Bulgaria October 2025- Day One

My flight was delayed yesterday so I had to overnight in Varna but it may have been fortuitous as on the drive to Kamen Bryag this morning there was quite a bit of raptor passage going on which peaked as I approached Kavarna. I stopped off for about an hour at a random place and started counting what was going on. Ebird list HERE which included 380 Common Buzzard, 36 Black Stork, 2 Short-toed Eagle, 9 Lesser Spotted Eagle, 1 Booted Eagle, 3 Hen Harrier, a single 'Steppe' Buzzard and 4 Long-legged Buzzard in just under an hour. It's true what they say here, a westerly wind makes all the difference. The birds were heading into the wind presumably after being driven to the coast. 

I then headed to Kamen Bryag and after checking out the new caravan and the pond (a Nightjar was roosting on the edge)  I got things set up and then did the usual walk through the village and down to Yalata and then across the Steppe and back to base. 60 species of nearly 1500 individuals mainly all passerine migrants HERE predominantely White Wagtails and Chaffinches but good numbers of Chiffchaff, Robin and Song Thrush with a few Common Redstarts, a single Black Redstart, a few Red-breasted Flycatchers, 7 Red-backed Shrike, 4 Red-throated Pipit, a Brambling and a few other bits and bobs. There were also at least 8 Red-footed Falcon and 2-3 Hobby and a nice Hen Harrier on the steppe. Also had a project Ebird hotspot tick - Pochard so now on 180 for the village area HERE. 

So basically birds blinking everywhere. The westerlies are forecasted for the next few days with some rain too so I'm pretty excited what will unfold and especially what is going on at Cape Kaliakra which tends to concentrate more migrants than round here and round here was pretty hard to beat. 

Short-toed Eagles (two different birds above and below)- the rather strong westerly wind was keeping birds low. 

Juvenile Hen Harrier 

Juvenile Long-legged Buzzard- also had 2-3 adult looking birds

A rather strangely marked Lesser Spotted Eagle I presume

Common Buzzard - the main showbird today (above and below) 

'Steppe Buzzard' - a very compact buzzard compared to the other buzzards with a rufous tail and dark sub-terminal band 

Black Storks on the move 

Juvenile Red-footed Falcon 

White Wagtails literally everywhere 

Tristis-type Chiffchaff- this bird stood out amongst the 30+ Common Chiffchaffs as appearing rather drab and very pale on the underparts with greenish tones confined to the primaries- a rarity round here so best to hear it call maybe

The pond is holding up well, there were are about 20 pairs of Common Darters ovipositing 

Loving having the caravan on the plot now - really handy being able to hang out more there now with more facilities (i.e kettle)