TRANSFER FROM KRUMOVGRAD TO MADZHAROVO - WITH BIRDING AT KRUMOVGRAD CENTRE - KRUMOVITSA RIVER VALLEY - MARDZHAROVO TOWN PARK AND CALDERA
WEATHER: a clear sky with sunshine all day. Top temp 24C
A short walk from our hotel brought us to the main bridge over the Krumovitsa River at 6:30am this morning. We simply stood on the bridge and scanned the river and the scrub on either side and listed a good number of species.
The best of which included a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, Golden Orioles, Syrian Woodpecker, Common Nightingale, Olivaceous Warbler, Crag Martins, Little Ringed Plovers, White Wagtails and many common species.
Once breakfast was finished we loaded up the bus to continue our journey towards Burgas on the Black Sea Coast. We had one more overnight stay before we reached the coast, but we had some serious birding to do locally before we set off for the coast.
The River Valley hidden in the Hills just east of Krumovgrad is one of my favourite birding places in the whole of Bulgaria, it is full of birds and today it did not disappoint, it was spectacular. We had perfect weather for it too, a clear blue sky and no wind, with exquisite light.
the Spoon-winged Lacewing seen in the Caldera at Madzharovo
Our First stop lasted a lot longer than anticipated because the birding was so good. We quickly found a pair of Barred Warblers, the male was singing and was being chased around by a Red-backed Shrike. Several other Red-Backed Shrikes were also in the area. The Bird list was amazing, in just 30 minutes we saw Rollers, Hoopoes, Golden Orioles, Bee-eaters, Common Cuckoo, White and Black Storks, Lesser Grey Shrike, Olivaceous Warbler, Orphean Warbler, Common Nightingale and a few that I have forgotten.
Barred Warbler
Barred Warbler taken by Dancho
a male Eastern Orphean Warbler
We stopped on a bridge over the river and added a few more species including Spanish Sparrow, Cirl Bunting, Crag Martin, Grey Heron, Hobby (3) and we had better views of Golden Oriole. Susan K found a Hare, we also saw Marsh Frogs in the river.
watching birds and butterflies
As time wore on the air warmed up and butterflies sprung into life, we saw dozens of them and identified just a few. Green Hairstreak, Tiger Blue, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Black-veined White, Eastern Dappled White, Pale Clouded Yellow, Lesser Spotted and Queen of Spain Fritillarys.
Queen of Spain Fritillary with Green Hairstreaks
a Tiger Blue
Birds continued to appear, Black-headed Bunting, Olive Tree Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Griffon Vulture, Black Stork and lots of Corn Buntings. From high up in the hills we found Black-eared Wheatear, a Black Vulture, Common Buzzards and lots of hirundines including Red-rumpled Swallows.
the Barred Warbler site in the Krumovitsa Valley
the River Krumovitsa at the head of the valley
Time pressed, we had to move on and leave this wonderful valley. Soon we were on the road to Madzharovo, we stopped for lunch supplies and ate them 40 minues later at a roadside picnic site. We reached Madzharovo around 3pm and took a walk in the local park which is usually good for Scops Owls. We heard a couple but failed to find one, Mistle Thrush, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and White Storks on their nests was all we saw.
a distant Golden Oriole
We made three or four stops in the huge Volcanic Caldera near the town, it was a hugely impressive circular formation of rock. We added several species to our list staring with the likes of Egyptian Vulture, Woodchat Shrike, Peregrine Falcon and Black Kite.
the rack leading down into the Caldera
We scanned the Hugh rock face from the road below and found Blue Rock Thrush and an active nest of the Rock Nuthatch, the parent birds were making regular visits to feed their young. We failed to find Rock Bunting but we really enjoyed the scenery and the late afternoon warmth.
the Rock Nuthatch nest, can you see the shadow just below the nest of the approaching bird?
Rock Nuthatch at the nest
two shots of the Southern White Admiral seen in the park at Madzharovo today, this one by Dancho and below a picture by Rosemat Aitken
Our 40 minute drive to our hotel included a couple of stops to observe new species for our list. A Little Owl sat out on an old roof in a small village and a Long-legged Buzzard flew up from a ploughed field a little further on. That concluded our birding for the day unless you include the sighting of a Tree Sparrow from room window?