) – 1 NP Durmitor on 11 May 2022
99 Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris) – 2 Biogradska Gora Lake on 12 May 2022
100 Willow Tit (Poecile montanus) – 3 Mlinski Potok on 11 May 2022
101 Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) – 2 on the nest Plavnica Eco Resort on 05 May 2022
102 Great Tit (Parus major) – quite common
103 Eurasian Penduline-Tit (Remiz pendulinus) – 1 male in riparian wood of Moraca river at Bistrica on 04/06 May 2022
104 Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) – 7 Buljarica Marsh on 03 May 2022
105 Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) – quite common in dry, stony areas
106 Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) – 2 Ulcinj Salina on 07 May 2022
107 Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida) – frequent, but with 1 exception only heard
108 Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina) – 2 Wasteland Podgorica on 05 May 2022
109 Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) – only 1 heard Buljarica Marsh on 14 May 2022
110 Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) – occasionally, e.g. 1 Plavnica Eco Resort on 05 May 2022
111 Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) – a big flock over Moraca river at Bistrica on 06 May 2022
112 Eurasian Crag-Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) – 10 on overhanging nest Stari Bar on 13 May 2022
113 Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) – abundant
114 Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) – frequent near Skadar Lake but in low no.
115 Common House-Martin (Delichon urbicum) – frequent but low no.
116 Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) – Mt. Rumija on 02/12 May 2022
117 Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia cetti) – super-abundant, but not seen
118 Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) – 3 Mt. Rumija on 14 May 2022
119 Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) – a couple Biogradska Gora Lake on 11 May 2022, more in the blog
120 Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca) – 2 NP Durmitor on 13 May 2022
121 Eastern Orphean Warbler (Curruca crassirostris) – heard around Mt. Rumija
122 Sardinian Warbler (Curruca melanocephala) – at least 2 heard Stari Bar on 13 May 2022
123 Eastern Subalpine Warbler (Curruca cantillans) – common, esp.. Mt. Rumija
124 Greater Whitethroat (Curruca communis) – rare, 1 Buljarica Marsh on 05 May 2022
125 Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla) – 2 Mlinski Potok on 12 May 2022
126 Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) – 1 Biogradska Gora Lake on 12 May 2022
127 Eurasian Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) – 1 Mlinski Potok on 10 May 2022
128 Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) – 2 Biogradska Gora Lake on 12 May 2022
129 White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) – 2 Biogradska Gora Lake on 12 May 2022, more in the blog
130 European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) – common
131 Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) – frequent Durmitor NP
132 Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) – 1 Hotel SOA on 12 May 2022
133 Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) – common
134 Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) – 3 Biogradska Gora Lake on 12 May 2022
135 Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) – occasionally, 1 Wasteland Podgorica on 05 May 2022
136 European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) – 2 Mlinski Potok on 12 May 2022
137 Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) – common, but mainly heard
138 European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) – 1 Mt. Rumija on 08 May 2022
139 Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) – 1 male Hotel SOA on 10 May 2022
140 Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) – 1 male Mt. Rumija on 06 May 2022
141 Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush (Monticola saxatilis) – 2 (male & female) Mt. Rumija on 06 May 2022
142 Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) – 3 Buljarica Marsh on 07 May 2022
143 Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) – 2 NP Durmitor on 11 May 2022
144 Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe melanoleuca) – very common around Mt. Rumija
145 Dunnock (Prunella modularis) – 1 NP Durmitor on 11 May 2022
146 House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) – super-abundant
147 Gray Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) – 9 Vodopad Nijagara on 11 May 2022
148 Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) – 2 Buljarica Marsh on 14 May 2022
149 White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) – quite rare
150 Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris) – 1 Wasteland Podgorica on 05 May 2022
151 Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) – 1 in display NP Durmitor on 12 May 2022
152 Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) – quite rare, 1 Mt. Rumija on 12 May 2022
153 Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) – 4 Stari Bar on 13 May 2022
154 European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) – 2 Wasteland Podgorica on 04 May 2022
155 Eurasian Linnet (Linaria cannabina) – 3 Wasteland Podgorica on 05 May 2022
156 European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) – frequent
157 Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) – occasionally, e.g. Wasteland Podgorica
158 Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra) – common in dry, stone areas
159 Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia) – 1 Mt. Rumija on 06 May 2022
160 Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) – occasionally, e.g. Wasteland Podgorica
161 Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) – 1 male NP Durmitor on 11, 1 male Biogradska Gora on 12 May 2022