An forgotten photo of Pallid Harrier

Posted by Rossen

These days I was able to look some archival photographs, unpublished so far. One of them after further processing is clearly visible characteristics of young Pallid Harrier, namely long and pointed wings, bright belly, dark nape and neck and white collar. The picture is particularly valuable for me as this is the only observation in southwestern Bulgaria of the specie that does not breed in the country.

young Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)

Birding in Matka Canyon

Posted by Rossen

Matka is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in Macedonia and is home to several medieval monasteries. Matka Canyon has a wide variety of plants and is known that there are registered four vulture species, some of them even nest in the area. Unfortunately, the day I arrived in the area the weather conditions were not suitable for birding, and only managed to watch Ravens high in the cliffs of the canyon.

 

Matka Canyon

An latish migrant

Posted by Rossen


Juvenile White Stork observed on Struma river at the end of October. The bird was in apparently good condition, flying by the banks of Struma river in search of food and a safe place.Often latish migrants remain until the end of autumn in Bulgaria, and in some cases even overwinter.

Birding in late September

Posted by Rossen


September is a time of active migration along Struma river valley, with ability to observe one of the rarest bird species. Here are the species which were found in the wetlands near Blagoevgrad at the end of the month.

All observed species:

Mallard
Semi-wild Mallard
Little Grebe
Black Stork 
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Great Egret
Great Cormorant
Green Sandpiper
Little Ringed Plover
Dunlin
Common Greenshank
Little Stint
Coot
Water Rail 
Moorhen
Common Kingfisher
Sedge Warbler
Wood Warbler
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff     
Kestrel
Short-toed Eagle
Common Buzzard
Osprey
Hopooe
Magpie 
Rook
Hooded Crow
Eurasian Jackdaw  
European Starling
Yellow Wagtail
White Wagtail
European Goldfinch

Observation of Black-necked Grebes

Posted by Rossen


This observation from the early September was done in wetlands near Blagoevgrad. Among the flock of a hundred mallards able to observe and 4 Black-necked Grebes (Podiceps nigricollis), resting during autumn migration.
 

Some photographs taken this summer

Posted by Rossen

Post some pictures taken this summer along Struma river in anticipation of the autumn migration.

Sympetrum fonscolombii

Buteo buteo

Melitaea didyma

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) at Blagoevgrad wetlands

Posted by Rossen


Young Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) managed to observe on 25/07/2014 in wetlands near Blagoevgrad, as the bird was observed to feed undisturbed in the shallows with waders and herons. 

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

Tufted Duck in Blagoevgrad wetlands during the breeding season

Posted by Rossen


Yesterday, on the last visit of wetlands near Blagoevgrad observed  male Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) in eclipse during the breeding season. This observation is witness of probable breeding in wetlands near Blagoevgrad, for which there is still no definite proof. According to a scientific publication breeding population of the species in Bulgaria is estimated at 1 to 6 couples.

male Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) in eclipse

Here is the complete list of observed birds:


Mallard
Tufted Duck
Little Grebe
White Stork
Little Bittern
Grey Heron
Great Cormorant
Kestrel
Short-toed Eagle
Common Buzzard
Water Rail
Moorhen
Coot
Little Ringed Plover
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Whiskered Tern
European Turtle Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove
Common Kingfisher
European Bee-eater
Common Hoopoe
Syrian Woodpecker
Lesser Grey Shrike
Magpie
Hooded Crow
Eurasian Jackdaw
Blue Tit
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Crag Martin
Long-tailed Tit
Calandra Lark
Crested Lark
Greater Short-toed Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Great Reed Warbler
Cetti's Warbler
Marsh Warbler
European Starling
Blackbird
Northern Wheatear
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
Yellow Wagtail
White Wagtail
European Goldfinch
Corn Bunting

Global Shorebird Countting

The Global Shorebird Counting is one of the key events of the World Shorebirds’ Day. This is not particularly a citizen science program, but rather an effort to rise awareness for the importance of regular bird monitoring as the core element of bird protection and habitat conservation.
The World Shorebirds’ Day is a celebration. Shorebirds, those fantastic migrants, as well as people, who do the most for them, are celebrated each year, on 6 September.
For more information see the official website: http://worldshorebirdsday.wordpress.com/ and find out where will be making observations in 2014.

Anyone can register to participate in the initiative whether profesinalist or enthusiastic ornithologist.Yesterday I registered and will count in wetlands near Blagoevgrad.

Summering waders in Blagoevgrad wetlands

Posted by Rossen


In late June, along with ordinary waders nesting in the wetlands of Blagoevgrad, observed a few summering non-breeding weaders, as the birds were of different types and ages.Among observed  summering waders were: 1 Northern Lapwing, 1 Spotted Redshank , 3 Common Redshanks 4 Green Sandpipers (no evidence of nesting) and 3 Wood Sandpipers.This June observation should imply that the recorded birds were summering birds and not migrants departing late or returning early. During this year as always on Blagoevgrad wetlands, prenuptial migration finished in May while postnuptial migration commence in mid July.

