Tours
Poland - Birding Forest, Mountain and Marshland
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Operator: Anytime Tours
Location: Poland
Duration: 10 days
Anytime of the year
Description:
This tour is based around the spring migration and breeding seasons, visiting the two centres near Kraków and near Warszawa to maximise the species seen...
Why we think you should book with us:
Felix has built up knowledge of where to find and show visitors almost all the species of birds and animals in his home country.
Special Target Species:
Itinerary:
Day 1: Krakow – Wolski Forest and the extensive fishponds.
Arrive at Kraków airport and depart for hotel. Unspoilt countryside on the way will produce Grey Partridge, Quil, Rooks and Jackdaws of the eastern 'pale headed' race. Lunch and sightseeing of the Old Town and the Jewish District. Visit to a city park, Wolski Las, which is home to eight species of woodpecker with Wryneck, Black, Grey headed, Middle spotted, Lesser spotted and Syrian. The other highlight is Collared Flycatcher, Short toed Treecreeper and Icterine Warbler. We will also see other species which are rare in Western Europe living there with Hawfinch, Golden Oriole, Wood Warbler and Tree Sparow.Shrubby meadows in the neighbeirhood offer Red Backed Shrike and Barred Warbler. You will have a chance of Tawny and Long-eared Owl in these environs too. It is also good place to observe Eastern Headgog, Pine&Stone Marten, Red squirrels,Wild Boar and Row Deer.
Late afternoon we will drive (40 minutes) to Zator where dinner. We will try with Crakes in the evening ....Rails are represented by numerous Water Rail, Spotted & Little Crake.
Overnight: Hotel in Zator Old Town where gotic church and palace from 15 century
Target Species: Wryneck, Syrian, Middle, Great and Lesser Spotted, Black, Grey-headed and Green Woodpecker, Collared Flycatcher, Hooded Crow, Hawfinch, Barred Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Wood Lark, Short-toed Treecreeper, Spotted & Little Crake.
Day 2: extensive fishponds in the Upper Wisla River Valley
Breakfast and whole day birding in the fishponds systems which have a history that is 700 years old. They were created by monks in the Middle Ages and are today an important wetlands for birds and an excellent place for birdwatching. There is good access via the dikes. It is also the area where the highest amount of bird species in Poland was recorded. Everywhere Scarlet Rosefinch are singing 'Pleased to meet you'. The ponds are overgrown with reeds that give a home to a good number of Bitterns and Little Bitterns which are often observed.
Purple Herons has just became the breeders. Night Heronsare an emblem of this region and our ornithologist local group. It is the only place in Poland where there are 300 pairs nesting. The colonies of Whiskered Tern here are the largest in Poland and there are also good numbers of Black Terns. It is an excellent place to observe the breeding colony of Caspian Gull with some pairs of Yellow legged and Mediterranean Gull. Four species of Grebes are present with Red-necked andBlack-necked Grebes which is common breeder. We will observe Ferruginous Duck and Red-crested Pochard, Shoveler, Gadwall, Garganey, & Greylag Goose which also breed here. There are also Widgeon, Pintail, Goosander and Goldeneye on passage. We will often find Penduline Tit's nests and observe lovely calling Bearded Tits. The dense reed-beds hold, amongst others Warblers, numerous Reed, Great Reed, Savi's, Sedge, River, Grasshopper and Bluethroat of northern subspecies Luscinia svecica svecica. Birds of prey are also present with two breeding pairs of the White-tailed Eagle and good numbers of Marsh Harriers, Sparrowhawks and Goshawks. In the whole area Red-backed and Great Grey Shrikeare not rare. There are numerous White Storks, and Godwit, Redshank, Little-ringed & Ringed Ploverbreed on the wet meadows in the neighbourhood. The new breeder are Cranes and Black Storks which both fortunatelly increase in Poland the last decades. We will find single Marsh Sandpiper in flocks of Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Green and Wood Sandpiper, Dunlin, Curlew sandpiper, Temminck's and Little stint. We will also have good chances to see Citrine Wagtail, White-winged Black Tern, Whooper Swan, Red-throated Pipit and Jack Snipe which are present to the end of May in the fishponds area before they fly nort
