Romania ........ 26th May to 2nd June 2012

Danube Delta

Situated on the western shore of the Black Sea Romania has much to offer the naturalist. It has remarkable range of habitats –from coast to mountains, as well as forests and the marvellous Danube Delta. The Delta is an amazing 3,000 square kilometres in area, larger than the Coto Doñana and the Camargue combined. Its channels, lagoons, vast reedbeds and wooded islands are home to vast numbers of breeding herons, Ibis and cormorants. There are around: 1,200 pairs of Purple Herons, 2,000 pairs of Squacco Herons, 3,000 pairs of Night Herons and 1,500 pairs of Glossy Ibis as well as many nesting Pygmy Cormorants. Romania should be high on the list of destinations for every birdwatcher. The Danube Delta is for those who enjoy spectacular birdwatching: squadrons of Pelicans, clouds of waders, ribbons of Cormorants, reedbeds full of warblers, herons, egret & ibis. Woodpeckers, Hoopoes, Rollers, Bee-eaters & Golden Orioles are plentiful, sought after raptors, including Levant Sparrowhawk, fly overhead in the forests of Babadag and at Cheii Gorge, we may see Pied Wheatear and Long-legged Buzzard, while in the hills & plains nearby are varieties of flycatchers, buntings and pipits.

Days 1: We fly from UK to Bucharest Otopeni airport, where we will be met by our Guide. We travel to Tulcea harbor and board our luxury en suite floating hotel. As we sail, dinner is served.
Overnight - Floating Hotel

Days 2-4: Cruising along the bird-rich waterways of the Danube Delta, birding is at its most relaxed! Black-necked & Red-necked Grebes, Pygmy Cormorant, Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Squacco, Night & Purple Herons can be seen around the boat and Penduline & Bearded Tits and several species of warblers are often heard in the reeds. Letea Forest is the breeding area for White Tailed Eagle and Lesser Spotted, Grey-headed and Black Woodpeckers are in riverside copses, often giving close views. The numbers of breeding birds is quite amazing.
Overnights - Floating Hotel

Days 5-7: After breakfast on Day 5, we disembark, and then check into our hotel in Tulcea – our base for three nights. During the next two days we will visit some great birding locations with a wide diversity of habitats, including forest, wetlands, saltflats, rocky outcrops and pastures. At Babadag Forest, Sombre Tit, Woodlark and Collared Flycatcher are present in the woodland and Levant Sparrowhawk, Booted & Short-toed Eagle are possible overhead. At the wetlands of Vadu, White and Dalmatian Pelicans perform aerial ballet and a fine selection of waterbirds can also be encountered. At Histria the habitat of salt-flats, ponds, reedbeds and sandy scrub attracts Collared Pratincole, Little Bittern, Glossy Ibis, Ferruginous Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, Pygmy Cormorant, Calandra Lark, Kentish Plover and many surprises! Savi’s and Moustached Warblers are in the reeds and we may even find a westernmost Paddyfield Warbler. Inland at Cheii Gorge we search for Short-toed Larks, Tawny Pipit and Pied Wheatears.
Overnights – Tulcea

Day 8: After a little birding, we’ll drive to Bucharest Airport for our return flight to the UK.

Tour ref: AA1212

Cost: £1,595
Deposit: £300
Single Room Supplement: £145

Leaders: Daniel Petrescu & Colin Roe

Max. Group: 14 plus Leaders

Includes:
Economy class scheduled return flights (London-Bucharest-London), en-suite accommodation based on twin occupancy, meals, transportation in Romania and services of leaders.

Excludes:
Travel insurance, drinks and items of a personal nature.