Complete Bulgaria Circuit

with excursions to Romania and Greece

Vultures, Pelicans, Flamingos, Wallcreeper, Red-breasted and Semi-collared Flycatchers, Ural Owl, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Sombre Tit, Paddyfield, Orphean, Sub-alpine, Olive-tree and Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers, White-backed Woodpecker, Rose-coloured Starling, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Rock Nuthatch, Masked Shrike...

This outstanding birding tour presents a large array of South-Eastern specialities to the eager eye of the birdwatcher, among them the Paddyfield, Olive-tree, Olivaceous, Barred, Orphean, Sub-alpine and Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers, Masked, Woodchat and Lesser Grey Shrikes, Pallid Swift, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Rose-coloured Starling and other unusual passerines like Rock Nuthatch, Sombre Tit, Blue and Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes, Ortolan, Black-headed and Rock Buntings. There is a good chance of seeing Scops and Eagle Owls, Capercaillie, Chukar and Rock Partridge. We shall also explore the highland Boatin and Tsaritchina Biosphere reserves in the Central Balkan National Park. We visit locations where Ural, Tengmalm’s and Pygmy Owls may be seen and heard calling. Red-breasted and Pied Flycatchers, Woodlark, Tree Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Ring Ouzel, Wood Warbler, Crested, Willow, Marsh, Blue and Coal Tits, Treecreeper, Gold and Firecrest, Bullfinch, Hawfinch, Common Crossbill and Nutcracker are some of the forest birds to be seen. Woodpeckers are well represented too, with Wryneck, Syrian, Black, White-backed, Middle Spotted, Lesser Spotted and Grey-headed ones being some of the most interesting - by way of a small sample. We will climb ever upwards until the track expires in reaching the alpine Balkan meadows where highlights such as Water Pipit, Alpine Accentor, Whinchat and Shore Lark are well represented. The Western Rhodopes present us with major tour highlights where the exquisite Wallcreeper is seen. The impressive canyons of the Eastern Rhodope Mountains are on the top of Europe’s list of locations for birds of prey, where in spring more than 20 raptor species can be seen, among them: Griffon, Egyptian and Black Vultures, Golden, Lesser-Spotted, Short-toed, Booted, and Eastern Imperial Eagles, Long-legged and Honey Buzzards. The Eastern Rhodopes offer unique opportunity to see the cliff-nesting population of Black Storks and, with a good luck, Saker Falcon. As an extra sight birdwatchers will visit Lake Kirkini in Greece where we expect to find gatherings of Greater Flamingo, Dalmatian and White Pelicans, and with luck, Spur-winged Lapwing and Eleonora's Falcon. Our tour includes an excursion to the Kamchia River to explore its famous riverine forest. Strandja and Sakar Mountains, Black Sea coast and the region of South Dobrudja are some of the key locations to be visited. The steppes of Kaliakra are the favourite habitat for the Red-footed Falcon, Hoopoe, Pied, Isabelline and Finsch’s Wheatears, Calandra and Short-toed Larks, Tawny Pipit, Black-headed Bunting and, especially in the evening, Stone Curlew, whilst Long-legged Buzzard breeds on the cliffs. We also explore the most exciting birding locations along the Romanian Black Sea coast, including the southern part of the Danube Delta, with a stop-off en route at the unique Hagieni forest where we will look for White-tailed and Booted Eagles, Long-legged Buzzard, Levant Sparrowhawk, Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Thrush Nightingale and other Eastern-European speciality woodland birds.

On our trip we will catch views of the famous passage of migratory birds along the Via Pontica flyway such as White Pelicans, Black Storks and Raptors. Waders feature Terek, Marsh and Broad-billed Sandpipers. We shall travel up to the Srebarna Biosphere Reserve by the Danube River, for close views of Dalmatian Pelicans, Pygmy Cormorants, Spoonbills, Glossy Ibis, Squacco and other herons. Ruddy Shelduck and Ferruginous Duck are among notable waterfowl. One day excursion to the Vitosha Nature Park will offer a good opportunity to see Nutcracker, Alpine Accentor, Shore Lark and Water Pipit (over 220 species expected)..

