Hungary &
Bulgaria
16
- 30 June 2008
Itinerary in PDF Format
√
FREE BG CHECKLIST 2002
√
Led by
Gerard Gorman and Yoav Chudnoff
Originally from the UK,
Gerard Gorman has
lived in Hungary since the mid-1980s. He arrived in Budapest
on an exchange scholarship and never left. A birdwatcher
since childhood he quickly realised that
Hungary was exceptional for birds, and so he set about
extensively exploring his adopted country. Soon after he
started to make regular visits to neighbouring
Romania, Czechoslovakia (later to be split into the
Czech Republic and
Slovakia), and then to
Poland and
Bulgaria - always with birds as the focus. He started to guide birders from Western Europe.
And, as they say, the rest is history. When not guiding
visitors Gerard's main ornithological interest is in
woodpeckers, in particular Syrian Woodpecker which he has
spent several years studying. Subsequently he has published
numerous
articles on the European Picidae, and indeed on other
birds & birding, in international journals and magazines. He
is author of four books including
A Guide
to Birdwatching in Hungary (Corvina),
Where To
Watch Birds in Eastern Europe (Hamlyn) and
The
Birds of Hungary (Helm). In 1995 he was awarded the Eric
Hoskings Trust Writing Bursary for a project entitled "Birds
and Political Change in Eastern Europe". He is also an
experienced lecturer having given illustrated talks on birds
and birding at the British Birdwatching Fair, the WWT
North-West Bird Fair, the Great Western Bird Fair and
various RSPB Members' Groups. Gerard is a full-time birding
guide, lecturer and author. His latest book is
WOODPECKERS OF EUROPE (Bruce Coleman Books).*
* Reprinted with permission
Yoav Chudnoff is an avid Birder, with strong
fascination with the Picidae. Yoav is
involved in promoting Birding and Avifauna conservation in
Bulgaria. He has been working as a volunteer representative
of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB)
in the United States for the past 5 years as well as leading
birding trips to Bulgaria. The BSPB is BirdLife
International’s Bulgarian partner. His interest in Avifauna
conservation stems from his ‘side’ interest in running a
small family hotel, albeit stateside, in the Bulgarian Black
Sea Coast town of Sinemoretz. The hotel participates in
nature tourism and conservation and, in particular, birding.
The area around Sinemoretz is rich in avifauna (140+
Species) as well as being home to 8 of the 10 picidaes that
can be found in Europe (all but Three-toed, Wryneck).
Because of his work with Bulgarian conservation
organizations, in particular, the BSPB, the tours he offers
are the only ones in the U.S. that are fully endorsed by
the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds.
He has collaborated with Gerard Gorman on many occasions in
the past concerning efforts in promoting Birding tourism in
Bulgaria.
ABOUT THIS
TRIP:
This
trip will focus on Hungary and Bulgaria. We will be
visiting several key areas in Hungary (Kiskunsag,
Bukk Hills and
Hortobagy to name a few) and in Bulgaria
(Danube River Basin, Bourgas Lakes, Eastern Rhodope, Sakar
Flyway and more).
Though there is a short flight-time (around 1 hour) between
the two, Hungary and Bulgaria are two very contrasting
countries. Their histories, languages, cultures and cuisines
differ greatly. Bird-wise and habitat-wise there are stark
contrasts as well. For example, Hungary is land-locked and
typified by large flat grasslands whereas Bulgaria has more
rugged uplands and the impressive Black Sea coast. We
believe these two birding destinations compliment each other
perfectly and provide an opportunity to see a rich range of
European lowland, upland, forest, wetland and coastal
species.
For those that have an interest, all of the habitats we will be
visiting offer nocturnal birding opportunities. As both
Hungary and Bulgaria are world renowned wine producers,
we’ll also have a chance to sample some of the local
offerings.
In Gerard’s own words: “Hungary’s population of over a
thousand Great Bustards is crucial for the survival of the
species in Central Europe … Hungary also holds significant
breeding populations of four other threatened species:
Eastern Imperial Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Corncrake and
Aquatic Warbler. Bulgaria has one of the richest and most
diverse avifaunas in Europe and is worth a visit at almost
any time of year."
