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Romania
Saturday 6 - Sunday 14 May 2006 (9 days)
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© Bob Ford/Nature Portfolio  Red-crested Pochard |
We travel to the heart of Europe's very best wetland for birds and the nearby coast for some truly spectacular birding, and then into the mountains of Transylvania for an amazing range of species, with a good chance of seeing Brown Bear. Join us for an irresistible trip!Still relatively unknown, the Danube Delta is one of Europe's most important wetland regions, as well as being one of the best places in Europe for birds. One of its great attractions is its sheer inaccessibility. Only one road enters the delta, and the way to reach most of it is by boat. So for this trip we have chartered our own hotel boat for two days to get into the delta's best areas, and for an unforgettable experience of this unique region. But there are many other wetlands and forests here which make equally highly rewarding areas to visit.Our trips combine the best of these places at two of the best times of the year, to give us a feast of European birding that will be hard to match. Once again our local guide will be Tudor Blaj, whose friendly nature, excellent communication, and knowledge of his local wildlife have always impressed our groups in the past. Itinerary Day 1 We take a scheduled flight from London to Bucharest where we meet Tudor and drive straight out of the city, east across the plains to a hotel near the banks of the Danube in the town of Calarasi. We may be in time to check some wetlands en route. Overnight Calarasi Days 2 - 3 We cross the Danube on an open car ferry close to the Bulgarian border. Our first planned stop is at Bugeac, a good site for Ruddy Shelduck, and we pause for lunch at the largely wooded valley of Canaraua Fetei. In spring, Rollers are usually in by this date, as are Red-rumped Swallows while raptors, including the very scarce Levant Sparrowhawk may be seen over the woods. We continue to the pleasant Black Sea resort of Mamaia, hopefully in time for some sea-watching with the sun behind us. In both spring and autumn, migrants are on the move, and our hotel on the Black Sea coast at Mamaia is superbly placed for watching these as they migrate along the coast. From Mamaia we visit a range of wetland and drier habitats. Two places in particular, Vadu and the historic site of Histria, must rank amongst the best single birdwatching sites in Europe. The thousands of waterbirds here include a particularly fine variety of terns and waders. Collared Pratincole breed here, and both White and Dalmatian Pelican can be found, the latter in one of its very few breeding sites. White-tailed Plovers have bred here - for the first time in Europe - in the past, and we've been fortunate to see this most elegant of plovers displaying. Away from the main lake, the area has innumerable pools and reedbeds, and these form a wonderful habitat in themselves, with innumerable herons of several species, and a fabulous variety of warblers and other songbirds. The few trees in the area act as magnets to passing migrant passerines to add to the diversity. Away from the lake shores, the area has extensive scrub and rocky sites with dry steppe country good for Long-legged Buzzard, Red-footed Falcon, Crested and Calandra Larks, while the delightful Sousliks are common here. Inland we make a special trip for the scarce and localised Pied Wheatear. The roadsides en route often produce Lesser Grey and Red-backed Shrikes and Roller. The raptors here are excellent, with Lesser Spotted Eagle, and good chances of Montagu's Harrier. In the autumn, the number of migrating raptors and storks moving south along the coast can be spectacular. Two nights Mamaia Days 4 - 5 We travel north via the superb wetland site of Enisala, with lunch on the edge of the Babadag Forest. Here the hills rise above 400m with the main habitat dry oak woodland, where, in spring, Ortolan Bunting sing from the trees. We watch for raptors over the canopy, which can include both Levant Sparrowhawk and Goshawk, together with Lesser Spotted Eagle. We spend most of the day here before descending to Tulcea where we board our "ponton". River deltas form amongst the world's richest habitats. In Europe we have just a handful, with the Danube Delta one of the largest and least spoilt. With no roads into the delta, the only way to get right into the delta itself is by boat. One of the best ways to stay overnight there is to take your own hotel! We charter our own hotel boat, or "ponton" for our visit to the delta, allowing us to moor overnight at the best sites, and enjoy an elevated viewing platform above the reeds, as well as good comfort in the remotest possible location. Please note that with smaller groups, we'll be staying in a small hotel in the heart of the delta, but making boat trips each day. We shall make our way along channels lined with overhanging willows, the haunts of Pygmy Cormorant, Glossy Ibis, and every European breeding species of heron. Grebes on the lakes can include Black-necked and large numbers of Red-necked Grebe, and Red-crested Pochard and Ferruginous Duck are amongst the breeding wildfowl. In the wooded areas we listen for Grey-headed Woodpecker, Golden Oriole, and Penduline Tit amongst the willows. Raptors are much in evidence, with Hobby by far the most common species. White Stork is common in the villages, while the odd Black Stork can be seen soaring over the forests. Two nights Danube Delta Days 6 - 8 After an early breakfast we head back to Tulcea and drive to Sinaia, high in the Carpathians. We cross the Danube at its lowest point before it divides in the delta, and make our way across the plains. Once in the mountains that divide Transylvania from the rest of Romania (rising to around 2,500m) we shall find it noticeably cooler than the coast. Our accommodation lies right on the edge of Sinaia, adjacent to an area of parkland and extensive towering forests of beech and spruce. A certain amount of worthwhile birding can be done in the gardens and woods close to the hotel, with Serin, Black Redstart and Fieldfare breeding nearby. The next day we head into the Transylvanian Alps. We leave early for a spectacular drive high over a mountain ridge in quest of Wallcreeper, usually found in a small isolated gorge. The top of the plateau usually reveals Water Pipit, with the chance of Alpine Accentor, and in spring is particularly good for early alpine flowers. Our last full day is spent exploring deciduous woodland and inland freshwater wetlands in a high valley, where in spring we may encounter more woodpeckers including Wryneck, a range of resident and passage raptors and Hawfinch. On one or more evenings we search for Brown Bears with a spotlight at a site known to our guides. The views of these magnificent creatures can be absolutely breathtaking! Three nights Sinaia Day 9 We have a walk amidst the nature reserve forests of Sinaia near the hotel. Of enormous ancient spruce and beech, these forests are a prime habitat for Collared Flycatcher in spring, Firecrest and Black Woodpecker. Late in the morning we drive to Bucharest to catch our afternoon return flight to London. Accommodation: The hotels have all rooms en suite. The ponton has two-berth cabins with shared facilities. We regret that only a very limited number of single cabins are available. The food throughout is good. |
| Leaders: |
May - Jamie McMillan and Tudor Blaj September - Mike Read and Tudor Blaj |
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| Numbers: |
Max. 14 clients |
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Price: |
£ | 1,245 | ||
| Single supp.*: | £ | 185 | ||
| Deposit: | £ | 200 | per person | |
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The price per person includes return scheduled flight from London - Bucharest, accommodation, meals, coach or minibus transport, boat transport within the delta, incidental tips, and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes holiday insurance, optional tip for the driver, drinks, and other personal expenses. *The supplement does not include single cabins on the 'ponton', for which there is no extra charge. These are limited in number and will be allocated in order of booking. For an ex-flight cost, please deduct £ 165 from the holiday cost. |
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