Bulgaria

Sandwiched between Romania to the north, Greece and Turkey to the south and with the Black Sea to the east, Bulgaria occupies a special position in Europe. Lying in the middle of the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria sits on the crossroads between Europe and Asia Minor and has distinct influences from the Mediterranean and southern Russian steppes. In relatively short distances you can travel from sea level up to nearly 3000 metres, passing along the way through an incredibly rich and varied landscape.

Of course this means that Bulgaria's birdlife is equally varied, and close to 400 species have been recorded here. Some of the breeding species are hard to see elsewhere in Europe, and birds such as Levant Sparrowhawk, Pied and Isabelline Wheatears, Paddyfield and Olive-tree Warblers, and Semi-collared Flycatcher are sure to set any birdwatcher's pulse racing.

Our new tour, designed and co-led by the respected Bulgarian ornithologist Nikolay Dilchev, takes in the very best birdwatching Bulgaria has to offer and, at the same time, allows us to see much of the country's unique culture.

Sunday 1 June to Tuesday 10 June

with Richard Bashford and Nikolay Dilchev as leaders.

Bulgaria bird list
return to Europe introduction
return to Calendar

Day 1: The tour begins with a flight from London to Sofia, Bulgaria's capital, from where we drive straight to the mountain resort of Pamporovo in the Central Rodopi Mountains. Birdwatching will begin immediately with White Stork, Honey-Buzzard, Hoopoe, Syrian Woodpecker, and Red-backed Shrike all possible on the drive. The hotel is situated amidst pine forests at an altitude of 1500 metres, with Pallid Swift, Common Crossbill, and Rock Bunting in the immediate vicinity. Night in Pamporovo.

Day 2: A visit to Trigrad Gorge would be well worthwhile for its fine alpine scenery alone. However the Gorge, formed by huge cliffs hiding the River Trigradska far below, is one of the best places in Europe for watching Wallcreeper, while Peregrine, Alpine Swift, and Crag Martin offer distractions.

In the afternoon we'll drive to the town of Kroumovgrad. Our hotel is situated in the centre of this small town, only a 5 minute walk from the valley of the delightful River Kroumovitza where White and Black Storks, Red-rumped Swallow, Lesser Grey Shrike, and Spanish Sparrow are all possible. At night we should hear, and hopefully see, one or two Scops Owls. Night in Kroumovgrad.

Day 3: Today we visit the eastern part of the Rodopi Mountains and one of Europe's most important regions for birds of prey - Kladenetz. The volcanic origins of this area are immediately obvious, with huge rocks scattered around the stony ground, stunted shrubs and an almost complete lack of mature trees. We will constantly scan the open skies for birds of prey such as Golden, Imperial, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Long-legged Buzzard, and Black, Egyptian and Griffon Vultures. However not all the birds here are in the sky. The bushes and rocks are home to a variety of species including Roller, European Bee-eater, Rock Nuthatch, Rock and Blue Rock Thrushes, Woodchat Shrike, Sombre Tit, Barred, Sub-alpine, Sardinian and Orphean Warblers, and Cirl, Black-headed and Ortolan Buntings. Night at Kroumovgrad.

Day 4: A long drive will take us east down to the lowlands along the Black Sea coast. We will be staying just outside the town of Bourgas, close to the Atanasovsko Salt Lake Nature Reserve. For the birdwatcher, this region offers the chance to witness some of the massive bird migration that takes place each spring, as birds flood back into Central and Eastern Europe. Some of the local specialities we should see include Lesser Spotted Eagle, Montagu's Harrier, Masked Shrike, and Olive-tree Warbler. Night close to Bourgas.

Day 5: We will spend the morning in the Ropotamo Nature Reserve. This vast reserve contains a variety of habitats including wetlands, the River Ropotamo with riverine broad-leaved forests, a part of Strandza Mountain, and part of the Black Sea coast complete with sand dunes. The birds are equally varied and among others we should see White-tailed Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Middle, Great Spotted, Black and Grey-headed Woodpeckers, Short-toed Treecreeper, and, with luck, Semi-collared Flycatcher.

After lunch we will visit the two big freshwater lakes at Bourgas with their extensive reed-beds. The surrounding countryside has flooded meadows, marshes, low hills, and oak forests. These diverse habitats make this a superb region for wetland birds. Here we hope to see Pygmy Cormorant, Night, Squacco, Purple and Grey Herons, Little and Great Egrets, Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, White Pelican, Slender-billed, Mediterranean and Little Gulls, Avocet, and Black-winged Stilt. Night close to Bourgas.

Day 6: We'll now head north along the Black Sea coast. The next three nights will be spent close to the town of Kavarna. Our hotel is perched on a hill just above the sea, close to two pleasant wooded valleys where Hobby, Syrian Woodpecker, and Golden Oriole are all possible. On the way north we will stop at Goritza oak forest to look for the rare White-backed Woodpecker. Night at Kavarna.

Day 7: After an early breakfast we will travel close to the Romanian border to Lake Dourankoulak, a very important wetland for breeding, migrating and wintering birds. One species that reaches the western limits of its range here, and for which the region is famous, is Paddyfield Warbler and we hope to get good views of this delicate bird. However other species abound, and we should also see Little and Common Bitterns, Collared Pratincole, Spotted and Little Crakes, Ferruginous Duck, Red-footed Falcon, Gull-billed and Caspian Terns, and Bearded Tit.

The afternoon will be devoted to the Cape Kaliakra Steppe Nature Reserve. This is a coastal headland where chalk and sandstone cliffs rise to a height of over 200 metres. Immediately inland is an area of rolling steppe where the sky should be dotted with the butterfly display flights of Calandra Larks and the surroundings echo to the sweet song of Short-toed Larks. The habitat also suits Stone-curlew and two other species on the western edge of their range, Isabelline and Pied Wheatears, while almost every small shrub should be topped by a Lesser Grey or Red-backed Shrike, or a Black-headed or Corn Bunting. This is also where Rose-coloured Starlings occasionally breed, having swarmed out of Central Asia earlier in the spring. Night at Kavarna.

Day 8: Driving inland today, we'll cross the Dobrudza steppes to reach the famous Lake Srebarna Biosphere Reserve. Its extensive reed-beds give perfect shelter to Red-necked and Black-necked Grebes, Dalmatian Pelican, Ferruginous Duck, Marsh Harrier and Penduline Tit while Levant Sparrowhawk, Goshawk, and Ruddy Shelduck inhabit the broad-leaved forests and small dry valleys around the lake. Night in Silistra.

Day 9: Our journey inland follows the mighty River Danube. At the Nova Cherna marshland we will search for more wetland species including various grebes, ducks and Whiskered Tern. To end our visit to this fascinating country we will stay at Etara near the town of Gabrovo. Our hotel is built in the traditional Bulgarian style and the restaurant serves Bulgarian national dishes and drinks. Nearby there is an open-air museum where those interested can view and purchase Bulgarian crafts. Night at Etara.

Day 10: Returning to Sofia, we may have time to visit the Vitosha Mountain Nature Park close to the city , where we might finish our tour with a Nutcracker or Crossbill. We will then transfer to the airport to connect with our flight to London where the tour concludes.

Cost £1100

Single Room Supplement £70

Maximum group size: 16 participants and 2 leaders.

Bulgaria bird list
return to top of page
return to Europe introduction
return to Calendar