A great day around Lake Durankulak, in the north of Bulgaria, an area I was last in in February 2010. Not the most scenic part of the world, with a definite feel of the Fens about the Dobruja Plains at times. But the wildlife more than made up for it...
The real spectacle was the marsh terns, with hundreds of White-winged Black Terns, smaller numbers of Black Tern and Little Gull, a handful each of Whiskered Tern and Mediterranean Gulls and a lovely pink pair of Slender-billed Gulls, all hawking over the reeds and open water.
Herons put on a good show too. Purple Herons flew back and forth, at least three Bitterns were around, a couple of Squacco Herons, a flight of 8 Great White Egrets and a lovely male Little Bittern which flew across a pool and then sat out in the open for everyone to get a good view.
A wonderful party of Red-footed Falcons were feeding over a ploughed field, following the tractor together with a White Stork.
In the reeds, several loud, croaking Great Reed Warblers were heard and seen, a Savi's Warbler briefly popped up and then straight back down again, and a singing Paddyfield Warbler was determined not to be seen, and very nearly managed it!
Oh yes, and then there were the flowers... some interesting arable weeds growing in the fishponds area included Ground Pine and the lovely, bright red Adonis flammea (photo above).
Not bad for a first day...
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