Dates: April 26 - May 11, 2008; May 10 - 25 and June 7 - 22, 2008.

Starting point: Varna

Cost: EUR 1490 (base 2 people), not including flights.

3 pax = € 1380,-

4 pax = € 1335,-

5+pax = € 1275,-

Single person supplement: € 195,-

Itinerary

Day 1: Varna - Durankulak
Day 2: Durankulak and Shabla Lakes
Day 3: Durankulak – Romania
Day 4: Yaylata - Kaliakra - Srebarna
Day 5: Srebarna - Central Balkan National Park
Day 6: Central Balkan - Sofia
Day 7: Vitosha - Melnik
Day 8: Melnik - Kresna George
Day 9: Excursion to Greece
Day 10: Melnik - Devin
Day 11: Trigrad - Madjarovo
Day 12: Eastern Rhodopes
Day 13: Madjarovo - Sakar Mountain - Burgas
Day 14: Pomorie and Burgas Wetlands
Day 15: Pomorie - Cape Emine - Kamtchia - Albena
Day 16: Albena - Varna Airport

Flight out to Varna to be met by your knowledgeable local guide, transfer (45 miles) to our base overlooking Durankulak Lake and Black Sea, just 5 miles from Romania, where we stay for the next three nights. Dinner and first night at Branta Birding Lodge.

After breakfast we explore Lake Durankulak, a «Ramsar» site and “location of outstanding natural beauty” close to the Rumanian border and fringing on the Black Sea itself. Durankulak is famous for its most important wintering location for geese and ducks including the globally threatened Red-breasted Goose. At this season we look for Paddyfield, Marsh and Savi's Warblers, Crested Grebe, Whiskered and Black Terns, Reed Bunting and Bearded Tit. The brackish waters and huge reed beds hold also Moustached Warbler, Pygmy Cormorant, Ruddy Shelduck, Bittern and Little Bittern, Purple Heron, Ferruginous Duck and much else. On fields near the lake we should see the Balkan sub-species of the Yellow Wagtail, the beautiful black-headed feldegg race, while Barred and Marsh Warblers often sing from patches of scrub. Tall hedges and windbreaks in the vicinity of the lake hold good numbers of Red-footed Falcons, Golden Orioles, Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrikes. The adjacent steppe and its surrounds hold Collared Pratincole, Stone Curlew, Calandra Lark, Barred Warbler, Syrian Woodpecker, Bee-Eater and Roller.

In the afternoon we drive south (12 miles) to Shabla Lake. Likely bird sightings en route include Calandra Lark, Yellow Wagtail and Syrian Woodpecker. We will spend the late afternoon at Shabla Touzla - a small, high salinity lake, famous for the curative properties of its mud. Here we can see Little Tern, Red-footed Falcon, Barred Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Olivaceous Warbler, Reed Bunting, Broad-billed and Marsh Sandpipers, Bearded Tit, Reed and Great Reed Warblers, Little Tern and Little-ringed Plover. Packed lunch, dinner and second night at Branta Birding Lodge.

After breakfast we set off to spend the day exploring the Romanian section of Coastal Dobrudja region. We visit the most exciting birding locations along the Romanian Black Sea coast, including the southern part of the Danube Delta, with a stop-off en route at the unique Hagieni forest where we will look for White-tailed and Booted Eagles, Long-legged Buzzard, Levant Sparrowhawk, Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Thrush Nightingale and other Eastern-European speciality woodland birds.

The brackish lagoons Sinoe, Zmeica and Istria 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 and Red-crested Pochard should be seen. Waders feature Marsh, Curlew, Broad-billed and, with luck, Terek 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. Packed lunch, dinner and third night at Branta Birding Lodge.

After breakfast we set off to spend the morning exploring the “Yaylata” and Cape Kaliakra, and their surrounds. Set in the largest surviving area of virgin steppe in Bulgaria, Kaliakra is also an archaeological monument, the site of ancient dwellings and fortresses covering more than 2500 years of human occupation.

