Bulgaria, July 2022, Day One

I'm a bit behind with the blog so day one here was actually 4th July. I arrived at about 3pm and spent the afternoon/evening on the project plot and went for a walk across the nearby coastal steppe. Ebird list HERE.

Dylan and Anton arrive tomorrow evening and I'm meeting with Dimiter tomorrow morning at Cape Kaliakra so hopefully we start conservation work on Wednesday. In the meantime gives me a bit of time to explore the project plot and surrounding areas for butterflies and do a bit of mothing (just got the LED out here). 

Red-rumped Swallow in the village

Little Owl- several at dusk at the edge of the village 

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the dead elms at the Project plot. Looked a young male with a subdued brown red crown. 

Lesser Grey Shrike- also in the dead Elms at the project site. Despite not being particularly aesthetic we are keeping these dead tall trees as the birds love them. Had Turtle Doves, Syrian, Great and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, Hawfinches, Jays and Lesser Grey Shrikes using them this evening. 

I'm going for Loxostege sticticalis  on this. Numerous in the grass at the project site. 

Wall Brown

There were lots of gorgeous plants flowering out on the Steppe. According to the PlantNet app this is Immortelle 

Also in full flower this time of the year are the immense fields of Sunflowers