8 days in Croatian National and Nature Parks
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Croatia
is, as a continental, mountainous and Mediterranean country, rich in various
species of birds. Many of these species are today rare and endangered in Europe. For the birders, mostly interesting would be the coastal area, where different Mediterranean varieties can be spotted. Croatia is on the central and partially west-European migration corridors. In the spring and in the fall, intensive migrations take place in the most of the coastal habitats, especially of raptors. The coast is also an important wintering area for a large number of species. The protected areas of the coast are of special interest, such as the Nature Park Velebit, Nature Park Vransko Lake, National Park Paklenica, ornithological reserve Velo and Kolansko blato on the island of Pag, and the territory of the river Zrmanja, therefore we have chosen exactly these areas for our program. |
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ITINERARY
Day 1 - Saturday - arrival in the hotel, introductory drink with your guide Day 2 - Sunday -
birding in the picturesque canyons and cliffs of the Zrmanja river - interesting
species: Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus),
Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Rock Nuthatch (Sitta neumayer),
Raven (Corvus corax), Sombre Tit (Parus lugubris), Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans),
Orphean Warbler (Sylvia hortensis), Black-eared Wheatear
(Oenanthe hispanica melanoleuca), Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis), Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius),
Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala),etc.
Day 3 - Monday - birding in the mountainous National Park Paklenica - characteristic species: Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca), Hopoe (Upupa epops), Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala), Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica), Alpine Swift (Apus melba), Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius), Sombre Tit (Parus lugubris), Rock Nuthatch (Sitta neumayer), Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus), Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia) Day 4 - Tuesday
- birding in the ornithological reservations Velo and Kolansko blato
of the island of Pag - expected species: Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus), Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus),
Black winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), Gadwall (Anas strepera),
Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides), Glossy Ibis (Plegadis
falcinellus), Montagu's Harrier (Circus
pygargus), Marsh Harrier (Circus
aeruginosus), Hen Harrier (Circus
cyaneus), Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla), Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris),
Curlew (Numenius arquata). 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: Bee-eater (Merops
apiaster), Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola
juncidis), Ruff (Philomachus pugnax),
Kentish
Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), Curlew Sandpieper (Calidris
ferruginea), Yellow-legged Gull (Larus
cachinnans michahellis), etc. 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 (Circaetus gallicus), Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris), Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus), Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius), Rock
Thrush (Monticola saxatilis), Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe
hispanica melanoleuca), Wheater (Oenanthe
oenanthe), Rock Bunting (Emberiza
cia), Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana), etc. Day 7 - Friday
- birding in the swampy habitat with flooded meadows and reeds of the
Vrana lake Nature Park. Expected species: Purple Heron (Ardea
purpurea), Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax
pygmaeus), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus),
Little Crake (Porzana parva), Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca),
Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus), Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus),
Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti), Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus),
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis), Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus
melanopogon), Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis), Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala). Day 8 - Saturday - departure. Shorter visits and alternative birding destinations available per request.
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Departure to the sites every day around 7:00 AM, return to the hotel around 6:00 PM. All participant should bring their own gear and equipment. All locations in our program are easily accessible from your base accommodation, within cca 100 km.
Maximum number of participants:
8 per group. Larger groups on request.
Map of Croatia - click to enlarge and see your destination and birding locations
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More information and reservations on: info(at)val-tours.hr tel: +385-23-386479 fax: +385-23-386478 |
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