Birding Trips to Bulgaria

HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAST TRIPS AND CHECKLISTS

JUNE 2011 BIRDING IN BULGARIA

WHY FBSPB FOR YOUR BIRDING NEEDS IN BULGARIA

Past Trips:

Our 2010 Fund-raiser trip focused on the variety of habitat found in both Hungary and Bulgaria. This trip funded Saker Falcon Research and Conservation in Hungary as well as BSPB's Vulture Center Conservation work in the Eastern Rhodope. Over 185 species were seen or heard along with 9 new species seen/heard from the last trip two years ago. Thank you Phil and Teresa for joining us, We will always think of you. (checklist).

Our 2009 Fund-raiser trip focused on the variety of habitat found through-out Bulgaria. This trip funded Saker Falcon Research and Conservation with over 180 species seen or heard. We were very lucky in seeing several hard to find (spot) species, such as Eagle Owl, Corn Crake (Heard), Stone Curlew (Seen), Rock Bunting (Seen), Rock Nuthatch (Seen), Subalpine and Sardinian Warbler (Seen) and others. (checklist). Photo Credits: Long-legged Buzzard by Dimitar Gradinarov and the others by Dencho Salabashev.

Christy and I thank you and Mitko and Dencho for a wonderful trip in Bulgaria. What a lovely country: mountains, forests, seacoast, flowers everywhere, their aroma permeating the atmosphere. And such nice people: speak to a Bulgarian and you get a smile and readiness to be helpful: Randall (Ranny) E.

Our 2008 Fund-raiser trip focused on Hungary and Bulgaria which provided an interesting perspective on species that are found in both countries as well and those found in Hungary and Bulgaria. Thanks to Gerard for the Hungarian portion and Mladen for the Bulgarian portion. Key species seen: Hungary: Aquatic Warbler & Great Bustard and in Bulgaria: Griffon & Egyptian Vulture, Pied Wheatear, Paddyfield Warbler and a pair of Saker Falcon (see link). This was a non-scientific approach providing our Australian guests from Birds Australia Northern NSW with a great perspective of both countries. checklist

Our June 2007 fund-raiser trip focused on visiting internationally recognized Important Bird Areas (IBA's) and RAMSAR Sites from the Central Rhodope Mountains, from the southern Black Sea Coast near Turkey to the Romanian Border and the Central Balkan Mountains. Photos taken by Earl Harrison from Ohio State University may be found at his link.

Check List from 2007 Trip (Total of 194 Species Seen or Heard)

Rose-Colored Starlings in Sinemoretz! Photo by Rick Wright

Comments from 2007 Trip:

"Thank you for organizing such a wonderful tour of Bulgaria and sharing so much pre-and post-information regarding the trip. I had a wonderful time! Bulgaria is a lovely country full of beautiful mountains, forests, steppes, and red-tiled roofs of the valley villages. Your choice of guides and driver were excellent. I applaud your efforts to retain much of the country's rural and undeveloped character and wish you success in all these efforts." D. Jones

"I just wanted to thank you one more time for running such a great trip. But it goes far beyond that. I am amazed at how much you care about other people's feelings. Your treatment of Elaine was above and beyond the call of duty. She should be very grateful. Your love of Bulgaria and its birds is wonderful to see. That beautiful country needs someone like you to protect its natural heritage. There's an old saying,"you can please some of the people some of the time, but not all the people all the time". You sure proved that adage wrong by pleasing everyone.... Good Bulgaria Birding" F. Windfelder

"Thank you for an outstanding trip!! It is one I will never forget..... I hope to join you again for birding either in the US or Europe." E. Harrison

Check List: Click here for August 2006 Picidae, Woodland and Upland Bird Trip.

Our August 2006 fund-raiser trip focused on trying to view all 10 European species of Woodpecker. We saw all but Three-toed Woodpecker. Gerard Gorman volunteered his services for this trip. Petar Iankov, one of Bulgaria's preeminent ornithologists (author of "Where to Watch Birds in Bulgaria") was kind enough to volunteer his expertise and wonderful insights on city birding in Sofia.

