Spring Tours

Good Reasons
to Visit the
Czech Republic

White-tailed Eagle
Saker Falcon
Red Kite
Black Grouse
Corncrake
Nutcracker
Pygmy Owl
Tengmalm's Owl
Black Woodpecker
Grey-headed Woodpecker
Collared Flycatcher
Wallcreeper

Do you need to add Reeves's Pheasant to your Euro or WP list? We know of a place in the Czech Republic with wild-breeding birds, probably the only genuine wild and hence "tickable" Symaticus reevesii in Europe.

The Czech Republic

The most westerly of the formerly so-called "eastern bloc" countries the Czech Republic is a land of surprisingly diverse habitats and landscapes. There are high mountains, dense forests, vast peat-bogs, riverine woods and in particular numerous fish-ponds, see BIRDING IN EASTERN EUROPE and WHERE TO WATCH BIRDS IN EASTERN EUROPE. And then there is Prague, one of Europe's most attractive cities, which also has good woodpeckers in its parks and wildfowl on its river in winter. The airport here can be reached on direct flights from all major European and several N.American cities. If visiting south Bohemia (home of fish-ponds dating from the Middle Ages) or south Moravia (the warmer wine growing region of the country) then Vienna Airport in nearby Austria is an option, too.

With the possible exception of winter the country has good birds all year round, but as with most European countries spring is overall best. In April woodpeckers (all European species are present) and owls are still calling and by May migrant breeders have returned.

Some wonderful bird areas include the Sumava National Park in the south-west on the border with Bavaria where there are extensive peat-bogs and forests with Black Grouse leks, 7 species of woodpecker and both Tengmalm's and Pygmy Owls; the Trebon Basin where ducks cover the wetlands in spring, Collared Flycatchers and Short-toed Treecreepers call from the tree-lined dykes and White Stork nests seem to grace most villages; the Palava Biosphere Reserve in south Moravia where White-tailed Eagle, Black & Red Kites and Saker breed and where in winter thousands of Tundra Bean Geese roost on the Nove Mlyny Reservoirs. In the north and east montane areas like the Beskydy are blanketed in vast forests, which though often hard to work, are home to raptors, grouse, warblers and flycatchers and even Lynx and Brown Bear.