May 2011 - Wildlife Travel

Danube Delta, species list and trip report, 12 th to 21 st May 2011
Mooring up on a bank in the most beautiful spot next to a woodland and was to be our home for
the next two nights. A late afternoon walk again provided a myriad of wildlife experiences, the
plant people finding more treasures while Cosmin and his net brought a number of insects to
show us. Will provided the bird highlight when he spied a long-eared owl not too far away and I
think most people saw it then before it flew away, if not then on subsequent walks. The adult was
a bit flighty but then a very visible youngster was seen, who obviously thought he was invisible
but allowed us all see it so well from a safe distance. This experience provided both Val and
Gordon with their 'best' bird moment. A wryneck also called and provided views for just a couple
of us while a pair of redstarts starting to nestbuild was a delight to watch.
The isolated location should have provided a peaceful nights sleep, lulled by the soothing chorus
of frogs and lapping water, but the local hounds had other thoughts and decided that they
wanted to add their incessant barking to the night sympathy.....that and Cosmin's snoring!
18 th May
Up early on the top deck help helped vanquish the night time trials as golden orioles, garden
warbler, thrush nightingale and common nightingale were the star performers in the early
morning chorus and it was this feature of the holiday that will remain with Sallie for a long time.
The eight hours following was spent on boats of diminishing size as we headed down the Dranov
channel to the coast again, necessitated by the low levels of water the Delta is experiencing this
year. Nevertheless it was great experience, the number of birds flying off was fantastic. This
drifting along in small boats with the birds and scenery is the lasting memory of the trip for Sylvia
and also provided her with the best bird when the glossy ibises flew off in front of us, their
purple sheen glistening in the sun. It was in this bit also that David and Greta their favourite bird
as well as we drifted slowly underneath a stunning pair of red-footed falcons,Greta particularly
liking the female.
After 2½ hours we eventually arrived at the destination at Dranov on the Black Sea Coast and we
went in search for the target bird. A white stork's nest provided a nice distraction but after only a
few hundred yards we arrived at the habitat. I expected a long frustrating wait but no, the
paddyfield warbler popped up quite close and performed really well for us, so much that
Graham nominated it as his favourite bird. So, eight hours, four boats and a severely delayed
lunch all for a little brown job that looks like many other little brown jobs; you're all hardened
birders now! It was an interesting beach there but a few of us had trouble with other warblers
and couldn't quite bring themselves to clinch the identification of an olive tree warbler, but we
did settle on common and lesser whitethroat and a marsh warbler.
The journey back was again a feast of birds and the front boat was treated to many golden
orioles flitting back and forth. However the star was a golden jackal sitting on the edge of a
marshy area which I think everyone saw well, as they did a couple of European pond terrapins
basking on the side and some saw a grass snake swim across the water as well.
Back on board and after a hearty lunch people did their own thing, some went back to look for
the owl and redstarts, Will to some sketching and others to spend time on their own. The dogs
were under the impression we enjoyed the previous nights concert so obliged with a repeat
performance, bringing out another side of Gordon's character which hadn't previously surfaced!
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