The 70-m high cliffs make an excellent vantage point for Dolphin watching, whilst the abrupt westward turn of the coast here results in concentrations of migrating birds. The steppe, which runs up to the edge of the cliffs, is rich in plant species including Narrow-leaved Peony and three endemics. Kaliakra is the only breeding site in Europe for the exceedingly rare Finsch’s Wheatear. More certain species of the steppe are Calandra and Short-toed Larks, Tawny Pipit, Roller and, especially in the evening, Stone Curlew, whilst some south-eastern specialties like Red-Rumped Swallow, Long-legged Buzzard, Pied and Isabelline Wheatears breed on the cliffs, alongside the desmaresti sub-species of Shag, also Eagle Owl, Rufous-tailed Rock Trhush and Alpine Swift.

Yailata, like Kaliakra is an archaeological reserve, fronted by splendid sea-cliffs against a hinterland of steppe. In scrubby areas we should find Olive-tree Warbler, Black-headed Bunting, and we may just see a Levant Sparrowhawk.

After lunch we travel up to the Srebarna Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO site) by the Danube River, for close views of Dalmatian Pelican breeding colony. There is also good chance of White-tailed Eagle. The reedbeds of the reserve host a mixed breeding colony of Spoonbill, Purple, Squacco and Night Herons, Little and Great White Egrets, Glossy Ibis and Pygmy Cormorants. Further along we reach Garvan marsh and look for breeding Red-necked and Black-necked Grebes, Ferruginous Ducks, Greylag geese, Whiskered Terns, King Fishers, Bee-Eaters, Rollers, Hoopoes, Penduline and Bearded Tits, Savi’s and River Warblers. Woodpeckers are well represented (Grey-headed, Black, Syrian and Middle Spotted), other passerines include Crested and Wood Larks, Lesser Grey Shrike and Corncrake.

Dinner and overnight in a cosy guesthouse, situated just close to the reserve.

Early in the morning we travel up to Boatin Biosphere Reserve in the Central Balkan National Park where we will be met by the Reserve ranger. He will accompany us for the remainder of the day, which basically involves searching the forest for several target species including Red-breasted and Pied Flycatchers, Black Woodpecker and Ural Owl. Dinner and overnight stay in a cosy guesthouse just close to the reserve.

Complete Bulgaria Circuit

After early breakfast, we drive to the Tsaritchina Biosphere Reserve, another exciting mountain area, a distance of 30kms, to meet up again with our ranger who has to provide our more convenient 4WD transport & local knowledge.

Once aboard the 4WD, we will climb ever upwards until the track expires. Our quest for the morning will be the Nutcracker. Pine forest birdlife include also Ring Ouzel, Mistle Thrush, Dunnock, Bullfinch, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Firecrest and Tree Pipit.

After a picnic lunch, we walk down through the beech forest & our ranger would meet us 5 kms down the track. Here we look for White-backed Woodpecker, Wood Warbler, Marsh and Willow Tits, Treecreeper and Grey Wagtail.

Late in the afternoon we drive 70 miles to Sofia by the most direct route. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel high on Vitosha Mountain near the Bulgarian capital.

After breakfast we explore the mountain zone of Vitosha Nature Park, looking for Nutcracker, Common Crossbill, Alpine Accentor, Shore Lark and Water Pipit.

In the afternoon we drive 70 miles to the lovely and traditional wine-producing village of Melnik in the south-western corner of the country, nestled in a picturesque gorge. It is located between three majestic mountains bordering Macedonia and Greece. Stop off en route to explore some outstanding birding locations. Here is the best place in Europe to see several South-Eastern specialities: Woodchat Shrike, Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin, Barred and Orphean Warblers, Sombre Tit, Ortolan, Black-headed and Rock Buntings. Stop off at the impressive, historic Rila Monastery. Picnic lunch, traditional restaurant dinner and overnight stay at a beautiful local guesthouse in Melnik.

