The weather this morning was cloudy with a NW breeze that made the +2C temperature seem colder. The morning dog walk produced a flyby White Wagtail the first of the season up in our neighborhood. In retrospect, that was an omen. As the temperatures moderated when the sun burned through before noon, the flat and narrow flood plain on the Željeznica opposite the Obi Center in Ilidža produced a mixed flock of about 75 White Wagtails (Motacilla alba), 100+ Starlings (Sternus vulgaris), 15 or so Sky Larks (Alauda arvensis), 10 Meadow Pipits (Anthus pratensis) and at least 3 Water Pipits (Anthus spinoletta). On the water, there was a beautiful drake Shoveler (Anas clypeata), a first for me in Bosnia. In addition, 90 Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and the usual assortment of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were also present. The Gulls and the Meadow Pipits were a Canton first this season.
Sitting in a snow-covered field near Vrelo Bosne, a flock of 11 Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) were also a Bosnia first for me.
Not a bad start to the migration season with two personal firsts for Bosnia and two seasonal firsts in Sarajevo.
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