MAY 20TH 2013 - BULGARIA DAY 8 – TOUR 1

KRAPETS TO CENTRAL BALKAN ,MOUNTAINS WITH VISITS TO THE BELEMETO PASS

Well, we never have much time for birding, on this, our last full day. We spent an hour before breakfast retracing our steps of yesterday's walk along the track above the beach at Krapets. Just outside the hotel. we saw many species mostly the same as yesterday but with better views of most of them.

Marsh Warbler

The Marsh Warbler sang from various positions in the small disused compound next to the hotel and we also saw a Black Redstart there. Golden Orioles called from the back of the compound and a Common Nightingale sang all the time we were there. A Common Cuckoo called and flew over us a couple times being chased by various potential 'victims'.

An obliging Pied Wheatear posed nicely for the cameras as it came down to some open ground to feed. A Yellow Wagtail did the same and in the bushes nearby we watched a Common Whitethroat, Barred Warbler and a Black-headed Bunting.

Common Whitethroat

Out at sea we saw another Black Throated Diver, it was a little closer this time but the sea was generally a lot more quiet.

After breakfast we started the epic journey to the Balkan mountains our destination was a hotel not too far from Sofia, we anticipated a journey of some 6-7 hours but it took 8 hours altogether with stops for lunch and coffee etc.

We arrived at our hotel by 4:30pm having driven through some heavy rain, it was still raining as we quickly checked-in before going for a walk in the nearby forest. The rain stopped and our walk lasted 30 minutes and didn't produced much: both the tours guides got on to a Red-breasted Flycatcher for a brief moment but none of the group did, but we all heard Black Woodpecker calling, Chaffinch and Blackcap sang too.

Pied Wheatear

 For our last trip of the day we drove to the top of the BELEMETO PASS which is about 6000ft above sea level and just above the tree line. We quickly located one of our target birds: the Ring Ouzel, several were singing and in close proximity to one another. What a lovely sight the birds peformed really well. Whilst we were watching the Ring Ouzels we also found Water Pipit, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Bullfinch and a Dunnock was singing but it did not show. Skylarks sang from on high as we boarded the bus to conclude the last birding excursion of the trip. We were due back at the hotel by 7pm in readiness for our dinner.

Ring Ouzel