NOTE: If you wish we will visit German Nazi Extermination Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau included to the UNESCO list (just 10 kilometers from the fishponds) and open-air folk museum near the fishponds - Wygielzow with its 17th Century houses, barns and inn. and wooden churches in the area. Evening we will drive (1,5 hours) to Pieniny Mts
Overnight: Hotel in Niedzica where beutiful castle from meadival ages. -family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Target Species: Scarlet Rosefinch, Bittern, Little Bittern, Purple Heron, Night Heron, Great Egrets, Red-necked & Black-necked Grebe, Whiskered, White-winged Black & Black Tern, Caspian & Mediterranean Gulls, Ferruginous Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Corncrake, Spotted & Little Crake, Penduline & Bearded Tits, Great Reed, Savi's, Sedge, River & Grasshopper Warblers, Bluethroat, Golden Oriole, White-tailed Eagle, Goshawk, Red-backed&Great Grey Shrike, White&Black Stork, Marsh, Curlew, Green & Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Jack Snipe, Temminck's & Little Stint. Day 3: Pieniny National Park and the environs Whole day birding in Pieniny Mts. This is an exceptionally charming area of mixed forests, sharp limestone rock pillars several hundred meters high and castles from meadival ages. There are panoramic view of the Tatra Mountains and a good opportunity to observe birds of prey which are represented by Golden Eagle, Lesser-spotted Eagle and more and more often, a visitor from Slovakia - Imperial Eagle, Hobby, Peregrine and Honey Buzzard. There are Black Storks and Caspian Gulls are often seen seen by the gorges. It is the place to observe two more species of Woodpeckers: Three-toed and White-backed which have healthy populations here. Black and Grey-headed are not rare as well. We will observe Hazel Henwhich can be attracted by whistling with a special whistle made of goose bone. Other highlights are Red breasted Flycatchers, Ring Ouzel, Nutcracker, Crossbill, Firecrest and Woodcock that are often seen in the dusk, as well magnificent Ural Owl and the smallest Pygmy Owl. You will observe Pygmy Owl with our local guide who attracts this bird after a few minutes of calling, magnificent Ural Owl is numerous and also active by day. The unwary have been known to be attacked when too close to the nest! We will also drive to the limestone rocky area inhabited by a pair of Eagle Owl. This is also Tengmalm's Owl territory so we hope to see one. There are good populations of Red Deer which are followed by Wolves and Lynx and it may be possible to get a glimpse of one or both species. There will be an opportunity to observe the attractive amphibian Fire Salamander and four species of Newts with the endemic Teriturus montadoni. There are also over 1,000 species of flowering plants with many Orchids and endemics like Erismum pieninicum and Taraxacum pieninicum. It is really a fabled garden in an area of 20 square kilometres, with meadows filled with aromas and the buzzing of insects with many butterflies as Camberwell beuty, Clouded Apollo, Duke of Burgundy Fritilary, Swalowtail and Scarce Swallowtail possibly to see in May. NOTE: If you wish possible 2 hours rafting with higlanders in local cloth.....(5 pounds/person). We can also visit some wooden churches as Debno (OO Class) included to the UNESCO list. Overnight: Hotel in Niedzica where beutiful castle from meadival ages. Target Species: Hazel Hen, Ural, Eagle, Tengmalm's & Pygmy Owl, Three-toed & White-backed Woodpecker, Corncrake, Red breasted Flycatchers, Hobby, Peregrine, Honey Buzzard, Golden&Lesser-spotted Eagle, Ring Ouzel, Nutcracker, Crossbill, Firecrest, Woodcock, Black Stork and Caspian Gull. Day 4: Passage to Bialowieza Primaeval Forest Passage to Bialowieza Forestwith a few overstops for lunch, birding and landscapes. Our journey will take us through a peaceful rural landscape typified by a patchwork of fields, forests dotted with lakes and small rural villages. Most