We studied various aspects regarding migration behavior of the Common Buzzard for two subspecies (B. b. buteo and B. b. vulpinus) transiting the region which overlaps with the Western Black Sea Corridor. Using vantage points set across Dobruja we managed to count 2,662 individuals. We highlighted the seasonal and diurnal peak passage, flight directions and height of flight for each season. Our results suggest that 57% of the counted individuals belongs to long-distance migrant Steppe Buzzard - B. b. vulpinus. The peek passage period in autumn migration was reached between the 26^th of September to the 6^th of October, while for the spring migration peek passage remained uncertain. The main autumn passage direction was from N to S, and NNW to SSE but also from NE to SW. For spring passage the main direction was from S to N but also from ESE to WNW. Flight height during autumn migration was mostly at high altitude while in spring migration was more evenly distributed. The most significant activity was recorded in the second time period, between 10:01 and 13:00 (43%).

Two new species of feather mites are described from the Rusty-capped Fulvetta Schoeniparus dubius (Hume) (Passeriformes: Pellorneidae) in India (Meghalaya): Proterothrix manolelii Constantinescu sp. n. (Proctophyllodidae: Pterodectinae) and Trouessartia asiatica Constantinescu sp. n. (Trouessartiidae). Proterothrix manolelii belongs to the paradoxornis complex (wolffi species group) in having, in males, seta e of tarsus I lanceolate and the aedeagus long and whip-shaped. Among the other six species of the paradoxornis complex, this species appears to be closest to P. alcippeae Mironov, Literak, Hung & Capek, 2012 from the Rufous-throated Fulvetta, Schoeniparus rufogularis (Mandelli) (Passeriformes: Pellorneidae). Males of Proterothrix manolelii are distinguished from the latter in having the pentagonal structure formed by epimerites of propodosoma completely closed, the opisthosomal lobes almost three times longer than wide at base, and setae mGI and mGII lanceolate. Females of P. manolelii have the sternum about 1/3 of the total length of epimerites I, and the primary spermaduct is thickened only in distal 1/3. Trouessartia asiatica is the first species of the genus described from a bird host in the family Pellorneidae. Males of T. asiatica are clearly differentiated from related species described from birds in the family Leiotrichidae (T. cyanouropterae Constantinescu, 2016, T. alcippeae Constantinescu, 2016, and T. pauciseta Constantinescu, Chișamera, Motoc, Gustafsson, Zou, Chu and Adam, 2021), in the position and shape of the genital setae g, which are enlarged in basal 2/3^rd and located far distantly from the base of genital apparatus, posterior to bases of setae 4a. Females of this species are clearly distinguished in the shape of the primary spermaduct, which is thickened along its entire length.

The Romanian hamster Mesocricetus newtoni is endemic to South-Eastern Romania (Dobruja region) and North-Eastern Bulgaria, and prefers steppic, arid, uncultivated habitats, but is also found in alfalfa fields, less often in corn cultures and field-protecting vegetation belts. Previous studies provide only limited data regarding the diet of this cryptic species. The diet of one family group (one female and four pups) was monitored for 10 days, during the vernal season. The data was collected using camera traps and direct observations, supplemented by photos. Plants were identified at the species level. A vegetation survey was performed in a radius of 25 m2 around the burrows using the pratological method, estimating a percentage of each plant species present in the habitat. A number of 16 plants were identified as part of the diet of the Romanian hamster, mostly herbaceous species within the Brassicaceae family. According to the observations, Erodium cicutarium (Geraniaceae) and Papaver rhoeas (Papaveraceae) were consumed most frequently, followed by Descurainia sophia (Brassicaceae), Sisymbrium orientale (Brassicaceae), Medicago minima (Fabaceae) and Buglossoides arvense (Boraginaceae). In the studied area, 38 plant taxa were determined and characterized as ruderal and segetal (weeds of arable land) plants, mostly native to Eurasia. The purpose of this study is to provide novel data on the diet composition of the Romanian hamster in accordance with plant taxa availability and to emphasize the importance of conservation measures of its preferred habitats, which are crucial to the survival of the species.

The paper describes two new species of feather mites collected from some flycatchers (Passeriformes: Muscicapidae) in Meghalaya, India: Trouessartia thalassina sp. n. (Trouessartiidae) from the Verditer Flycatcher, Eumyias thalassinus (Swainson), and Proterothrix sibillae sp. n. (Proctophyllodidae: Pterodectinae) from the Small Niltava, Niltava macgrigoriae (Burton). The new species T. thalassina sp. n. is most similar to T. cyanoptilae Mironov, 2023 in having, in both sexes, setae d1 absent and lateral margins of the hysteronotal shield shallowly concave. In males of the new species the terminal lamellae are semi-ovate (vs. the terminal lamellae roughly rectangular with posterior margin obliquely cut in T. cyanoptilae). In females of the new species the setae h1 are lanceolate and are situated in non-sclerotized lacunae with uneven margins (vs. the setae h1 are thin spiculiform and are situated in non-sclerotized lacunae with round margins in T. cyanoptilae). Proterothrix sibillae sp. n. belongs to the wolffi species group, and is most similar to P. cyornissimilis Constantinescu, 2017. The new species is larger than P. cyornissimilis, and in the males, the prodorsal shield has small circular lacunae, the rudimentary sclerites rEpIIa are present, the genital papillae are situated distinctly anterior to the genital arch and the aedeagus is 92–104 long (vs. the prodorsal shield is without ornamentation, the genital papillae are situated at midlevel of genital arch, the rudimentary sclerites rEpIIa are present, and the aedeagus is 72–76 long in P. cyornissimilis). In females of the new species, the prodorsal shield has acute antero-lateral extension (vs. the prodorsal shield has antero-lateral extensions with ledge, in P. cyornissimilis).

All four species of dormice present in Romania are listed as Vulnerable in the Romanian Red Book of Vertebrates and are protected by national laws. Even though they are important bioindicators of the condition of forest habitats, little is known about their distribution. We reviewed the distribution data for the Romanian dormice species: the Garden Dormouse (Eliomys quercinus), Hazel Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius), Edible Dormouse (Glis glis), and Forest Dormouse (Dryomys nitedula). Our sources include published scientific literature, online databases (such as GBIF, Observation.org and iNaturalist), museum collections, verified citizen’s data as well as original data. A database was organized in GeoPackage format in QGIS 3.16.0. Historical locations from old scientific papers were georeferenced and included in the database with all metadata found. Recent and original data locations were recorded using geographical coordinates. Our aim was to produce up to date distribution maps for the dormice species occuring in Romania that can be further used in potential habitat modelling for the study and protection of these species and their habitat. We found the most abundant observation were of Muscardinus avellanarius and the least recorded species was Eliomys quercinus, without any recent data.