📖 BIRDING CROATIA 2019 🇭🇷 ~ DAY 3

Day 3 ⛅️19C Wednesday 8th May 2019 ~ I was up around 6am today but with the house-owner dropping wood chip off for the heating around 7am I decided to forego my morning walk and catch up on some blogging. It was a beautiful if not chilly morning with no wind and a clear blue sky.

Black-eared Wheater ~ A great start to my day.

After the owner departed I decided to have a coffee and some toast on the terrace. As I was pouring the coffee you can imagine my surprise when I heard a Black-eared Wheatear, best described as a speeded-up Whitethroat singing right outside the door! It was literally perched in the tree yards away, the above photo was taken from the doorway.

Waterfalls at Roski slap ~ Part of Krka National Park

After yesterdays epic sightseeing event we decided to stay closer to home today and drove the relatively short distance, just 20kms to Roski Slap Waterfalls and Krka River. The waterfalls are stunning and a range of high cliffs protrude all around. We took the 8km walk (sadly not circular) which skirts the lake and the many reedbeds and woodland. There were several Great Reed Warblers, their gruff, croaking voice echoing all around the reeds. Nightingales, Golden Orioles and Turtle Doves could be heard regularly during the walk. However, the highlight of the day came when we were alerted to a presumed Sparrowhawk harassing a Raven, which was obviously nesting nearby. The observation was difficult at first as the birds were high and almost in direct sunlight but this bird appeared more falcon-like! Thankfully as the bird turned away black wing tips were clearly evident and the tail markings rather sparse as the bird dropped rapidly I was positive this was, in fact, a Levant Sparrowhawk, which nests in this region of the National Park.

Southern White Admiral

It wasn't all about the birds today with Lizards scurrying around the undergrowth and many Butterflies and Dragonflies on the wing in the now warm sunshine.


Photos of the Day...

Dalmatian Wall Lizard

Scarce Chaser ~ Common around the river today.

Black-eared Wheatear ~ Another from this morning 

Red-backed Shrike

Cuckoos back at the house ~ Never quite mated but close!

Golden Oriole ~ A nightmare to photograph but Dazza did well

A Timely reminder when walking the scrubland that its only two decades ago this country was a war!

Notable Species Seen...

Goosander, Great Cormorant, Pygmy Cormorant, Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Purple Heron, Short-toed Eagle, Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Honey Buzzard, Levant Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Spotted Crake, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Dove, Turtle Dove, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Common Swift, Hoopoe, Bee-Eater, Woodlark, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Crag Martin, House Martin, White Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Nightingale, Black-eared Wheatear, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Blackcap, Cetti's Warbler, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Jay, Red-backed Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Hooded Crow, Raven, Golden Oriole, Chaffinch, Linnet Serin, Cirl Bunting.

📖 BIRDING CROATIA 2019 🇭🇷 ~ DAY 2

Day 2 ⛅️18C Tuesday 7th May 2019 ~ With the weather much improved and the wind dropping significantly it was my first opportunity to get out for a dawn walk and explore the local area.

The track down to the house is mostly offroad and there are lots of them. In fact, I was warned by the house owner that other visitors have actually got disorientated and lost and I can see why! In the immediate grounds, Corn Buntings are quite common and at least three Cuckoos were calling in the area, a female was also bubbling quite close by. In the distance, a Nightingale and Golden Oriole could also be heard.

Eastern Subalpine Warbler ~  seems quite common.

The area is mostly rocky scrubland with Macchia, Olive and low Pine, there are also two vineyards close by. Easter Subalpine Warblers seem reasonably common with three during my walk, two Black-eared Wheatears were also noted along with a single Woodchat Shrike. There are a few rocky tors to investigate and here in among some dead trees a Spotted Flycatcher. Two Larks were seen, firstly a Woodlark, which having posed for a photo proceeded to fly up in display flight and a Crested Lark, which landed on the roof just as I returned. Overhead Barn Swallow, House Martin and Swift, along with Red-footed Falcon, Common Kestrel and Honey Buzzard.

