Window to Wildlife

 Our last birding day of the holiday, and we set out to explore some local marshes. At the first, we wandered along a track out through the reed bed, stopping at a bank with views across the water. A distant warbler could be seen on the reeds, probably Reed Warbler, but too distant to be sure. Bernie then spotted a Bearded Reedling as it sped past to land out of sight in the nearby reeds. We moved a little further along the track, where a Water Rail could be heard calling. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen briefly, however, we spied a hole in the tree from where it had flown, and as we passed some chirruping birds could be heard inside. A couple of Bearded Tits then appeared in the reeds very close, allowing us all excellent views. A Hobby passed low overhead, and as we returned to the bus the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker showed again, giving much better views. After a short drive, we paused at a gentle slope beside the road, to look for Sombre Tit. Initially there was no sign, and...

 It was a relief to wake to sunshine this morning,  as we congregated early for a pre-breakfast walk in the mountain beech forest. Parking close to a ski lift, we noted Mistle Thrush feeding on the ground at the top of the slope and heard calling Woodlarks. We strolled down the slope and walked a short distance into the forest, where we finally managed to pin down the ever elusive White-backed Woodpecker. Dimiter was skilled and speedy in getting the bird in the scope, where we all had cracking views as it drummed on a dead branch high above us. It was a wonderful sight. Returning to the bus, we were also pleased to find a Tree Pipit which sang from the top of a dead tree, showing beautifully against the clear blue sky. White-backed Woodpecker After breakfast and loading the van, we drove to the mountain ridge, where there were breathtaking, far-reaching views across the Balkan mountains. We were hoping for Water Pipits, but could not locate any. However we had decent views of...

 This was the last morning at our hotel in Kavarna, and we savoured our last walk to the beach, enjoying again the aerial displays of the Alpine Swifts, and finding another Pied Wheatear. From our balcony, our Golden Oriole sat on his branch and fluted a farewell song while the House Martins and Red-rumped Swallows dashed and dived around us.  Pied Wheatear We drove today towards the Central Balkan Mountains, passing roads lined with Poppies and Larkspur. We stopped en route at an estuarine woodland, where we found Spotted Flycatcher, Short-toed Treecreeper, Chaffinch and Greenfinch. Blackcap and Middle -spotted Woodpecker were also heard. At a small wetland nearby we enjoyed the antics of Marsh Frogs, cheeks bulging as they made  their loud,  distinctive calls.  Marsh Frog We stopped at a service station for lunch, where our first Lesser Whitethroat of the trip called from the roadside vegetation, then flew over into nearby scrub. Not the greatest of views, but...

For our pre-breakfast walk, we headed round the bay, finding Cormorants on the harbour arm, and below the cliffs, where we were entranced by swathes of Alpine Swifts soaring powerfully yet gracefully though the air, their constant chatter echoing against the rocks, not a continuous scream like the common Swifts, but a series of shorter, twittering screeches. They were mesmerising to watch against the towering white cliffs, with some disappearing into narrow crevices in the rock face. Beside the track we were pleased to discover a couple of Pied Wheatears on the fences, a new species for the trip and as we returned, a fledgling Black Redstart was sat on the steps, showing a prominent yellow gape. Also of note were plenty of feral cats and dogs, making use of the many abandoned buildings around the beach area. Also seen were Greenfinch, Goldfinch, White Wagtail, House and Spanish Sparrows and, shock horror, Red-backed Shrike!! The official birding today started at Kaliakra cliffs, where ...

 Some great balcony birdwatching this morning - ‘our’ Oriole was again sat on its favourite branch singing when I opened the door, and Turle Doves purred, although couldn’t be seen. House Martins and Swallows filled the air, and we observed the martins using a nest on our balcony. From here, I saw a pair of screeching Jays fly into the conifer and Greenfinches wheezed from the top. We took a walk to the headland, where the highlight was a gathering of House Martin, drinking from a puddle on the ground, their nests lining a derelict building nearby, still providing accommodation for some!  House Martin We set off after breakfast for the wetlands, pausing at the roadside when Dimiter heard an Ortolan Bunting. This was soon scoped as it sat on the telephone wire overhead, quite a colourful bird with rusty red breast and yellow moustache contrasting with a greyish head.  We soon arrived at the Durankulak wetlands and lake, where our target bird was the Paddyfield Warbler. Unf...

 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 vari...

 This was a high bird count day, as we explored many of the wetlands and salt pans we had visited in winter, but this time the huge numbers of ducks had disappeared, to be replaced by summer visitors. As always, we started the day with our morning walk, managing to explore a scrubland area a little further along the beach. Species seen were similar to yesterday, with hirundines coming down right onto the beach. We also found a Spotted Flycatcher, had great views of an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler that appeared in the open branches of a tree, and noted a Crested Lark foraging on a dusty track beside the road. Our first stop was Lake Vaya, where the highlight was a Penduline Tit nest, suspended above the rushes close to the path. We were able to observe the parents coming and going to the nest, climbing the reeds or resting on a tree as they searched for food for their young. Herons were mobile around the lake with both Squacco and Night Herons seen in flight, and Purple Herons skulkin...