Today we will explore the countryside and two adjacent Mediterranean-like areas, located in the bosom of an ancient volcanic cone near the border of Greece. The cone is bisected by the river Strouma. We will look for Rock Partridge, Rufous-tailed and Blue Rock Thrushes and other unusual passerines, such as Rock Nuthatch, Black-eared Wheatear and Rock Sparrow. Wildlife includes several Mediterranean butterflies like Little Tiger Blue, Cardinal, as well as some interesting dragonflies, such as Scarse Chaser. Eastern Four-lined Ratsnake, Leopard Snake, Kotschy’s Gecko and two species of tortoises are among notable local reptiles, which also feature in the tour. En route, we will visit one of the oldest Bulgarian monasteries, the Rojen monastery. Picnic lunch, traditional restaurant dinner and second night in our guesthouse.

Today we will explore the Kerkini Lake National Park – one of the most significant wetlands of Greece and Southern Europe. The lake holds impressive numbers of Great Crested Grebe, 6 species of heron and egret, good numbers of breeding Whiskered Terns, Ferruginous Ducks, Glossy Ibis, Pygmy Cormorants and non-breeding Dalmatian and White Pelicans. Here we shall try to find flocks of summering Greater Flamingos, Eleonora’s Falcon and Spur-winged Lapwing. In the surrounding areas we will look for Isabelline and Eastern Black-eared Wheatears, Ortolan Bunting, and other interesting species including Orphean, Sub-alpine and Sardinian Warblers.

Picnic lunch, traditional restaurant dinner and third night in our guesthouse.

We take a four-hour drive to an impressive canyon in the Western Rhodopes Mountain, the kingdom of the exquisite Wallcreeper and Orpheus flower (Haberlea rodopensis), which is a unique Bulgarian endemic. En route, we will see the open landscapes gradually changing to riverine valleys. Long-legged Buzzards, Red-backed Shrikes, Spanish Sparrows, Balkan Wagtails, Black-headed, Rock and Ortolan Buntings are among birds we look for, also keeping an eye out for mammals and reptiles. In the villages before the mountains we will look for White Storks, Little Owls and Syrian Woodpeckers, whilst the mountain streams hold White-throated Dipper and Grey Wagtail. Overnight stay in a cosy guesthouse in the charming mountain village of Devin.

After breakfast, we will take an hour drive to the very picturesque Trigrad gorge, which is one of the best places in Europe to look for the delightful Wallcreeper. Peregrine Falcon, Short-toed Eagle, Alpine and Pallid Swifts, Crag Martin and Rock Bunting can also be found there. Late in the afternoon, we will drive to the Eastern Rhodope Mountains and spend the next two days at the Vulture Conservation centre in the mountain village of Madjarovo.

Complete Bulgaria Circuit

Today we will explore the Eastern Rhodopes with their exceptional diversity of raptors including 3 species of vulture, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Peregrine Falcon, Hobby, Long-legged Buzzard, Levant Sparrowhawk and Goshawk, and, with a good luck, Saker Falcon and Eastern Imperial Eagle. We will be exploring the impressive volcanic canyons of Studen Kladenetz dam and the Arda River valley, with their cliff-nesting populations of Black Storks. Vultures will be watched at a special feeding platform, the so-called “Vulture restaurant” where a hide for carrying out observations has been built. Eastern Imperial Eagle, Golden Eagle, Black Kite and other appetising raptors are also being attracted to this feast. Apart from raptors, the Eastern Rhodopes also offer an amazing diversity of bird life and our thirst for new sights & species will indeed be quenched after the intensive encounters and observations of different small passerines such as: Masked and Woodchat Shrikes, Red-rumped Swallow, Olive-tree, Olivaceous, Barred, Orphean and Sub-alpine Warblers, Alpine and Pallid swifts, Crag-martin, Rock Nuthatch, Isabelline and Black-eared Wheatears, Sombre Tits, Rufous-tailed Rock Trush and many others. Second night in Madjarovo at the Vulture Conservation centre. The place is best for Vulture observation on the cliffs just in front of the Centre.

