Wednesday, 4 September 2019

Eurotrip 2019, Day 19, Cape Kaliakra and Balgerovo

Another nice morning at the Cape Ebird list here . There was a definite autumn feel to this morning with cloud and a cooler north east wind which strengthened through the day. The cooler conditions and clouds seemed to result in some more visible migration with Swallows moving through, flocks of Bee-eaters seemingly heading out to sea (south) and in the afternoon I had a flock of White Pelicans from the guesthouse and also a lone Honey Buzzard moving south and also 3 White Storks and a Great White Egret. (Balgerovo guesthouse Ebird list here)

Highlights at the Cape included 2 Marsh Warblers, easily 35+ Red-backed Shrikes, a flyover Great White Egret and Wood Sandpiper and the usual Pied Wheatears (and probably the odd Eastern Black-eared Wheatear), Whinchats, Northern Wheatears, Red-breasted Flycatchers, Spotted Flycatchers, Lesser Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Barred Warbler, Golden Orioles, Turtle Dove, Bee-eaters, Hoopoes, Yellow Wagtails (Blue-headed, Grey-headed and Black-headed), Tree Pipits, Tawny Pipits and hirundines (including Red-rumped Swallows) and Alpine Swifts.

The species on the Cape since I've been here have been broadly similar from day to day but the numbers have been highly variable with a clear influx in Red-backed Shrike today, an influx of Red-breasted Flycatchers yesterday and Lesser Whitethroats the day before.

 Marsh Warbler (above and below) 

 Yellow Wagtail (interesting pale ear coverts and blue and green in head) 
 Bee-eaters over head 
 Great White Egret 
 Juvenile White Stork. Certainly a bit of a pick up on the soaring bird front with 32 White Pelicans (below), 3 White Stork, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Honey Buzzard and 1 Marsh Harrier moving over today. 

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