Spatia Wildlife

A 9 days of birding exploring prime bird habitats in both countrues at relaxing pace.

Bulgaria and Greece

Saturday 28^th April - Sunday 6^th May 2012

This tour will allow you to explore different areas in both countries and see a variety of species at a relatively relaxing pace. Bulgaria and Greece are famous for their excellent birding opportunities.

We expect to see a range of species existing in different habitats – such as Semi-collared Flycatcher, White-backed Woodpecker, Dalmatian Pelican, Bittern, Alpine Chough and Rock Partridge. Other highlights will be Masked Shrike, Rock Nuthatch, Rock Sparrow, Nutcracker, Pygmi Cormorant and many warblers. Many of the European diurnal raptors will be also recorded, including Levant Sparrowhawk.

Most of the areas we will visit are some of the prime locations for butterflies, especially in Bulgaria, and despite a bit early in the season we shall record a good number of species. On our last full day we will also visit the famous Rila Monastery, in the hearth of Rila Mountain.

The tour will also offer an opportunity to taste the national cuisine and drinks of the two countries, very similar, but still different, and the same applies to their lifestyles.

ITINERARY

Day 1

Arrival at Sofia airport and one hour transfer bring us to Vitosha mountain, at 1 800 m. a.s.l. Here we can see Nutcracker, Ring Ouzel, Pallid Swift, Water Pipit, Crossbill, Firecrest, Goldcrest, Black Redstart, Black Woodpecker and other woodland birds.
Two hours here will be enough to explore the area and afterwards we drive to our hotel, situated just outside the city, an ideal base for the next two days. Accommodation for three nights and dinner.

Day 2

One hour of driving bring us to the wetlands west of Sofia. Here we will look for Bittern, Little Bittern, Ferruginous Duck, Purple Heron, Great White Egret, Squacco Heron, Black Stork, Great Reed Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, Bearded Reedling, Wood Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover and many other wetland birds.
The wetland surroundings will provide some raptors – Long-legged Buzzard, Peregrine, Hobby, Marsh and Montague’s harriers, Booted Eagle, as well as many other birds – Quail, Corncrake, Marsh Warbler, Rock Thrush, buntings, shrikes etc. On the way Syrian and Middle Spotted woodpeckers, Bea-eaters and Hawfinch can be seen. Back to the hotel in the early evening.

Day 3

Today we will explore another mountain, situated north of Sofia, at one hour of driving distance. Here we shall look for Alpine Chough, Rock Partridge, Long-legged Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Goshawk, Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin, Alpine Swift, Sombre Tit, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker and many more.

Day 4

Today we move south and will have several stops on the way that will provide warblers – Orphean, Sardinian, Sub-alpine, Eastern Olivaceous, Barred and Lesser Whitethroat; also Rock and Cirl Bunting, Hawfinch. One night stay near the border.

Day 5

Today we will explore the nearest Belasitsa Mountain which is shared by Bulgaria, Macedonia and Greece. Our main targets here are Semi-collared Flycatcher and White-backed Woodpecker but beside them we can also see Black, Middle Spotted and Grey-headed woodpeckers as well as Sombre Tit, Hawfinch, Honey Buzzard and other woodland birds. In the evening we will cross the border and enter Greece. A hotel near Kerkini Lake will be our base for the next two nights.

Day 6

Lake Kerkini is our main site today and we will explore the lake and its surroundings. Here we expect excellent variety of species - Dalmatian and White pelicans, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Pygmy Cormorant, Garganey, many terns, Levant Sparrowhawk, Black Kite, White-tailed and Lesser Spotted eagles, Bee-eater, Roller, possibly all the four shrikes and Olive-tree Warbler, Penduline Tit, Black-headed Bunting  as well as many other passerines will be seen around the lake.

Day 7

We leave the area and after a short transfer we reach the river valley north of village of Sidirokastro. At relatively small area are presents different habitats, which provide very good birding. Here we expect Booted, Short-toed and Golden eagles, Long-legged Buzzard, Golden Oriole, Sub-alpine, Sardinian and Orphean warblers and many more.

Later we head north to Bulgaria, near to the Rila Monastery, where we will be based the next two nights. Another stop in on the way will provide Rock and Blue Rock thrushes, Rock Sparrow, Black-eared Wheatear, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Tawny Pipit, Ortolan and Cirl Bunting, Calandra, Crested, Wood and Short-toed larks, Hoopoe and many others Accommodation and dinner.

Day 8

Our last full day will be more relaxing as will check the mature deciduous forest nearby again for woodpeckers – White-backed and Black will be the main targets but other species will be also recorded.   Indeed, birding in the area can provide a Hazel Grouse. It is an elusive species, but with quite a good population in the forests aroundy. Other species will be Pallid Swift, Redstart, Red-rumped Swallow, Dipper, Grey Wagtail etc. In the afternoon we can call at the most visited cultural landmark in Bulgaria – the famous Rila monastery after which we return for our last night on the tour. 

Day 9

Two hours transfer brings us at Sofia airport. Depends on the group wish, we can devote the some more time on birding or for a short sightseeing tour in Sofia. Departure.

   Black-eared Wheatear. Photo Dobromir Domuschiev.

   Black-crowned Night Heron by Dobromir Domuschiev.

   Southern Festoon by Dobromir Domuschiev.

   Spoonbill at Kerkini Lake. Photo by Dobromir Domuschiev.