A 4-day birding tour along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, focusing on the observation of some of the most sought-after bird species in Southeast Europe, including Dalmatian Pelican, Pygmy Cormorant, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Levant Sparrowhawk, Syrian Woodpecker, Masked Shrike, Sombre Tit, Paddyfield Warbler, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Olive-tree Warbler, Olivaceous Warbler, Black-headed Bunting, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Pied Wheatear and Isabelline Wheatear.

Day 1
The tour starts no later than 09.00 am from Varna. Participants will be met either at Varna Airport, where they are requested to arrive by 9.00am, or at their accommodation in the city of Varna if they arrive earlier. Transfer north to coastal Dobrudzha (~ one hour drive) where we will spend the rest of the day visiting the Shabla Lakes. There we will have excellent chances to see Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck, Collared Pratincole, European Roller, European Bee-eater, Paddyfield Warbler, Lesser Grey Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, the thick-billed race of the Common Reed Bunting (ssp. reiseri). Overnight in the town of Kavarna.

Overnight in the town of Kavarna

Day 2
Another visit to the Shabla lakes, especially if we missed some of the target birds the day before. Then we will visit the steppes and cliffs around Cape Kaliakra, in search of the Mediterranean race of the European Shag (ssp. desmarestii), Long-legged Buzzard, Alpine Swift, Greater Short-toed Lark, Calandra Lark, Isabelline Wheatear, Pied Wheatear, Black-headed Bunting, Rose-coloured Starling.

While in this area we will also check several spots, where the Levant Sparrowhawk and Syrian Woodpecker occurs.

In the afternoon we drive south to Bourgas with a stop in the Batova riverine forest, where we can observe the Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Hawfinch, Short-toed Treecreeper, etc.

Accommodation in the area of Bourgas for two nights.

Day 3
In the morning – visit to the deciduous forests of the Strandzha Mountains, looking for the Lesser Spotted Eagle, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Olive-tree Warbler, Barred Warbler, Masked Shrike, Ortolan Bunting, Sombre Tit.

In the afternoon we will be exploring the Bourgas wetlands: Mandra Lake, Vaya Lake, Atanasovsko Lake.
Key species likely to be seen at Bourgas wetlands: Dalmatian Pelican, Great White Pelican, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, Little Bittern, Greater Flamingo, European Honey Buzzard, White-tailed Eagle, Collared Pratincole, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Slender-billed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Eurasian Penduline Tit, Olivaceous Warbler, etc.

Day 4
Drive back to Varna (takes two hours) for the departure flight, with stops in the Eastern Balkan Range, where we can see the Lesser Spotted Eagle, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Bonelli’s Wabler, Sombre Tit, Cirl Bunting, Ortolan Bunting.