Chasing Wings Over the Black Sea: My 21-Day Raptor Watch & Birding Journey in Batumi, Georgia (Sept 2025)

Part I - Raptor

There are trips you plan… and then there are trips that change you.
My journey to Batumi, Georgia in September 2025 — right in the heart of the world-famous raptor migration — was one of those rare experiences that felt both unforgettable and humbling. Not only did I witness one of the planet’s greatest bird migrations, but I also discovered hidden forests, peaceful wetlands, and the quiet beauty of Georgia’s

Day 1 — From Kuala Lumpur to the Land of Migration

The adventure began night in Kuala Lumpur. After a long flight (12 hours) to Istanbul and a 1.5 hours’ wait, we boarded our final leg to Batumi — a small coastal city with a huge reputation in the raptor migration world.
When we finally stepped out of Batumi Airport, the cool breeze carried a mix of sea air freshness. We hopped into a taxi headed to our accommodation, and immediately faced our first challenge: communicating with the driver. English was not common here, but with a lot of “body lauguage” and Google Translate, the driver manages to bring us to the destination
The 30-minute ride turned out to be our unexpected warm-up. Even through the taxi window, we spotted 100++ of raptor gliding on top of the blue sky, It felt like nature was welcoming us even before we unpacked our bags.
The rest of the day was free and easy. We didn’t do any serious birding yet—just a gentle walk around the neighbourhood, scouting the surroundings and settling into our accommodation. After the long journey, a good rest on the first day was exactly what we needed. Tomorrow, the real adventure would begin.

Day 2–10 — Into the Heart of the Migration

Every morning began at 8 AM. The air was cool, the village still waking up, and the path leading upward toward the Sakhalvasho ridge was filled with anticipation. It took us about 25 minutes walked to reach the Sakhalvasho Observation Platform, our main base for the next several days.
But every single day, without fail, the moment we stepped onto the platform, something magical happened:
The sky was already moving.
Raptors were rising from the blue horizon, drifting in long streams across the valley. The migration waits for no one — not even late sleepers.
The platform was full of energy. Volunteers from the Batumi Raptor Count were already busy tracking numbers, calling out species, and logging data. Their dedication was inspiring. While they counted, we photographed — raptors spiraling, gliding, hovering, and soaring. Every bird felt like a small miracle.
Our first species of the day was often the European Honey-buzzards, followed by wave after wave of Black Kite. Then came the more dramatic shapes:
Booted Eagles, Steppe Buzzards, harriers, and occasionally something bigger or rarer that made everyone lift their binoculars at once.
Time moved differently up there. Hours passed without us noticing — except when our stomachs reminded us to eat.

The Raptors That Filled Our Days

Across the 10 days, we recorded more than 20 species of migrating raptors, plus several beautiful migration species. Each one added its own spark of joy to the trip.
Some of our most unforgettable sightings included:

• European Honey-buzzard — the true start of Batumi’s migration






• Black Kite — flight like a kite


• Eurasian Hobby — slicing through the air like an arrow.


• Eurasian Osprey — gliding with powerful, confident wings.


• Lesser Spotted Eagle — majestic and commanding.


• Levant Sparrowhawk — small but incredibly swift.




• Montagu’s & Pallid Harriers — graceful beyond words.




• Short-toed Snake Eagle — soaring with purpose.


• Steppe Buzzard — filling the sky in huge numbers.


• Western Marsh Harrier — drifting low over the valley.




• Booted Eagle — Soaring on confident wings.


• European Roller, Bee-eaters, Black Storks, White Storks — splashes of colour and movement that brightened even the quiet moments.








Some days, the sky felt like a theatre — the raptors performing just for us. Other days, the migration slowed down and we simply enjoyed the mountains, the wind, and the soft sounds of nature. But every day had at least one or two moment that made the whole trip worth it.
A group of raptor gliding from the sky.







A raptor gliding just above our heads, it so close.

What This Journey Meant

Watching the raptor migration in Batumi was more than just birding. It was emotional — deeply, unexpectedly emotional when saw hundred thousand of raptor in one day, Standing under that sky made me feel connected to something bigger, something timeless. It reminded me why we travel and Why we watch birds.
Batumi wasn’t just a destination — it was a reminder of how beautiful, fragile, and astonishing the natural world truly is.

End of Part I

By Nelson Khor ( nelson.khor@gmail.com )