GRADING & FITNESS
The
walks are multi-graded from easy to moderate.
Itinerary
June
16 2008:
Arrive Budapest Airport. Meet with local guide and private
bus & driver. Travel south-east a short way to the Kiskunsag
National Park. The grasslands of eastern Hungary, called the
puszta, are perhaps most famed for their Great Bustards and
the Kiskunsag is one of the very best areas in Hungary for
this species. If flight arrival times allow we may well go
immediately in search of a flock that dwell on the flat
grasslands and farmlands here. This magnificent species is
Hungary's national bird. Birds around our hotel include
Black Redstart, Crested Lark, Red-backed Shrike
June
17 2008:
We have a full day in this flat, lowland area. If we did not
have time yesterday to find the bustards, we will make that
a priority this morning. Other grassland birds we should
encounter include Eurasian Roller, Red-footed Falcon,
Collared Pratincole, Lesser Grey Shrike, European Hoopoe,
Common Quail, Grey Partridge, Eurasian Skylark and Corn
Bunting. Our picnic lunch will be in a suitably birdy spot.
Later we will explore several shallow salt-lakes and
fish-ponds which host breeding herons, wildfowl, shorebirds,
terns and warblers. We will bird on easy walks on flat
terrain here and can expect to see White Stork, Western
Marsh Harrier, Yellow-legged Gull, Pied Avocet, Black-winged
Stilt, Whiskered and Black Terns, Golden Oriole, Penduline
Tit, Bearded Tit, Crested Lark, Bluethroat, River, Great
Reed and Savi's Warblers and many others. Eurasian Rollers
and European Bee-eaters are often roadside birds.
June
18 2008:
Today we head north-eastwards to the Bukk Hills. On our
journey (2 hours if done direct) we will stop at various
bird sites. For example, for raptors such as Montagu's
Harrier and Eastern Imperial Eagle and in wooded spots for
Syrian and Black Woodpeckers, Common Nightingale and Barred
Warbler. We will pass through many small villages and towns
and see roadside nesting White Storks and how people in
rural Hungary live. The grounds of our hotel will be worth
birding as there are often may well be Wryneck, Middle
Spotted and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and Hawfinch in the
garden. In the evening Scops Owl may call here, too. Two
nights Bukk Hills.
June
19 2008:
There will be an optional pre-breakfast walk for early
birds. After breakfast we explore the hills, especially the
clearings, pastures and oak-beech-hornbeam woods in the
southern Bukk. A priority today will be Corncrake, a
skulking bird of wet, grassy meadows. Other key birds here
are Short-toed and Lesser Spotted Eagles, Eurasian Goshawk,
Honey Buzzard, Black Stork, 8 species of woodpecker, Tawny
and Ural Owls, Long-tailed and Marsh Tits, Wood Warbler,
Red-breasted and Collared Flycatcher, Grey Wagtail and Rock
Bunting. On one evening, there’s the option of a visit to an
old (over 100 years), traditional family run wine-cellar,
the area we stay in is famous region for wine production.
June
20 2008:
Today we head south-eastward to the Great Plain, crossing
the River Tisza to the famous Hortobagy region, one of
Europe's great bird areas. Again, we will bird on route and
stop for Saker Falcon, more Red-footed Falcons and nesting
White Storks and various herons. Saker Falcon is another
bird which is held in high esteem by Hungarians as it was
something of a totem for the ancient Magyars. We may well
take our lunch by Lake Tisza which will have Great Crested
and Little Grebes, Purple, Grey, Squacco and Black-crowned
Night Herons, more Western Marsh Harriers and various ducks.
There's a chance of White-tailed Eagle here, too. (Today
we will probably be joined by a member of the MME's Raptor
Working Group who will show us some of the sites
where raptor conservation work is on-going)
Two nights Tiszafured.
