INTRODUCTION
Situated between the Balkan Mountains, the Black Sea, Romania, the Danube Delta, Turkey & Greece, Bulgaria has more than 415 bird species, of which 267 breed within the country. The birdlife is outstanding and this beautiful country known as "the Garden of Europe" is rightly recognized as one of the continent's most
exciting birding destinations. In the summer it is the best place to see species such as the Olive-tree and Paddyfield Warblers, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Isabelline and Pied Wheatears, Masked Shrike, Black-headed Bunting, Levant Sparrowhawk and Long-legged Buzzard. Many other rare or hard to find species are also easy to observe here - Rock Partridge, Barred Warbler, Rock Nuthatch, Scops Owl, and woodpeckers are just a few. Bulgaria is definitely one of the best places in Europe to watch Wallcreeper, the Spanish Pyrenees excepted.
The second biggest migration route in Europe (the Pontic flyway) follows the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and every year hundreds of thousands of raptors, storks, pelicans, waders and passerines fly over it en route to their wintering grounds, making migration observation a spectacular and unforgettable experience.
This tour, like all other Boletas tours, has been expertly designed - visiting the most important habitats of the country. It will be a relaxing tour with not more than three bases in ten days, allowing the group to have plenty of time on walks to stop and enjoy the flowers, butterflies and scenery etc. As with all Boletas tours we will enjoy excellent food and some surprising local wines will be discovered.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival at Varna Airport and short transfer (40 min.) to Balchik where will overnight the next four nights. Accommodation and dinner.
Day 2 – Today we will visit the area of cape Kaliakra (less then hour of driving) – one of the last peace of steppe habitat left in Bulgaria . Here we are going to see Pied Wheatear, Olive-tree Warbler, Black-headed Bunting, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Barred Warbler, Syrian Woodpecker, Stone Curlew, possibly Eagle Owl, Water Rail, Little Crake and Saker Falcon, and we even might see some late migrating Red-breasted Flycatchers. In some years this area is also visited by large numbers Rose-colored Starlings. We will have lunch at the restaurant at the cape with a beautiful view to the see and latter we come back for accommodation in Balchik.
Day 3 – Today we will visit Durankulak and Shabla lakes. Here we will see Paddyfield Warbler, Black-headed Yellow Wagtail, Marsh Warbler, possibly pelicans, Levant Sparrowhawk and Red-footed Falcon. Also Lesser Grey Shrike, Bearded Reedling, waders, terns, herons and many more.
Day 4 – Day trip to Srebarna Lake (about two hours of driving in one direction). The lake is situated on the Danube river bank and sustains the only breeding colony of the Dalmatian Pelican in Bulgaria . Here we can see about 50 species more including Levant Sparrowhawk, Pygmy Cormorant, Red-necked Grebe, Great Heron, White-winged Black Tern, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Osprey, Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Golden Oriole, Hoopoe, Bee-eater etc. We will have lunch in the nearest village and late in the afternoon we drive back to Balchik.
Day 5 – Today we head south and late in the evening we reach Sarafovo where we will stay the next three nights. On the way we will have few stops in forest habitats where we will look for Semi-collared Flycatcher, Black, Middle Spotted, Grey-headed and White-backed woodpeckers. White-tailed Eagles is also possible.
Day 6 – We devote the day at Burgas wetlands – fresh water lakes with very rich biodiversity, mainly birds. Here we will see waders including Collared Pratincole, possibly some late Broad-billed and Marsh sandpipers, Ruddy Shelduck, White Pelican, gulls, terns, White-tailed Eagle, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and many more.
Day 7 – Day trip to Strandja mountain where we will visit forest habitats and here we can see Semi-collared Flycatcher, Sombre Tit, Black, Middle Spotted, Lesser Spotted, Grey-headed and White-backed woodpeckers, treecreepers, Hawfinch, possibly Nightjar. Back to Sarafovo for our last night here.
Day 8 – Today we have long transfer to Koprivshtitsa (about four and a half hours of driving). On the way we will have two main stops where we will look for Imperial Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Isabelline Wheatear, possibly Saker Falcon. Other birds will be Hooded Crow, Lesser Grey Shrike, Wryneck, Goshawk, Grey Wagtail, Dipper etc. Late in the afternoon we reach Koprivshtitsa – an architectural reserve and museum town, representing the traditional Bulgarian architecture. We stay here for two nights.
Day 9 – In the morning we will visit the Balkan range, more precisely Central Balkan National Park. Here we will have about one hour moderate walk in flat forest path. We will see Long-legged Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, Golden Eagle, Rock Thrush and many more. This is prime habitat for the Rock Partridge and we have a good chance of seeing it, despite late in the season. We go back to Koprivshtitsa for lunch and in the afternoon we will visit the wet meadows south of the town in search for Imperial Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Lesser Whitethroat, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Isabelline Wheatear as well as the cute small rodent – the Suslick.
Day 10 – Early start from Koprivshtitsa will allow us to have few hours in Vitosha mountain, near Sofia Airport , where we can see Nutcracker, Ring Ouzel, Pallid Swift and many other birds. From here we have one hour of driving to the airport fro you flight back home
