The journey took us south west of Burgas to a relict beech forest very close to the Turkish border. This ancient woodland is Bulgaria's oldest nature reserve.
It's called a mountain and we did climb well above sea level but, it's really a high hilly area.
It's called a mountain and we did climb well above sea level but, it's really a high hilly area.
At the first opportunity, Minko braked, calling ''Black Woodpecker''. I saw it, briefly, fly past the car into the nearest trees. He then started playing its calls and thez bird responded - not usual in the non breeding season- flying back across the road and then down in front of us for several seconds view of this huge black bird. Fantastic, a world tick for us.
Other woodpeckers heard at our various stops were: Grey-headed, Lesser Spotted, Syrian, Green, Middle-spotted and Great Spotted.
A Chinese Lantern type seed head is apparently that of a Fritillary sp. Minko will ask his girlfriend. We're too late for the Orchids, of course.
A Chinese Lantern type seed head is apparently that of a Fritillary sp. Minko will ask his girlfriend. We're too late for the Orchids, of course.
Passing through an attractive village, we stood on a bridge, eventually seeing a Syrian Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail , Blackcap, Willow Warbler and several elusive butterflies. Many fish viewable below us but no-one knows what they are. A ponderous and ancient Russian troop carrier shuddered the bridge, the border is very sensitive because of the migrants from Syria. At a police control, Minko had to show five different documents.
Our sandwich packed lunch was eaten in a clearing near the river, an area dotted with trees which produced enough passerines to provide a lunchtime cabaret. A migrant Redstart still had remnants of its summer plumage.
Spotted Flycatcher, Chiffchaff and - to Minko's delight - his fourth only Garden Warbler. A pair of Ravens patrolled the sky, a Common Buzzard made a brief appearance and Goldfinches twittered an accompaniment.
A cold drink stop, although it was cooler up there with a lot of cloud cover to-day, before descending to the heavy traffic of urban Burgas and the lake where Pam wanted to see some more Pelicans. Not the spectacle we expected but a few were near enough for some photos - amongst the uncountable numbers of Coots, against the evening light.
Two Squacco Herons huddled in the reeds and a young Pelican practiced fishing.
A few Whiskered Terns patrolled the lake shore.
We were pleased to get back to-night, we're both tired. It's the intensive activity and the sun.
Not to mention my knees...........
Not to mention my knees...........
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