BirdID trip in Bulgaria 2014: day 7, April 30th

We woke up in pouring rain. It was pretty dark and cloudy out there. Luckily, we didn’t have any particular aims for the morning. We had breakfast and off we started our trip to the North. Shortly after that we stopped at some salt pans where Sandwich Terns breed. We added Common Ringed Plover and Greenshank to the species list. Luckily we had a shelter so pretty cozy regardless of the rain.

After a few more additions to the list we continued our journey across a mountain pass to the North of Bourgas. The rain hadn’t stopped so we couldn’t see more but once we descended from the mountains we were back to an oak woodland. Participants in the group wanted to see some more Semi-collared Flycatchers and so we did. Males were singing at several sites. A nice surprise was a Wryneck which called in the forest. It is most probably a migrating bird but still nice to see.

Lunch was in a small family run restaurant not far from this Semi-collared Flycatcher place. We had chicken stew with boiled potatoes. After a refreshing coffee we opened our eyes and the results followed. Just as we were talking about Steppe Buzzard, a migrating bird came and showed its diagnostic tale to all the participants. The bird was fairly dark resembling an ordinary Common Buzzard but the tail was definitely different. Then at least a dozen Honey Buzzard and over 50 White Pelicans came together with two Black Storks and a Sparrowhawk. This was only within 15 minutes. Not too bad, is it.

We continued our trip to the next place where we wanted to see an Eagle Owl. Upon arrival, before we got off the van people already saw the bird in its niche. They proved to be two birds. This is a pretty good addition to the list. That’s especially true for my Bulgarian friends who have been trying to see it for quite some time.

The next target was Stone Curlew. We changed the habitat drastically and already were in the pseudo steppe. There was the Stone Curlew. Two birds came around to see us. Ticked! Off we go.

On the way to our hotel 5 Grey Partridges stayed out in the open fields only about 30 m from the road posing for some shots. While struggling to see them on the first day, here they are showing off nicely. A Roller, Red-footed Falcon and a pale Booted Eagle were the other highlights along the road.

Once we arrived at the hotel, everyone was inpatient to go out. The area of the hotel is superb with its pseudo steppe habitat with birds like Calandra Larks and Tawny Pipits. For an hour walk we managed to see Pied Wheatear (a highlight for most people in the group), male and female Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-footed Falcon, Spotted Flycatcher, Woodchat Shrike, Black-throated Diver to name but a few. We ended up with 112 species for the day and 213 for the trip so far.

Tomorrow morning before breakfast we expect to see more of them and hope for some Yelkouan Shearwaters. 

Looking forward to tomorrow!

BirdID trip in Bulgaria 2014: day 2, April 25th

This was a rather exciting day. We started off with rain, Wallcreeper views, rain, travel, travel, travel and, 40 species of birds for an hour J Absolutely superb end of the day with a calling Scops Owl as I am writing this.

We started off in Teshel. A small village in Western Rhodope mountains where we spent the night in a cozy family run hotel. Before breakfast the keen participants on the trip went out for an hour and ticked Grey Wagtail, Serin, Black Redstart, Marsh Tit to name but a few. The rain quickly sent us back to the hotel for breakfast. After that we headed to the most famous place in Europe to see the lovely Wallcreeper. The weather was pretty miserable with rain so we didn’t really hope for much.

Upon arrival we heard the thrilling call of the Peregrine Falcon. A pair was sitting nicely on the top of a cliff announcing its territory. We sat for a bit and scan the cliffs for a while when someone shouted “I have got it”. The most wanted bird of the trip has turned up. It was about 100 m from us nicely moving up the cliffs. Its butterfly like flight showed its lovely red colour on the wings. What a view. Everyone in the group was really happy seeing this bird. After a couple of minutes we carried on to the next place where we were hoping to see Pallid Swifts, but it wasn’t the right time. It was pretty damp and insects were not flying so no reason for the Swifts to be out.

Soon we headed eastwards to our final destination for the day – Krumovgrad. We had a few kilometers to go. Shortly after departure we stopped again. It was pouring rain but when I opened the door a Ring Ouzel called so I thought this would be a good sign. I asked who the keenest people were and everyone went out under the rain. Well we managed to find a shelter pretty soon and birds were really active. Soon we started ticking them off.

Ring Ouzel was sitting nicely on the top of a Spruce tree. A few were calmly feeding on the floor as nothing was happing. Goldcrest, Whinchat and Black Redstart were also around. In a couple of minutes two superb Firecrests made everyone happy. It was new to most of the people so bits of excitement took over. Shortly after that we headed to our lunch place. I would think we exhausted quite a bit from the rainy weather.

We had lunch in a nice local restaurant where we tried a traditional dish called “patatnik”. It is basically of graded potatoes, fried in a pan like a pancake. The long way to the east was really slow. More rain, fog and slow winding roads. Just in the middle of nowhere I spotted ‘tern’ like bird. Hm rather strange looking bird. Pratincole! I shouted and everyone got off the van really quickly. A bird was flying about and some people even managed to get a few decent shots of it.  Well it was high time for some birding. In a while we stopped at a gas station and we ticked Pygmy Cormorant and Little Egret. It wasn’t long before we were in the paradise!

Chukar, Red-footed Falcon, Eastern Black eared Wheatear, Black Stork, Roller, Hobby, Lesser Grey Shrike to name but a few. It was really exciting. At certain point people had Red-footed falcon and a Roller in the picture at the very same time. Yeee, this is Bulgaria J I really loved it myself.

Black Stork, copyright Iordan Hristov

Red-footed Falcon, copyright Iordan Hristov

It was already after 7 p.m. so we had to go for dinner. Once in the restaurant, people started ordering drinks which was a pretty good sign that the day was a great success. Someone counted about 100 species for the trip from its start. Not too bad having in mind it’s been mostly travelling.

Looking forward to tomorrow.

Stay tuned for more bird ID news