Spent a week with 5 conservation staff travelling parts of this fine country. Flight (Ryannair)from Stanstead to Plovdiv, arrived 1210 hrs drove through the Rhodope montains to Trigrad birding in the majestic scenery enroute, stayed in small hotel in Trigrad near the famous gorge, wallcreeper seen feeding on a 1000 ft sheer rock face during the following morning as well as several mountain/forest species including chamois. Long drive through some interesting countryside to a rented villa 12km north of Burgas, overlooking the very large lake Atanastovko, lots of pelicans, waders, wildfowl ,flamingos and large roosts of passerines etc. visited the Ropotamo conservation area on the coast near Turkey 2600 acres of river, marsh, forest, rocky outcrops and headlands, and sandunes up to 80m high, and a wealth of wildlife. The 1200 ft hills 7km north of the villa were very good for migration with one afternoons obs of over 2300 raptors,various buzzards, sparrowhawks,eagles,goshawk, white pelicans and black storks . Travelled back to Plovdiv via an eastern imperial eagle breeding area where 3 were seen very well and the breeding location for griffon and egyptian vultures, in the arda river valley running through the mountains,again in majestic rugged scenery. regards John.
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