|
|
|
|
|
Slovakia
Saturday 22 - Saturday 29 April 2006 (8 days) |
|
©Keith Grant/Nature Portfolio 
Nutcracker
|
Join us for a special spring tour to Slovakia for a host of Eastern European speciality birds - and an unbelievably close view of Brown Bears in the wild.Slovakia is one of Europe's newest nations, formed when the long country of Czechoslovakia split in 1994. This wild and rugged country offers a wonderful diversity of limestone meadows, high mountains, pristine beech and conifer forests, and lowland wetlands rich in birdlife. We go in spring, when the fruit trees are in blossom, and resident forest birds can be seen most easily.This is prime woodpecker country - all ten European species can be found here. The High Tatra Mountains contain some of Europe's finest and least disturbed habitats, home to Alpine Accentor and a healthy population of mammals, including Lynx and Wolf, whose tracks we may be able to follow across the snow-capped peaks. We will keep our eyes open for soaring Black Stork and Lesser Spotted Eagle, plus Nutcracker in the forests which also host an excellent variety of owls, including Pygmy and Eagle Owl. This wild land with mountains up to 2,655m also hosts one of Europe's best populations of large mammals, the star of which must be the Brown Bear. There are about 300 Brown Bears in Slovakia and our tour should give us the opportunity to observe these impressive creatures in the wild from special hides overlooking clearings in the forest, and to learn more about their lives. From our hides (which are absolutely safe) our guides will try to attract bears with baits including corn and honey (what else?). With luck, as with our previous trips, we could see them just 50m away. The most numerous bird populations are to be found in the extensive lowlands, with their marshes, rivers and ponds, located on the south-east and south-west sides of the country. Our main targets here will be Red-necked Grebe, Saker and Imperial Eagle. This is an area largely unvisited by tourists, and the choice of accommodation is limited. We stay at 2- and 3-star hotels, chosen for their excellent locations. We will be accompanied throughout again by our affable and knowledgeable local guide, Dr Miroslav Capek, and in addition a network of local guides will help us get the best from each of the sites we visit. Itinerary Days 1 - 3 We take an early scheduled flight from London to Kosice via Prague. We meet our local leader, Mirek, and travel by minicoach to central Slovakia and the beautiful High Tatras National Park for a three-night stay, in a hotel beneath the snow-covered Chocské Mountains. During our stay, we will go up into the High Tatras, looking for Golden Eagle, Nutcracker and Three-toed Woodpecker. At the first opportunity, we will take a chairlift to Skalnate Lake at 2,100m where we hope to find Alpine Accentor and Water Pipit. We will also have the chance to track mammal footprints where the snow is lying. In the past we have found footprints of Brown Bear and Lynx together with those of several other mammal species and Capercaillie. During our stay we will also explore the Chocské Hills, a limestone range well off the regular tourist trail. In the conifer forests of the Prosieck Valley we hope to encounter Nutcracker, Peregrine Falcon, Eagle Owl and Golden Eagle. Other birds we hope to find include Lesser Spotted Eagle, Black, Three-toed and White-backed Woodpeckers, with Dipper in the streams, and we hope to repeat the superb views of Pygmy Owl we've had in the past. On at least two evenings we will have a chance to go to the bear-watching hides, and may have some time to go on an evening 'owl-prowl' as well. Three nights High Tatras Days 4 - 5 We travel to the south-east corner of Slovakia via the historic town of Levoca. Our base for the next two nights will be close to the Ukrainian border. Next day we will be joined by Slovak ornithologist Dr Stefan Danko. The Vihorlat Hills are home to the protected Imperial Eagle and Dr Danko will tell us about his special nest protection project in Slovakia. Other raptors we may encounter include Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Goshawk and Saker. Eagle Owls also breed in this area, and we hope to see these magnificent birds in an area known to our local guide. The mixed forest is home to an excellent variety of birds including Collared Flycatcher and Middle Spotted and Grey-headed Woodpeckers, with Syrian Woodpecker to be found in nearby villages. Two nights Vojenska Zotavovna Days 6 - 7 Next day we head for the Latorica Marshes, a wetland of international importance offering ideal habitats for an excellent range of bird species including Great White Egret, Purple Heron, Spoonbill, Short-eared Owl, Penduline Tit and a mix of terns and warblers. Pygmy Cormorant and Ferruginous Duck may also be present, with huge flocks of migrant waders, including Marsh Sandpiper and Temminck's Stint, in the shallower areas. Near Tarbucka Hill we will have a look for Hoopoe and Syrian Woodpecker and will hopefully have time to taste the local Tokaj wines. We'll also see some of the attractive villages of the area, with their ancient wooden churches. Our final full day will be on the Slovak Carst, a limestone plateau with breeding Rock Bunting and Black Stork. We should encounter White Stork nests in almost every village we pass. We may also have an opportunity to search for Tengmalm's and Pygmy Owls in the evenings. Two nights Ranc Sugov Day 8 We transfer to the airport at Kocice for our homeward flight via Prague. Please note that we can arrange optional extensions to the trip in Prague, for a chance to spend a bit of time in this delightful city. Accommodation: Two- and three-star hotels with all rooms en suite. |
| Leaders: Keith Grant and Miroslav Capek |
 |
|||
| Numbers: |
Max. 12 clients |
|||
| Price: | £ | 1,195 | ||
| Single supp.: | £ | 135 | ||
| Deposit: | £ | 200 | per person | |
|
The price is per person and includes scheduled return flights London- Kosice, airport taxes, ground transportation, accommodation on a full-board basis, local taxes, incidental tips, and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes holiday insurance, optional tips to the driver and local guides, drinks, and other personal expenses. |
||||