Bulgaria Birding – Northeast and Vitosha Mountain

Easter Weekend: 25-29 March 2016

St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia

The Easter weekend break was a perfect opportunity to visit Bulgaria for some sightseeing and birding. Our focus was the northern Black Sea coast and the Danube River marshes near Silistra/Srebarna. The country scores high marks for historical interest, affordability, and the chance to easily see some of Europe’s less common birds: Dalmatian Pelican, Pygmy Cormorant, Long-legged Buzzard, Black Woodpecker, Black Stork, etc. Our self-arranged tour looked like:

Thursday, 24 March: Geneva – Sofia. Overnight at the centrally-located, Sofia Balkan Hotel

Friday, 25 March: Sofia – Varna. Bulgarian Railways (7.5hour daytime voyage). Overnight in Varna.

Saturday, 26 March: self-drive rental car to Ramsar wetland sites at Durankulak and Shabla. Detour to Kaliakra Peninsula. Overnight at Balchik (White Palace Spa Hotel, near Queen Marie’s Palace).

Sunday, 27 March: Balchik – Srebarna. Afternoon birding with local guide, Mike Black. Overnight at the lovely Pelican Lake Guest House.

Monday, 28 March: Morning birding with Mike at various sites along the Danube River. Drive back to Sofia (7 hours) birding along the way. Overnight at Sofia Balkan Hotel.

Tuesday, 29 March: Birding Vitosha Mountain, 10kms from Sofia. Evening flight return to Geneva.

Birding along the Roman road alongside the Danube River near Silistra

Bird list: (in bold are new life species for me)

1. Mute Swan, Cygnus olor – at most sites 2. Greylag Goose, Anser anser – at most lakes 3. Ruddy Shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea – a pair near Srebarna (the result of a captive breeding

programme) 4. Common Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna – one at Durankulak 5. Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos – common everywhere 6. Gadwall, Anas strepera – at Durankulak 7. Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata – most marshes 8. Garganey, Anas querquedula – most common anas seen 9. Common Pochard, Aythya farina – Shabla 10. Ferruginous Duck, Aythya nyroca – Durankulak and Srebarna 11. Common Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus – seen several times by roadside 12. Black-throated Loon, Gavia arctica – group of three on Black Sea off Balchik 13. Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis – several at most sites 14. Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus – common, in breeding plumage 15. Yelkouan Shearwater, Puffinus yelkouan – small group flying off Kaliakra 16. Dalmatian Pelican, Pelecanus crispus – colony of 60+ birds at Srebarna 17. (Great) Comorant, Phalacrocorax carbo – reasonably common at all sites

Pelican site at Srebarna Reserve

18. (European Shag), Phalacrocorax aristotelis – common at Durankulak 19. Pygmy Comorant, Phalacrocorax pygmeus – seen at Srebarna only (common) 20. Great Egret, Casmerodius albus – at Durankulak 21. Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea – three roosting in marshes behind the beach at Balchik 22. White Stork, Ciconia ciconia – hundreds seen and very common in fields throughout 23. Black Stork, Ciconia nigra – group of five seen from train, close to Varna 24. Osprey, Pandion haliaetus – one in flight at Srebarna 25. Black Kite, Milvus migrans – several at various sites 26. (Western) Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus – at least one hovering over marshes at all sites

My guide, Mike Black, in action pointing out the Dalmatian Pelicans, Srebarna

27. Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus – both sexes seen on three occasions hunting low over ploughed fields

28. Long-legged Buzzard, Buteo rufinus – restricted range in SE Europe. Two seen flying, hovering and diving for prey at a hill site, approx. 30kms south of Ruse (Rousse) – as indicated as a possible viewing site by Mike Black

29. Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo – uncommon; two seen by roadside 30. Levant Sparrowhawk, Accipiter brevipes – summer visitor to SE Europe; one adult male seen

flying around Poplar trees 31. Common Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus – common

