Tours
Croatia - a week-long birding for Mediterranean species in a wide range of habitats
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Operator: Val Tours travel agency
Location: Croatia
Duration: 8 days
From : Sat 14th Mar 2009 to Sat 17th Oct 2009
Description:
Croatia, being a continental mountainous and Mediterranean country, is rich in bird species. Many of these species are today rare and endangered in much of Europe. So, birders will be highly interesting in the coastal area of Croatia, where different Mediterranean varieties can be spotted. As Croatia stretches across both the central and part of the western European migration corridors, in the spring and autumn migrations many birds can be seen, especially of raptors passing over most of the coastal habitats. The coast is also an important wintering area for a large number of species. At the very beginning of this tour, your checklist will be richer for Peregrine Falcon, Crag Martin, Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Sombre Tit, Rock Nuthach, Cirl Bunting, Short-toed Eagle, Rock Partridge, Alpine Swift, Hoopoe, Spanish Sparrow, Rock Bunting, Cirl Bunting, Alpine Chough and more...
Why we think you should book with us:
Savour the rare opportunity of spotting most of the valuable Mediterranean species in a small area, in the attractive and wild surroundings of the Adriatic coast, in Croatian national and nature parks, and bird reserves.
Special Target Species:
Itinerary:
Day 2 - Sunday - birding in the picturesque canyons and cliffs of the Zrmanja river - interesting species: Peregrine Falcon, Crag Martin, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Dipper, Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Sombre Tit, Rock Nuthach, Cirl Bunting, Spanish Sparrow, Raven
Day 3 - Monday - birding in rocky habitats and exposed cliffs of the National Park Paklenica - characteristic species: Short-toed Eagle, Rock Partridge, Alpine Swift, Hoopoe, Crag Martin, Nightingale, Black-eared
Day 4 - Tuesday - birding in the ornithological reservations Velo and Kolansko blato of the island of Pag - expected species: Little Egret, Montagu´s Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Rock Partridge, Black-winged Stilt, Stone-curlew, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Little Owl, (Bee-eater), Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Tawny Pipit, Northern Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Sardinian Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Corn Bunting, Cirl Bunting
Day 5 - Wednesday - birding in the area of Ljubac, Ravni kotari - a lowland area between the mountain of Velebit and the Adriatic sea - prevailing Mediterranean species: Montagu´s Harrier, Kentish Plover, Yellow-
Day 6 - Thursday - birding in the forest, open, rocky and mixed habitats of the Nature Park Velebit. The influence of the Mediterranean is present here up to 950m high, with the following most interesting species Short-toed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Alpine Swift, Tawny Pipit, Water Pipit, Northern Wheatear, Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Ortolan Bunting, Alpine Chough
Day 7 - Friday - birding in the swampy habitat with flooded meadows and reeds of the Vrana lake Nature Park. Lake Vrana is the largest natural lake in Croatia and an internationally important wetland for migrating and breeding birds. The lake lies by the Adriatic Sea and is possibly the most important coastal passage stop-over in the country, in both spring and autumn. Breeding species here include Pygmy Cormorant, Purple Heron and Black-winged Stilt. Expected species: Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Pygmy Cormorant, Purple Heron, Little Egret, Little Bittern, Ferruginous Duck, Montagu´s Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Little Crake, Black-winged Stilt, Yellow-legged Gull, Turtle Dove, (Bee-eater), Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Red-rumped Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, Cetti´s Warbler, Reed Warbler, Great Reed
Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Spanish Sparrow
Day 8 - Saturday - departure.
Mr. Crnkovic, your guide, is a known connoisseur; he is actively involved in ringing, a custodian of the Institute of Ornithology of Croatian Academy of sciences and arts, a Croatian representative by the birds section of MEDMARAVIS, the international organization for studying and protection of the Mediterranean coastal area.
He has published works on topics of nesting of Puffinus yelkouan on the Croatian coast of Adriatic and Himantopus himantopus in Croatia, as well as on nesters in the Trogir area, and the characteristics of habitat and distribution of Sitta neumayer Mich. (Aves) in Croatia and neighboring areas.
He has been involved in guiding of birders since 1991, in the areas of Trogir, Krka national park, around Knin, on the islands of Komiza, Lastovo, Svetac and Mljet which is also a national park, Vransko lake nature park and Plitvice lakes national park.
7 nights in double rooms in a tri-star hotel
3 meals per day (breakfast and dinner in the hotel, take-out lunch)
arrival/departure transfer from/to Split or Zadar airport, ferry-port, or bus station.
local taxes
transfer to the locations
entrance tickets in all nature and national parks
professional ornithologist guide and assistance
Shorter trips, visits to alternative Croatian birding destinations and generally tailor-made tours are available by request.