Other then the 72+ Butterfly species seen, we notched up bang on 100 bird species seen/heard around the Pirin Mountains and Kresna Gorge area. Obviously July isn't ideal for birding and therefore I was pleased to get two lifers out of the week (Syrian Woodpecker & Semi Collared Flycatcher), but the biggest highlight were the superb abundance of mainly Golden Orioles and Bee-Eaters.
Out of the 100, the highlights are as follows:
Nutcracker - 10
Willow Tit - 2
Golden Oriole - 50+
Black-headed Wagtail - 10
Little Bittern - 1
Squacco Heron - 1
Sombre Tit - 4
SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER - 7
Crested Lark - 10
Black-headed Bunting - 2
Ortolan Bunting - 1
Scops Owl - 3h
SYRIAN WOODPECKER - 5
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Cirl Bunting - 3
Spanish Sparrow - 2
Goshawk - 3
Alpine Swift - 40
Black Stork - 2
Hawfinch - 50+
Grey-headed Woodpecker - 1
Bee-Eater - 100+
Marsh Warbler - 3
Barred Warbler - 1
Great Reed Warbler - 4
Corncrake - 2h
Quail - 1h
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Syrian Woodpecker -
good views needed to separate from GS Woodpecker,
and this bird clearly lacks the black band allowing a clear
white 'pathway' between cheeks and neck sides.
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| Black-headed Bunting - last sighting back in 2010 |
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| Great Reed Warbler |
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| Little Bittern |
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| Sqaucco Heron |
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| Sombre Tit - my last sighting back in 2010 |
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| Nutcracker |
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| Red-rumped Swallow |
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'Black-headed' Yellow Wagtail -
last sighting back in 2010
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