villages here contain one or more small wooden churches. Horse-drawn transport is still widely used in this area as is the strip farming method of agriculture; indeed a journey through eastern Poland feels more like a step back into the past. There will be a few stops to birdwatch on the way. We will count nests of a bird which is main symbol of Polish landscape - White Stork as 25% of the world population live in Poland. Longer braek in the place with spectacular view for the River Bug Valley where the avifauna is typical for a big wild river: Little Tern, Little and Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher and many migrants with Caspian Tern and Terek Sandpiper. Sandy dunes overgrown with Juniperus also hold Roller, Tawny Pipit, Wood Lark, Wheatear, Turtle Doves, Ortolan Bunting and Hoopoe. After arrival to the nice familiar pension welcome dinner and rest. Overnight in nice pension Bialowieza Forest. Tree Sparrow, Golden Oriole, Linnet and Serin in the garden, hmm.... Target Species: Roller, Tawny Pipit, Ortolan Bunting Day 5, 6: Bialowieza Primaeval Forest Visit to the Bialowieza Primaeval Forest. It is the last really primeval lowland forest in Europe of oak, lime, ash & spruce with much dying and fallen wood. There are also swampy areas and marshes along river valleys. This wonderful world is inhabited by numerous animals which have maintained the ecological and behavioural patterns of the original habitats as Swifts nest in tree holes here. It is an excellent place to find Woodpeckers including Three-toed, White-backed, Grey-headed, Black, Lesser&Middle-spotted Woodpeckers and Wryneck as we know nestholes of all of them. Hazel Grouse are still common and possible to atract with a special whistle. There are also such an elusive birds as Red-breasted and Collared Flycatchers, Hawfinch, Crossbill, Wood &Icterine Warrbler, Nutcracker, Redwing, Gold&Firecrest, Willow&Marsh, White headed Long tailed and Crested Tit. We will visit some rivers valleys whereLesser-spotted, Short-toed, Booted and other Eagles hunt.There are numerous Honey Buzzard, Hobbyand Goshawk. Barred and Marsh Warblers are common in this habitat. Bialowieza Forest is also the place every year singing Greenish and Blyth Reed Warbler are observed. If any birds we will know about it, for sure. Short visit in pictturesque foret lake where Goldeneye and Whooper Swan are breeding. During evenings we will also seek out a Pygmy&Tengmalm's Owl and Nightjar localities. Our local guide will attract this amazing birds. It is also the best time for mammals. We will search forest for European Bisonwhich live in good numbers in Bialowieza -over 400. We will be driving along the forest road to spot them. There are also numerous Red Deer and Wild Boars which are hunted by Wolves and Lynx which are ocassionally seen. Minimum one evening around camp fires with a glass of Bison Vodka and bar-b-q. Overnight in nice pension Bialowieza Forest. Target Species: Three-toed, White-backed, Grey-headed, Black, Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Wryneck, Hazel Grouse, Greenish&Blyth Reed Warbler, Red-breasted & Collared Flycatchers, Nutcracker, Firecrest, Crested Tit, Lesser-spotted, Short-toed & Booted Eagles and Pygmy Owl. Day 7: Bialystok Fishponds & Siemianówka Reservoir Passage to Biebrza Marshes where we will spend another 3 nights. Some breaks on the way. The first we will stop at wonderful birdwatching site - Siemianówka Reservoir – an artificial Lake on the Narew River which is breeding place amongst others of White-tailed and Golden Eagles, Osprey, Citrine Wagtail, Marsh Sandpiper, Whiskered & Black Terns and Caspian Gull. Our next stop is at the amazing fishpond complex where, amongst breeding birds we will find Whooper Swan, 5 species of Grebes with Black-necked & Red-necked and some years Slavonian Grebe, Reed Bunting, Penduline Tit. It is the best place to observe Bittern and Little Bittern during our tour. Warblers include Great Reed, Reed, Savi's and Marsh. We will also visit the very northern terytory of Syrian Woodpecker and Bee eaters. Arrival to the pension, dinner and walk for Crakes: Corncrake, Little&Spotted Crake. We will spend some time in Tykocin