BURGAS AREA ALL DAY
WEATHER; dull and overcast to start with some rain, then brighter later and sunshine. Temp 5C - 22C
We had a whole day to explore the best bird-watching sites in Burgas and that is exactly what we did. Our early morning walk was abandoned because of the forecast for rain so we met at 8am for breakfast.
Our first birding stop of the day was the salt pans area in the north of the town, it was wet underfoot but the rain had stopped and we could see brighter conditions heading our way. We quickly produced a long list of species but not many wading birds were present. Greater Flamingo flocks dominated the pans, beautifully pink and noisy. We picked out a few terns, mainly Common and Whiskered but a Gull-billed Tern was also noted. Black-winged Stilts, Avocets, Oysetrcatcher and a small flock of Little Stints was the grand total of waders present.
Ruddy Shelduck with some Greater Flamingos
Both Ruddy and Common Shelduck fed in the pans whilst Yellow-legged and a Caspian Gull loafed around on the banks. In the scrub around the viewing point we found Syrian Woodpecker (heard), Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher and Lesser Whitethroat. Dancho drew our attention to a singing Marsh Warbler and we found a Hobby perched in a low tree, this Hobby allowed a close approach and the 'toggers' were in dreamland.
The obliging Hobby, a picture portrait taken by Dancho
a male Garganey
Moving on, we stopped three or four times to view the large Burgas Lake, from the northern bank we were thrilled to see dozens and dozens of White Pelicans with fewer of the Dalmatian species. The White Pelicans moved over in great swarms, migrating northward, whilst smaller groups dropped in the lake to feed.
Ferruginous Duck with Common Pochards
Out on the water a large flock of Common Pochard were joined by many Coots and a few Ferruginous Ducks, we also noted hundeds of Great Crested Grebes, a few Mediterranean Gulls and dozens of Black-headed Gulls. Dancho then picked out a good number of Black Terns feeding a long way off over the lake, with them we found two or three White-winged Terns and a few Whiskered Terns.
Great Reed Warbler
migrating White Pelicans swarming on the thermals above Burgas
The number of hirundines and swifts was worth a mention, they swarmed like insects over the water, great swathes of swifts covered the sky at times, it was amazing to see. The numbers of birds in the sky at any one moment in time was mind-boggling!
more White Pelicans, there are over sixty in this shot
Great Reed Warblers delivered their raucous song from the reeds and several common species were noted. From other view-points along the east bank we added Purple Heron, Grey Heron and Squaco Heron to the list whilst a very distant Slender-billed Gull was picked out by Dancho.
We stopped in a suburbian cafe and petrol station to eat our picnic lunch, an Olvaceous Warbler sang to us from a bush behind us whilst we ate.
More exploration of the lakes ensued after lunch, our best best birding of the day was soon to come. We stopped on the side of the road near a causeway and found half a dozen Squacco Herons, a couple of Purple Herons, Common Cuckoo and a few raptors drifted over. Lesser Spotted Eagle and Short-toed Eagles drifted around.
the blue/green bill of the Squacco Heron is seen during the breeding season
Purple Heron with its Snake-like neck
Then we moved on to a site near the village of Dimchevo, another causeway and that is where we had a raptor fest! A Hobby was drifting in and out of sight just above the tree line and soon were onto a number of raptor species. A huge flock of White Storks, with a single Black Stork circled above us then more Eagles appeared. In a short space of time we list Lesser-spotted Eagles, Booted Eagles, Short-toed Eagles and Marsh Harriers, the birds just kept on coming, a real migration passage was going on!
Lesser Spotted Eagle with House Martin in attendance, taken by Dancho
the same bird also taken by Dancho
We moved across a causeway, picking out Little Grebe, Pygmy Cormorants, Coots and Mallards and more Squacco herons. From a small hillock we stood and searched the sky, it was now quite warm and several butterflies were on the wing too. We watched Red-backed and Woodchat Shrikes in the scrub whilst Painted ladies and Red Admirals fluttered around us.
Dancho picked out a White-tailed Eagle, it was perched on the distant hillside in the forest, an amazing sighting. We then had much better views of both Lesser-spotted and White-tailed Eagles, Honey Buzzards, our raptor fest was complete.
a pair of Syrian Woodpeckers
Our final destination was another body of water, a river! We stood on a bridge the other side of the village and watched many species going about their afternon lives. Golden Orioles, Turtle Doves, Red-backed Shrikes, European Bee-eaters and a very obliging pair of Syrain Woodpeckers appeared.
two Syrian Woodpeckers and a Jay
It was approahing 5pm when we left, we had planned an early dinner because later tonight we were going out again for an 'owl prowl'.
After dinner we boarded the buses and drove to a site not far from the airport, Dancho knew of a Barn Owl nest site, we staked out a small disused building and waited. The Barn Owl appeared behind us! It was hunting along the track and didn't approach the nest site. Amost immediately afterwards we saw a European Nightjar dash over us, wowza! a bonus bird that was not expected.
We drive into town and parked near the entrance to a town park. As we walked along a wide pathway we could hear the 'sweeky-gate' call of the Long-eared Owl chicks. It took us a while but Dancho finally found one of the chicks, these birds leave the nest before they can fly and scramble amongst the branches. We all had great views of it in the torch light, we quickly left it alone and moved away. I would call that a successful owl prowl with both species in the bag, four owls were now on the list!