Last week I was in Bulgaria with my family for a short holiday. We spent a few days in the Rhodopean mountains, and two nights in Sofia the capital. Overall it was a lovely and much fun with the family. The scenery was breathtaking, weather was great - I loved Bulgaria. My birding was limited to early morning sessions before the rest of the family wakes up. My expectations were very high to start with, so altogether birding was fun.
In the Rhodoepan mountains we stayed on the outskirts of a small town named Smolyan. There's nice mixed forest around town, and I enjoyed walking there. Some big cliffs, that helf Yellow-billed Choughs, tower over the town. Black Woodpecker, Northern Nutcraker, many Hawfinches, and a nice mix of migrants made for pleasant birding along forest trails. Marsh Tit and Collared Flycatchers in the garden were sweet too.
Looking down from the top of a cliff
Marsh Tit
We visited the postcard-like Smolyan lakes
And impressive Trigrad Gorge, where I had a Wallcreeper flying across from side to side
The most exciting wildlife experience of the trip was a close encounter with two or three Brown Bears. We sat in a hide waiting for them for four hours (very proud of my family!). Eventually we enjoyed incredible views. However, it was pitch dark, with only super weak illumination that wasn't sufficient for photography. This is the best I could get at ISO 25000. Many thanks to Vladi and Minko for their help in setting this up.
Pamporovo Ski Resort wasn't high-altitude enough for proper alpine species, but the forest there was very nice.
While birding there I had an unusual observation. I spotted a tiny Goldcrest, likely young, dead, stuck to a sticky thistle, Greater Burdock. It probably went after tiny arthropods attracted to the flowers, and ended its fragile life this way. Apparently this happens quite often but I've never seen anything like this before.
European Serin
Habitat shot of Tree Pipit - quite many of them
I enjoyed spending quality time with Willow Tits - smart birds (even in tatty post-breeding plumage)
From Smolyan we returned to Sofia for two nights (one full day). We were greeted by a massive, crazy climate-change-style hail storm that lasted for about 10 minutes just as we were unpacking the car at our accommodation. Insane.
After the storm, the city was clean and shiny and the air was fresh. We enjoyed Sofia very much. It's a fine city.
My final morning birding session was on Vitosha mountain with my friend Ivailo. We had a grand time birding the subalpine zone in lovely habitat and great weather. Ring Ouzels, more Northern nutcrackers, Crossbills,. Thanks to Ivailo for a fun morning.
Two Crossbills
Hello Firecrest!
Northern Nutcrackers - such cool birds
Pristine juvenile Red-backed Shrike
More frosty Willow Tit action
My eBird trip report is here. Thank you Bulgaria, you were kind to us.
