Still no sign of any migration at the coast. Very disappointing, it was to be a highlight for me. We drove inland to a hilly area to check whether- or not - the easterly wind had driven raptors inland. Driving offroad, we parked in the shade looking down a meadow and across to a series of hills and ridges. The 'chairs' provided by Dimiter were far too low for me - and decrepit.
One dark phase Booted Eagle - the rarer phase and our second of that phase, one Short-toed Eagle, one Honey Buzzard, 1 Montagu's Harrier, one Hobby and a few Marsh Harriers and Buzzards. Better than nothing.
The highlight was a flock of several hundred migrating White Pelicans, spiralling and constantly changing formation over the forest. Lovely.
Moving higher up the mountain, another offroad trek across a vast area of apparently barren brown grassland - until we noticed the melons and gourds nestled amongst the grass. I thought that the gourds were stones......
Our first adult male Red Backed Shrike
The juveniles are so numerous - and Pam called them all - that they've been christened Lord Voldemort, 'he who must not be named'.
Given a choice, we decided to eat our packed lunch somewhere up here. Minko pulled off to a small litter strewn area beside the road where we could park in the shade. Almost immediately, birds appeared. Sombre Tit, Chiffchaff, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Jays Blackbirds and the best of all, a Hawfinch. The latter returned to feast on a Pendulous Birch tree's seeds, although annoyingly shaded all of the time.
Perhaps the lake we visited a couple of days ago was worth another visit. No Bee-eaters this time.
Mixed herds always have at least one shepherd + dog (s) in attendance. Pam's photo.
The lone White Stork was still in the marsh, its badly broken right wing obvious. Will it survive the winter? A Great White Egret and a few Spoonbills idled on the shore
The lone White Stork was still in the marsh, its badly broken right wing obvious. Will it survive the winter? A Great White Egret and a few Spoonbills idled on the shore
A small blue flower showed well amongst the thistles and dy weeds. A Litrumu? salicaria (M's handwriting). The plough here looks like it's been turfed up in giant lumps and scattered haphazardly. Good for hiding birds !
I've tried at every opportunity to get a decent photo of a Crested Lark with its crest erect. Here's another less than successful attempt.
Back to the Salt Museum area, where birds could be guaranteed, via a shop to buy some fruit for me. The Broadbilled Sandpiper was there again as was a Curlew Sandpiper. I managed to get some better photos this time as the light was better, shame I couldn't climb down much closer like Minko.
Fewer people mudlarking to-day, fewer birds too but, very enjoyable.
This was the last chance to photograph Daurian Jackdaws, the eastern race of Common Jackdaw. They're always on a busy roundabout in the middle of Burgas. We stopped long enough for me to snatch a few photos.The silver shoulder patch is diagnostic.
On to the Eastern Rhodope Mountains for our only one night stay to-morrow. After another hot day, we're hoping for somewhere cooler. We keep being told how unseasonal and unusual it is.
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