Cetti's Warbler close up

Close up of a Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti, from our recent tour to the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. 

Wryneck

Just finished a very successful tour along the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. The main focus was on seeing the masses of migrating birds - storks, raptors, waders, pelicans, songbirds - as well as some of the special residents found there. There were many, many, highlights, and here is one... a Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla that after being trapped and ringed (banded) in a camp near Bourgas was safely released.    

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dryobates minor is the smallest woodpecker in Europe. Absent from Ireland, rare in the UK, it is however quite common in many places we visit in Central and Eastern Europe. Here is one from a recent tour in Hungary.