Tuesday 6th February: Bulgaria: More Lakes!

After spotting both Wren and Robin as new holiday ticks outside the hotel, we started the day once more at Bourgas Lake, hoping to catch up again with the White-headed Ducks, but sadly it was not to be. Many of the species from yesterday were still present, including the graceful and acrobatic Whiskered Terns, but we soon set off in search of something new. 

Arriving at Mandra Lake close to the busy road, a few Great White Pelicans were new for the trip, and we were able to compare with some Dalmatian Pelicans with stunning orange bills reflecting their breeding status. In another, quieter reed-lined section of the lake we found a flock of Tufted Duck accompanied by three Ferruginous Duck and some Gadwall and Wigeon, adding rather nicely to our trip tally. The sun was shining and their colours gleamed bright against the water.  Around the margins, there was an abundance of Great Egrets basking in the sunshine amongst the reeds and a Pallas gull loafed in the middle of the lake.

Dalmatian Pelican

We continued our journey, pausing by a bridge with a lovely bubbling river below, where a calling Green Woodpecker failed to show itself. We were soon underway again, but hadn’t travelled far before Nikki called a White-tailed Eagle flying low across the meadow next to the van. We stopped for a better look and also scoped a flock of Bewick’s Swans in the same meadow together with a few scattered Lapwings.

We walked up a small hill to a ridge overlooking the water, where a few Gadwall and yet more Great Egrets, together with Pygmy Cormorants, were gathered in a small inlet. Behind us a Reed Bunting called softly from a bush.

A little later we stopped again at a suitable scrub area for Sombre Tit, and this was soon heard calling, but was not over co-operative, pausing frequently but fleetingly as it moved through the bushes. A Hawfinch perched briefly at the top of a bush, then flew across the scrubland in front of us, its colours and wing markings showing remarkably well in the sunshine.

After lunch,we visited the north side of the lake, near the ringing station. Here we found good numbers of White-fronted Geese on the water, and were able to spend some time watching them relaxed and feeding. Several waders were also feeding on the exposed mud including Redshank, Curlew and Avocet, then suddenly everything was spooked and took to the skies. 

Our last stop was back at Atanasovsko lake, where in the dying light, we found a couple of Water Pipit on the mudbanks and a flock of pink Flamingoes lit up by the low sun, a rather lovely feast for the eyes before we headed back to the bus for the journey home.

White-fronted Geese