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 four 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.- From UK to Sofia Airport . Time permitting we v isit Vitosha Mountains in the southern vicinities of Sofia . Interesting birdlife included Spotted Nutcracker, Pallid Swift, Common Crossbill, Ring Ouzel, Firecrest and Goldcrest, Willow Tit , Water Pipit; possibly Black and Grey-headed Woodpeckers. Late afternoon: Drive to Koprivshtitca where will overnight the next two nights. Accommodation and dinner.
Day 2.- Early breakfast and drive to the highest parts of the Central Balkan Mountain. Easy walk in the area searching for Rock Partridge, Golden Eagle, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Water Pipit and Ring Ouzel . After Lunch we will explore the nearby old beech forest where you could have some chances for the Red-breasted Flycatcher and White-backed Woodpecker. Visit the southern foothills of the Balkan mountains where we will try to localize species such us Eastern Imperial Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Honey Buzzard, Peregrine, Isabeline Wheatear, Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Black-headed Yellow Wagtail, etc. Saker here is scarce but with some luck we can spot it. Overnight in Koprivshtitca
Day 3 .- Breakfast and ready to head to Sakar Hills. Birding on the way with stops for Levant Sparrowhawk, Masked Shrike, Syrian Woodpecker . The Sakar is located in the south-east of Bulgaria , bordering on Turkey . This is Bulgaria 's Imperial Eagles stronghold. Afternoon birding in the area. Accommodation in a hotel in Sakar area for two nights.
Day 4.- We will spend all day birding in the well conserved area of Sakar. The bird list here is breathless : Eastern Imperial Eagle, Levant Sparrowhawk, Black Kite, Booted Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Scops Owl, Black Stork, Red-rumped Swallow, Isabeline Wheatear, Masked Shrike, Olive-tree Warbler, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warblers, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, Sombre Tit, Black-headed Bunting. Accommodation in Sakar
Day 5.- Today we will head to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. 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. Visit to the PODA Visitor Center , managed by BSPB. Accommodation in Bourgas or Sozopol for two nights
Day 6.- Morning trip to 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 Common Nightjar. In the afternoon another visit at Bourgas lakes with important birdlife; White Pelican and Dalmatian Pelican, Pygmy Cormorant, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Squacco Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Purple Heron, Ruddy Shelduck, White-tailed, Booted, Short-toed and Lesser Spotted Eagles, Black-winged Stilt, Curlew Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Kentish Plover, Slender-billed and Mediterranean Gulls, Gull-billed Tern , White-winged Black Terns, Collared Pratincole, Penduline Tit, Savi's, Marsh, Great Reed and Cetti's Warblers and many more. Accommodation in Bourgas or Sozopol
Day 7.- Today we drive to Dobrudja through the Eastern Balkan Range with several birding stops in Goritza Oak forests on the northern Bulgarian coast and the Baltata riverine forests , where we can expect to find Grey-headed Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted woodpecker, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Hawfinch, etc. On the way north we will stop at Pomorie Lake salt-pans searching for waders on migration. We will stay in the town of Balchik for the next three nights .
Day 8.- After breakfast we will visit the northern coastal wetlands of Shabla and Durankulak, close to the border with Romania . Here we will see Marsh Harrier, Ferruginous Duck, Red-footed Falcon, Collared Pratincole, Black-headed Yellow Wagtail, Marsh Warbler, Barred warbler, Lesser Grey Shrike, Bearded Reedling, as well as one of the thick-billed races of the Reed Bunting (Emb. schoeniclus reiseri). The two lakes are one of the few places in Europe where the Paddyfield Warbler, a typical Asian species, can be seen breeding. There we can expect all species of Heron, Little Egret, Pygmy Cormorant, other migrating & summering species of Waders, Gulls and Turns. With some luck and patience Moustached Warbler is also possible here. Overnight in Balchik.
Day 9.- Today we will visit the area of cape Kaliakra one of the last 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. In 2009 we recorded Blue-cheeked Bee-Eater the third for Bulgaria . 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 10.- Returning to Varna through some nice countryside. Time permitting we'll have time for a short stop to see some birds before transferring to the airport to connect with your flight to UK where the tour concludes.
Dawn Rusell -
Hello Josele, a quick email to thank you for the wonderful time that Liz and myself had in Bulgaria. The scenery was spectacular and the birds fantastic. But what I liked about your tour was that although birds were the main focus a lot of time was also dedicated to the rest of the nature we were fortunate to discover. The trip was very well organised, great accommodation, we really enjoyed the local food, and, of course the good company of yourself and Simeon through out!
You asked for suggestions for future trips - Firstly, I think it would be nice to give people a little free time at PODA to follow the trail (there were leaflets with the route in the shop) and secondly, always do the checklist in the bar pre dinner :-)))
I chalked up 20 new birds on this trip - including Nutcracker on the last day ;-)
Might see you at the Birdfair but if not, I'm sure Liz and myself will be in touch again, Muchisimas gracias Dawn
