Our morning walk began in bright sunshine and ended in heavy rain! We could a huge bank of cloud in the distance and loud belows of thunder came every few minutes, this did not deter us from having a lovely hour before the rain came.
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| MY FAVOURITE SPECIES - THE HUMBLE CORN BUNTING! |
As uusual bird song rang out from every direction, we quickly found Turtle Dove, Greenfinch, Corn Bunting Black-headed Bunting, Goldfinch and Tree Sparrow. Jackdaws, a Grey heron, Black Stork and a Raven all flew over us.
As our walk began a Hoopoe began to call, a few Bee-eaters landed on the telephone wires and a Cuckoo called out. We located a Barred Warbler from its song and a a couple of Red-backed Shrikes showed well. Then we found a Rosy Starling perched in adistant bush with a couple of Common Starling, what a beauty that one is! A Roller flew over us as we began our walk back and we had good close views of Tree and Spanish Sparrows.
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| JUST LOVE THIS BUTTERFLY - BLACK VEINED WHITE |
At 8:45am we all climbed into the bus for the 40 minute drive to the volcanic basin around Mardhzarovo
where we spent the rest of the morning. Our walk began in some open scrub where we had a panoramic view of the old volcano ridge and the basin which is now an oak forest. A Woodlark was first on the list we saw it as a Red-backed Shrike chased it off a tree, we got good views of it on the ground. A Hawfinch then delighted us with its appearance nearby and another Barred Warbler showed intermitently. Many butterflies were on show too with Black-veined White, Latticed Brown, Large Skipper, Red Admiral, Painted lady, Knapweed Fritillery and Clouded Yellow to name but a few.
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| BONELLI'S WARBLERS WERE SINGING EVERYWHERE ALONG THE TRACK |
We walked along the road towards the cliff face of the volcano where we had brief views of both Lesser and Middle Spotted Woodpecker. Griffon and Egyptian Vultures circled above with Peregrine Falcon and Honey Buzzard. On the cliff face we found Blue Rock Thrush, Ortolan and Rock Buntings, Crag Martin and Black-eared Wheatear. It was now getting quite warm nad humid as another great bank of cloud headed towards, thunder and lightening pursued us as we drove off to lunch.
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| EURASIAN OR WOOD NUTHATCH |
Lunch was extended by an hour as we waited for the hail and rain storm to subside and just after it stopped we located a nest of the Golden Oriole, the female bird was sitting and the male was in close attendance. We then drove the short distance to the Arda valley on the east side of the town of Madzarovo. Our afternoon walk improved as did the weather as time went by. Soon we were watching Bonwlli's Warbler, Cirl Bunting, Lesser Whitethroat and many species seen earlier. We also got good views of Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Golden Oriole, Semi-collared Flycatcher, grey Wagtail, Little Ringed plover, Crag Martin and Red-rumped Swallow. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nest hole provided some entertainment as a Short-toed Treecreeper tried sveral times to enter the hole and a L S Woodpecker poked its head out and pecked at the creeper, a funny sight.
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| Common Nightingale |
We were hoping for a sighting of Golden Eagle but I think the weather put paid to that but we did see Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Steppe Buzzard, Honey Buzzard, Griffon Vulture and another Common Buzzard.
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| the group in the volcanic crater of yester-year |
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| Adonis Blue |
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| Ortolan Bunting |
We jumped back into the bus at 5pm and set off for our hotel, on the way back we stopped to look at Common Whitethroat and a Little Owl.
Our 'owl & Nightjar walk' was a disaster, it was too windy and not one bird turned up! We did see lots of Fire Flies though, a fascinating sight.
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