Summer is began

Posted by Rossen

After an unusually cold and rainy spring, now in late June temperatures reached appropriate for early summer values ​​and revived wildlife. During this period birding is limited in the early morning or late afternoon, as the most attractive sights in that time is hunting kestrels with its characteristic hangs on the air.

Common Kestrel

At the same time, this Green lizard looks at the top to make sure that the bad weather is gone and close no direct threat of raptors.

 

Green lizard

Struma Wildlife already in Facebook

Posted by Rossen


Struma Wildlife already in Facebook with more images, videos and data about wild nature of Struma river and SW Bulgaria. You can see the Facebook account in follow web address: https://www.facebook.com/StrumaWildlife

Rarest birds of Kozjuh volcano

Posted by Rossen


Kozjuh volcano is a natural monument and habitat of some of the rarest birds in Bulgaria. The slopes of volcanic hills are a suitable nesting place for three rare bird species prefer rocky habitats, namely Rock Nuthatch, Blue Rock Thrush and Black-eared Wheatear. 

 

Rock Nuthatch (Sitta neumayer) on Skalata volcanic hill

Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) on Pchelina volcanic hill

In June, their presence among the steep slopes of the Kozjuh volcano can't go unnoticed if you go along the paths around the hills. This is only a small part of the rich fauna of the Kozjuh volcano and near pass Struma river. 
 

Kozjuh volcano

Cormorants and Herons on Struma river sandbar

Here below is the full list of bird species observed in early June during the field observation in the hills of the Kozjuh volcano and Struma river:

 The checklist of the day:

Mallard
Great Cormorant
Dalmatian Pelican
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Black Stork
White Stork
European honey buzzard
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Kestel
Hobby
Eleonora's Falcon
Yellow-legged Gull

Common Cuckoo
Bee-eater
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
House Martin
Black-eared Wheatear
Great Reed Warbler
Eastern Orphean Warbler
Rock Nuthatch
Blue Rock Thrush
Woodchat Shrike
Magpie
Hooded Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Goldfinch
Black-headed Bunting
Corn Bunting

Warblers on sunset

Posted by Rossen

Evening on sunset is the right time to photographing birds because of the brightness and variety of colors.  Warblers use this time to mark their territory by deafening songs and are a convenient object for shooting against the reedbeds.

Great Reed Warbler

Great Reed Warbler

Great Reed Warbler

Waders migration in May

Posted by Rossen


In late May complete waders migration, as only Little Ringed Plovers and Common Sandpipers remain to nest in the Struma river valley. Here is the number and species observed in Blagoevgrad wetlands in May as follows: 1 Common Greenshank, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 9 Little Ringed Plovers, 6 Common Sandpipers,  9 Ruff, 10 Wood Sandpipers and 4 Little Stints.

Little Stint (Calidris minuta)

Osprey migration

Posted by Rossen


Osprey is a bird that performs large distances migrations, as the European population spend the winter away in Africa, then from the beginning of March to May migrates through the Balkans to reach nesting places in Northern Europe. This spring, in Blagoevgrad wetlands were recorded five sightings of Osprey and after detailed checking of the photos can be said that the observations were made on different birds. The earliest observation on 08.03.2014 and later than 06.05.2014.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Yellow-banded Skipper (Pyrgus sidae)

Posted by Rossen


Yellow-banded Skipper (Pyrgus sidae) is a widespread species in southern Europe including Bulgaria. Prefers warm dry grassy and rocky places, usually on calcareous ground, with one generation from May to July.

Yellow-banded Skipper

Shrikes along Struma river valley

Posted by Rossen


Shrikes are passerine birds of the family Laniidae.They are medium-sized birds, with grey, brown, red or black and white plumage. Their beaks are hooked, like that of a bird of prey, reflecting their predatory nature, and their calls are strident.Shrikes breeds in open cultivated country, preferably with orchard trees and some bare or sandy ground.The Shrikes on the Struma river valley are represented by five species: Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator), Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) and Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) which is widespread and Masked Shrike ( Lanius nubicus) with limited distribution south of Kresna gorge. In winter is meeting and one northern migrant - The Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor) rare bird listed in the Red Book of Bulgaria.

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)

Black Kite new species in bird list of Blagoevgrad wetlands

Posted by Rossen


In early May observed two migrating Black Kites (Milvus migrans) over Blagoevgrad wetlands. One of them use the site to catch fish and then the birds headed toward Oranovo gorge. This is the first observation of this species in the wetlands near Blagoevgrad, as the total number of raptors recorded here going on 18.

Black Kite