© Богдан Андонов

Bee-eaters and Rollers Photography Tour

Best time: Mid April-July

The tour will be carried out in close proximity of the majestic river Danube and the Nature Reserve Srebarna, which is under UNESCO’s aegis being a Monument of the World Nature Heritage.
During the entire sojourn we will be accommodated at the Pelican Birding Lodge.
The chief attraction will be the taking of photos from two hides positioned in such a way as to enable us take shots in the morning and in the afternoon. Hides are erected in close vicinity to a colony of European Bee-eater. The colony proper is located in a little valley covered with grassy vegetation and with scattered shrubs and little grooves. At a distance of about 200 m from the colony there is a village fountain where in the past (but nowadays, too) local villagers used to water the cattle. This fountain is a real crowd-puller for the thirsty birds from the valley, and they are not so few species: all species of woodpeckers with the exception of the Three-toed Woodpecker, the Black-headed, Ortolan and Corn Buntings, the Lesser Gray Woodchat and the Red-backed Shrike, the Golden Oriole, Roller, Hoopoe, Turtle Dove, Common Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, Barred Warbler, Hawfinch, etc.
Only at several minutes drive by a car from the Lodge is the Srebarna Reserve where we will have the chance to photograph the Dalmatian and the White Pelicans (mainly in flight), Penduline Tit, Great Reed Warbler and many other species.
The rich biodiversity in the area will also offer opportunities for macro photography – mainly butterflies, and dragonflies, but there will be plenty of other insects, too. There are very good opportunities to take shots of the Golden Jackal and, if we are lucky, also of some other lesser predators and steppe rodents.
We will have early morning starts and late evening sessions, as well as afternoon siestas, to avoid the strong sunlight in the middle of the day. The weather in May is not so hot in Bulgaria, we expect daily temperatures around 25 Celsius, mornings will be cooler.

Program

• First Day. Landing at Bucharest or Varna Airport and transfer to the village of Vetren, municipality of Silistra, where we will be accommodated at the Pelican Birding Lodge for 7 nights.
• Day Two to Six. Six days wildlife photographing in the area.
• Day Eight. Depending on the flight schedules – last photographing in the area and transfer to the respective airports.

Land only price:

Group size: 2-3 + leader 1250 EUR
Group size: 4-6 + leader 1100 EUR

Single room supplement 80 EUR
Deposit 150 EUR

THE PRICE INCLUDES: Ground transport, Full board (packed lunch), accommodation, guide, hide, chairs.

THE PRICE DOESN’T INCLUDE: insurance, photo equipment, flight, alcohol.

Booking: Please use the Prices and Booking section of our website to send your requests.

Checklist

1. Calopteryx virgo
2. Calopteryx splendens
3. Lestes parvidens
4. Lestes barbarus
5. Lestes virens
6. Lestes sponsa
7. Lestes dryas
8. Sympecma fusca
9. Platycnemis pennipes
10. Erythromma lindenii
11. Erythromma najas
12. Erythromma viridulum
13. Coenagrion ornatum
14. Coenagrion puella
15. Coenagrion pulchellum
16. Enallagma cyathigerum
17. Ischnura pumilio
18. Ischnura elegans
19. Aeshna mixta
20. Aeshna affinis
21. Aeshna isoceles
22. Anax imperator
23. Anax parthenope
24. Anax ephippiger
25. Brachytron pretense
26. Gomphus flavipes
27. Gomphus vulgatissimus
28. Cordulia aenea
29. Cordulegaster insignis
30. Libellula depressa
31. Libellula quadrimaculata
32. Orthetrum cancellatum
33. Orthetrum albistylum
34. Orthetrum brunneum
35. Orthetrum coerulescens
36. Crocothemis erythraea
37. Sympetrum striolatum
38. Sympetrum vulgatum
39. Sympetrum meridionale
40. Sympetrum fonscolombii
41. Sympetrum flaveolum
42. Sympetrum sanguineum
43. Sympetrum depressiusculum
44. Sympetrum pedemontanum

