Bulgaria - Three Classic Tours

This week-long tour focuses on the Red-breasted Goose flocks which winter in the very north-east of Bulgaria. In most years 1000s reside here by the Black Sea, in particular at Lakes Durankulak & Sabla where they roost & drink. There are also Greater White-fronted Geese, sometimes Lesser White-fronted, Pygmy Cormorant, various ducks, grebes & raptors like White-tailed Eagle, Hen Harrier, Rough-legged Buzzard & Merlin.

This week-long itinerary takes in the best of Bulgaria mountains: the Central Balkan Range, the Western & Eastern Rhodopes, Rila & Vitosha. The old deciduous forests of the Central Balkan Range are home to White-backed Woodpecker (southern lilfordi race), Middle-Spotted, Black and Grey-headed Woodpeckers. The Eastern Rhodopes are Bulgaria's best range for large raptors: Egyptian, Griffon and Black Vutures can all be seen here. In the Western Rhodopes we visit the Trigrad Gorge for Wallcreeper as well as Alpine Swift, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Grey Wagtail and Dipper. We also visit the Struma River Valley for Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Nuthatch, Sombre Tit and Rock Sparrow. Woodpeckers here include Lesser Spotted, Syrian and Green Woodpecker. Rila's coniferous habitats host the alpinus race of Three-toed Woodpecker, Hazel Grouse, Nutcracker, Ring Ouzel, Water Pipit, Crested Tit and Firecrest. On most trips we also spend some hours on Vitosha Mountain just outside the capital before concluding the tour in Sofia.

Bulgaria's Black Sea coast is dotted with great birding sites which we have been birding for 20 years. A week with us here in May or June takes in Durankulak, Nos Kaliakra, Nos Emine, Atanasovsko, Poda and other sites. Targets include White & Dalmatian Pelicans, White Stork, Gull-billed Tern, Collared Pratincole, Paddyfield & Olive-tree Warblers, Isabelline & Pied Wheatears, Short-toed Lark, Rose-coloured Starling, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Syrian Woodpecker & Ortolan & Black-headed Buntings.