Bulgaria
Kaliakra, Bourgas Wetlands, Eastern Rhodope Mountains
Open any field guide to the birds of Britain and Europe and you'll discover wonderful species which we would never see here in the UK. Join our tour to Bulgaria in April and you'll fill in lots of gaps - Imperial Eagle, Blue Rock Thrush, Wallcreeper, Long-legged Buzzard, Eagle Owl and many, many more. Not only that, but there are wolves and Golden Jackal as well as a kaleidoscope of wild flowers.
Relatively unknown as a birding destination until recently, Bulgaria boasts a wealth of habitats from steppe to coastal lakes, from riverine and oak forests to high mountains with their alpine and conifer forest zones. During our visit we'll be taking in all of these, starting on the Black Sea coast based near Cape Kaliakra, a marvellous spot for migrant birds. Here the southernmost remnant of the Great Steppe is renowned for its display of wild flowers and in a nearby valley we'll be looking for breeding Eagle Owls and Wallcreeper. Dune systems and lakes are a paradise for herons of every description, Marsh Harriers, waders, water birds and many species of warblers.
We'll visit the RAMSAR site at the Bourgas wetlands which holds a wealth of water and reed-bed birds and where, as well as seeing White Pelicans, we'll be hoping to spot Dalmation Pelicans with their punky hair-do's!
Our last base will be in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains near the Turkish border. Here we'll visit volcanic cliffs, oak forests and river edges as well as a vulture feeding site where we would expect to see Griffon, Egyptian and Cinerous Vultures - Black Kite and Imperial Eagle are also regular visitors. We'll also be hoping to visit an area where there's an excellent chance of seeing wolves.
The final stage of our holiday takes us to Vitosha Mountain where we'll stay for a couple of nights, taking the opportunity to explore the alpine and conifer forest zone of the mountain looking for species such as Tengmalm's Owl, Nutcracker and Firecrest.
All this is undertaken in partnership with the tour company section of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, the BirdLife partner in Bulgaria. A large part of the profit from tours such as ours go to the BSPB so, by joining us, not only will you have a wonderful holiday in the company of people passionate about their country and its birds but you will also be contributing to the conservation of these birds and their habitats throughout the country.