Areas visited during the trip: (1) Central Balkan Range (location of Europe's oldest virgin beech forests); (2) Eastern and Central Rhodopes (3) Pirin Mountains (4) Rila Mountains and (5) Vitosha Park outside of Sofia.

White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos)

Species' highlights: Black and White Stork, Griffon, Egyptian and Cinereous (Black) Vultures, Levant Sparrowhawk, Long-legged Buzzard, Golden Eagle, White-backed Woodpecker, Yellow Wagtail, Firecrest, Dipper, Blue Rock-Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Icterine Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Common Nightingale, Long-tailed Tit, Rock Nuthatch, Common and Short-toed Treecreeper and more.

Our September 2005 fund-raiser focused on Autumn migration along the Black Sea Coast. A Group from Potters Bar and Barnet Local RSPB visited Bulgaria. Download Trip Checklist.

Species' highlights: Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Griffon & Egyptian Vulture, Imperial Eagle, Booted Eagle, Black Kite, Steppe Buzzard, Honey Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Levant Sparrowhawk, Red-footed Falcon, Hobby, Kentish (Snowy) Plover, Temmick's Stint, Ruff, Whiskered Tern, White-backed Woodpecker, Woodchat & Lesser-Grey Shrike, Linnet.

Our Mid-September 2004 fund-raiser and outing consisted of a multi-national group of active birders from Ireland, Malta and the UK with over 180 species observed.

ITINERARY

Bulgaria 7 to 17 JUNE 2011 Led by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds & Yoav Chudnoff (BSPB-USA)

ABOUT THIS TRIP:

Our tour will focus on several areas within Bulgaria as well as help provide you with an understanding of Nature and Habitat Conservation in Bulgaria. Your participation in this tour will directly fund Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds’ (BSPB) projects. We will provide you with this information during the trip.

During the trip, we will also be meeting different members of the BSPB that are active Imperial Eagle conservation, Griffon, Black and Egyptian Vulture breeding and reintroduction programs, volunteers working at the Poda Nature Center near Bourgas and others.

This trip will focus on Continental and Mediterranean species in Bulgaria. We will be visiting several key areas in Bulgaria during Spring Migration, thus allowing for abundant Raptor, Stork (Black and White), Heron, Egret and others.

For those that have an interest, all of the habitats we will be visiting should be perfect for nocturnal birding.

JUNE 07 2011: Arrival at Sofia Airport. Accommodation will be in the center of Sofia.

Depending on arrival time, we will do city birding in the King Boris Gardens located in the center of Sofia.

JUNE 08, 2011: Birding in Vitosha Nature Park - the conifer and alpine zone of the Vitosha Nature Park for high mountain birds, like Nutcracker, Crossbill, Ring Ouzel, Firecrest and Goldcrest, Willow Tit, Water Pipit, Alpine Accentor, Shore (Horned) Lark (ssp. balcanica), etc. Afternoon - drive to Trigrad in the Western Rhodopes. Overnight in the area (hotel depends on the group size)

JUNE 09 2011: Morning - visiting Trigrad Gorge - the realm of the Wallcreeper. Also Alpine Swifts, Crag Martins, Peregrine Falcon, White-throated Dipper, Grey and White Wagtails. Afternoon - transfer to Madjarovo in the Eastern Rhodopes for two nights.

JUNE 10 2011: The Eastern Rhodopes: Vulture feeding ground and Madjarovo area, including a visit to the BSPB`s Nature Conservation & Information Center "Eastern Rhodopes. Birds: Griffon Vulture, Cinereous and Egyptian Vultures, White-tailed and Imperial Eagles, Black Stork, Chukar, Rock Nuthatches, Ortolan Bunting, Pallid Swift, Redrumped Swallow, Blue Rock Thrush, Black-eared Wheatear, Orphean, Subalpine and Olivaceous Warblers, Sombre Tit, Black-headed Bunting

JUNE 11, 2011: Drive to the southern Black Sea coast, with stops in the Sakar & Strandja Mountains, where we will be looking for Imperial Eagle, Levant Sparrowhawk, Masked Shrike, Olive-tree Warbler, Orphean Warbler. The Sakar is Bulgaria's Imperial Eagles stronghold. We will have lunch with traditional food in a small village in the Sakar Mountain to support the Imperial Eagle conservation by raising the local awareness of its importance. Arrive in Sinemoretz, located at the eastern edge of the Strandja range, for one night.

