Poland in Winter
Bison and birds in a winter landscape
Saturday 9 - Friday 15 February 2008 (7 days)
We visit Poland at the best time to see its amazing range of mammals, when snow covers forests and the marshes are frozen. We can expect good views of Bison and Boar, some fine winter birding, and possibly the best chance of encountering wild Wolves anywhere in Europe!
North-eastern Poland boasts, in a nutshell, some of the wildest and most unspoilt forest and freshwater marshland habitats in Europe. We’ve been going for over a decade in spring, when life is at its most active, but does it all go quiet in winter? Not a bit of it! Footprints in the snow tell us that a Wolf has crossed the forest track here, following a herd of Red Deer. Above, a Rough-legged Buzzard soars, and is joined by a magnificent pair of White-tailed Eagle, making the raucous Nutcrackers go suddenly quiet, while an impressive bull Elk quietly passes between the trees. But of all the sights to offer on a winter tour to Poland, the biggest attraction – in more ways than one! – must surely be the immense European Bison , which forms large herds during the winter, and is much easier to see than in spring.
Winter wildlife watching here can be exciting and memorable, with potentially some of the best mammal-viewing in Europe, as well as a chance to experience wonderful winter landscapes.
Our tour will take us first to the vast Biebrza Marshes, amidst a snow-covered landscape of small villages, before finishing at the primeval forest of Bialowieza, where herds of Bison browse in the snow.
It will be cold, but (dare we say unlike the UK) Poland is very much geared up to cope with hard winter weather, and we can expect warm and comfortable accommodation, and the warmest of welcomes!
Price: £ 1,245
Single supp.: £ 105
Deposit: £ 300 per person
The price is per person and is fully inclusive of return scheduled flights London - Warsaw, accommodation, meals, ground transportation by minicoach, incidental tips, admissions and national park fees, and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes holiday insurance, drinks, optional tips to local drivers and guides, and other personal expenses.
Leaders: John Muddeman and local guides
Itinerary
Day 1
We take a scheduled flight from London - Warsaw and drive to the Biebrza Marshes.
Day 2
Today we visit the southern basin of Biebrza National Park. Animal tracking in the snow will reveal footprints left by different mammals, and we’ll learn to distinguish tracks and signs left by Elk, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Wild Boar, Pine and Stone Marten, Fox, Wolf, and maybe even Lynx. Birds we might encounter include Raven, Great Grey Shrike, Rough legged Buzzard, lovely Northern Long Tailed Tit, Nutcracker and the magnificent White-tailed Eagle. Depending on the year, flocks of Waxwing may also be around.
There will be an optional horse sledge ride through the forest followed by an open-air bonfire with piwo (beer) and bigos (Polish traditional sauerkraut).
Overnight Biebrza
Day 3
We visit the Red Marsh area – one of the first strictly protected reserves in Poland. Here we’ll get a chance to learn about Wolf ecology: looking for the usually many of wolf’s prints and different signs left in the snow as well as meeting any wolves that are in the rehabilitation centre. Often there are left remains of Red deer or Elk killed by the wolves.
In the forests and meadows here, we have a chance to see a variety of woodpeckers – often easier to see in winter – including Black, White-backed Woodpecker and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. This is also a good spot for Hawfinch, and flocks of other small birds. Some other mammals like Weasel, Pine Marten and Stoat could be spotted too.
Weather permitting we’ll go out in the evening to encounter the winter sounds of the forest and marshes.
Overnight Biebrza
Day 4
Today we will search for the noisy Nutcracker, which is more common during the winter. Their metallic call can be heard from a distance, so if they are around we will surely know about it. On the way we can stop to admire the constructions of the second biggest rodent in the world: European Beaver. The Beavers were once a very important factor of the ecosystem, and we can understand the many valuable aspect their dams have in terms of cleaning the water, or producing floods, etc. We will also have the opportunity to stop at the national parks visitor centre.
Overnight Biebrza
Day 5
We drive to Forest in the morning. In the afternoon we look for Bison tracks and signs around the forest, and learn about European Bison ecology. The Bison form bigger herds in winter to defend themselves against wolves – which should make it easier for us to encounter Europe’s largest mammal. If we find them, with luck they can give wonderful views against the backdrop of the snow-covered forest.
Overnight Bialowieza
Day 6
We visit the strictly protected part of the Bialowieza NP – the oldest reserve in Poland, created in 1921. Giant oaks, towering spruces, and fallen trunks covered with snow create a very special atmosphere here, almost without equal in the rest of Europe. Primeval forest is a home of numerous woodpeckers, and we’ll be looking for White-backed, Three-toed, Grey-headed and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, which live year round in this forest. After that we take a short walk throughout the Palace’s Park where the Tsar Nikolaj II used to walk with his family.
Overnight Bialowieza
Day 7
We drive back to Warsaw, and should have time to see something of the remarkable reconstructed old city centre before taking our return flight to London.
Accommodation
Hotels with all rooms en suite. A limited number of single rooms are available.
Numbers: Max. 14 clients