Friday 2nd February 2024: Bulgaria: Exploring wetlands

 Just a short drive today after yesterday’s extensive travels, and we were soon disembarking from the bus at an open area overlooking marshland, part of the Durankulak Lake. The sun was low and the air cold, giving a magical atmosphere to the wetland scene. A ringtail Hen Harrier flew over the trees to our right, and a cluster of Pygmy Cormorants clung to the base of the reeds. On our left, we could see plenty of Marsh Harriers leaving their morning roost, swooping and gliding, then dancing low across the reedbeds. As we walked along the track a Sparrowhawk perched in a tree surveying the landscape, but took flight as we approached. Overlooking some semi-frozen open water, a delightful mix of Meadow and Water Pipits were busy, slipping and sliding on the ice as they searched for food. A single Lapwing stood root-still in a patch of mud on the far side and a tiny Blue Tit bounced and swung in the breeze as it clung tenaciously to a delicate reed.

We continued from here to the Durankulak campsite, next to the beach, where we set up our scopes to scan the sandy beach and calm sea. On the beach a group of gulls loafed close to the shore line, and with some expert guidance from Dimiter, we were able to compare and contrast the different features of the Caspian and Yellow-legged Gull. A couple of Grey Plover scurried up and down the beach, and on the sea we had some good views of three Black-throated Divers, together with Black-necked Grebes, Great Crested Grebes and Red-breasted Mergansers. I managed to spot a small flock of Shag, diving and wing-flapping at some distance. We returned to the bus and at the campsite found a couple of Syrian Woodpecker drumming on the tall trees.

Black-throated Diver on the sea

Moving on to another part of the lake, we sought overwintering Moustached Warbler but had no success. However we flushed a lovely male Hen Harrier and Grey Heron, together with a few Moorhen which splashed round the corner and out of sight as we approached. After lunch, fish soup, followed by a kebab, we continued on to Lake Shabia, where several young Great Flamingoes were feeding, heads down in the water. We also,added Shelduck, Shoveler and Reed Bunting here.

As we came back to the bus, our guide Dimitri called Hawfinch, and we all managed decent views of a bird sat at the top of the tree, unfortunately moving on quite quickly as soon as Tim got his camera out! Our next stop was at another reeded edge of the lake, where a gap cut in the tall reeds offered some great views of Black-necked Grebe. Suddenly a Great Egret flew out, hidden in the reeds beside us. In the trees by the track, were five more Hawfinch, a Brambling and Corn Buntings sat perched on the telegraph wire. And finally, as we drove towards home, a Red Squirrel darted across the road, pausing just long enough at the roadside vegetation for us to get the bins on him!

Greater Flamingoes