JUNE 12, 2011: Transfer to Nessebar (one night), with birding stops at the Black Sea coast estuaries. We will explore the wetlands boulder-strewn slopes. The most spectacular around Bourgas: Bourgas Lake, Mandra Lake biggest attraction of the Bourgas wetlands are Nuthatches and the song of the Ortolan Bunting are heard everywhere around. Other typically Balkan birds, like the Pallid Swift, the saline lagoons with traditional saltpans still preserved. They are of major importance for huge numbers of birds, including Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Broad-billed and Curlew Sandpipers, Marsh Sandpiper, Kentish Plover, Slender-billed and Mediterranean Gulls, Gullbilled Tern and many other waterfowl and wader species. The lush vegetation embracing the freshwater lakes of Mandra and Vaya and thesurrounding reedbeds swarm with life - the air resounds with the song of Savi's, Marsh, Great Reed and Cetti's Warblers, whilst Golden Orioles flash trough waterside poplars and Penduline Tits attend their fantastic hanging nests. Watching the life in the lakes inevitably creates the impression that they are created for the birds - Ruddy Shelduck, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Pygmy Cormorant, Squacco, Night and Purple Herons, White-winged Black Terns and many, many others.

JUNE 13 - 15, 2011: Today we drive to Coastal Dobrudja on the northern Bulgarian coast via Goritza Oak forests. Traveling north along the coast we will pass through the Balkan Mountain's easternmost point - cape Emine, a landscape of coastal cliffs and open grasslands with scattered trees, and the unique Kamchia riverine forest. Enroute we can expect to find Black Stork, Lesser Spotted Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Barred Warbler, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Tawny Pipit, Woodchat Shrike, Sombre Tit, etc. Our hotel for the next two nights is located in the seafront zone of the town of Kavarna. Cape Kaliakra and Yatata steppes and cliffs: Not far from Kavarna the arable agricultural plots give way to colorful wild steppe, spreading up to the sea edge of cape Kaliakra, where dramatic cliffs dominate the emerald sea waters.

Cape Kaliakra is one of the few places in Europe hosting the Rose-colored Starling, the Pied Wheatear and all five species of larks, typical for the Balkan peninsular - Calandra Lark, Short-toed Lark, Skylark, Crested Lark and Woodlark. The Stone Curlew, the Lesser Grey Shrike and the Isabelline Wheatear find refuge in the steppe vegetation, while the coastal cliffs are animated by European Shag, Eagle Owl, and Long-legged Buzzard. In spring, Mediterranean Shearwaters often fish in the sea close to the cape. Arctic Skuas can also be seen here. There we JUNE hope to have a glimpse of Eleonora`s Falcon and Levant Sparrowhawk.

JUNE 16, 2011: Today we drive to Central Balkan Mountain (one night)/CBM/ with some stops on the way for birding and lunch. The mountain's core, the Central Balkan National Park, protects the largest European massif of beech forest which are over 250 years old. We will arrive in the area in the afternoon, visit some old beech forests for Redbreasted Flycatcher and White-backed Woodpecker.

JUNE 17, 2011: Morning birding in the beech forests and mountain meadows around the hotel and then drive to Sofia exploring habitats on the way to Sofia as well as habitat around Sofia. We will spend the night in Sofia. Farewell dinner sponsored by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds.

JUNE 18, 2011: Early morning departure from Sofia.

Practical Information

Seasonal Climate - Bulgaria's climate is continental, and warm sunny days can be expected

(with daytime temperatures rising to around 75-80° F). It will be cooler in the mountains, (sweaters, windbreaker, light coat is recommended) - where rain or showers are always a possibility.

PACKING FOR THE TRIP

Luggage: One main piece of baggage and a rucksack for carrying items during the day walks.

Clothing: Pack essential late spring and early summer clothing, although some medium weights are needed for spring; warm fleece or sweater throughout the season as temperatures are lower in the mountains- particularly at night. Rainwear JUNE also be needed.

