In recent years birding has really taken off in Bulgaria, but this is not really surprising when one considers the species that can be seen in this birding paradise. The country is dotted with fishpond systems and many small and bigger rivers which makes for excellent breeding habitat for many water birds and reed bed passerines. The dozens of reserves in the country and also many unprotected areas with their variety of landscape, birds, plants and insects in a small country such as Bulgaria, mark it out as a leading European country for birding. The climate is typically continental in Northern Bulgaria and Dobrudza region, which means warm summers and cold winters. Along the Black Sea coast the winter is not so severe and the summer is not so hot. In the high mountains the climate is typical with long and cold winter and shorter spring and summer. Along the southern border with Turkey and Greece the Mediterranean influence is tactile.
One of the most important sources of foreign income in Bulgaria is tourism and so most of the country is geared up to receiving and looking after visitors and that includes birders. Yet, many regions of Bulgaria are still rather under developed with farmland that still hosts good numbers of birds. The weather at this time of year is invariably warm, whilst water levels are low, making for excellent shorebird watching conditions. Our carefully planned itinerary will take you to the many wonderful reserves in this fascinating and beautiful nation. Walks are mostly over easy terrain with short walks, though there are one or two slightly steeper climbs but should not pose any problem with anything other than the most basic level of fitness. Steve Cale will lead this tour with local guide Dimiter Georgiev, and you can expect to see between 175 – 200 species.
DAY ONE
Fly London Luton/Varna arriving around midday.
Transfer the short distance to our hotel in coastal Dobrudzha – if flight timings permit, we will stop at one of our reliable sites for observing the Eurasian Eagle Owl. The accommodation for the next two nights will be in the area of the town of Kavarna – facing the Black Sea. Birds to be seen in the vicinity of the hotel include the Syrian Woodpecker, Alpine Swift, Golden Oriole and Red-rumped Swallow.
DAY TWO
Today we will explore Coastal Dobrudzha. This is the northernmost part of the Bulgarian Black sea coast. From remnant steppe to the coastal cliffs of Cape Kaliakra and sand dunes along the Black Sea shore to wetlands we visit a number of very interesting habitats that are home to some special bird species. In the morning we will visit the coastal lakes of Durankulak and Shabla. Here we will be able to see a big variety of water birds, incl. the Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck, Marsh Harrier, Savi’s Warbler, Bearded Reedling, the tick-billed race of the Common Reed Bunting (ssp. reiseri) and various species of herons, gulls, terns, shore-birds, plus European Bee-eaters, Lesser Grey and Red-backed Shrikes in the surrounding areas.
In the afternoon we will visit the steppes and cliffs around Cape Kaliakra, where we can observe the Mediterranean subspecies of the European Shag (ssp. desmarestii), Long-legged Buzzard, Stone Curlew, Alpine Swift, Red-rumped Swallow, Greater Short-toed Lark, Calandra Lark, Tawny Pipit, Pied Wheatear.
DAY THREE
Transfer to the southern Bulgarian Black Sea coast. We will make several stops in the oak forests of the Eastern Balkan Mountains and the riverine flooded forests of Kamchia Nature Reserve. The bird species likely to be seen in both sites include the Lesser Spotted Eagle, Black Stork, Northern Goshawk, Eurasian Wryneck, Black Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Short-toed Treecreeper, Barred Warbler, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Sombre Tit and Hawfinch.
Overnight in Sarafovo, north of Bourgas.
DAY FOUR
We will spend the whole day exploring the wetlands around Bourgas – Mandra Lake, Vaya Lake, Pomorie Lake salt-pans and Atanasovsko Lake Salt-pans. Key species to be seen at Bourgas wetlands include all the species of European herons, Little Bittern, Eurasian Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Pygmy Cormorant, Great White Pelican, Dalmatian Pelican, Ferruginous Duck, White-tailed Eagle, Black-winged Stilt, Marsh Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Collared Pratincole, Kentish Plover, Slender-billed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Cetti`s Warbler, Penduline Tit and other migrating & non-breeding waders, gulls and terns.
Overnight in Sarafovo, north of Bourgas.
DAY FIVE
Today we will leave the coast and head on south-west – to the Eastern Rhodope Mountains with a long stop in Sakar Hills – located approximately in mid-way between the coast and the Eastern Rhodopes, by the border with Turkey. It is an area of rounded hills and open valleys. The higher parts are covered with broad-leaved forests, while most of the area is a step-like grassland with scattered trees, bushes and agricultural land. The whole region is thinly populated with poorly developed network of roads and a few small settlements. Here we will be looking for the Eastern Imperial Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Levant Sparrowhawk, Lesser Kestrel, Masked Shrike, Isabelline Wheatear, Ortolan Bunting, Eastern Orphean Warbler and Olive-tree Warbler. We will also see a lot of European Rollers, European Bee-eaters, Hoopoes and Black-headed Buntings here, plus colonies of European Souslik – a small and cute rodent living in burrows in the local pastures.
