Osservazioni orsi e Birdwatching tour in Romania

After breakfast we depart with the buss towards Dambovicioara valley to visit the gorge with the same name. On the way to the gorge we will get the chance to see some nice scenery from the bus and nice panorama of mount Piatra Craiului (national park) during one of our stops. The first birds on the way can be Green Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Tree Pipit, Yellow Hammer and Crested Tit. When we reach the entrance of he gorge we leave the bus and start walking through it by the road side. The huge cliffs rise to neck breaking heights and the lime stone is a great place for rare plants and birds. First on the river is possible to birdwatch the Dipper and Gray Wagtail and then with some luck the most wanted bird in the mountains – the Wallcreeper. Some birds of pray can be spotted too crossing the gorge in search of pray – Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Common and Honey Buzzard, Spotted Eagle and Kestrel.

After visiting the gorge we depart back towards another gorge, much quieter since there is no traffic because it is situated in the Piatra Craiului National Park. We will reach the entrance of the Prapastiile Zarnestiului gorge in about an hour and we will arrange the picnic. After picnic we will start our birdwatching walk through the gorge in search of Alpine Swift, Wallcreeper, Rock Bunting and other mountain species. The lime stone here hides some species of flowers endemic to Carpathian Mountains for example Campanula Carpatica and Romanica. The most impressive is the scenery with steep walls that are renowned among the free climbers that come here to test their strength. In the evening we will return to our hotel and after dinner we will go bear watching in a hide on a valey near Zarnesti. We will travel by buss for about half an hour till we reach the place. The bears can be watched close while sometimes they can approach the hide and sniff it. Anyway you put it, this is a unique bear watchign experience. Some evenings up to 19 bears where counted.

After breakfast we will board the bus for the 30 minute ride to the base of the mountain Cristianul Mare where, weather permitting, we will take the cable car to the 1700 m peak. We will reach the top of the mountain at about 1800m. The panoramic view over the Brasov plateau and the Carpathians is outstanding. The most energetic members of the party, may walk to the top of Mount Cristianul Mare instead of riding. For the others, taking the first cable car of the day, will give them an hour or so at the top that can be used to locate alpine plants and butterflies. Interesting birds have included such elusive alpine species as Wallcreepers, Alpine Accentors, Rock Buntings and Alpine Swifts although all of these are difficult to find; Ring Ouzels, singing Black Redstarts and Water Pipits are commoner sights however. We will have package lunch with us and we will make a stop on the way. Upon arrival back at the base of the mountain, the bus will transfer us to the hotel where we will rest for one hour and then depart again with the bus toward Bran. We will visit Bran castle known, as Dracula Castle. After dinner we will try another bear watching evening in the bear hides near Zarnesti. The night is spent in Zarnesti.

Today we leave the Carpathians and head east into lowland Romania. Our final destination will be the Danube Delta, Europe’s greatest and wildest wetland. The Danube Delta is Europe’s second largest riverine delta, (after the Volga Delta) covering some 4,178 (and growing!) square km. Around 82% of this area lies in Romania and 18% in the Ukraine. For various reasons it is best, and easiest, to bird the Romanian part of the Delta. It is in our opinion Europe’s greatest wetland for birds and birding whether one considers size, species present or sheer numbers of birds. The facts speak for themselves… the Danube Delta lies at the end of the 2,840 km long River Danube. The Danube rises in Germany’s Black Forest and ends, after passing through the enormous filter of the Delta, by flowing into the Black Sea off Romania. This mighty river passes through ten countries and four capital cities (Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Belgrade) on the way. In 1990 the Danube Delta was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve which covers some 5,800 km square comprising as it does the Delta proper and the lagoons and other habitats immediately to the south along the Black Sea coastline. Upon arrival we board our house-boat.

