Spatia Wildlife

A relaxing, one base, 8-days holiday focused on Hoopoe, Bee-eater and Wryneck photoraphy.

Birds and wildlife photography

Sunday 9^th - Sunday 16^th June 2013

This birds and wildlife photography tour is designed for keen photographers who want to spend more time with one subject and get excellent results, instead of chasing a bigger numbers of species with whit sometimes not satisfying and poor results. For the entire holiday we will be based in only one hotel and spend the whole time in the adjacent area avoiding long transfers and packing and unpacking.

Yet, the area we have chosen offers enough opportunities for bird photography, moreover of some of the most attractive European bird species. Our main targets on this tour will be the Wryneck, the Hoopoe and the Bee-eater. Additionally we will have options for Black-headed Bunting, Red-backed and Woodchat shrikes, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Isabelline Wheatear, Great Reed Warbler, Red-rumped Swallow, Black-headed Yellow Wagtail and White Stork. The European ground squirrel – the Suslick, is common at one of the sites we will visit, so there will be plenty of options to photograph this cute rodent.

In that area we also have two excellent hides with drinking pools in front of them, specially build for bird photography. Species we will photograph here are – Hawfinch, Nightingale, Sombre Tit, Syrian Woodpecker, Cirl Bunting and many common species such as Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Robin and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

The rich biodiversity in the area will also offer opportunities for macro photography – mainly butterflies, but other insects will be plenty too, as well as some orchids.

Second half of June is already getting hot in Bulgaria and we will have early morning starts, as well as afternoon siestas, to avoid the strong sun light in the middle of the day. In any case the tour will be on a relaxing pace, with enough time to get excellent shots.


Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival at Sofia airport followed by three hours transfer that bring us to the village of Gabarevo (about 3 hours of driving), where we will be based for the holiday. Our main sites for the next days will be few meadows, close to the Central Balkan National Park. Depending on the arrival time we can have an afternoon session here or check the various sites in the area in order to become familiar with the settings and the various opportunities.

Days 2 to 7

Six full days of bird and wildlife photography in the area. 

Day 8

Depending on your departure flight, we can have an early session in the morning, then pack up and three hours and a half hous  of driving will bring us at Sofia airport for your flight back home. Departure.
 

   Nightingale in front of the drinking pool hide. Photo Val Walker.

   Bee-eater in flight by Val Walker.

   Wryneck inspecting a tree hole. Photo Mike Walker.

   Hoopoe carrying food by Emil Enchev.

   Bee-eater in front of the nesting hole. Photo Mike Walker.

   Black-headed Bunting at the drinking pool hide.
   Photo Dobromir Domuschiev.

   Isabelline Wheatear juvenile by Mike Walker.

   Male Red-backed Shrike by Mike Walker.

   Roller by Dobromir Domuschiev.

   Rose-coloured Starling with food. Photo by Mike Walker.

   Rose-coloured Starling male with nest material by Dobromir Domuschiev.

   Wallcreeper pair food exchange - one of the best species shots.
   Photo by Simon Palmer.

   Wallcreeper male in flight by Simon Palmer.

Photo and video gallery

Birds and Wildlife Photography

Birds and Wildlife Photography