The first fieldwork period of the Wintering Birds of Prey Monitoring Programme was between 1.-10. December. A total of 33 persons has participated in the programme, covering 25 sections. 613 raptor individuals has been observed belonging to 10 species. The Common Buzzard was the most frequently observed species (525 individuals), followed by the Sparrowhawk and the Kestrel. It is worth emphasizing the low number of Rough- legged Buzzards and Merlins observed, both species has been recorded only once. The most fieldwork has been carried out in Transylvania (18 sections), followed by Moldova (4 sections), Banat (2 sections) and Dobrogea (1 section). In Transylvania and Banat generally many raptors have been observed, mostly Common Buzzards. In the Danube Delta (Dobrogea) the Marsh Harrier was the most frequent bird of prey. In Moldova surprisingly low numbers of raptors have been observed, only 15 individuals on 38 kilometres covered. The second phase of the programme will be between 9.-18. Fevruary. Those willing to participate, but did not take part in the programme in December, should write to István Kovács by 31 st January to the following address: istvan.kovacs@milvus.ro.