There are some of the them :

Butterflies

1. Carcharodus alceae
2. Erynnis tages
3. Ochlodes venata
4. Pyrgus malvae
5. Anthocharis cardamines
6. Colias alfacariensis
7. Colias croceus
8. Colias erate
9. Gonepteryx rhamni
10. Leptidea sinapis
11. Pieris brassicae
12. Pieris napi
13. Pieris rapae
14. Pontia daplidice
15. Celastrina argiolus
16. Cupido argiades
17. Lycaena dispar rutila
18. Lycaena thersamon
19. Plebejus argus
20. Polyommatus icarus
21. Issoria lathonia
22. Aglais urticae
23. Arashnia levana
24. Inachis io
25. Melitaea cinxia
26. Melitaea phoebe
27. Poligonia c-album
28. Vanessa atalanta
29. Aphantopus hyperantus
30. Coenonympha glycerion
31. Coenonympha pamphilus
32. Maniola jurtina
33. Minois dryas
34. Parnassius mnemosyne
35. Pseudophilotes vicrama
36. Glaucopsyche alexis
37. Maculinea alcon
38. Maculinea arion
39. Lopinga achine
40. Euphydryas maturna
41. Euphydryas aurinia
42. Melitaea Aurelia
43. Melitaea trivia
44. Brenthis hecate.
45. Zerynthia polyxena
46. Polyommatus eroides
47. Apatura metis
48. Apatura ilia
49. Neptis sappho
50. Nymphalis xanthomelas
51. Scolitantides orion
52. Arashnia levana

Moths

1. Epichnopterix kovacsi
2. Cossus cossus
3. Phragmataecia castaneae
4. Gastropacha populifolia
5. Odonestis pruni
6. Agrius convolvuli
7. Deilephila elpenor
8. Deilephila porcellus
9. Hyles livornica
10. Laothoe populi
11. Macroglossum stellatarum
12. Habrosyne pyritoides
13. Archiearis notha
14. Agriopis leucophaearia
15. Agriopis marginaria
16. Apocheima pilosaria
17. Ascotis selenaria
18. Chiasmia chlatrata
19. Ectropis crepuscularia
20. Ematurga atomaria
21. Heliomata glarearia
22. Macaria alternata
23. Peribatodes rhomboidaria
24. Pseudopanthera macularia
25. Tephrina arenacearia
26. Tephrina murinaria
27. Antonechloros smaragdaria
28. Scopula tessellaria
29. Asthena albulata
30. Epirrhoe alternata
31. Horisme tersata
32. Lythria purpuraria
33. Melanthia procellata
34. Philereme vetulata
35. Clostera pygra
36. Gluphisia crenata
37. Notodonta ziczag
38. Ptilodon cullucina
39. Acronicta tridens
40. Aedia leucomelas
41. Catocala elocata
42. Euclidia glyphica
43. Tyta luctuosa
44. Abrostola triplasia
45. Autographa gamma
46. Acontia urania
47. Emmelia trabealis
48. Cucullia chamomillae
49. Cucullia tanaceti
50. Heliothis maritima bulgarica
51. Conistra rubiginosa
52. Discestra trifolii
53. Eupsilia transversa
54. Gortyna flavago
55. Lacanobia oleracea
56. Mythimna ferrago
57. Mythimna obsoleta
58. Mythimna turca
59. Orthosia populeti
60. Trachea atriplicis
61. Xylena exsoleta
62. Agrotis exclamationis
63. Agrotis segetum
64. Xestia c-nigrum
65. Arctornis l-nigrum
66. Euproctis similis
67. Earias clorana
68. Chelis maculosa
69. Diacrisia sannio
70. Eilema morosina
71. Hyphantria cunea
72. Phragmatobia fuliginosa
73. Spilosoma lubricipeda
74. Idaea muricata
75. Cyclophora annulata
76. Cilix asiatica
77. Polypogon plumigeralis
78. Diachrysia stenochrysis
79. Diachrysia nadeja
80. Aedia leucomelas
81. Cryphia amasina
82. Chilodes maritima
83. Heliothis maritima bulgarica
84. Cucullia scopariae
85. Euxoa cos
86. Noctua tirrenica
87. Pelosia obtusa
88. Euplagia quadripunctaria

