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Description
A river valley high in the Pirin (Пирин) Mountains between Vihren (2914 m) and Todorin Vrah (2746 m), this site holds an excellent range of alpine and subalpine birds. Above the 2,300-2,400 m tree line, the grassy slopes have Kaya kartalý, Sarıgagalı dağkargası, Kuzgun, Büyük dağbülbülü, Dağ incirkuşu, Kulaklı toygar (the Balkan subspecies balcanica with extensive black on the throat, a likely future species split), Boğmaklı Ardıç (alpine subspecies alpestris), Kaya kirazkuşu and if you are lucky, Duvar Tırmaşık Kuşu.
The mixed conifer forests are important for Göknar kargası (look for them collecting seed from Macedonian Pine [Pinus peuce] cones), Çaprazgaga (on my visit, two different forms, one small-billed, feeding on Norway Spruce [Picea abies] cones, the other large-billed and closely resembling Koca Başlı Çaprazgaga, feeding on Balkan endemic Bosnian Pine [Pinus heldreichii] cones), dağ baştankarası (the alpine subspecies montanus), Küçük yeşil ağaçkakan, Kara ağaçkakan, Çalıkuşu, Sürmeli Çalıkuşu, Orman tırmaşıkkuşu and Tepeli baştankara. The alpine chalets hold breeding Boz Ebabil and Kaya kırlangıcı, both of which feed widely over the valley, and Kara kızılkuyruk.
Lower down, the mixed woodland around Bansko holds Ortanca Ağaçkakan (which can even be seen in parks and gardens in Bansko) and Bahçe Tırmaşıkkuşu. Also look for passage migrants like Sarı mukallit and Orman çıvgını. Open areas have Leş kargası, Küçük iskete, and Bahçe kirazkuşu as well as Sarı kirazkuşu. Overhead, Kizil kirlangici feed together with more familiar Ev kırlangıcı and Kır kırlangıcı. The river holds Derekuşu and Dağ kuyruksallayanı along its full length.
Details
Access
The mountain resort of Bansko (Банско) has an excellent range of accomodation and can be reached easily by train or bus from the capital Sofia. From Bansko, the best option is to hire a taxi to either the Banderitsa Chalet (Хижа Бъндерица, 14 km) or Vihren Chalet (Хижа Вихрен, 16 km), where you can also stay to explore the area, or walk along the many footpaths back to Bansko.
Terrain and Habitat
Forest , Mountain , Canyon/cliff , Scattered trees and bushes , Grassland , Valley , Tundra , River , City/villageConditions
Mountainous , Open landscape , Rocky , HillyCircular trail
NoIs a telescope useful?
NoGood birding season
Spring , Autumn , SummerBest time to visit
Autumn , Spring , SummerRoute
Paved road , Wide path , Unpaved road , Narrow trailDifficulty walking trail
StrenuousAccessible by
Foot , CarBirdwatching hide / platform
NoExtra info
My visit was in autumn, after most summer visitors had left. If there are other good species to be seen here in spring or summer, please leave a note below and I will add the details!
As well as the many birds, the site holds occasional Brown Bear and Wolf. It is botanically very rich, including the famous 'Байкушевата мура' ('Baikushev's pine'), an ancient Черна мура / Bosnian Pine (Pinus heldreichii) estimated to be over 1,300 years old, one of the oldest trees in the whole of Europe.
Thanks to Stivi Musievski for tips on additional birds that can be found here.
Gallery photo below of Göknar kargası in the Banderitsa Valley by Amkramer, creative commons cc-by-4.0 license, from iNaturalist via Wikimedia Commons.