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Birding in Ukraine

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Discover Ukraine! Ukraine is home to over 420 bird species, from common residents to rare and endangered ones.

The country’s unique mix of natural zones — from the dense Carpathian forests to the endless steppes and the wetland ecosystems along the Black Sea coast — offers ideal habitats for a varieties of birds. This makes it a dream location for bird identification and observation.

28/10/2026

A MASSIVE FLOCK OF FLAMINGOS AT TUZLY: OVER 250 BIRDS IN THE PROTECTED ZONE
The autumn migration of wartime 2026 at the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park continues to reveal true wonders of the natural world. Recently, on our blog, we documented the arrival of the first young Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) guided by two adult birds (read the article about the first young flamingos - https://www.birdinginukraine.com/blog/young-pink-flamingos-arrive-ukraine-tuzly-lagoons).

However, during a recent 20-kilometer field patrol along the sandy spit—conducted alongside vital oral vaccination efforts for wild carnivores—park scientists made a breathtaking observation.

Flock Expansion: More Than 250 Flamingos
The initial group of juveniles has now been joined by a substantial flock of adults. According to the latest field counts, over 250 flamingos are currently resting and feeding within the park!

They have gathered deep inside the strictly protected reserve zone, where the lagoon shallows provide an abundance of brine shrimp and small invertebrates that give their plumage its iconic rosy hue.

A Beacon of Beauty Amidst War
Even within these protected core areas, the birds remain vulnerable to the harsh impacts of war. They react with visible distress whenever low-flying "Shahed" drones pass overhead or when heavy detonations shake the coastal environment.

Nevertheless, the gathering of such a magnificent flock highlights the critical international importance of the Tuzly Lagoons wetlands for global biodiversity. Nature continues its unyielding stand, and the pink wings of hope endure over free Ukrainian shores!

24/10/2026

THE TUNDRA SANDERLING: A NORTHERN TRAVELER ON THE BLACK SEA COAST
Link to the website - Birding in Ukraine (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/)

Moving along the Black Sea coast and continuously documenting the severe impacts of the war on the environment, researchers at the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park keep watching the unbroken rhythms of nature.

Directly ahead, keeping a cautious distance of 40–50 meters, small fluttering flocks of Sanderlings (Calidris alba) weave along the shore. This small wader belonging to the sandpiper family is one of the northernmost breeding birds on the planet, with nesting sites discovered in the high Arctic tundra just 960 kilometers from the North Pole.

Master of the Surf Zone
The species is best studied outside its breeding season, when it ranges across coastal beaches and islands worldwide. Their foraging method is unique and highly dynamic: flocks of Sanderlings—sometimes joining Dunlins and Little Stints—run rapidly along the sandy beach right at the water's edge, darting back and forth with the retreating waves to sn**ch up prey flushed out by the surf, such as small crustaceans, mollusks, and marine worms.

In the Tuzly Lagoons NNP, the Sanderling is primarily a passage migrant, though occasionally small numbers will remain to winter along the protected beaches.

Even amidst the heavy toll of war in autumn 2026, these Arctic travelers press forward along their global flyway, reminding us of nature's extraordinary resilience.

20/10/2026

THE BLACK-TAILED GODWIT: A NOBLE NORTHERN TRAVELER AT TUZLY LAGOONS
Link to the website - Birding in Ukraine (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/)

Autumn migration in the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park continues to grant naturalists encounters with remarkable species. Among them, the Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)—one of the most elegant and large representatives of the sandpiper family—holds a special place.

From Northern Marshes to Distant Wintering Grounds
This graceful wader, featuring long slender legs and a long, straight bill, breeds far away from our lagoons in the extensive marshlands and wet meadows of Northern and Central Europe. However, with the onset of autumn, godwits set off on an arduous journey south toward Western Europe, the Mediterranean basin, and equatorial Africa.

A Vital Transit Stopover
Along this extensive flyway, the wetlands of Tuzly Lagoons NNP act as a critically important stopover. Here, across the protected shallows and damp mudflats, the birds find the safe haven required to rest and replenish their vital energy reserves before undertaking the next leg of their journey.

Despite all the challenges of autumn 2026 and the echoes of war, our protected territories continue to faithfully serve their global role in supporting international migratory routes.

16/10/2026

FIRST GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE AND PINTAILS: NORTHERN TRAVELERS ARRIVE AT TUZLY
Link to the website - Birding in Ukraine (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/)

Mid-autumn of the wartime year 2026 has arrived. Despite an extraordinarily dangerous and exhausting flight path running alongside active combat zones and amidst constant detonations, wild nature forces its way forward. Covering several thousand kilometers from the harsh tundra, the first messengers of late autumn—Greater White-Fronted Geese (Anser albifrons)—have arrived at the protected waters of the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park.

