Monday 20th May: Eastern Balkan range

 Another transfer day, with birding en route. At the first roadside stop, we had some excellent views of an Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, although it was quite mobile, crossing from one side of the road to the other, often singing from the high canopy, but occasionally pausing to sing from an open branch. Unsurprisingly, we also found a Red-backed Shrike here, and just a short walk along the road produced a singing Cirl Bunting in plain view. House Martins and Bee-eaters were in the sky, and a Booted Eagle drifted over.

Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler

Red-backed Shrike, female

We paused again by some agricultural fields offering suitable habitat for Ortolan Bunting, but failed to get a confirmed sighting, despite a likely suspect on a distant bush, which annoyingly dropped from view a little too quickly. Continuing our journey, the next stop was near to a known Wryneck nest site, but maintaining a safe distance so as to avoid disturbance. We could hear a bird calling several times from various locations, before it finally flew into a tall tree across the field and perched on a dead branch, giving good scope views of its distinctive twisting, snakish, head movements as it perused the landscape.

As we approached the coastal region where we would next be based, we stopped at Baluchi cliffs to seek Eurasian Eagle Owl. This had been a tricky target in winter, but this time the bird was easily found, largely due to the mob of Hooded Crows noisily protesting its presence on the cliff face. Excellent views were had by all. 

Eurasian Eagle Owl

Finally, we stopped at a site on the Balgarevo steppes, a scrubby, wild flower strewn grassland area, where we had a superb flurry of birds coming in thick and fast. Stone Curlew were our target birds, and soon found, creeping stealthily through the grass, followed by sudden rapid runs, ant times almost hidden in the vegetation, just huge yellow eyes staring at us. One flew in, revealing a striking black and white wing pattern, which I have never seen before. A supporting cast of birds kept us enthralled, with a Hoopoe flying past several times, Spotted Flycatchers making sorties from small bushes, a Red backed Shrike, obviously, but also pink-flushed Lesser Grey Shrike, Bee-eaters dancing over the field, a singing Wood Lark, Corn Buntings buzzing from bushes and Marsh Harrier low over the fields. We spent some time here savouring the rich variety of sights and sounds, finishing the day on a real high note…

Stone Curlew

Or so we thought! But on arrival at our hotel, we took the lift to our room on the 5th floor, and discovered this at the top of a tall tree right outside our balcony! What a glorious sight - and it even posed for photographs!

Golden Oriole