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! 

Here we go! Bulgaria and Northern Greece

Flying over Central London and the River Thames, we headed across the Alps towards Sofia. Arriving mid day allowed us to head to the Bespari Hills, in the foothills of the Western Rhodope Mountains, for a quick exploration of some continental steppe habitat, enroute to our first nights lodgings in Yundola. Leaving Sofia we passed some quite run down Eastern Block style tenements juxtaposed with modern buildings, before heading into countryside and swathes of some species of Marsh Orchid. Stopping in an old quarry we were met with the sound of Corn Buntings and splashes of colour from ruderals. A Tawny Pipit obligingly stood on the track, while Calandra Larks sang. Some nice butterflies and a Balkan Wall Lizard too...We then headed to Yundola - through a Picos de Europa-like gorge. Many of the buildings reminded us of the Picos too, from our earlier visits, before it became more developed. Plenty of cows with bells and random dogs. 

A clear sky for much of the journey, with splashes of yellow from Oilseed Rape fields. 

Clouds over the Alps.

And a tantalising glimpse....

Poppies - a constant throughout our trip.

Corn Bunting.

A Black-headed Bunting....

..and closer to.

Balkan Wall Lizard. 

Balkan Zephyr Blue - with black edges to its wings.

Queen of Spain Fritillary.

A freshly emerged Eastern Festoon...

Yellow-banded Skipper.

A colourful Shield Bug.

Rock Thyme.

A colourful Spurge sp.

And as we left, a good view of an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler. 

Local Ospreys

We are indeed very lucky to have these two Ospreys nesting locally...

The pair...

Walking on, it was good to see the Sphagnum in such good health.

What a great boardwalk!

Damp.

And back via the Ospreys.

Some spectacular views

And a quick selection of the views at Binevenagh. A classic sea cliff with slumped and tumbled blocks, screes and boulder field created as the glaciers retreated. 

Belted Galloway cattle - conservation grazing. 

Looming in the mist.

You can clearly see where the scree has come down a chute.

Possibly the photograph that I think sums up the site the best. 

A panorama and a half!

Looking back up from afar.

More plants ...

 While Mossy Saxifrage was the highlight, it was lovely to see these too...

A damp Primrose.

Mossy Saxifrage ...and below.

Yes, the photo is the correct way up! 

Early Purple Orchids.

Spring Sandwort.

Looking up - Mountain Avens.

And it's in bud.

Closer up.