June
21 2008:
The grasslands, marshes and fish-farms of the Hortobagy
National Park abound in birds. Red-footed Falcons nest in
loose colonies and are particularly photogenic. Numerous
fish-pond systems here teem with birds: expect Pygmy
Cormorant, Red-necked Grebe, Great White and Little Egrets,
more herons, Common and Little Bitterns, Eurasian Spoonbill,
Spotted Redshank, Icterine, Moustached, Marsh, Savi's and
Great Reed Warblers. Puszta birds include Tawny Pipit, the
blue-headed race of Yellow Wagtail, Little Owl, Eurasian
Stone Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit and Lesser Grey Shrike.
Raptors include Long-legged Buzzard, Montagu’s Harrier and
Saker Falcon. The Hortobágy also has extensive marshes and
smaller brackish lakes with Black-necked Grebe, Garganey,
Ferruginous Duck, Black and White-winged Black Terns. Water
Rail and Little Crake will almost certainly call and may
even show themselves. On one morning we’ll enter a strictly
protected area to see the rare and endangered Aquatic
Warbler. We should also encounter Common Cranes and passage
waders such as Ruff in breeding plumage and Green and Wood
Sandpipers. All in all almost anything is possible in this
internationally important area.
June
22 2008:
Head for Budapest (2-3 hours) for flight transfer to Bourgas,
Bulgaria. Upon arrival in Bourgas, we will drive to
Madjarovo (220 km – 3-4 hours) with stops for birding
en-route.
The eastern Rhodope is a mountain of jagged peaks, towering
cliffs and sparsely vegetated, boulder-strewn slopes. The
most spectacular residents are the Griffon Vultures,
inhabiting the crater of an ancient volcano. Cinereous and
Egyptian Vultures and White-tailed Eagle are also visitors
of the feeding tables. You will see many Black Storks
nesting on the cliffs. Chukars often stand sentinel on rocky
hillsides. The shrill whistles of Rock Nuthatches and the
song of the Ortolan Bunting are heard everywhere. Other
typically Balkan birds, like Pallid Swift, Red-rumped
Swallow, Blue Rock Thrush, Black-eared Wheatear, Orphean,
Subalpine and Olivaceous Warblers, Sombre Tit and
Black-headed Bunting are here, too.
Two Nights accommodation in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains.
June 23 2008:
We continue to explore the region around
Madjarovo and Studen Kladenetz for Cinereous Vulture,
Griffon Vulture, Egyptian Vulture – all regular visitors at
the Vulture Feeding Site - Black Stork, Booted Eagle,
Short-toed Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Chukar, Scops Owl,
Red-rumped Swallow, Woodchat Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike,
Sardinian Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Barred Warbler,
Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Blue Rock Thrush, Black-eared
Wheatear, Rock Nuthatch and Sombre Tit to name just a few.
June
24 2008:
Drive to the southern Black Sea coast, with stops in the
Sakar & Strandja Mountains, where we will be looking for
Eastern Imperial Eagle, Levant Sparrowhawk, Masked Shrike,
Olive-tree Warbler and Orphean Warbler. The Sakar and
Strandja Mountains are located in the south-east of
Bulgaria, bordering on Turkey. The Sakar is an area of
rounded hills and open valleys, where most of the lowland is
a step-like grassland with scattered trees, and agricultural
plots. The Sakar is also Bulgaria's Eastern Imperial Eagle
stronghold. We will have a traditional lunch in a small
village in the Sakar Mountains in order to support the
conservation project for this raptor and to help raise local
awareness of its importance. Accomodation in the
Bourgas area for two nights
June
25 2008:
Wetlands around Bourgas: Bourgas Lake, Mandra Lake & Poda
lagoon, Pomorie Lake and Atanasovsko Lake.
We will explore the wetlands boulder-strewn slopes, the most
spectacular being around Bourgas, Ortolan Bunting are heard
everywhere here as well as many other typically Balkan
songbirds. The saline lagoons here still have some
traditional saltpans which are of major importance for huge
numbers of birds, including Pied Avocet, Black-winged Stilt,
Broad-billed and Curlew Sandpipers, Marsh Sandpiper, Kentish
Plover, Slender-billed and Mediterranean Gulls, Gull-billed
Tern and many other waterfowl and wader species. The lush
vegetation embracing the freshwater lakes of Mandra and Vaya
and the surrounding reedbeds swarm with life - the air
resounds with the song of Savi's, Marsh, Great Reed and
Cetti's Warblers, whilst Golden Orioles flash through
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, Eurasian Spoonbill, Pygmy
Cormorant, Squacco,
Black-crowned Night and Purple Herons, White-winged Black
Terns and many others.