89. Proserpinus proserpina
90. Kentrochrysalis elegans
91. Scopula immutaria
92. Gluphisia crenata
93. Hadula stigmosa
94. Eucarta virgo
95. Cucullia fraterna
96. Apamea unanimis
97. Heliothis nubigera
98. Athetis furvula
99. Chortodes fluxa
100. Lacanobia blenna
101. Hecatera cappa
102. Mythimna pudorina
103. Periphanes delphinii
104. Phyllophila obliterata
105. Plusia festucae
106. Hydraecia ultima
107. Simyra albovenosa
108. Earias vernana
109. Chelis maculosa
110. Ocnogyna parasita parasita
111. Hemaris croatica
112. Dolbina elegans
113. Schrankia taenialis
114. Autophila asiatica
115. Euchalcia modestoides
116. Lamprotes c-aureum
117. Epimecia ustula
118. Enterpia laudeti
119. Polypogon tentacularia
120. Cucullia lactucae
121. Epimecia ustula
122. Oria musculosa
123. Spaelotis ravida
124. Asovia maeoticaria
125. Scopula immistaria beshkovi
126. Macrochilo tentacularia
127. Deltote bankiana
128. Hadena syriaca podolica
129. Mythimna alopecuri
130. Paradrymonia vittata
131. Apamea epomidion
132. Acontia titania

Birding around Pelican Birding Lodge Area(Bulgaria)

Best Time: 15 April – 5 October

So far, in the area around the Pelican Birding Lodge have been observed over 200 breeding and migrating species of birds and this alone is a prerequisite for a very good birding there. This is indeed one of the best birding places in Europe: The Majestic Danube, the Lakes Srebarna and Malak Preslavets, the steppes with the rocky riverbeds that cut through as well as the surrounding forests have furthered the rise of various habitats and this, on its part, has been the decisive factor for the rise of such a great diversity of the local avifauna. Here, one can watch such rare and beautiful members of the European avifauna like the Black and the Red-necked Grebes, the Levant Sparrow Hawk, the Goshawk, the Long-legged Buzzard, the Honey Buzzard, the White-tailed, the Lesser spotted, the Short-toed and the Booted Eagles, the Marsh harrier, the Hobby, the Red-footed Falcon, the Dalmatian and the White Pelicans, the Pygmy Cormorant, the Bittern and the Little Bittern, the Squacco Heron, the Little and the Great Egrets, the Night Heron, the Purple Heron, the Glossy Ibis, the Spoonbill,  the Black and the White storks, the Ruddy Shelduck, the Garganey, the Ferruginous Duck, the Crakes, the Whiskered tern, the White-winged (during migration), and the Black terns, the Kingfisher, the Roller, the Bee-eaters, the Hoopoe, the Golden Oriole, also all of the European species of woodpeckers with the exception of the Three-toed one, the Black-headed and the Yellow Wagtails, the Nightingale, many species of warblers, the Bearded and the Penduline Tits, the Red-backed, the Lesser Grey and the Woodchat Shrikes, the Hawfinch, the Black Headed and the Ortolan Buntings and many others. During a one- or two-day tour we could also add to our checklist such European rarities as the Pied and the Isabelline wheatears, the Paddifield Warbler, the Egyptian Vulture, the European Eagle Owl, the Rosy Starling, etc.

