I know that my readers are quite often very interested in my travels other than just birds, so here's my first notes. It's 5.45am, thats too early! I'm on the plane but we haven't departed yet. Last nights hotel stay was interesting and eventful. I had booked myself in to the Copthorne Hotel near to Gatwick airport. Oddly a single room without parking was £125 but with parking the rate was £85…… now how could you possibly explain that because I can't. It meant that it was worth driving up which is what I did.
I have an old battered ford fiesta….my birding car which cost 10 times less than my Sigma 500 lens at £5000…..the car was £500 if you cant work it out! It was a tad embarrassing to leave the keys at reception and sheepishly tell them which was my car!
At the hotel, the fun started, I really wanted a good Internet connection so it seemed reasonable to upgrade to a premium room for an extra 15 quid which included a free drink, quite a good deal I thought. Guess what? The Internet didn't work, I was fuming and made my thoughts known in a very frank and sincere way! If you know me well you will laugh at this I'm sure. Anyway, rant over and my upgrade fee was returned to me! Result, but I would rather have listened to the football. Result….Derby 2 Reading 0!
Never wanting to let things rest when I feel aggrieved, I carried on moaning at reception this morning. They were more than apologetic and gave me a chauffeur driven free trip to the airport….. that was great service I think and proves the power of a good well constructed complaint which went something like, " How dare you sell me something that doesn't exist you robbing b……s"
So, we're on the plane, its Easy Jet and the cabin crew bloke is called Vic, if it was BA I am sure he would be Rupert or Jeremy. . I upgraded to the extra legroom seat and I am in seat 1A, brilliant, Easy Jet' equivalent of First Class. Not only no seat in front of me but nobody next to me either, I feel like a VIP and well worth the £12. So far, nothing to complain about yet today! Above the clouds and the sky is blue, nothing like it!

Vic and Sarah prepare my breakfast.
I am now at the apartment in Bankso. The drive here from Sofia was in a large Mercedes, it went well, in fact better than I expected because we actually got here, the driving was hairy to say the least, I thought it was dangerous to overtake on the brow of a hill when you are going around a bend!
A bit about birds. On the way here it was quiet with not a great deal seen except the odd bird of prey high above. Then I saw kites following a plough and I am quite sure that I saw a Nutcracker as we came through some forest not too far away.
At my apartment it is silent but I went shopping a while ago and on the river that runs though the centre of the town the first thing I saw was a pair of Dipper, then White Wagtails and then a glorious Black Redstart. I am just off with the camera for a look again.