Bulgaria - Romania Combined Tour

Early spring and autumn migration on the Via Pontica flyway
Pelicans, Raptors, Waders and Red-throated Pipit...

Dates:
March 30 - April 11
April 4 – 15 * This tour is offered at a reduced promotional cost valid until March 20, 2007
August 19 - 30
September 1 – 12

12 birding days

This outstanding trans-boundary birdwatching tour combines visits to the most exciting birding locations along the Bulgarian and Romanian Black Sea coast, including the immense Danube Delta.

Our itinerary starts with an excursion to the Srebarna Biosphere Reserve by the Danube River in Bulgaria, for close views of breeding Dalmatian Pelicans, Spoonbills, Red-necked Grebes, Syrian Woodpeckers, Bearded and Penduline Tits.

Bulgarian coastal lakes Shabla and Durankulak in the south and Romanian brackish lagoons Sinoe, Zmeica and Istria in the north, will be the major hot spots to be visited where many Eastern specialities such as White Pelicans, Pygmy Cormorants, Glossy Ibis, Squacco and other herons, Bittern and Little Bittern, Ferruginous Ducks, Red-crested Pochard and Ruddy Shelducks, should be seen. Waders feature Marsh, Curlew and Broad-billed Sandpipers, Temminck’s Stint, Kentish Plover, Red-necked Phalarope, Black-winged Stilt, Collared Pratincole, Gull-billed, Caspian, Little, Sandwich and the three species of Marsh Terns, Mediterranean, Yellow-legged, Caspian, Little and Slender-billed Gulls can be spotted.

We shall also explore the last remnants of the Pontic steppe and grasslands of the vast Dobrudja region, comprising both Bulgarian and Romanian sections. The areas hold Long-legged Buzzard, Red-Rumped Swallow, Rock Thrush, Lesser Grey Shrike, Hoopoe, Roller, Bee-eater, Pied and Isabelline Wheatears, Calandra and Short-toed Larks, Tawny Pipit, Ortolan and Black-headed Buntings and, especially in the evening, Stone Curlew. Two rare mammals occur there, the Steppe Polecat and Romanian Hamster and a botanical speciality of the steppe is the Broad-leaved Peony.

The splendid sea-cliffs of Cape Kaliakra and surronding areas hold the desmaresti sub-species of Shag, Pied and Black-eared Wheatears, Barred Warblers, alongside Eagle Owl, and Alpine Swift. The 70-m high cliffs make an excellent vantage point for Yelkouan Shearwater and Dolphin watching, whilst the abrupt westward turn of the coast here results in concentrations of migrating birds.

Bulgaria - Romania Combined Tour

On our trip we will catch views of the famous passage of migratory birds along the Via Pontica flyway, when countless thousands of storks, pelicans, waders and passerines including several very interesting species of Wagtail, among which the beautiful Black-headed Feldegg Race and the delightful Citrine Wagtail, whilst many notable Raptors like Lesser Spotted, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Honey and Steppe Buzzards, four species of Harriers, Hobby and Red-footed Falcons, Levant Sparrowhawks and many others ensure a day to day action-filled experience. In addition to species already seen we may add the exceedingly beautiful Red-throated Pipit (cf. photo below).

Bulgaria - Romania Combined Tour

We shall finally travel up to the immense Danube Delta to explore its beautiful Mourighiol area where we may turn up Little Crake, Corncrake, Avocets, Golden Plover, Dotterel, Marsh and, with luck, Terek Sandpiper, with a stop-off en route at the unique Babadag forest where we will look for White-tailed and Booted Eagles, Levant Sparrowhawk, Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Sombre Tit, Thrush Nightingale, Red-breasted Flycatcher and other Eastern-European speciality woodland birds.

We will spend the last three days of our trip for a leisurely exploration of the magical Danube Delta, including visits to spectacular Black Sea peninsulas, stunning endless lagoons, beautiful sandy beaches and outstanding wetland habitats - the kingdom of Dalmatian and White Pelicans, Pygmy Cormorants, Spoonbills, Glossy Ibis, huge numbers of egrets, herons, various terns, gulls and waders...

Our cosy guesthouse located just in the heart of the Delta is the most exotic accommodation we have ever offered. Local people provide us with fresh vegetables and fish and our cook is happy to offer you the best traditional specialities you’ve probably never tasted. From our base we explore Lakes Rosu, Puiu and Erenciuc and make a day trip along the Danube River. We also visit the famous Sfintu Gheorghe, Canalul Turcesc, Meleaua Sahalin, Cap Roh and the unique Black Sea island of Sahalin.

So large and attractive a site in such a strategic position can also turn up surprises and, if you are lucky a Saker Falcon and Great Black-headed Gull can be seen. Located at the crossroads between east and west, north and south the checklist of species threatens to be one of the longest - and most exotic - for any European tour.

* It has never been easier to reach Bulgaria and Romania as British Airways now flies direct to Varna and Bucarest. Another option could be to take a charter flight offered by Balkan Holidays or Tarom Air from April to October. It is also possible to fly to Sofia or Burgas. For this we take an extra charge of EUR 50 to cover the tour leader’s travel expenses.

*Detailed itineraries and other useful information on demand: office@branta-tours.co.uk

Romania & Bulgaria
(including Danube Delta and Srebarna Biosphere Reserves)