Botany, Bulgaria Spring 2023

As usual the botany in Bulgaria in Spring, especially on the Steppe is spectacular. Here's a few opportunistic photos of bits and bobs that caught my eye over the recent trip. Preliminary identifications below mainly from PlantNet app (please comment/amend). 

Toothed Orchid, Neotinea tridentata (above and below). An orchid lifer. 

Various Green-winged Orchids and colour variants (six images above)

Lady's Orchid and Fern-leaved Peony, Paeonia tenuifolia at Cape Kaliakra

Orphys Mammosa (Early Spider complex)  

Spring Adonis, Adonis vernalis 

Large Pheasant-eye on the Steppe

Blue Flax with King's Spear 

Musk Thistle 

Nodding Sage

The Steppe grasslands (above and below) in the Kaliakra region with Large Pheasant-eye, Nonea rossica (in foreground), Fumitory, Euphobias, steppe grasses, French Groundsel etc 

Also home to Stone Curlews, Isabelline Wheatears, Short-toed, Calandra and Skylark, Tawny Pipit and other Steppe species