Contribution to the knowledge of the autumn migration of shorebirds Charadriiformes in the Vransko Lake Nature Park

Sa？etak The Vransko Lake Nature Park is an internationally important area for waterbirds. Its avifauna has been well studied, with a total of 261 species recorded. In times of low water level, it provides good feeding and resting habitats for a number of shorebirds (36 species recorded up to date). The dry summer of 2017, with an extremely low water level, resulted in extensive muddy and rocky shores appearing in north-western part of the lake, in the area of Special ornithological reserve. In the period between 14 and 19 August 2017, regular counts of shorebirds were carried out on a stretch of about 1 km of muddy lakeshore. This resulted in the observation of 21 species, with daily maximum numbers ranging from 31 to 53 individuals of shorebirds. The most common species were Sandpipers Tringa spp. and Calidris spp., Plovers Charadrius spp. and the Lapwing Vanellus vanellus. Some of the more rare or irregular passage migrants were observed too: 1 Broad-billed Sandpiper Calidris falcinellus, 3 Ruddy Turnstones Arenaria interpres, 2 Kentish Plovers Charadrius alexandrinus and 1 Temminck′s Stint Calidris temminckii. In late August, other observers saw another irregular species – a juvenile Red Knot Calidris canutus. Although the total number of observed individuals of shorebirds is relatively low, the area is undoubtedly an important stopover site for a large number of species during their migration from northern Europe and Siberia towards Africa