Record numbers of water birds at Pomorie Lake

During the past week regular monitoring of the birds at Pomorie Lake was made. We were happy to see a record high number of waterfowl that feed and rest at the lagoon. More than 32 000 were counted with more than 28 000 being waterfowl species. Most numerous were Coots (Fulica atra) – more than 21 000, but high numbers were registered also by other species like Teal (Anas crecca) – more than 1500 (record number for the site), Mute swan (Cygnus olor) – more than 800, Pochard (Aythya ferina) – more than 2000, Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) and Pygmy cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus). Some rare species have been observed like Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) and globally threatened Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca). Migration of Buzzards (Buteo buteo), Wood pigeons (Columba palumbus) and Black storks (Ciconia nigra) was also recorded. The wetland is still hosting about 50 of the lagoon’s flagship species Sandwich tern (Sterna sandvicensis) that obviously are not in a hurry to start the long migration flight to their wintering grounds in Mediterranean sea and Africa.
Together with the bird monitoring measurement of the water salinity was made in selected points that showed general decrease and change of the lagoon from hypersaline to brackish. Main reason for that is the modified hydrological regime and flow of fresh water from Kamenarska River (Adata) that have been diverted by a drainage canal around the lagoon in the past but since some land plots at the inlet point were buried the freshwater flows into the lagoon freely for more than a year now. The lower salinity probably is creating favourable conditions for the development of the aquatic plant Widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima) observed in most of the lagoon’s pools that is used for food by the waterfowl species.