Friday 29 September 2023
Bulgaria Day Thirteen
Thursday 28 September 2023
Bulgaria Day Twelve
Wednesday 27 September 2023
Bulgaria Days Ten and Eleven
There's a strong north east wind been blowing for the last two days in Kamen Bryag which seems to have put the kybosh on migration. Seems to be good numbers of Little and Black-headed Gulls moving along the coast but otherwise it seems very quiet.
We had a Caspian Whip Snake freshly dead on the road near by and a few days ago we had two Spur-thighed Tortoises behind the plot. Arjun had a probable Grass Snake on the plot too and there's been some young lizards around which are either Eastern Green or Balkan Green Lizard. Also been a couple of Green Toads in the evening.
The moth trap was also much quieter last night.
Just one or two new trip species Live Trip Report HERE.
Tuesday 26 September 2023
Bulgaria Day Nine
Another great day birding around Burgas with Roger. We started the day off at the Uzungeren Lake Ebird list HERE and then went to the Akanasovsko Migration Watch Point HERE before lunch, then checked out Burgas lake viewpoints before back to the migration watch point before heading back to Varna to overnight. An evening on the town with Roger before he goes back to the UK and then this morning I headed back to Kamen Bryag to meet up again with Arjun. Highlights included Red-necked Phalarope, Gull-billed Tern, flocks of autumn Whiskered Terns and Red-foots, Honeys, Montagu's and Pallids migrating.
Apparently the best wind for vis-mig round here is anything with a westerly component and particularly around rainfall and storms. It's been dry clear and persistently easterly for the two weeks we have been here so what we are seeing is Bulgaria during a quiet time. Would love to come back during a busy time as it's pretty epic here even during less than ideal conditions.
Meanwhile back at home there has been the biggest yank arrival in history (50 birds of 15 american species in Britain and Ireland) which we have been following with great interest (Connecticut Warbler on Corvo yesterday). We couldn't be any further from the action but that's birding- can't be everywhere at the same time. Arjun found a Caspian Stonechat in Kamen Bryag while we were in Burgas so got gripped off there too- lol!
Live Trip Report HERE. Now on 169 species for the trip. Scarcities (according to Ebird) found between us include Ring Ouzels in Dobrich, Little Tern and Short-eared Owl at Pomorie and Arjun's Caspian Stonechat. We also had some epic counts of 12,000+ wagtails going to roost at Pomorie.
Sunday 24 September 2023
Bulgaria Day Eight
A great day around Atanasovsko Lake, Roger and I dropped Dylan off at the train station at around 7am and then headed to the wader hide watch point before heading over to the migration watch point. Then lunch, a bit more vis-migging, then some more waders before doing dusk back at the watch point. Highlights included over 5000 White Pelican coming in at dusk from the watch point, thousands of Barn Swallows, migrating Black Kites, Short-toed Eagles, Honey Buzzards, Common Buzzards, Red-footed Falcons and Lesser Spotted Eagles and Temminck's Stints, Little Gulls and Dalmation Pelicans.
Live Trip Report HERE.
Saturday 23 September 2023
Bulgaria Day Seven
We started the day off at Kamen Bryag doing the moths and finishing off the conservation work on the plot and after lunch we headed down to Burgas for the next couple of days. Our first stop was a Pomorie Lake (Ebird list HERE). Arjun has stayed at Kamen Bryag working so it will be good to compare the migration at both sites.
Live Trip Report HERE