Overview
This important site for raptors consists of a complex of limestone gorges, stream valleys and plateaux interspersed with meadows, farmland, scrub and forest in the far north of Bulgaria close to the Romanian border.
The well-vegetated Rusenski Lom River flows through the main canyon and there are small ponds scattered over the farmland.
Birds
Notable Species
The biggest treasure of the park are the birds. Over 190 species have been recorded in the valley, about 110 of them breeding there. The rest are winter visitors or more or less occasional guests.
Among them are many species endangered throughout Europe. Short-toed, Golden, Imperial and Lesser Spotted Eagles (the last with a relatively stable population in Bulgaria), Egyptian Vulture, Levant Sparrowhawk, Long-legged Buzzard, Saker Falcon and Lesser Kestrel all breed here, making it an ideal area for raptor enthusiasts to explore.
There are also birds that have surprisingly started to expand their distribution: Long-legged Buzzard, Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin, and Spanish Sparrow. While in central Europe the Black Stork builds its nests in trees, in Bulgaria it nests mainly in rock niches.
In addition the wooded gorges are home to Eagle, Scops, and Tawny Owls, a variety of woodpeckers including Black, Middle Spotted and Syrian, and Nightjar.
Open scrubland and farmland nearby host White Stork, Corn Crake, European Roller, European Bee-eater and Hoopoe, shrikes and Tawny Pipit. Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush and Black-headed Bunting and Rock Bunting can be seen on the rockier plateaux.
Ruddy Shelduck have nested in the rocks along the gorge.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Black Stork, White Stork, Ruddy Shelduck, European Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Levant Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Goshawk, Long-legged Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Golden Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Booted Eagle, Osprey, Lesser Kestrel, Northern Hobby, Saker Falcon, Common Pheasant, Green Sandpiper, Stock Dove, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Eurasian Scops Owl, Tawny Owl, Little Owl, Eurasian Nightjar, Alpine Swift, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Syrian Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Lark, Eurasian Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Eurasian River Warbler, Barred Warbler, Sombre Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Rock Bunting, Black-headed Bunting
Other Wildlife
The forest is of mid European species mainly, with some representatives of southern plants. It is formed of about 60 species of trees and shrubs. In the inner sides of the curves one can mainly find purely sub-Mediterranean shrubs, the Eastern Hornbeam prevailing. Along with them one can also see Christ Thorn, Mahaleb Cherry, Manna (Flowering) Ash, Turkey Oak, Common Lilac, Sumach, Dwarf Almond, Almond-leafed Pear a.o. Among the herbaceous species (about 1000) there is an unusual number of southern representatives - immigrants from the steppes as well as rock dwellers such as Stipa joannis, Steppe Feather Grass, Dwarf Iris, Paronychia capitata, a member of the Pink family and many others.
The wild life is even richer than the flora. Endless is the diversity of invertebrates. Scolopendras and Carpathian Scorpions live under the stones. Especially impressive are species like Oryctes nasicornis, Lucanus cervus, Cerambyx cerdo and Yellow-headed Scolia. 22 species of fish live in the river. The valley is populated by 9 species of amphibians, 3 species of turtles, 9 species of lizards and 7 species of snakes; in general, about 20 species of reptiles can be found there. One can see the European Glass Lizard, the Caspian Whip Snake, the Aesculapian Snake and the Nose-horned Viper.
Out of the total number of 92 mammals reported in Bulgaria, 62 have been counted in the valley. The biggest is the number of bats - 22 species, all the 5 Horseshoe Bat to be found in Europe among them and rodents - 20 species, among which are the Ground Squirrel (Souslik), the Wild living Steppe Mouse, the Harvest Mouse, the Lesser Mole Rat.
The predators are best representated by the polecats (Weasel, Steppe Polecat and Marbled Polecat) and the Otter. The forests are also inhabited by Wild Cat, Wolf, Jackal and by all kinds of ungulates. That is a remarkable variety accomodated on a small span of land.
Site Information
History and Use
This area has much historical interest with several groups of "rock monasteries" built into the rock walls of the gorges.
Areas of Interest
To reach a site good for viewing raptors leave the northern end of Ivanov heading eastwards to a small parking spot where some stone steps lead down to a cave church. An alternative is to walk along the river into the valley bottom.
Access and Facilities
Rusenski Lom is situated about 15km to the south of the Danube Port of Ruse[Map] and can be reached from there on the E85 or from the Black Sea coast on the E70.
Most of the best gorges are found between the villages of Ivanov [Map]in the west and Pisanec in the east.
Accommodation can be found in Dve Mogili[Map]and Ruse.
External Links
Content and images originally posted by Steve
Reviews
boxhead's review
I have a house for rent in a village in the Rusenski region. Woodpeckers and hoopoes regulary visit the garden. Storks nest in the village. Eagles soar overhead. If you listen out at night you may hear the wolves howling. In a very secluded location the wildlife starts at the doorstep. A much better choise for the wildlife enthusiast than a hotel in Ruse or Dve Mogili! email me if you have interest Pros
- Very quiet area with beautiful and dramatic landscapes
Cons
- Low infrastructure