Footwear: Comfortable walking boots and trainers or sandals.

Equipment: Insect repellent, sunscreen and sun hat. Binoculars are a must.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

All meals, packed picnic lunches, transportation and accommodation in 2*/3*

Accommodations, Thank you Dinner and membership in BSPB are included in the price of the trip.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Alcoholic beverages, RT airfare & airport taxes to Bulgaria, items of a personal nature, tips, souvenirs and etc.

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN THIS TOUR

Above and beyond receiving a great education and insight by one of Europe's leading birdwatchers, this tour will help fund the following projects:

1) Egyptian Vulture, Griffon Vulture & Imperial Eagle conservation in Eastern Rhodope Mountains;

2) BSPB administrative costs to be used in work of coastal habitat protection. You will also be meeting several key members of the BSPB at the “Thank-you Dinner”.

PRICING: $1895.00 pp - $180.00 single supplement.

A Portion of this fundraising trip is Tax Deductible!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• As for how much pocket money you should have: As all meals, transportation and hotels are included, you will need pocket money for personal incidentals, alcoholic drinks (if you drink wine). It is dependent on your personal spending habits, but,personally, I do not foresee spending more than $250.00 (inclusive of the tips for the guides and driver) on personal items, souvenirs and etc…). As a convenience, I will have exchanged $50.00 per person at the best possible rate (currently about 1.50 Bulgarian Leva (BGN) the Bulgarian currency) to the Dollar. We will have opportunities to exchange additional funds during the trip.

• Phone cards: For those that wish to call back to the States, the Bulgarian Telephone Company as well as a few other places offer cards with a pre-set amount (ie: 5BGN, 10BGN and etc) and you can use phone booths.

• Tipping: We recommend $100.00 per person which will be divided between the guides and the driver. Please have this in cash (US Dollars is fine – new 20 dollar bills would be preferred).

USEFUL ADVICE

• Bulgarian-English-Bulgarian Phrasebook: If this is something that everyone wants, please let me know and I will purchase a few when I am in Bulgaria. As you know the saying, when you are asking directions from the locals (with the help of a phrasebook), be prepared for their answer (which is not in the phrasebook). Itshappened to me on a few occasions, all in good fun! People appreciate the effort!

• Recommended Reading: Gerard Gorman’s book Birding in Eastern Europe, is an excellent reference as to the habitat we will be visiting. The price is $45.00. This book is handy in that it has listed many of the places we will be visiting. I will have a couple of extra copies of the book with me during the trip, but you can order ahead of time and they will be mailed to your home address ahead of your trip to Bulgaria.

Also Collins Bird Guide: The Most Complete Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe (Lars Svensson, Peter J. Grant, Killian Mullarney, Dan Zetterstrom) is the European Standard for Bird Guides.

• Weather in Bulgaria: it is a mix of Continental and Mediterranean and it will be Spring-like weather inland and closer to summer weather along the coast. Thus for the days we will be staying in the mountains, it would be recommended for a sweater, some type of light rain-coat (the cheap portable, foldable kind). Hiking shoes, the same you wear for birding, semi-waterproof. You can check the latest weather conditions at: http://weather.bg/indexen.php

(1) All birding trips led by the FBSBP are fully sanctioned by the Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds, BirdLife International's Bulgarian Parter.

(2) 100% of funding from these trips are used to fund important Society projects.

(3) Trips in the past have funded: (a) Avi-fauna mapping in the Strandja Reserve; (b) Provision of carcasses at the Eastern Rhodope Vulture Feeding Station; (c) Imperial Eagle conservation and nest protection in the Sakar; (d) Publication of secondary school pamphlets encouraging conservation as well as creating an interest in birding; (e) The annual Bulgarian Youth Birding Olympics; (f) Funding projects aiming at preserving habitat throughout the migratory byways (ie: Via Pontica & Via Aristotelis) and (g) Administrative costs connected with Wind Farm and NATURA 2000.

(4) You become a full member of the Society with all benefits and discounts.

(5) All trips are led by Society members and leading ornithologists in the field.

(6) Tours are led by Society Volunteers thus making these outings extremely affordable.