Spring Birdwatching Tour in Bulgaria
An 8-day Spring Birdwatching Bulgaria Tour which is leisurely paced and available on request. 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 Semi-collared 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 on this birdwatching Bulgaria tour.
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 also offer an 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 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 birding Bulgaria tour, 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 Marsh and Broad-billed Sandpipers and, with luck, Terek Sandpiper.
We shall travel up to the Srebarna Biosphere Reserve by the Danube River, for close views of Dalmatian Pelicans, Pygmy Cormorants, Red-necked Grebe, Spoonbills, Glossy Ibis, Squacco, Purple and other herons. Ruddy Shelduck and Ferruginous Duck are among notable waterfowl. One-day excursion to the Central Balkan National Park will offer a good opportunity to see Nutcracker, Alpine Accentor, Firecrest, Crossbill, Ring Ouzel and White-backed Woodpecker (over 220 species expected).
Alternative Tour Name: Spring Birdwatching Trip
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