The second national BirdID training in Bulgaria starts today: day 1

The second national BirdID training starts today. It is organised by the Bulgarian society for the protection of birds and the Nord-Trondelag University College HiNT. The training is a part of the project for common bird monitoring and aims at preparing new participants in the monitoring scheme.

The second national training will be implemented in Rila mountains and will focus on mountainous birds. Before heading up to the mountains a small group of us decided to do some photography down in the lowlands. Birds weren't very active so we focused on butterflies and orchids. We did see a few Whinchats, Hoopoe, a pair of Lesser spotted Eagle and some Common Buzzards but the weren't very tame so we couldn't take many pictures.

It was getting warm and soon we decided to head up to the mountains. Not before we had lunch in a small restaurant in a village called Govedartsi. It was fairly difficult to find a place in the middle of the week but we managed anyway.

On the way up to the mountains we walked along a nice little road in a pine forest where we saw some Crested Tit, Nutcrackers and Crossbills. Butterflies weren't very abundant but some presented good opportunities.

Crossbill, copyright Iordan Hristov

Balkan Copper Lycaena candens, copyright Iordan Hristov

It was time to head up to the mountains. We packed our stuff and got ready for an hour and a half trek up a mountain trail. The heavy backpacks didn't let us do a lot of birding. Nevertheless we got a very distant Golden Eagle, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, more Nutcrackers and Crossbills and Bullfinches.

distant Golden Eagle

Soon we arrived in the mountain chalet at 1960 m above the sea level right on the edge of the tree line. Here we were going to be based for the nest three nights. After a refreshing drink we grabbed the cameras and binoculars and dashed around. Right in front of the chalet we saw a Ring Ouzel, Dunnock, which here is primarily a mountainous bird, Crossbills, Nutcrackers and Black Redstarts.

Dunnock is primarily a mountainous bird breeding in the dwarf pine, copyright Iordan Hristov

The sunset light nicely lit the surrounding summits...

view from the Chalet

Birdwatching and photography trip around Bulgaria and Greece: 24.05-2.06, day 5

It was mainly a travelling day. From the wetlands we were moving to the high mountains. Our main target bird there would be the Wallcreeper. A well wanted bird.

We started at about 7,30 and in hour we stopped to try again for the Orphean Warbler at well known site with good experience from a couple of weeks ago. We stayed in the area for an hour or so but the birds were not there. We had a Marsh Warbler, the first for the trip Sand Martins, quite a few Black-headed Buntings, more Olivaceous Warblers, and plenty of Corn Buntings. 

 

After a nice ice cream we headed to our next stop. There we got our first Olive-tree Warbler which was a well wanted bird. It didn’t come close for a descent photo but at least we saw it. Then we headed to a place right next to a vast vineyard where we wanted to see Greater Short-toed Lark. Yes we did. Two birds were siting right by the road. Along the road we ticked another Short-toed Eagle, Bee-eaters and a few Crested Larks. It was time to hit the road.

documentary shot of distant Olive tree Warbler

In an hour or so we stopped for another coffee and ice cream to ‘recharge our batteries’ and off we headed again to a gorgeous mountainous place. We wanted to try for a Pygmy Owl. We knew we don’t have great chances because of the wrong time of year. Moreover, it was the wrong time of the day – it was about 15.00 but we still wanted to try. While waiting we had lunch at a fabulous place in the middle of a lush meadow with lots of flowers and butterflies. 

lunch break

Unfortunately there was no owl but we did see and took a few photos of a Crested Tit. Crossbills and Marsh Tits also turned up. Along the way we saw a Ring Ouzel that was feeding its three chicks. We blocked the road for a while but you can’t help it with keen birders and photographers ;)

juv. Ring Ouzel copyright Iordan Hristov

Crested Tit copyright Iordan Hristov

We left the area with the hope for another try for the Pygmy Owl. Next days were going to be in the right habitat so we shall keep trying.

Just before we arrive in our next hotel we stopped for a couple of minutes to enjoy the breeding Dippers and Grey Wagtails. The birds were fairly distant to photograph but still managed to take some photos.

Dipper photography Bulgaria copyright Iordan_Hristov

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea photography Bulgaria Iordan Hristov

We arrived in a nice guest house sitting on the top of a hill with a lovely view. After cleaning the van I enjoyed a lovely drink at the balcony of our guest house with a few Black Redstarts, Serins and Red-rumped Swallows. I think we can call it a day.

It seems that tomorrow will be an exciting day. We shall be sitting in a hide and wait for a Brown Bear. See what happens...