Saturday 18th May: Woodlands and Mountains, Kosciusko, and Mandra lake

 As always, we started the day with a pre-breakfast walk, this time, in a new location, taking a stroll to the nearby beach. We passed plenty of House and Spanish Sparrows chattering in the roadside trees on our way. On the sea were just a few Cormorants and gulls, but Swifts and Martins swept low over the beach, seeking early insects, and of course a Red-backed Shrike was perched on a low tree by the path. 

A drive to the Strandza mountains soon had us locating a Semi-collared Flycatcher which was singing as we got out of the bus. Although mobile, and favouring the high branches, we had some decent views of both the singing male, then a female. Soon the nest hole was located, and the scope was trained on it, and with quiet patience, enabled superb views for everyone in the group. We walked a short distance along the forested road, adding Nuthatch, Great Tit and Chiffchaff to our tally. 

Semi-collared Flycatcher

Lunch was taken at the village of Kosti (or ‘cushtie’ as Jim nicknamed it,  after Del Boy!). As we sat under a verandah eating our sandwiches, an Osprey flew over the village, and we watched as it headed off over the mountains and disappeared into the distance. After eating, we had some time to explore the pretty village. A small stream next to the village square was full of tadpoles, and many Marsh Frogs called and sunbathed on the rocks. A snake slithered beneath a rock and rested out of sight, its head raised in anticipation of a juicy meal. White Wagtails bounced over the water and Nightingales sang from every bush. Clive spotted a Little Owl perched by the chimney of a house by the stream, and also a Common Redstart, which I sadly missed and two Red-rumped Swallows posed well on a telegraph wire, making this a very rewarding stop. Dimiter had hoped to find us roosting Scops Owls, but sadly we had no luck. Driving just outside the village, we searched for White-backed Woodpecker. This species is notoriously difficult to find, but one was heard calling and drumming. From the road, we had several glimpses of a bird moving overhead, but disappointingly, no clear sightings.

Red-rumped Swallows (Clive Hope)

We returned to the coastal area, arriving at Mandra Lake late afternoon, where we found Pygmy Cormorant and Dalmatian Pelican, but the water was surprisingly quiet. Across the road, we climbed a small hill to a viewpoint overlooking the marshland and valley. Coot and Little Grebe were on the open pools, and over the hills we observed both Marsh Harrier and Hobby.

As we set off to the hotel, our way was blocked by a White Stork striding on the road ahead. Finally it veered off to the grassy verge, where it  suddenly daggered its bill into the grass, picking up a snake, encircled around its bill,  before being swallowed in a great gruesome gulp!