Bulgaria - Wild Goose Chase
Saturday 7th to Wednesday 11th February 2009
AA9001
In most years virtually the whole world population of Red-breasted Geese
assembles on the northern part of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. Recently, in
excess of 60,000 Red-breasted Geese have spent January and February around
the lakes of Durankulak and Shabla. This short tour is specifically planned
to watch and photograph these uniquely colourful geese and has been timed to
coincide with their maximum presence. However there will be other sites and
habitats to visit and we should see a number of woodpecker species and a
selection of raptors as well as large numbers of other wildfowl species.
Organised in association with the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of
Birds our tour will assist in the funding of their monitoring and
conservation activities in Bulgaria.
Day 1: Flight from London to Varna and transfer to our hotel at
Tyulenovo some ten miles north of Kavarna where we shall be based for three
nights.
Overnight - Tyulenovo
Days 2 & 3: Our hotel on the Dobrudja coast is within easy reach of
the best Red-breasted Goose sites and over the course of the two days we
shall concentrate our efforts on these stunningly beautiful geese.
Nevertheless, there are not only Red-breasted Geese to see and we shall
search for several other high-profile species including Lesser White-fronted
Goose, Longlegged and Rough-legged Buzzards, Eurasian Eagle Owl and Syrian
Woodpecker.
Overnights - Tyulenovo
Day 4: We will drive south to visit the wetlands around Bourgas which
are the preserve of Pygmy Cormorants and Dalmatian Pelicans. White-headed
Ducks and White Pelicans are fairly regular and there is a chance of
Ferruginous Duck. En route we shall pass through nearby riverine forest,
which holds Middle Spotted Woodpeckers and Short-toed Treecreepers and low,
wooded mountains where both Grey-headed Woodpecker and Sombre Tit are
resident.
Overnight - near Bourgas
Day 5: On our final day, as we return to Varna, we shall visit the
Yatata marshland where there are often both Bewick’s and Whooper Swans and
in some years wintering Moustached Warblers.
Flight from Varna to London.