Romania, 24th May 2012

So, our last full day in Romania.

After breakfast, we bid farewell to our fantastic hosts on the houseboat Kingfisher and took the speedboat back to Murighiol, stopping to pay our respects to a family of four young Long-eared Owls on the way.

Our journey across to Amara took us via a lunchtime stop in the Macin Mountains National Park. Just outside the not-overly-lovely town of Macin, these weren't the most immediately impressive range of hills: dry grassland, a large quarry or two. I wouldn't be entirely truthful if I said I had high hopes, but a nice place for a leg-stretch at least...

Two hours later, and I would have to say Macin Mountains is a brilliant place. A couple of soaring Long-legged Buzzards, the usual background noise of Bee-eaters and Corn Buntings, Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrikes... a nice start. A pair of Woodlark, nice to see... "Raptor!", another Long-legged Buzzard.

For some reason, I raised my bins to the passing flock of starlings, and they all have pale bodies: "Rose-coloured Starlings!". The disappeared into the distant quarry, presumably breeding amongst the rubble piles. A nice surprise! Things are feeling more promising...

"Raptor!", yes, another Long-legged Buzzard. Then "Raptor!", and a circling Honey Buzzard. Nice to see a bit of variety after rather a glut of Marsh Harriers over the past week.

Next was a gorgeous male Honey Buzzard who started his wonderful butterfly wing-clapping display over our heads! Oh, and behind him, a little male Levant Sparrowhawk, all of ten minutes after I'd explained that our chances of seeing Levant Sparrowhawk were pretty much nil at this stage in the spring. Then a pair of Black Storks, together with another Honey Buzzard. Soon to be followed by a Common Buzzard, another Honey Buzzard and around 60 White Storks in a drifting flock, following the ridge.

While looking up at the ridge, a display-flighting wheatear zipped across my scope view. Alas, just a male Northern Wheatear. But let's have a quick check of the other rocks at the top of the ridge... a male Pied Wheatear! Very nice, thank you very much, quick, have a look through the scope... oh, he's gone. But there's another bird on the next rock along. Blue head, red belly: male Rock Thrush! A very unexpected bonus.

Balkan Wall Lizard skitting about, then a young Balkan Green Lizard and, on almost the next rock, a young Eastern Green Lizard, making easy comparison. Cardinal and Queen of Spain feeding on the salts along the stream edge, then a fresh Marbled Fritillary.

We can't stay out here all day, there's still a long way to go... back to the bus, sorry!

Down on the flat grassland, first one, then two Isabelline Wheatear on the rocks, where they should be. And a Tawny Pipit. A quick drink before we head off...

"Raptor!", a Long-legged Buzzard, carrying a big lizard. Turn, around, "Raptor!", another Long-legged Buzzard, this time carrying a struggling Souslik! And behind, a Black Kite, circling along the ridge. And above it, is that another buzzard? Surely too big... as if to wish us on our way, a young Eastern Imperial Eagle drifted in from the right, circled over head, then carried on along the ridge.

Yep, Macin Mountains, definitely a brilliant place...