Spatia Wildlife

Eleven days holiday in Bulgaria and Greece in seach of early butterflies

Early Butterflies ^-NEW-

Wednesday 25^th April - Saturday 5^th May 2012

This tour is focused on the very early spring butterflies of Bulgaria and Greece. Most of these species are not possible to be seen on the latter summer tours and that is the reason why we have developed a special tour which will allow us to see them. Besides being early, most of the species have also limited distribution, so they are rare and very local. Within the tour we will visit various habitats in Bulgaria and Greece which will allow us to record most of the species specific to the area – Southern Swallowtail, Two-tailed Pasha, Powdered Brimstone, Cleopatra, Gruner’s Orange Tip, Eastern Greenish Black Tip, Grass Jewel and Dalmatian Ringlet. Of course we will also record a good number of early flowers and of course many birds.


Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival at Sofia airport at midday and a transfer to Kerkini Lake in Greece where we will stay the first two nights. The transfer is about four hours but we will have few stops on the way to break the journey. Accommodation and dinner. 

Days 2

Today we will explore the lake surroundings for Southern Comma, Lattice Brown, Nettle-tree Butterfly, Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell and Powdered Brimstone.

Day 3 

We will drive further south today and our next base will be in Siatista, near Kajani,  where we will stay for three nights. On the way we will have several stops where we expect to find Southern Comma, Nettle-tree Butterfly and Dalmatian Ringlet.

Days 4 and 5

Both days we will explore the area for Grass Jewel, Grunner's Orange Tip, Eastern Greenish Black Tip, Dalmatian Ringlet, Southern Swallowtail, Bavius Blue, Powdered Brimstone, Southern festoon and Inky Skipper.

Days 6 to 8

We will leave the area and drive to Halkidiki peninsula for another three nights stay. Here we will look for a few, but very attractive species – Two-tailed Pasha, Cleopatra, Powdered Brimstone and Southern Swallowtail. Many of the commoner butterflies shall be around too.

Days 9 and 10

Drive to Bulgaria for a three nights stay in Chuchuligovo, near the border. Few stops on the way for Grunner’s Orange Tip, Southern Comma and Lattice Brown. Both days we will explore the area, including Kresna Gorge and Rupite locality. Here we expect to see Powdered Brimstone, Balkan Green-veined White, Kruper’s Small White, Small Bath White, both Eastern and Southern festoons, Southern Comma, Russian Heath, Blue Argus, as well as some of the coppers and blues that have already emerged plus Scarce Swallowtail and Swallowtail.

Day 11

Drive to Sofia for our flight back home, with several stops on the way. Departure.