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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Paul Chapman" data-source="post: 3395896" data-attributes="member: 69491">Whilst Meatloaf's philosophical approach is to be applauded, three out of three is better. We travelled a loop after lunching in Svilengrad through Mladinovo, Lisovo and Dripchevo to Hlyabovo. The highlight was a displaying adult Imperial Eagle for thirty minutes or so over woodland. We also visited a Lesser Kestrel reintroduction programme where we saw at least 8 birds. Other raptors seen were a Kestrel, 5 Buzzards, Short-toed Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, female Marsh Harrier and a Lesser Spotted Eagle. Syrian Woodpecker was a belated trip addition and 3 Woodchat, 2 male and 2 female Red-backed Shrikes, Black-headed Buntings and Golden Oriole (heard) again added colour.A stop at Hylabova produced 2 Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard and 2 Hobby to continue the raptor theme. Otherwise of course Black-headed Buntings, Golden Oriole and a male and a female Red-backed Shrike as well as Lesser Grey Shrike and a trip tick in the form of Tawny Pipit.Diverting back to the hotel to drop the guide, we headed to Topolchane to check some farmland and an Isabelline Wheatear colony. The journey was rain affected - indeed torrential rain and hail and a huge electrical storm. Lightening was literally flashing everywhere. However, 4 Buzzard, Kestrel and Marsh Harrier on the raptor front and a Red-backed Shrike were noted.The farmland at Topolchane - a Souslik colony - produced with Short-toed Lark and at least 4 Isabelline Wheatear with also Tawny Pipit, 2 male Red-backed Shrikes and a Long-legged Buzzard. The highlight was however a ringtail harrier. A brief interrupted view left me thinking Pallid but willing to write it off as Montagu's because my companion had not seen it and Pallid would have been a tick.... When it returned as we left the site, and gave itself up as a Pallid Harrier, it was an enormous relief!! Excellent.The short one hour journey back to Burgas from where we fly in the morning produced a bananas total of 31 Red-backed Shrikes - 25 males and 6 females - as well as a ringtail Montagu's Harrier, a Squacco Heron, a female Marsh Harrier, Turtle Doves, 2 Buzzards and Black-headed Buntings.In the middle of Burgas, a Nightingale sang from some isolated bushes as we wandered out to find a restaurant and a beer. They have been everywhere.We're unlikely to try anything in the morning other than to head to the airport. Logistics and some pictures to follow as well as hopefully some more coherent site gen and species information.All the best</blockquote>

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