Birding tour in the area of Pelican Birding Lodge (PBL)

Day 1
After breakfast we set off for Srebarna Reserve where we are going to spend the whole day in watching rare and interesting species of birds like:  The Black, the Red-necked,  the Little and the Great Crested  Grebes, the Dalmatian and the White Pelicans, the Pygmy Cormorant, the Little Bittern, the Squacco Heron, the Little and the Great Egrets, the Night Heron, the Purple Heron, the Glossy Ibis, the Spoonbill etc. Night at PBL.

Day 2 
Today we are going to visit and make some watching in the arid rocky steppe areas. Where, among the grassy vegetation and scattered clumps of low shrubs on plateaus and rocky dry riverbeds we will hopefully see the Kalandra lark, the Tawny pipit, the Red-backed shrike, the Lesser Grey shrike, the Woodchat shrike, the Alpine swift , the Black-headed and the Ortolan Buntings, the  Long-legged buzzard, the Short-toed Eagle, the Booted Eagle and many other species. Night at PBL.

Day 3 
After a short driving (about 3 km in one direction) we are approaching the Garvan and Malak Preslavets marshes. Both these marshes are surrounded by small clumps of trees and bushes. Such a landscape contributes to the extraordinary diversity of bird species. We will be expecting to see the following species of birds: the Ruddy Shelduck, the Garganey, the Ferruginous Duck, the Whiskered tern, the Kingfisher, the Golden Oriole, the Wood lark,  the Black-headed Yellow Wagtail,  the Levant Sparrow Hawk, the Goshawk,  the Honey Buzzard and many others. Night at PBL.

Day 4
This day what waits for us ahead is a somewhat longer trip (about 100 km in one direction), our goal being the visit of the rocky valley of river Roussenski Lom. This entire area abounds of very beautiful sights with its deep river valleys and surrounding cliffs growing right out of the river water. Along with its nature beauties this valley has been well-known with the ancient settlements of the first Christians in these lands who had lived in caves located in the cliffs along the river banks. Those Christians had also hewn their monasteries and churches into the rocks in which even today one can see ancient wall paintings. In this parts we expect to see the following species of birds: The Egyptian Vulture, The White and the Black Storks, the Lesser Spotted Eagle, The Hobby , the Roller, the Bee-eaters, the Hoopoe, and many others. Late in the afternoon we’ll be on our way back to PBL.

Day 5
After the longer transfer the previous day today we will have only a promenade around the PBL area. We will visit the countryside area called ‘Baltata’. This is a wetland located between the Danube and Srebarna Reserve. In early spring this area is flooded by the swollen waters of the majestic river. The vegetation there consists of poplar trees, willows, various bushes and reeds. This type of vegetation gives chances to such interesting species of birds like Penduline Tit, the Bearded Tit, almost all of the European species of woodpeckers, the Hawfinch, the Nightingale, many species of warblers, the Golden Oriole and many others to find the habitat that suits them most. Night at PBL.

Day 6
Today we are going to visit once again Srebarna Reserve in an attempt to fill up our checklist with some species of birds we have missed to watch during our previous visit and of course to see once again such rare species like the Dalmatian and the White Pelicans, the White-tailed Eagle, the Marsh Harrier, the Red-footed Falcon and so on. After the lunch we will take a stand at an observation point just above the river simply to enjoy the sight of the beautiful nature around us and to watch the flocks of birds flying all the time downstream and upstream. Night at PBL.

The number of observed species of birds may vary, depending on the season, from about 100 to about 150.

                    Tourists can run this program in the following three ways:

1. Independently (that means with their own transportation/vehicle). The PBL employees will supply them with the necessary additional information. In such a case the guests will pay only the cost of night’s lodging according to the price-list in Section ‘Prices’

2. Independently, but renting transportation and driver from PBL. In such a case guests will pay, beside the cost of night’s lodging also the price for rented vehicle & driver – 294 Euro in total.

3. By renting transportation and an expert guide from PBL. In that case guests will pay the following prices in Euro.

Prices

Booking: Please use the Prices and Booking section of our website to send your requests.