BLACK SEA COAST AT KRAPETS, DURANKULAK AND SHABLA
WEATHER; clear for most of the day with lots of sunshine, a little windy. Top temp 24C
We had a terrific day birding the Black Sea Coastline in North-East Bulgaria and although everything didn't go to plan we saw some superb species with a large supporting cast.
An early start was necessary in order to look for the local speciality, the PADDYFIELD WARBLER. This reedbed dweller can be very hard to see and our best chance was to visit the large reedbed at Durankulak. Before we left the hotel we spent sometime looking at frogs in the neglected swimming pool, we found Green Toad, European Tree Frog and Marsh Frogs. We also saw Black Redstart, Spanish Sparrows and White Wagtails in the hotel grounds.
European Tree Frog
Green Toad
Along the way to Durankulak we saw Roller, Bee-eater, Red-backed Shrike, Common Pheasant, Turtle Dove and several other species.
Turtle Dove - we saw many of these today
As we travelled along the approach road to the reserve but we came to a halt when Red-footed Falcons were spotted on wires in the field adjacent to the road. Over the next 15 minutes we watched several Falcons, not only Red-footed but also Hobby, Kestrel and a Montagu's Harrier with two or three Marsh Harriers.
A Falcon Duel - Red-footed Falcon attacking a Common Kestrel - taken by Dancho
From the car park we walked a hundred meters back along the road to view a patch of reeds, there we found a Savi's Warbler, it was quite far off but it delivered its endless reeling call and gave us a clue of where to find it. We also saw Cetti's Warbler, Great Reed Warbler and we heard Common Nightingale.
the beach track at Durankulak
A short sea-watch produced Great Cormorants, Mediterranean Shag, Great Crested grebe and two, summer plumage, Black-throated Divers. Common and Little Terns fished in the bay, Dalmatian Pelicans sat on the water and Little Ringed Plovers ran along the beach.
Back to the reed beds we found a couple of parties of Bearded Tits but there was no sight nor sound of the Paddyfield Warbler. We had to leave for breakfast, but returned straight afterwards.
Our second visit was dominated by falcon sightings and for the next hour it was falcons that stole the show. Over 20 Red-footed Falcons were seen over the marsh and adjoining farmland, we also saw Collared Pratincoles, Northern lapwings, Common Cuckoo, Roller and Golden Orioles.
One of the Collared Pratincoles seen today - taken by Dancho
In the small lagoon we found Ferruginous and Garganey Ducks, a flock of 33 Squacco Herons, Mute Swans and over the pools, Whiskered Terns danced to and fro looking for food tit-bits on the surface of the water. We had short views of Tawny Pipit before Dancho spotted our best bird of the day, a single Rose-coloured Starling, wowza! It was a female so not as brightly coloured as one would have hoped for, but a Rosy Starling nonetheless!
The Rose-coloured Starling found by Dancho
Then a Lesser Spotted Eagle circled over us and a second large Eagle proved to be an ID puzzle, but photographs clinched its ID as a 3rd/4th year Imperial Eagle. As we headed towards the car park a Caspian Tern flew over us, giving us our eigth species of Tern for the trip!
Eastern Imperial Eagle - taken by Dancho
We sat in the local cafe around 11:30am and enjoyed a cup of coffee and some had ice-cream, we then drove to another part of Durankulak where, from a high bank we had excellent views of another part of the large lagoon. From there we added a few new species to the day list and many already seen. A Water Rail called but failed to show, we saw Stonechat, Greenfinch, another Tawny Pipit, Golden Oriole, Hoopoe and an Ortolan Bunting. A pair of Black-headed Yellow Wagtails was nice to see and we watched a Syrian Woodpecker too. In the lagoon we watched a pair of the non-native Coypu and a Hobby dashed about above the water.
Common Cuckoo
For the afternoon we visited Shabla and after buying some picnic supplies in the town we drove to the beach where ate our late-lunch. A short sea-watch produced very little, in fact we only saw a few Harbour Porpoise and a few Shags.
Greenfinch and a Tawny Pipit
We walked around to a viewing area where we had good views over the Shabla Lagoon, from there we saw quite a few birds which included: Black-winged Stilts, Common Shelduck, Redshank, Wood Sandpipers, Little Stint and two Glossy Ibis dropped in the reeds. A Reed Bunting dashed across our viewing area and Common Terns sat on posts. Another pair of Ferruginous was spotted and the usual Coots, Great Crested Grebes and Cormorants were in good supply.
have you ever wonder where a Black-winged Stilt puts its long legs when it sits down?
Lastly we drove around to the Shabla Lighthouse which is the most easterly point of Bulgaria. A Little Owl was noted in some piles of rubble and abunch of bee-eaters dashed about chasing insects. Sea-watching produced nothing but more Harbour Porpoise, but we did find a northern Wheatear in the car park and a Pied Wheatear near the Pier.
Little Owl keeping an eye on us!
We spent our last 30 minutes or so searching the scrub area just inland from the Lighthouse. There we found Red-backed Shrike, Common Whitethroat, Barred Warbletr and Olivaceous Warbler. it was now approaching 6pm so we called it a day, we waved goodbye to the Little Owl which was still watching us as we left.