We arrived in Bulgaria the previous afternoon, and were then driven down to Smolyan where we slept for one night. Our reason for coming to Smolyan was to sort out some official documentation, but it did mean we had a bit of time the following morning to spend at the nearby Smolyan Lakes, or 'Smolyanksi Ezera' as it is in Bulgarian.

We began at the upper lake around 6:30am, where it was still too cold for anything to be flying but we hoped to come across some roosting insects. Disappointingly we only found a single Spearhead Bluet, and not one in particularly good condition. There was very little else actually beside the lake, except a few micro moths: Crambus pascuella, Chrysoteuchia culmella, a Stenoptilia sp. Celypha lacunana, Lathronympha strigana, Dichrorampha petiverella and Fulvoclysia nerminae. The latter was actually new for me, and a species not in Britain, but I only realised looking back. By 7:30am the first Downy Emerald began flying over the lake, where there was also a surprise Green Sandpiper. Other insects here included a Blue Featherleg, and a roosting Chestnut Heath.

Away from the lake we found some more roosting butterflies and moths: I took photos of a Small Skipper, Marbled White and Black-veined Moth. It was beginning to brighten now, so we decided to walk down the the lower lake, where the Yellow-winged Darters can be found. On the way we found a few more bits of interest: a lovely Wood Tiger, Mazarine Blue, Scotch Argus, Green Hairstreak, several more Chestnut Heath, and a White-banded Black Moth (Rheumaptera subhastata), a species closely related to Argent & Sable.

Once we reached the lower lake the focus very much shifted to the dragonflies. As hoped the darters were numerous, more so in fact than in previous visits, with an estimated count of 15+ Yellow-winged Darter. The majority were female, and in fact it was a little frustrating that the one or two males we did see were not at all cooperative for photography.

Apart from the darters we recorded a few Azure Bluet, Common Bluet and Common Bluetail, singles of Robust Spreadwing, Large Red Damselfly, Migrant Hawker, Small Pincertail and Blue Emperor, and lots of Four-spotted Chaser. Lepidoptera included Eastern Bath White, Silver-studded Blue, Marbled Fritillary and Dusky-brown Wave (Scopula tessellaria). Nice to see also were four very pure Rock Dove.

We had to leave just after 10am, driving four hours to Melnik, where later that evening we counted 8 Kotschy's Geckos.