New bird species have been spotted in Vacaresti Natural Park this year - the great black-backed gull, the rock bunting and the Bohemian waxwing, informs Agerpres.
"Earlier this year, our colleagues discovered three rare species of birds, now added for the first time to the list of species observed in the park. These observations, resulting from the careful monitoring of biodiversity, emphasize the value of the Vacaresti Natural Park Natural Park as a refuge for numerous species and during migration periods, highlighting the diversity of habitats in this unique space," informs the Vacaresti Natural Park Administration on Wednesday on Facebook.
The great black-backed gull (Larus marinus) was observed on January 13 on the central lake. It is the largest species of gull in Europe. Native to the coastal regions of western Europe, it occasionally makes its way inland in winter.
The rock bunting (Emberiza cia), discovered on January 8, is a species that usually prefers rocky and mountainous areas. Although not a classically migratory species, in the cold season it can migrate locally or even over longer distances. Its presence in Bucharest is an absolute premiere, say representatives of the administration.
The Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) was identified on January 3 for the first time in the Natural Park. This is the second documented sighting in Bucharest, after the first in 2012. With an unmistakable crest and an elegant plumage, this rare species adds a special charm to the winter landscape of the park, the cited source mentions.
The presence of the bird was also announced by the Romanian Ornithological Society (SOR) - Bucharest branch.
"It was January 3, around noon, when Alex Birau sounded the alarm of a Bohemian waxwing in Bucharest. A species that all bird experts dream of. A winter guest, the Bohemian waxwing visited us last winter too, but it stayed stubbornly far away from Bucharest. Now it has taken us by surprise and, by its appearance in the Vacaresti Natural Park, it has given us an unexpected gift at the very beginning of the year," SOR Bucharest wrote on Facebook on January 9.
According to SOR, the species nests on the Scandinavian peninsula, Siberia, Canada, Alaska. In winter they descend to lower latitudes, and in years with massive movements southwards they can reach sub-Mediterranean areas. In Romania, the species comes in large numbers periodically, once every few years, when large flocks can be seen, especially in the north or northeast of the country. The last such "eruption" was in the winter of 2023-2024, and the previous one in the winter of 2012-2013. Apart from periods of high numbers, the species can only be observed in cold periods sporadically, in small numbers.