Birds of Lithuania Tour - 8 Days

Arrive to Ventė Cape

Depending on your arrival time we might have time to visit one of first in the world ringing/banding stations with still the biggest Helligoland bird traps, but as this trip is dedicated to the most exciting species, we are schedule the tour to make sure all breeders are back and there will not be much going on in the ringing station itself. If you like bird ringing, there is great chance to arrange a volunteering program for you in autumn or earlier in spring. So after this short stop, we are going to our accommodation place to have a welcome dinner with our host Monika Dobrovolskytė and plan our next 3 1/2 days in the area.

A Day Full day birding at Nemunas delta

For this trip is very important to get started early, have a nap in day time when birds are not active and then stay late at night so we get all the local specialities as Spotted and Little Crakes, Great Snipe, Nightjars, Bluethroat, Eagle and Short-eared Owls, Savi's, River and Blyth's Reed Warblers, Corncrake and cherry of the cake - the Aquatic Warblers. So get ready for early breakfast and 2 full days of exciting observations.

So early start, breakfast and hitting the road, short transfers between best locations, easy relaxed birding and enjoying each species, we have enough time for most of them. Lunch in local restaurants and nap in the accommodation so we can start in the afternoon with visiting dedicated areas in search of local rarities and specialties. Dinner before the evening sessions so we don't starve and enjoy the best part of the day.

A Full Day of birdwatching in Nemunas delta

As area is very rich of habitats and species, we will have chance to go through much of them and if you wish visit some once again, if we arrange this in advanced we can make a boat trip for few hours (on additional price for the boat). Chance to see and hear the call of the Little Bittern. Black and Whiskered Terns staging on the water lilies leaves and catching dragonflies and small fish on flight. White-tailed Eagles roosting on their favorite perches on the sand islands in the Nemunas river delta. And if we are quite, we can spot an Elk and Beavers, back for lunch or lunch on the boat is also an option.

Morning birding at Nemunas delta on the way to the ferry. If weather allows we might include a boat transfer to Nida, main area for the day ahead. If not, we drive towards Klaipėda port to take the ferry across the harbour. On the way historical fishermen village of Kintai and Dreverna, observations along the route and short stop for Lunch there and Observation tower 15 meter above the lagoon. Across the water Juodkrantė settlement and Dead dunes visible. Transfer to the accommodation and an evening birdwatching at the area on the Baltic sea and/or ancient forest. Dinner at the local restaurant, fish or local cuisine. Free time and rest.

Curonian Spit birdwatching and sightseeing at Curonian Spit National Park.

We will have all day here so we will start with pre-breakfast walk in Juodkrantė ancient forest in a search for Red-breasted Flycatcher and Greenish Warbler, but not to worry about if we not see them here, we have more chances for them of course. Breakfast and visit of the cormorant colony overlooking platform and short transfer to the Dead Dune nature trail in search for Tawny Pipits and migrating birds of prey. Lunch at Nida and walking with a National Park ranger to the Parnidis Dune and to the Nature reserve right on the Russian federation border. On a way back visit both small villages Priela and Pervalka birding on both sides at Curonian lagoon and Baltic sea beaches. Short break to take a breath and evening walk at Juodkrantė dendrological trail and walk down to the Amber Bay and dinner at small local restaurant with variety of fish dishes and local meals.

Curonian spit morning session visiting the Wooden Sound trap (and breakfast on the way, later transfer to next destination with birding and lunch along the way on most interesting places selected carefully in Central Lithuania, we will be looking for breeding Red-necked Grebes, Lesser Spotted Eagles and Montague Harrier. Arrival at Biržai Regional Park where we will stay next day and evening session before dinner, if time and weather allows. If calm evening we will be looking for Ural Owls. Or we just have a rest for next early day start.

Biržai forest in the morning before breakfast searching for Woodpeckers, Greenish Warblers, Hazel Grouse at Birzai forest, until lunch we will also check some good areas for the local specialties Blyth's Reed Warbler and Booted Warbler, then lunch and departure to Gražutės Regional Park for another late night birding looking for Black-throated Diver, Tengmalms Owl, Nightjars and Thrush Nightingale in surrounding forests. Before and after dinner, depending on the weather.

Pre-breakfast birding in Salakas recreation trail around the lake or visit the Black-throated Divers lake, depends on the success of previous evening. Transfer after breakfast to the Birvėta fish ponds and birding in the surroundings, lunch in nature and departure in the late evening towards the departure airport area.