Eastern Europe, birds and wildlife

Guide: Nigel Moorhouse

The post-war map of Europe was dominated by the Warsaw-pact countries, and the vision of the severe and austere communist architecture is far from the truth in many parts. These years actually protected much of the habitat from the intensive agriculture suffered by the west, and both birds and mammals survived in reasonable numbers.

Each country is distinctly different, and our tour takes in the best of the region for a wide variety of birdlife. Our tour begins in the ancient Bielowieza Forest of Poland. European Bison still occur here, and specialities include Great Snipe, Pygmy Owl, Three-toed and White-backed Woodpeckers, Citrine Wagtail and Thrush Nightingale. Heading back south, we cross the border into Slovakia. The mountains and forests of the Slovak Karst area are excellent for Ural, Tengmalm’s and European Eagle Owls, Grey-backed, Middle Spotted, Syrian and Black Woodpeckers, Wryneck, Red-breasted and Collared Flycatchers and European Nutcracker.

Moving on into Hungary, we find the steppes and ponds of the Hortobagy. This is one of the best spots in Europe for Great Bustard, as well as Saker Falcon and Imperial Eagle. Other specialities include Pygmy Cormorant, Squacco Heron, Ferruginous Duck, White-tailed Eagle, Red-footed Falcon, Aquatic Warbler and Penduline Tit. Our next country is Romania, and we begin in Transylvania, a region of mountains and forests, and the legendary home of Count Dracula. Species here include Golden Eagle, Rock Thrush and Rock Bunting. Further south in the Carpathian Mountains is an excellent locality for European Brown Bear, and birds are abundant, including Alpine Swift, Crag Martin, Ring Ouzel, the hard-to-locate Wallcreeper and Hawfinch.

The Danube Delta and Black Sea Coast is excellent for waterbirds, and species become decidedly south-east European in flavour - Pygmy Cormorant, White and Dalmatian Pelican, Glossy Ibis, Levant Sparrowhawk, Long-legged Buzzard, Short-toed and Booted Eagle, Pied Wheatear and Sombre Tit. Our final country is Bulgaria, where easterly species begin in earnest, including the sought-after Rose-coloured Starling, Sombre Tit, Eastern Olivaceous, Eastern Orphean and Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler and Black-headed Bunting. There are several areas on the tour where European Wolf and European Lynx occur, but we would need to be lucky to see either, although we will probably find tracks and signs.

Please note that this itinerary is being developed. Contact us for further details.

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