Razvode to Biokovo Natural Park

After breakfast, a trip to Biokovo Nature Park, around a two-hour drive, rising to almost three by the time you ascend the mountains to almost 6,000ft. This is prevailingly a rocky habitat with cliffs, especially on its coastal side. The prevailing forest types here are sub-Mediterranean White Oak forests and Aleppo pine groves. Most of the open habitats are rocky with dry grasslands. The drive up is both breathtaking and terrifying, mostly single track with passing places that have you teetering on the end of a precipice at times. Once again fate played its part as the final stretch of Croatia's highest road was closed due to ice!!

A section of the road on the ascent at Bikovo

Still, the scenery was stunning but sadly we failed to connect with some of our target species for the day such as Sombre Tit, Black-headed Bunting and Lesser Grey Shrike but there's still plenty of time!

Notable Species Seen at Bikovo...

Golden Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Black Kite, Common Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, Cuckoo, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, Crested Lark, House Martin, Barn Swallow, Blue Rock Thrush, Blackcap, Orphean Warbler Sp., Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Chiffchaff, Alpine Chough, Hooded Crow, Raven, Cirl Bunting


Photos of the Day...

Woodlark on the morning walk

Crested Lark

One of two Golden Eagle 

📖 BIRDING CROATIA 2019 🇭🇷 ~ DAY 1

Our latest journey takes us to Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, a country at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, on the Adriatic Sea.

CROATIA

It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro to the southeast, sharing a maritime border with Italy. It's our first visit here and for the next few weeks, we've chosen a comfortable house near the town of Razvode, around an hours drive from Split. Our vehicle for the duration of our stay is an SUV Dacia Duster 4WD.

Razvode to Lake Vrana ~ Routing through the hills and skirting the northern part of Krka National Park

Day 1 ⛅️💨10C Monday 6th May 2019 ~ Around a two-hour drive taking the more scenic route to Lake Vrana in Dalmatia, the largest natural lake in Croatia. The lake is shallow, and therefore its entire bottom remains within reach of most waders which feed by diving. Hills to the east from the lake have areas covered with macchia and there are plenty of offroad tracks to explore.

Pygmy Cormorant ~ Battling the wind at Vranko Lake

This was a very challenging visit to the lake with a near gale blowing from the east. Scanning from the excellent boardwalk and viewing platforms was almost impossible and the disappointment of three viewing screens inexplicably closed was another burden. That said this is a stunning place and despite the challenge, a good selection of species were recorded.

Away from the lake, we drove offroad around the rocky hills to the east, which was only just passable in places but when finding sheltered areas birds were numerous.

Notable Species Seen...

Great Crested Grebe, Rock Partridge, Pygmy Cormorant, Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Short-toed Eagle, Montagu's Harrier, Common Buzzard, Honey Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, White-winged Tern, Whiskered Tern, Rock Dove, Turtle Dove, Common Cuckoo, Common Swift, Bee-Eater, Sand Martin, House Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Nightingale, Black-eared Wheatear, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Hooded Crow, Golden Oriole, Linnet, Serin, Corn Bunting

Photos of the day...

Pygmy Cormorant ~ Vranko Lake

Turtle Dove

Rock Partridge

Short-toed (snake) Eagle ~ Several during the drive up to Vransko

Honey Buzzard with Hooded Crow in pursuit!

Red-footed Falcon ~ At least four birds hawking around 15 mins from the house. This one probably a 1st summer♂

Montagu's Harrier 

Montagu's Harrier

Squacco Heron

Purple Heron

White-winged Tern ~ At least 10 over the lake

Eastern Subalpine Warbler ~ Seems pretty common in the whole area!

Eastern Subalpine Warbler

📖 #22/2019 ~ Brandon Whinchat

☁️10C Friday 3rd May 2019 ~ A few hours at Brandon Marsh mid-morning heading straight down to East Marsh Hide for a few hours vigil produced the usual selection of Waders, Warblers and Hirundines. The Drake Garganey which arrived on Wednesday was still present and seemed fairly content feeding throughout my stay. A female Cuckoo was heard bubbling close by followed by another bird seen in flight over towards New Hare Covert.

However, after coffee in the Nature Centre with Dave Cox, a surprise new addition to my summer list was a stunning male Whinchat which was sitting on the fence as I was packing away my gear. Although the bird was unusually flighty I did manage a couple of record shots on the Canon SX50.

