Overview
The Trigradski Gorge lies in the far south of Bulgaria close to the border with Greece in the Western Rhodopi Mountains.
The gorge itself is deep and narrow with steep cliffs up to 200m high in places, conifer-covered slopes and fast-flowing streams. The area is important for raptors and other rock-dwelling species.
Birds
Notable Species
Golden Eagle and Short-toed Eagle breed in or around the gorge as well as Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Goshawk, Lesser Kestrel, Northern Hobby and Peregrine Falcon. Eurasian Eagle Owl is possible along with abundant Alpine Swift, Eurasian Crag Martin and Red-rumped Swallow.
Black Woodpecker occurs in the conifer forests and Common Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and Common Dipper along streams. Cliffs and rockier areas have Rock Partridge, Black Redstart, Rock Bunting, and one of the specialities of the gorge, Wallcreeper.
Passage birds possible along the gorge include Black Stork, European Bee-eater, warblers such as Icterine Warbler, Wood Warbler and Garden Warbler and flycatchers including European Pied Flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher and Semi-collared Flycatcher.
Eurasian Golden Oriole also occurs and in some years Spotted Nutcracker passes through southwards in September.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Grey Heron, Black Stork, European Honey Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle, Eurasian Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Northern Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, Rock Partridge, Stock Dove, Great Eagle Owl, Eurasian Scops Owl, Little Owl, Alpine Swift, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, Eurasian Hoopoe, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Crested Lark, Wood Lark, Eurasian Crag Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Common Dipper, Common Wren, Northern Wheatear, Icterine Warbler, Garden Warbler, Wood Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, European Pied Flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Sombre Tit, Wallcreeper, Western Rock Nuthatch, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Spotted Nutcracker, Hooded Crow, Northern Raven, Common Bullfinch, Cirl Bunting, Rock Bunting
Other Wildlife
"To do"
Site Information
History and Use
To do
Areas of Interest
To do
Access and Facilities
The Trigradski Gorge is situated about 65km west of Smolyan and can be reached easily by road from there or Plovdiv. The gorge lies at the end of a minor road south of Teshel, a village 11km from Devin.
Approaching the gorge the road enters a tunnel and there is a parking area about 100m after the tunnel. Much of the local birdlife can be seen from here including Wallcreeper or alternatively, follow the road into the village, cross the river and walk eastwards.
The town of Devin about 30km from Trigradski has basic hotel accommodation which can also be found at the ski resort of Pamporovo about 50km away.
There are weekly guided tours of the gorge arranged by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds.
Contact Details
To do
External Links
Content and images originally posted by Steve
Reviews
Steve Lister's review
Saw Wallcreeper easily on each of two attempts.
Stayed in a very friendly B+B type guesthouse at the far end of the village; it had Sombre Tits nesting in the garden wall.
An interesting cave accessible from the carpark - small charge.
Pros
- Described as the most accessible Wallcreeper site in Europe.
Cons
- Poor access road.