For the next three nights we will be staying in Dolno Cherkovishte, Eastern Rhodopes.
DAY SIX & DAY SEVEN
We will spend these two days in the Eastern Rhodopes. This area is of ancient volcanic origin with stony ground, huge rocks scattered around, small stunted shrubs and an almost complete lack of wild growing mature trees. The three main sites which we will explore here are Madzharovo, Studen kladenets and the Krumovitsa river valley – all of them mosaic of different habitats, incl. volcanic rock cliffs and arid areas, dry deciduous forests composed mainly by oak trees, various shrub formations, pastures and meadows, old orchards.
The Eastern Rhodope Mountains is well known as one of Europe’s most important regions for birds of prey. We will hopefully see Eastern Imperial, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Long-legged Buzzard, Egyptian and Griffon Vultures, as well as species such as Pallid Swift, Blue Rock Thrushes, European Roller, European Bee-eater, Red-rumped Swallow, Lesser Grey and Woodchat Shrikes, Sombre Tit, Cirl, Black-headed and Ortolan Buntings, Barred, Subalpine, Sardinian and Orphean Warblers.
DAY EIGHT
After a morning birding in the Eastern Rhodopes we will head on further west – to the Western Rhodope Mnts, with short stops for roadside birding (targeting mainly the Pallid Swift & Rock Bunting). The habitats are constantly changing as we go. The pure deciduous stands, shrubs and bare rocky hills gradually replaced by mixed and then by coniferous forests. We will spend the next two nights in a hotel in the countryside again, in the area of Devin. In the vicinity of the hotel we could see the White-throated Dipper, Black Redstart, European Serin, Marsh Tit.
DAY NINE
After an early breakfast, we will head onto the magnificent Trigrad Gorge. The first thing that impresses the visitor are the towering cliffs and the deep rocky valley, where the meandering Trigrad river can be seen. Strange trees of a local subspecies of Black Pine grow right out of the rocks where there is no soil for their roots. All the time we cannot help but stand in awe before nature’s grandeur. This is only a brief description of this extraordinary place with its caverns and the rumble of its waterfalls and the beauty of the gorge is quite extraordinary. This has been a traditional place to observe Wallcreeper for many years, and this will be our main target bird here today! Alpine Swift, Crag Martin, Peregrine Falcon, White-throated Dipper, Black Redstart might also be expected.
There are good opportunities in this part of the Western Rhodopes also to watch Black Stork, European Honey Buzzard, Black Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Spotted Nutcracker, Crested Tit, Willow Tit, Firecrest & Ortolan Bunting. We will have very good chances to observe the Balkan Chamois on the rocks around.
DAY TEN
We will spend the morning in the Devin and Trigrad area again, especially if we have missed seeing Wallcreeper on the previous day. Then, in the afternoon we have a travel back across the Western Rhodopes and plains to Sofia, making possible birding stops along the way.
If time permits we visit the Vitosha Mountains in the southern vicinity of Sofia for a couple of hours. There we will have excellent chances to see the Spotted Nutcracker and other high mountain birds such as Firecrest, Ring Ouzel, Willow Tit and Common Crossbill.
Fly Sofia/Luton in the evening, where the tour will conclude.
Return flights London/Varna/Sofia/London, nine nights accommodation, all meals from dinner on day one to breakfast on day ten, services of leaders, all transport in Bulgaria and reserve entrance fees.
Transport to/from London airport and any overnight stay that might be involved, travel insurance, drinks and any items of a purely personal nature.
PASSPORT, VISA & HEALTH
“I really enjoyed the holiday – the variety of birds and landscapes were wonderful and the hotels were better than anticipated. The guides were excellent”
P.R, Kent
“On the whole, this was a very enjoyable tour. Bulgaria is a beautiful country”
L.V, Sussex.
“This was a great trip where we saw or heard many different species but it was the quality rather than the quantity that was the main highlight. Nikolay and his assistant’s knowledge of the birds and their habitats was fantastic and the food and the accommodations very good”
J.M.K, Dublin
“What a great tour this was. I especially liked the small group size and the easy going but very professional approach of the local guides”
G.C, Watford.