After breakfast we will begin our boat journey traveling down the main Sulina channel into the heart of the delta. For the next three days we shall be aboard the pontoon boat/floating hotel exploring the delta. The day-to-day itinerary shown here should be considered as an only an example of what we might do; as local conditions (e.g. weather, water depth in the channels) will determine our exact course. The Delta is incredibly rich in breeding birds, and the outline given below is merely a sampler; no doubt we will encounter additional surprises. The Danube Delta comprises a vast complex of reed beds, willow forest, and wetland, crossed by an intricate network of channels. We shall explore as wide a variety as possible of these habitats, both on foot and using a combination of the pontoon boat and a small motorboat. The Sulina channel or branch that runs past Tulcea is wide and straight to facilitate shipping down the Danube and through to the Black Sea, so we shall aim to get access to the smaller, less disturbed channels where bird life is more abundant. Typical sights include feeding Glossy Ibis, egrets, herons, and cormorants, which can gather in impressive numbers where the water levels are low. Large flocks of White Pelicans glide serenely overhead whilst in the shallower channels Kingfishers are ubiquitous and Common Sandpipers, Green Sandpipers and Greenshanks feed along the banks. The reeds fringing the waterways contain families of Penduline Tits and other reed bed species (including Little Bittern), although the smaller birds can be very hard to see at this time of year. Raptors will include frequent sightings of Marsh Harriers whilst the Red-footed Falcons will be seen in small groups hunting insects. The White-tailed Eagles are very quiet in the summer, but there is always a chance of locating one of the ten breeding pairs. Lake Furtuna, which is one of the large lakes, lies just to the north of Maliuc, in the heart of the delta. We will visit this site as, at this time of the year, it can hold an impressive selection of birds. Migrating waterfowl and waders mingle with resident species and White Pelicans often gather in huge numbers to feed and roost. We shall also undertake short walks on land where willow forest yield further species of interest. In open areas Bee-eaters, Hoopoes, Rollers and shrikes are very common. The woodlands support five species of woodpecker. The life style of the delta’s residents is also fascinating to see, with waterborne transport the only viable way of getting around and fishing the predominant source of income. A visit to the delta is an unforgettable experience in every aspect.

After breakfast we shall travel southwards, passing through small villages. The Sinoe-Razelm lake complex lies to the south of the Danube Delta. An extensive sand spit has isolated the area from the Black Sea and has left behind a series of shallow, brackish lakes, which are extremely rich in birds. Our main stop – for lunch – will be at Histria, where there is a large salt marsh containing scattered pools. Herons and ducks can be seen in large numbers, Acrocephalus warblers can be seen quite well here, other birds possible are Bluethroats, Balkan yellow wagtail, some waders, pratincoles, etc. This is also the main feeding area for the small delta population of Dalmatian Pelicans. We will have time to walk across the marsh to the ancient Greek-Roman port of Histria; a variety of wild flowers should also be seen. In the evening return to Tulcea where we will make ourselves comfortable in the new hotel belonging to Ibis Tours – Villa Miss Good Night. Here we will spend all our nights to the end of the trip.

Today we will concentrate on woodlands and we the forests Babadag, Niculitel and Celic will be visited. The picnic lunch will be somewhere in the heart of nature. The target species for this day will be Levant Sparrowhawk, Long-legged Buzzard, Steppe Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Midlle-spotted Woodpecker, Syrian Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Hawfinch, Sombre Tit, and others.

The route: Parches, Jijila Lake, Macin Mountains National Park, will be done by bus. The picnic lunch will be on package in the heart of nature. In the morning we will leave Tulcea and after a drive of thirty minutes we will arrive in Parches where we will have a great view over the Delta. We can expect bird migration depending on weather. Birds like Honey Buzzard, Long legged Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Rose-colored Starling can be seen. Afterwards we will go to Jijila Lake where Ruddy Shelduck is possible, and then we will concentrate on Macin Mountains where there are some interesting species like Saker Falcon, Long-legged Buzzard, Stone Curlew, Pied Wheatear, Isabelline Wheatear, Rock Thrush, Ortolan Bunting, Corn Bunting, Woodchat Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Hoopoe, Roller, etc. Also the scenery here is wonderful, these mountains being the oldest in Europe.

Transfer to Bucharest airport by bus, on the way stop in some nice places for some other birds if time allows.