Fortnight Spring Birdwatching

This exciting tour to the most beautiful birding locations of Bulgaria 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. Woodpeckers are well represented too, with Syrian, White-backed, Black and Middle Spotted ones being some of the most interesting. There is a good chance of seeing Eagle Owl, Capercaillie, Chukar and Rock Partridge.

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: Golden, Lesser-Spotted, Short-toed, Booted, and Eastern Imperial Eagles, Long-legged and Honey Buzzards, Griffon, Black, and Egyptian Vultures.

As an extra sight birdwatchers will see the cliff-nesting population of Black Storks and, with a good luck, Saker Falcon. Our tour also 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. Two rare mammals also occur there, the Marbled Polecat and Romanian Hamster and a botanical speciality of the site is the Broad-leaved Peony.

Kaliakra is also an archaeological monument, the site of ancient dwellings and fortresses revealing more than 2500 years of human habitation. Lakes Shabla and Durankulak in the north, and Burgas and Atanasovsko in the south are major wetlands to be visited and riparian forest of Ropotamo will broaden the habitat theme. We shall finally travel up to the Srebarna Biosphere Reserve by the Danube River, for close views of Dalmatian Pelicans, Pygmy Cormorants, Spoonbills, Glossy Ibis, Squacco and other herons.

On our trip we will also catch views of the famous passage of migratory birds along the Via Pontica flyway such as White Pelicans, Black Storks and Raptors. Waders feature Terek, Marsh and Broad-billed Sandpipers. Ruddy Shelduck and Ferruginous Duck are among notable waterfowl. A final excursion to the Vitosha Nature Park, offers a unique opportunity to see Nutcracker, Alpine Accentor, Shore Lark and Water Pipit and, thus, bird list promises to be the longest for any European tour.