A couple of record shots (only the Canon SX50 with me today) of the male Whinchat on the carpark bank.

📖 #21/2019 ~ May-Day Wyre Forest

☁️🌧13C Wednesday 1st May 2019 ~ Despite the weather forecast predicting the odd shower and mostly cloudy skies I met up with a few of the Brandon Marsh regulars at the Dowles Brook carpark, Wyre Forest at 06:30hrs. The target birds for the day included Wood Warbler, Tree Pipit, Redstart, Dipper and Pied Flycatcher.

Today's Route ~ Clockwise

Previous visits, to be fair mostly in early June, have yielded both Pearl-bordered and Small Pearl-boarded Fritillary butterflies but with today's conditions, I wasn't surprised that we didn't manage any early specimens!

Wood Warbler

Another Wood Warbler ~ One of at least eight today

It was hard going to begin with heading clockwise from the car park along the disused railway line, with just a hand full of singing Wood Warblers. However, by the time we'd completed the circular route, heading back to the carpark along Dowles Brook we'd all managed the remainder of the target birds for the day with the exception of Pied Flycatcher.

Tree Pipit

Tree Pipit Parachuting

Unfortunately, these appeared thin on the ground with only Alan Boddington and I managing the briefest views of male and female birds in separate locations. Willow Warblers appeared in good numbers, along with Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and three Garden Warblers. Treecreeper, two Buzzards and Grey Wagtail also noted.

Dipper along Dowles Brook

A Dipper gave exceptional views along the brook and a number of Tree Pipits were both singing and parachuting, fascinating to watch. Just a single Redstart was observed, despite hearing three birds in song during our stay, a male high in the canopy, well caught on camera by Alan.

First Drake Garganey of the year ~ Brandon Marsh

After a late lunch, we headed back to Brandon Marsh for a cracking drake Garganey which showed well on East Marsh pool. Also present was a Ringed Plover, remarkably the first recorded at Brandon this year!

Record shot of Redstart, Wyre Forest ~ Courtesy Alan Boddington

Thanks to Alan Boddington, John Raven and Geoff Hood for the excellent company.

📖 #20/2019 ~ April End

Since arriving back from Scotland last Thursday, where spring seems at least 3 weeks behind the Midlands, the final week of April was spent back on the patch and of course at Brandon Marsh for more hedge-bashing. With the exception of Storm Hannah on the 27th, the weather since returning has been a mixture of sunshine and cloud with chilly mornings and warm afternoons.

1st Whitethroat of the year for me at Brandon Marsh on the 26th

After my first visit to Brandon on the 26th, I'd notched up no less than (8) year firsts: Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Cuckoo, Hobby and even a Swift! Add to the list Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin and Little-ringed Plover and I think I'm pretty much up to speed with all the regular summer visitors having now been recorded.

Lesser Whitethroat ~ Regular breeding birds at the marina

Common Whitethroat ~ Another regular around the marina grounds

Closer to home Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats and Reed Warblers, regular breeders at the marina are back, the latter already starting to drive some of the other boat owners to despair, as they tend to sing quite often well into the night!

Female Ring Ouzel at Newnham Hill, Northants

On the 29th a Ring Ouzel was reported just a short distance from the marina and so a drive across counties early evening into Northants quickly produced a female bird at Newnham Hill. There was plenty of debate as to the sex of this particular individual and an excellent piece relating to this can be found HERE on 'Northants Birds'.

Green Hairstreak ~ Stockton Cutting

On the 30th I visited Stockton Cutting for the first time this year. The temperature had risen a little in the afternoon and with sunny periods I was interested to see what butterflies could be found. I was rewarded with a good selection, despite the chilly wind and these included Green Hairstreak and both Dingy and Grizzled Skipper but a little too early for any Small Blues. Others noted: Small tortoiseshell,  Red Admiral, Brimstone, Green-veined White and Orange Tip.

More Images of the last few days....

Sedge Warbler ~ Brandon Marsh

Tiger Green Beetle ~ Stockton Cutting

Grizzled Skipper ~ Stockton Cutting

Dingy Skipper ~ Stockton Cutting