The white cliffs of Balchik

32. Water Rail (?), Rallus aquaticus – one seen skulking in reeds at Durankulak 33. (Eurasian) Coot, Fulica atra – very common at all sites 34. Green Sandpiper, Tringa ochropus – one at a farm dam near Srebarna 35. Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos – one on beach at Balchik 36. Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus – very common at Srebarna 37. Yellow-legged Gull, Larus michahellis – common at Black Sea 38. Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fiscus – a pair at Balchik 39. (Common) Wood Pigeon, Columba palumbus – common in woods 40. (Eurasian) Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaoto - common in towns 41. (Eurasian) Hoopoe, Upupa epops – commonly encountered at coastal sites; ground feeding

Kaliakra, from where the Shearwaters were seen

42. Black Woodpecker, Drycocpus martius – a pair found by Mike, excavating a nesting hole in old Poplar near the banks of the Danube. Surprisingly close to human habitations.

43. Grey-headed Woodpecker, Picus canus – seen on two occasions near Srebarna 44. Syrian Woodpecker, Dendrocopos syriacus – the most common woodpecker encountered 45. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos minor – one pair encountered in planted wind

break between wheat fields 46. Water Pipit, Anthus spinoletta – several on grass close to water bodies 47. White/Pied Wagtail, Motacilla alba – common; the only Motacilla seen 48. (European) Robin, Erithacus rubecula – common 49. Thrush Nightingale, Luscinia luscinia – heard by Mike Black; not seen 50. Black Redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros – not common; but several seen at most sites 51. (Common) Stonechat, Saxicola torquatatus – seen thrice close to wooded areas 52. Song Thrush, Turdus philomelos – at Vitosha Mountain, close to Sofia 53. Mistle Thrush, Turdus viscivorus – Vitosha

Beach near Balchik

54. (Common) Blackbird, Turdus merula – very common 55. Ring Ouzel, Turdus torquatus – one well-coloured male at Vitosha 56. Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla – several pairs at Black Sea coastal sites 57. (European) Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus – one at Durankulak 58. (Common) Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita – common everywhere 59. Goldcrest, Regulus regulus – several at Vitosha Mountain 60. (Winter) Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes – most places 61. Great Tit, Parus major – ubiquitous 62. Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus – two seen at Vitosha Mountain 63. Willow Tit, Poecile montanus – common at Vitosha 64. (Eurasian) Nuthatch, Sitta europaea – seen 3-4 times at various sites

Queen Marie of Romania’s Palace, Balchik (the excellent Korona Restaurant is nearby)

65. (Eurasian) Jay, Garrulus glandarius – plentiful at Balchik 66. (Spotted) Nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes – one perched on top of conifer at Vitosha 67. (Western) Jackdaw, Corvus monedula – at most sites 68. Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix – common 69. (Common) Starling, Sturnus vulgaris – common everywhere 70. House Sparrow, Passer domesticus – in towns 71. Spanish Sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis – in woods near Srebarna 72. (Eurasian) Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus – common 73. (Common) Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs – very common at all sites 74. Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla – two seen with Chaffinches at Vitosha

Vitosha Mountain

75. Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis – common in fields 76. Greenfinch, Chloris chloris – one calling from tree top at Balchik 77. (Eurasian) Bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula – a brilliantly coloured pair feeding in snow at Vitosha 78. Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes – one at Shabla 79. Common (Red) Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra – very common feeding on pine cones at Vitosha 80. (Common) Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus – seen and calling at most marsh sites 81. Yellowhammer, Emberiza citronella – small group in woods at Balchik 82. Cirl Bunting, Emberiza cirlus – one at Balchik with Yellowhammers 83. Corn Bunting, Emberiza calandra – very common in recently ploughed fields near Black Sea

All-in-all, a great short break with some good birds. A good plan would be to return in January/February for the wintering Red-breasted and White-fronted Geese. Next time…..

Poor photo (i-phone) of Black Woodpecker at nest hole

Our wonderful hosts, Mike & Jerry Black, of Pelican Lake Guest House