Thursday 16th May: Krumovitsa river valley

 We started our day beside a small road lined with small fields and scrub, where the birds came through thick and fast, giving a thrilling session of birding. Red-backed Shrikes were prolific here, posing frequently on fencelines and atop bushes and small trees. On the field, a pair of Lesser Grey Shrikes were foraging amongst the grasses, their pale breasts suffused with a warm, pinkish flush. From the hedgerows, Barred Warbler were heard singing and calling, initially deep in the vegetation, but eventually coming up into less dense branches and showing very well for everyone. A Black Woodpecker flew across the road, landing atop a tall tree, a huge, crow-like bird in flight, with red crown evident in the scope. A Turtle Dove purred from the treetop, a Common Whitethroat scratched its song and a gorgeous Roller with stunning turquoise and rufous wings flew nonchalantly overhead. 

Red-backed Shrike

Black Woodpecker

As we lingered here, a particularly bright Black-headed Bunting posed for all to see, and a Black-eared Wheatear landed on a telephone wire. On the rocky hill behind, a Chukar appeared on a large boulder, lingering long enough for some great scope views, then a singing Cuckoo flew in and landed in a nearby tree.

We continued our journey, travelling on a road lined with wild flowers in a rich variety of bright colours, eventually stopping where the road gave a great vista across a rocky cliff to grassy plains stretching below. Here, Crag Martins and Bee-eaters nested in rocky niches, and sandy banks respectively, showing well as they foraged the area for food. Beside the road another Black-headed Bunting appeared, always pleasing to the eye, and an Orphean Warbler sang beautifully before appearing in a flowering shrub in front of us. 

Orphean Warbler

Our next stop overlooked a river, where we found a large House Martin colony and another Eastern Olivaceous Warbler flitting in the bushes.

After lunch, we drove to a vulture feeding station in the Potochnitsa area. A stripped carcass evidenced that we had missed much of the activity, but some satiated Griffin Vultures rested on the ridges, whilst the smaller Egyptian Vultures loitered still to pick over the carcass remains. A Black Kite flew in, then a single Black Vulture appeared. 

Vulture Feeding Station

Our viewpoint here was nestled amongst the scrub, and as we watched the Vultures, a Woodlark watched us, perched for several minutes on top of a small nearby shrub, quietly muttering a few notes, before eventually calling a mate and flying out of sight. Behind us a Sub-alpine Warbler was in full song and pirouetting in an impressive display flight.

A short drive down the hill we stopped again, noting a Hobby low over the hillside and a singing Golden Oriole. In the scrub an Olive Tree Warbler sang, a heavy bird, crashing  noisily through the branches, then pausing right in the open, giving cracking views of its yellow bill and pale fringed wings. Cattle roamed freely in this area and we were astonished to see a man guiding a hand plough pulled by a horse on the hill above us. 21st century farming!?!

Olive-tree Warbler