June
26 2008:
Drive to the northern coast via Goritca oak forests and
Kamchia riverine forests: White-tailed Eagle, Lesser Spotted
Eagle, Black Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker,
Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker,
Short-toed Treecreeper, Barred Warbler, Hawfinch, Blue,
March and Great Tits and, possibly Semi-collared Flycatcher.
Accommodation around Balchik for three nights
June 27 2008: Srebarna Lake on the Danube river:
The Srebarna Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, is a freshwater lake adjacent to the Danube and
extending over 600 ha. It is the breeding ground of almost
100 species of birds, many of which are rare or endangered.
Dalmatian Pelican, several species of
heron, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Glossy Ibis, Pygmy
Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck, Whiskered Tern, Red-footed
Falcon, Penduline Tit.
June
28 2008:
Morning: Durankulak Lake and Shabla lakes. Durankulak is one of the best- preserved coastal wetlands in
Bulgaria with international importance for the protection of
over 260 endemic, rare and endangered species of plants and
animals. The Shabla lakes are one of the largest wintering
grounds of Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) and
White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) in Europe:
Little Egret, Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck, Red-footed
Falkon, Collared Pratincole, Paddyfield Warbler, other
migrating & summering species of shorebirds, gulls and
terns. In the afternoon we will visit Cape Kaliakra and
Yailata steppes and cliffs. Both Cape Kaliakra and the
Yailata steppes are archeological reserves – Kaliakra is the
site of ancient ruins and fortresses situated in what is
thought to be the largest survicing steppes in Bulgaria:
European Shag (the Mediterranean ssp. desmarestii),
Mediterranean Shearwater, Stone Curlew, Eagle Owl, Levant
Sparrowhawk, Alpine Swift, Short-toed Lark, Calandra Lark,
Tawny Pipit, Isabelline Wheatear, Pied Wheatear, and,
possibly, Rose-coloured Starling.
June
29 2008:
Drive to Bourgas with stops (depending on departure time.
Depart from Bourgas Airport to Budapest. Arrival in
Budapest; Afternoon and Evening Free.
June
30 2008:
Transfer to Airport and depart for home.
TRIP INFORMATION
Practical
Information
Seasonal Climate – Both Hungary and 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.
VISA
INFORMATION
A valid passport whose expiration is no sooner than 6 months
after date of entry in either Hungary or Bulgaria. Visas for
American and UK citizens are not required. However, it is
recommended to contact the local Consul of either country
prior to departure for any changes to entry into either
country. Additional information concerning visas may be
found at either country’s embassy website.
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 may
also be needed.
Footwear: Comfortable walking boots and trainers or sandals.
Equipment: Insect repellent, sunscreen and sun hat. Binoculars
are a must. (A
telescope and tripod would be useful though our leaders will
also show group members birds through their 'scope’.)
WHAT'S
INCLUDED
All meals (except last day in Hungary), packed picnic lunches,
transportation and accommodation in 2*/3* accommodations, RT
Airfare Budapest-Bourgas-Budapest. Membership in BSPB is
included in the price of the trip.
WHAT'S
NOT INCLUDED
Alcoholic beverages, RT airfare & airport taxes to Hungary, items
of a personal nature, tips, souvenirs and etc. Last night
dinner in Budapest (Free Day).
WHY YOU
SHOULD JOIN THIS TOUR
Above and beyond receiving a great education and insight by one
of Europe's leading birders, this tour will help fund the
following projects:
Hungary: 1)
Magyar Madártani és Természetvédelmi Egyesület (MME/BirdLife
International’s Hungarian Partner) Raptor Conservation.
Bulgaria: Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds (BSPB/BirdLife
International’s Bulgarian Partner) 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.
PRICING:
$2585.00 pp - $340.00 single room supplement.
PRICING:
CALL US AT +1.215.517.7639 (Toll Free in US 866.204.6183)
email:
ychud@villaphiladelphia.com.
