Bulgaria, Autumn 2024, Day Three

As usual we started the day at Cape Kaliakra at dawn. It was a lot slower today in a southerly warm wind. Seems like the northwesterly of the previous two days was much better for visible migration. Only 52 species in the usual four hours, Ebird list HERE . There was basically less of all overhead passage apart from Corn Buntings with an increase today. Highlights included 5 Sardinian Wabler including a female, 2 Woodlark, Serin, Yellowhammer and 5 Red-breasted Flycatchers. 

At lunchtine, Kojak and I went to Kavarna to do a bit of shopping and also put the strimmer in for a service as it broke down yesterday meaning we didn't finish the meadow hay cut. Will need to return in early spring to get that done- I told the mechanic I'll be back in April to pick up the strimmer which he seemed okay with (he acted like six months was about the usual waiting time anyway in these parts).

In the afternoon we did Shabla Tuzla- highlights there included 68 Greater Flamingo, Black-necked Grebes and there were three Black-throated Divers off shore. Ebird list HERE. We got a call from Pavel half way through, he had found a Yellow-browed in a nearby wood so we set off over to there to dip it.

Will be meeting up with Pavel again tomorrow to have a look around Durankulak. 

Red-breasted Flycatcher- five of these at the Cape this morning

Can't get enoough of these stunning male Black Redstarts. Just look at the shades of black and grey with the dark mask with the silver grey top edging, the darker silver grey mantle, the dark breast and silver grey underparts, blazing white secondary panel and of course the wonderfully contrasting orange-red undertail coverts and 'start'. An absolute stunner. Only about 7 left now on the Cape after a peak of 30 or so on Sunday.

Nice to see a few Hooded Crows (and a single Rook) migrating this morning- here chasing a Sparrowhawk

Greater Flamingo

Another stunning black and grey bird today- this summer plumage Black-throated Diver, here with a winter plumage bird 

Winter Black-throated Diver 

There was a bit of waterfowl passage today at Shabla with these Pochards flying over, about 55 Tufted Ducks migrating offshore and 30 Pintail and Teal on Shabla Tuzla

Had the moth trap out last night at the guesthouse. A few familiar faces such as Rusty-dot Pearl, Dark Sword Grass, Olive-tree Pearl, Small Mottled Willows, White-speck and Deep-brown Dart and what I think is Feathered Brindle (below) and Cervyna cervago (above). Will do a seperate post on the moths and butterflies and sort out the ids then.