Eastern Rhodope mountains - Madzarovo

This weekend we wanted to visit some friends and do some birding in the Eastern Rhodope mountains in a small town called Madzarovo. We started from Sofia late on Friday afternoon but arrived just on time in a small village just outside Plovdiv. We were supposed to meet dear friends and their children. This tripi wasn't meant to be a birdwatching trip but a leisurely travel. Perhaps that is why i realised I had forgotten my bins. Can't believe it.

The dinner at our friends' place was lovely in a small house in the countryside. On the next morning we started our way to the Eastern Rhodope mountains. Beautiful weather in a gorgeous location. Volcanic rocks in a crater of a ceased volcano. 

Birding was generally rather quiet because of the late season but there was still a good diversity of birds. I just realised we managed to log nearly 50 bird species without even having a binocular. A Little Owl welcomed us at the beginning of the town. Without making much efforts we ticked the first Griffon Vultures resident here. We got a drink each and went to a place to enjoy looking at a young Griffon Vulture which was making its first efforts to take off from the nest for a first time. A Black Stork flight over the forest and Middle spotted Woodpecker call echoed in it while we were putting up our tents. Hawfinches, Golden Orioles and Red-backed Shrikes were all over the place. A Black-eared Wheatear and a Rock Nuthatch were dashing around the cliffts. A Booted Eagle circled low over some meadows and Golden Orioles were actively calling here and there. Young Hoopoes were also actively flying like trying to make their wings work. A nice evening light conditions with a cool beer made the experience even greater. 

The evening walk in the city park was not less exciting. Scops and Little Owl were actively calling. Young Little Owls were making some funny calls similar to the call of the Barn Owl. It was quite an experience.

Yes, it was quiet. Imagine what the spring is like.

beer time made us switch from watching Griffons to watching the Moon and the first bats

Bird checklist:

1. Grey Heron

2. White Stork

3. Black Stork

4. Griffon Vulture

5. Egyptian Vulture

6. Short toed Eagle

7. Booted Eagle - pale

8. Common Buzzard

9. Sparrowhawk

10. Common Kestrel

11. Wood Pigeon

12. Collared Dove

13. Turtle Dove

14. Little Owl

15. Scops Owl

16. Common Swift

17. Alpine Swift

18. Hoopoe

19. Bee-eater

20. European Roller

21. Green Woodpecker

22. Middle spotted Woodpecker

23. Barn Swallow

24. Red-rumped Swallow

25. House Martin

26. Crag Martin

27. White Wagtail

28. Yellow Wagtail

29. Robin

30. Black-eared Wheatear

31. Blackbird

32. Long-tailed Tit

33. Rock Nuthatch

34. Short-toed Treecreeper

35. Red-backed Shrike

36. Jay

37. Hooded Crow

38. Raven

39. Golden Oriole

40. House Sparrow

41. Spanish Sparrow

42. Goldfinch

43. Greenfinch

44. Chiffchaf

45. Hawfinch

46. Cirl Bunting