BULGARIA

masses of East European specialities on one compact tour

Red-backed Shrike, female in breeding plumage. Phil Palmer

Bulgaria has now established itself as one of eastern Europe's premier birding countries. In spring the quality and quantity of birds that can be found are truly impressive. It is a safe and friendly country where lack of development has preserved great swathes of excellent habitat, including traditional farmland which has kept wildflowers in abundance too.

The diversity of altitude and landscape in this relatively small country and its position on a major migration route accounts for the large variety of birds that can be seen. Amongst others we will look for Yelkouan Shearwater, Black and Egyptian Vultures, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Ruddy Shelduck, Red-footed Falcon, Rock Partridge, Chukar, Little Crake, Corncrake, Collared Pratincole, Bee-eater, Wallcreeper, Masked Shrike, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Barred, Eastern Orphean, Eastern Bonelli's, Paddyfield and Olive-tree Warblers, Black-eared, Isabelline and Pied Wheatears, Black-headed Bunting, plus seven or more species of woodpecker.

We have teamed up with the British-Bulgarian Friendship society and will liaise with several local contacts to ensure the smooth running of all ground arrangements. We will be accompanied throughout by a Bulgarian naturalist to further enhance the tour.

ITINERARY

SOFIA

We will arrive in the capital by mid-afternoon and stay at the nearby Vitosha National Park for the first night. This area is particularly good for Nutcracker, Water Pipit, Ring Ouzel and Crossbill as well as fabulous views over Sofia. Rock Thrush, Shorelark and Alpine Accentor are also possible here. If the cable car is running we shall use it the next morning to descend before setting off eastwards, for the coast.

NORTHERN BLACK SEA COAST

With plenty of stops on the way this makes for a full day's drive, and by the evening we will have had a good introduction to rural Bulgaria and seen our first White Storks, Hoopoes, Bee-eaters, Red-backed Shrikes, Crested Larks and many other species. We will be based at Kavarna, in the north-east of the country, for three nights.

During our stay here we will explore the wetlands of Shabla and Lake Durankulak which, with summering Ruddy Shelduck, Paddyfield Warbler and colonies of Red-footed Falcon, have a strong eastern feel. This area can be good for Pygmy Cormorant, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Golden Oriole, Lesser Grey Shrike, Nightingale, Hawfinch and Spanish Sparrow. Rose-coloured Starlings are found here pretty regularly too.

We will also visit the Bolata Valley and the excellent Cape Kaliakra where there are usually Yelkouan Shearwaters and Bottle-nosed Dolphins just offshore. The habitat varies from rocky crags, steppe flats and rolling farmland to coastlands. There are Pied and Isabelline Wheatears, Stone Curlew, larks, Eagle Owl, and Eastern Orphean and Barred Warblers.

SOUTHERN BLACK SEA COAST

We will then move on southwards, birding en route to the Bourgas area for a three night stay. We shall watch for migrant storks, Great White Egret, the rare Dalmatian Pelican and Honey Buzzards. From this base we will visit Atanassovo and Poda for an array of waders and wildfowl including Black-necked Grebe, Little Bittern, Squacco, Purple and Night Herons, Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis and Ferruginous Duck. White-tailed Eagles hunt here as Penduline Tits hide in the reeds, and White-winged Black and Whiskered Terns quarter the lakes.

There are also Slender-billed and Mediterranean Gulls, Garganey (left) and Gull-billed Terns. Warblers include Savi's, Great Reed and Moustached. The other nearby special sites are Alepu Reserve, Arkutino, Roptamo Forest and the River Primorsko. These are fascinating areas with Red-breasted and Semi-collared Flycatchers, and a range of woodpeckers including Syrian, Grey-headed, Black and Middle Spotted. Black-headed Buntings sing from bushes, Rollers perch and wait, whilst Lesser Spotted Eagles haunt the wetland fringes. There are masses of waterbirds and often something special such as Great Black-headed Gull. We can expect numerous commoner waders, plus Broad-billed and Marsh Sandpipers.