historical town just on the Narew River bank. We will sleep in historical building just next to the picturesque baroque church of the holy trinity. The baroque synagogue of Bejt ha-Kneset ha-Godol, built in 1642 and one of the most beautiful in Poland and the castle of Zygmunt II Augustus - built in 1469, destroyed in the 16th century and restored in the last years The other is The baroque monastery of the Observants which dates back to 1771. Overnight in nice pension on the river bank. Target Species: Syrian Woodpecker, Marsh Sandpiper, Whooper Swan, Corncrake, Little&Spotted Crake, Black-necked, Red-necked & Slavonian Grebe, Citrine Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Penduline Tit, Ortolan Bunting, Bee eaters and European Roller. Day 8, 9: Biebrza marshes Two days we will spend in the Biebrza River Basin where marshes and scrubby fens are interspersed with managed grassland. We will start with morning observations of the Black Grouse lekking site (from the observation tower). It will be also oportunity to see fights of Ruff, every bird having individual colours. Other waders are present as well on the flooded meadows with numerous breeding Godwits, Curlew, Redshank, single Dunlin and Marsh Sandpipers. Big flocks of migrating Spotted Redshank, Wood Sanpipers, Greenshank with some Temninck's & Little Stint. Geese on the passage are mainly White fronted, Bean and Greylag with single Lesser White fronted and Red breasted Goose. Breeding Craneand many more non breeding in big groups on the meadows and flying overheads. Walk into marshes along tracks where we will concentrate on birds of prey with Spotted, Lesser-spotted, Short-toed and White-tailed Eagles. It has also been the Steppe Eagle present the last few years. There are many pairs ofMontagu's Harrier and more and more Pallid Harriers the last seasons. Falcons are represented with Peregrine and Red footed Falcon which is not rare on the passage in May. We will have an unforgettable adventure observing huge colony of White-winged Black Tern with single pairs of the Little Gull, whereScarlet Rosefinch „Pleased to meet You" call everywhere. The other elusive breeders are: Great Reed, Reed, Sedge, Savi's, River, Barred and Grasshopper Warbler, Bearded & Penduline Tits and lovely Bluethroat. We will continue birdwatching from the towers and roads to find the most interesting breeding birds with Bittern and Little Bittern, Great White Egret, numerous ducks with Garganey, Gadwall, Wigeon, Pintail and Shoveler. In late afternoon you will have a chance to observe four species of Snipes in one place. Common Snipe and will fly in the afternoon over your heads. A bit later we will have the unforgettable images of Great Snipe courtship displays with leks in full swing! Roding male Woodcockswill fly overhead. With a bit of luck Jack Snipe. Everything will be to the accompaniment of numerousCorncrakes and Spotted Crakes calling. The second evening in this region we will walk to observe the other Polish speciality - Aquatic Warbler with Thrush Nightingale song and River Warbler accompaniment. Mammals are represented by the king of swamps – the majestic Elk which lives here in large numbers so that it is easy to see individuals and sometimes several together. We will also observe the workaholic Beavers and with a bit of luck Otter which often live in their neighbourhood and are very frequent in the area. Butterflies which occur this time are Violet Cooper, Marsh Fritilary, Camberwell beuty, Clouded Apollo andSwalowtail. Many flowering plants with Lady's Slipper Orchid. Overnight in nice pension on the river bank Target Species: Great-spotted&White tailed Eagle, Thrush Nightingale, Great Snipe, Aquatic Warbler, White winged Black Tern, Little Gull, Corncrake, Spotted and Little Crake, Scarlet Rosefinch, Penduline Tit. Day 10: Biebrza marshes and departure Morning birding, breakfast and depart for Warszawa. When we arrive in the capital of Poland there should be some time for shopping and a short sightseeing tour of the Old Town, which was completely destroyed during last war, quickly rebuilt and has since been declared a World Heritage Site. After lunch we will take out departure for home...