A brief stop before Devin

Another brief stop, on what was essentially a travelling day, as we headed to Devin. 

Upland pasture and woodland. This is old Spruce forest - not plantation.

Wild Boar activity.

Oxlips...

Rhodope Snowbell Soldonella Rhodopaea.

Alpine Squill Scilla bifolia.

 

Batak

After a lovely lunch of salads followed by sausages and skinny chips with an aubergine and tomato dip,we headed for a quick stop at Batak. Walking down to the reservoir there were a number of Violet Carpenter Bees, plenty of Orchids, Bee Eaters, a Barred Warbler and other species. 

General views...

Violet Carpenter Bee.

Heart-flowered Marsh-orchid...and below.

Green-winged Orchid.

Back to the minibus under a threatening sky...

Belmeken Crocuses

The Crocuses were spectacular and abundant! Emerging from the snow they stood proud, welcoming the spring sun. 

Above the reservoir.

A haze of Crocuses.

And into the Crocus fields.

Belmeken Reservoir

 Driving up into the Rila Mountains we arrived at Belmeken Reservoir. Splendid views all round ...and then a quick glimpse of some movement. Looking more carefully we realised that Sousliks or European Ground Squirrels were scuttling around us. Cute and very Marmot like. Walking up the hill a dash of purple lit up a far off hillside - crocuses in abundance (next blog)! As we got into the crocus zone we were treated to good views of a Red-backed Shrike, Black Stork, Whin Chat and a distant Northern Wheatear. Thamnolia, White Worm Lichen was abundant and the Juniper was in berry. 

A pair of Souslik - well camouflaged.

Purple Crocuses in the distance.

Red-backed Shrike.

Black-eared Wheatear.

Pygmy owl ...

On our way to the Belmeken Reservoir, we stopped off in some high level conifer woods to walk along and try and find/call a Pygmy Owl. Wow - with a Pygmy Owl sat close to a Nutcracker and a Crested Tit - what a trio! 

Driving up into the conifer woodland and snow.

Glimpses of higher up.

Spectacular lichens, cones and Wood Ant nests.

Nutcracker.

Nutcracker.

Pygmy Owl, being annoyed by a Goldcrest. The Goldcrest makes you realise how small the owl is! 

Pygmy Owl and below.

Devin and the Triad Gorge

As we looked out off our balcony, the mist began to clear and Swifts screamed overhead. We travelled to the Triad Gorge where Black Pines clung, somehow, to the vertiginous limestone rock walls. Pulling into a layby, we were immediately treated to good views of a pair of Wall Creepers that flitted from one side of the gorge to the other, going in and out of their nest. Alpine Swifts soared above, together with Crag Martins. A pair of Chamoix sat way away. 

Balcony view.

And in the other direction...

Early morning light.

Wall Creeper.

...and again...

The two plants beside the Wall Creeper, are probably Saxifraga sempervivum and Saxifraga ferdinandi-coburgi - or easier to remember : Bulgarian Saxifrage! The Bulgarian Saxifrage is a rare Balkan endemic that is often found in the Triad Gorge. 

And another visit...

As the sun enters the gorge.

The Yundola Pass - a pre breakfast visit

Unable to arrange an early breakfast, it was an early start for a pre-breakfast trip to the Yundola Pass. A heavy dew and whisps of mist made for an atmospheric start to the day, before it burnt off. Our first stop was in pasture: Black Redstarts, Mistle Thrushes, Yellowhammers, Wood Lark and Ring Ouzels.  Arriving higher up, we heard Black Woodpecker drumming and glimpsed a Red Squirrel. A distant Goshawk, wheeled above. Grape Hyacinths, Spurges and Cowslips dotted the ground.

From the hotel we heard and saw Crossbills and a Hobby. 

Clearing mist ...pastures where we saw several Ring Ouzels. 

Ring Ouzel with worms.

Upper Pastures.

Grape Hyacinths.

Cowslips, Grape Hyacinth, Corydalis solida and Viola tricolor or Wild Pansy.

Millipede.

One of many Black Redstarts.

Back to the hotel for breakfast where there was a market being set up. 

In the boxes - dried Ceps.

Fabulous honey.

Guardian of the market...

He was keen to see the cows off as they passed by!