KURDJALI

We will tear ourselves away from the bird-rich coast and the daily changing migrants for the raptor spectacle in the south-eastern mountains. On the way there will be stops including Golyamo Krushevo which has proved reliable for Masked Shrike and the largest of the Hippolais genus, the Olive-tree Warbler. This region has a pleasant climate and a distinct Turkish feel to the architecture.

We will settle in Kurdjali for a three night stay as we can easily reach Madjarovo and Studen Kladenets Reserve from there. The feeding station has been established long enough for the raptors to know it well. Eastern Imperial Eagle can be one of the earliest visitors of the day because, like Egyptian Vulture they are less dependent upon thermals. The Griffon and huge Black Vultures tend to sail in later, as the day warms up. The close-up views of these birds are truly memorable, and this is a rare opportunity to see at first hand all the developing behaviour at a 'kill' - the posturing, fighting and different feeding methods. Subalpine is often the commonest warbler on these scrubby mountainsides. Both Eleonora's Falcon and Saker have appeared on previous trips.

We will also visit Rogach and Dolna Kula. Scenic wooded valleys and hillsides hold Long-legged Buzzard, Hobby, Red-rumped Swallow, Sombre Tit, Subalpine, Eastern Olivaceous, Eastern Orphean and Eastern Bonelli's Warblers, storks and woodpeckers. Rocky outcrops are home to White-tailed and Golden Eagles, Chukar, Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush and Rock Nuthatch. Scops Owl is common around our hotel.

PAMPOROVO

The relatively short distance from Kurdjali will be taken at leisure with some excellent birding and scenic stops on the way at Topolovo, Assenovgrad and Visokata Pesht. We should bump into more Hawfinch, Ortolan and Cirl Bunting, plus many other birds. We climb higher for a two night stay in the ski resort of Pamporovo, where Pallid Swift and Black Redstart breed on the hotels. Black Woodpeckers and Crested Tits are regular while the forests here support the elusive Hazelhen and White-backed Woodpecker.

Nearby is a stunning high gorge with Black Stork, Alpine Swift, Rock Partridge, Crag Martin and Raven. The gorge is especially reliable for that cracking little bird the Wallcreeper with at least three resident pairs. There are also Peregrine, Dipper, Nutcracker, Alpine Chough and Alpine Swift. We have seen Rock Thrush, Icterine Warbler and Red-rumped Swallows here on previous visits. We will then meander back to Sofia via Chudnite Mostove, to give a chance of any of the high alpine species we may have missed. Roger searches for a Wallcreeper, right

Our last night in Sofia will be spent in a four star hotel on the outskirts of the city and includes a farewell 'folklore' dinner with a traditional Bulgarian theme. We will spend our last morning in the local lowland wildflower meadows where the Corncrakes will be in full 'song'. We fly home in the early afternoon.

PACE Breakfast will be taken at about 7.30am most mornings, perhaps slightly later if the previous day has been tiring. Basic fitness is all that is required. Full days will be spent in the field and short/medium length walks on the flat will be undertaken regularly. There will be some uphill walking, but at a relaxed pace.

ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD Full board accommodation is provided, with single nights in Sofia at the beginning and end of the tour, three nights in Kavarna, three nights in Bourgas, three nights in Kurdjali and two nights in Pamporovo. The hotels are mostly good to very good. The hotel on our first night, on Vitosha, is simple, but comfortable and clean, with en suite facilities. The food is often very good with a wide choice, as are the famous wines. Picnic lunches will be taken in the field most days, though we will vary that and have some restaurant lunches.

PRICE INCLUDES ….. All birdwatching excursions with expert leader and local guide, full-board accommodation, soft drinks at meal times, reserve entrance fees, local transport by mini-bus, return flight to Sofia and government flight and airport taxes.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED Travel insurance payable at the time of booking. Items of a personal nature, alcoholic drinks, laundry, etc.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS Return flights from London Heathrow to Sofia using the scheduled services of British Airways. The outbound flight departs early morning, return flight arrives back late afternoon. Connecting shuttle flights are available on this tour for £60 return (due at time of booking), from Manchester and other regional airports. However, due to the flight times it may be necessary to stay overnight at Heathrow. Please call for details.

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