Croatia

Croatia is a remarkable and beautiful country with diverse habitats and a varied birdlife. In the north there are high mountains blanketed in forests at Risnjak, wetlands along the Danube and Sava rivers, bird-rich fish-pond systems and the famous Kopacki Rit reserve. To the south in Dalmatia habitats include limestone karst fields and gorges just inland from the clear blue waters of the Adriatic Sea and many offshore islands of all shapes and sizes. Eleonora's Falcons breed on some of these.

Good birds can also be found in and around the capital Zagreb, especially by the River Sava & in wooded areas such as Maksimir Park, for example Little Bittern, Short-toed Treecreeper, Collared Flycatcher & Hawfinch.

The Krka National Park is a scenic karst area through which the rushing River Krka flows. Krka is a fine area for raptors and perhaps not surprisingly its rocky gorges are home to Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Nuthatch & Rock Bunting. The scenic waterfalls Skradinski Buk provide photographic opportunities.

The Paklenica National Park is part of the Velebit Mountain range. Two gorges here, Mala Paklenica & Velika Paklenica, are spectacular. Paklenica is a good area to look for Rock Partridge though this species is in fact fairly common throughout Dalmatia. A rich range of butterflies occurs, too and the dry limestone landscapes are ideal for reptiles such as Hermann's Tortoise, Dalmatian Algyroides, Balkan Green Lizard, Dalmatian Wall Lizard, Balkan Whip Snake and others.

Lake Vrana is the largest natural lake in Croatia and an internationally important wetland for migrating and breeding birds. The lake lies by the Adriatic Sea and is arguably the most important coastal passage stop-over in the country, in both spring and autumn. Breeding species here include Pygmy Cormorant, Purple Heron and Black-winged Stilt.