A Long Journey Through the Flames of War
Alongside the geese, another elegant inhabitant of northern latitudes has appeared on the lagoons—the Northern Pintail (Anas acuta). For these birds, our wetlands represent a traditional, critically important site for wintering and extended stopovers.

Migrating from the tundra across turbulent, battle-torn regions demands a immense toll on the birds' energy reserves. That they have reached our protected lagoons despite every wartime threat is a true marvel of the natural world.

A Safe Refuge for the Winter
Currently, these northern visitors are settling across the deeper lagoon stretches, restoring their strength, and foraging as they prepare for the winter cold ahead. We continue to safeguard their peace in the national park so they can safely spend the winter on Ukrainian soil.

The arrival of these northern species in mid-October proves once more that life pushes relentlessly forward, and Ukraine's wild nature remains as unyielding as our people.

15/10/2026

AUTUMN MIGRATION PEAK AT TUZLY: MASS ARRIVAL OF DUNLINS
Link to the website - Birding in Ukraine (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/)

Now in the mid-autumn of wartime 2026, the pulse of life in the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park has noticeably quickened. Against the backdrop of shifting weather patterns, cooler temperatures, and autumn winds, bird migration across Southern Ukraine has entered a significantly more active and intense phase.

Dunlins: The Masters of the Autumn Shallows
A true pilgrimage of waders is currently taking place across the protected lagoons. Dominating this diverse gathering of traveling species are the Dunlins (Calidris alpina). These small yet extraordinarily resilient and agile waders form dense, highly synchronized flocks that sweep over the open waters and gather along the damp, muddy shores.

The Dunlins actively forage in the intertidal and shallow zones, building up essential fat reserves before their next major push southward. For them, the Tuzly lagoons serve as a vital refueling and resting hub along the Black Sea migratory corridor.

Despite all the challenges of wartime and our anxious present, the park's protected ecosystems continue to fulfill their primary natural mission—offering safe haven to millions of avian lives. Nature marches on, reminding us of the unyielding strength and eternal cycle of life.

03/10/2026

MYSTERIOUS REED RESIDENTS: THE COMMON SNIPE IN THE MARSHY CORNERS OF TUZLY
Link to the website - Birding in Ukraine (https://www.birdinginukraine.com/)

The Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park features many pristine natural areas with dense reeds and damp, marshy soil. While these wetlands attract various travelers, they are a favorite habitat for the Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago).

Masters of Camouflage in a Mosaic of Vegetation
Thanks to their intricate cryptic plumage, snipes remain virtually invisible within the complex mosaic of shoreline vegetation and reeds. When these wild, marshy spots offer an abundance of delicious food—such as larvae, worms, and small invertebrates that they expertly probe for with their long, sensitive bills—the birds will happily stay in one area for a long time, feeding undisturbed.

The Unbroken Rhythm of Autumn Migration
Autumn migration continues across the national park day by day. Even when the active noises of the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine disturb the reserve's peace, the birds carry on with their natural mission. They focus on foraging, building up their strength, and preparing for the next leg of their journey.

The wild nature of Tuzly teaches us endurance and resilience: despite all current storms, life in every reedbed persists, moving us closer to a peaceful future.

29/09/2026

THE LIVING BRIDGE BETWEEN SEA AND LAGOONS: HYDROBIONT MIGRATION AND FEATHERED FISHERMEN AT TUZLY
Link to the website - Birding in Ukraine https://www.birdinginukraine.com/

The autumn of the wartime year 2026 in the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park maintains its unique, intense, and majestic rhythm. At the strait—the natural connection between the Black Sea and the lagoons—a true marvel of nature is unfolding: the active migration of hydrobionts continues. Small fish and other aquatic organisms are moving en masse between the marine waters and the lagoons in search of favorable conditions.

Where There Is Fish, There Are Birds
By the laws of the wild, a rich movement of fish instantly attracts the primary connoisseurs of easy and nutritious prey—feathered fishermen. Along the channels, a true spectacle is currently taking place. The video vividly captures majestic Great White Egrets (Egretta alba) and noisy Black-headed Gulls.

The egrets stand motionless and with filigree patience in the shallows, waiting for the right moment for a lightning-fast strike. Meanwhile, the gulls bustle around, diving and sn**ching prey right from the water's surface. For all of them, this autumn fish migration is a vital stage before their long journey southward.

Despite the sounds of war that periodically echo around us, the natural chain of life at Tuzly remains unbroken. The water flows, fish migrate, and the birds continue their age-old dance of survival.

Address

Odessa

Opening Hours

Monday	10:00 - 18:00
Tuesday	10:00 - 18:00
Wednesday	10:00 - 18:00
Thursday	10:00 - 18:00
Friday	10:00 - 18:00
Saturday	10:00 - 18:00
Sunday	10:00 - 18:00

Website

https://www.birdinginukraine.com/

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