After breakfast transfer (150 miles) to the Southern Black Sea coast. For the next two nights our base is a small port just a few miles to the north of Burgas. We stop off to explore Sakar Mountain, close to the Turkish border. Levent and Goshawk, Lesser Spotted and Short-toed Eagles, Barred and Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers, Isabelline Wheatear, Grey-headed and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Bee-Eaters, Rollers, Masked and Woodchat Shrikes, Golden Oriols, Cirl and Corn Buntings, are among bird species we look for, with a possibility of Eastern Imperial Eagle.

Dinner and first night at Byalata Kashta (White House) charming family hotel overlooking the Black Sea.

Today`s exploration of nearby Lake Atanosovsko and surrounding saltpans promises a phenomenal range and quantity of birds - far too numerous to list! This is Bulgaria`s premier bird location - in fact one of Europe`s principal "hot spots" and one of the country’s ten “Ramsar” sites. The 1690 ha complex includes extensive saltpans, freshwater pools, marshes and areas of scrub and semi-steppe. The reserve’s position on the east European Via Pontica flyway attracts a great variety of migrants in spring and autumn. More than 300 bird species have been recorded here. We will be able to enjoy the spectacle of the lake’s breeding birds, including some hundreds of Avocets, Black-winged Stilt, Collared Pratincole (Black-winged have been seen here too!), Kentish Plover, Gull-billed Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Sandwich and Little Terns, Marsh Harrier and Penduline Tit. Caspian Tern, Slender-billed Gull and Squacco Heron are also seen at this season, and we may turn up Marsh, Broad-billed and Terek Sandpipers. Cetti’s Warbler and Little Bittern breed in the reedbeds, and Black-headed Buntings, Balkan Wagtails and Red-backed Shrikes are numerous on fields surrounding the lake.

South of Burgas we visit the reed-fringed Lakes Mandra and Poda with flanking water meadows and woodlands. The reedbeds of Poda host a mixed breeding colony of Spoonbill, Purple, Squacco and Night Herons, Little Egret, Glossy Ibis and Pygmy Cormorants. Further along we reach Alepou marsh wetland and look for White-tailed Eagle, Honey Buzzard and foraging Little Egrets, Glossy Ibis and Squacco herons. In the late afternoon we visit the Ropotamo river wetland complex and explore the wooded mountains of Strandja, where we look for Lesser Spotted Eagle, Eastern Semi-collared Flycatcher and Woodlarks. Diner and second night at Byalata Kashta Hotel.

After breakfast transfer (120 miles) to our last base at Bulgaria’s top Black Sea Resort of “ALBENA”. Heading north we pause at the Salinas of Pomorie to see the usual show of waders. The adjacent small village is one of the best places in Europe to see the breeding colonies of Rose-coloured Starlings. An hour will be spent in the ancient town of Nessebar featuring a great deal of traditional architecture. Birds on the scene include the Yelkouan Shearwater, Yellow-legged Gull and its sub-species michahellis. Continuing north the route ascends through the wooded hills of Eastern Balkan mountain range, bringing us to our next stop at Cape Emine. Reaching cliff-top scrub above the sea we look for cetaceans. Breeding birds include Sombre Tit, Rock Bunting, Masked and Woodchat Shrikes, Wood Lark, Tawny Pipit, Barred, Olive-tree and Olivaceous Warblers. In the afternoon we stop off to explore the Kamchiya Reserve with its remarkable alluvial or Longoz forest, one of the most northerly of its kind in Europe. The reserve complex, totalling about 1500 ha, includes dunes, beach, estuary and small freshwater pools. This is an area of considerable botanical interest. Breeding birds include Semi-collared Flycatcher, Short-toed Treecreeper, Black, Grey-headed and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Goshawk, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Long-tailed Tit, Wood and Icterine Warblers.

Diner and last night stay at Albena’s top 4 stars Hotel, the Dobrudja.

Early in the morning transfer to the airport for your return flight.

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