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Wallcreepers
and Rock Partridges
Summary and recommendation: Seven days twitching tour
and birding exploration of Slovenia for the best possible
specialities.
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Destination country: Slovenia, Croatia.
Arrive and depart Ljubljana.
Next
schedules:
-16-24 July, 2010
Duration:
7 days.
Price: 1199 GBP + 130 GBP single room supplement.
The
price is per person and excludes flights to/from Cairo.
Accommodation: Three-star hotels with all
rooms en suite.
Numbers: Max. 6 tour participants.
Transport:
4WDs.
Recommended link:
- I wrote more useful birding information about Croatia for
independent travellers, in co-operation with Fatbirder.
Description: "...Slovenia offers breathtaking
scenery with the high peaks of the Alps and vast evergreen
and beech woods, while Croatia has one of the most beautiful
coastlines of Europe with ragged limestone hills and thousands
of scenic islands. These two countries combined offer an exciting
Alpine and Mediterranean fauna and flora amidst the scenic
landscape. During our tour we visit the Julian Alps for Wallcreeper,
Ptarmigan, Alpine Accentor, Snowfinch, Rock PoIpit, Golden
Eagle, Pygmy Owl, Three-toed and Grey-headed Woodpecker, Nutcracker
and Common Crossbill. Seasonal Lake Cerknica and scenic Mount
Nanos are excellent for birdwatching, providing home for Ferruginous
Duck, Corn Crake, Rock Thrush and Rock Bunting among others.
The Secovlje Saltpans on the Slovenian Coast offer an array
of shorebirds. In Croatia we explore the island of Cres with
its Griffon Vulture colony. We visit Paklenica National Park,
home of Rock Partridge, Olive-tree Warbler, Sombre Tit and
Western Rock Nuthatch. We discover Lake Vrana where Pygmy
Cormorant, Spanish Sparrow and Black-headed Bunting are expected.
Crna Mlaka Fishponds are excellent for herons, egrets, White-tailed
Eagle and marsh terns...."
Itinerary:
Day 1:
Arrive to LJubljana. We drive into the Julian
Alps to our hotel. Time permitting we look
for woodpeckers and Pygmy Owl in the region.
Day 2:
We spend the morning around Mt.
Mangart searching for Ptarmigan, Wallcreeper,
Snowfinch, Alpine Accentor, Rock Thrush, Golden Eagle, Grey-headed
and Three-toed Woodpeckers, Nutcracker and Red-breasted Flycatcher.
We also look for Marmots, Chamois and Alpine Ibexes. At the
late afternoon we drive to Rakov Skocjan forests.
Day 3:
In
the morning we visit Mount Nanos
to see Rock Partridge, Rock Thrush and Rock Bunting. Later
we look for Lake Cerknica,
a seasonal lake where we have good chances for resident Red-necked
Grebe, Ferruginous Duck, Corn Crake and Barred Warbler. Later
we drive south to explore mature beech forests around Kocevje
for White-backed Woodpecker and Collared Flycatcher.
Day 4:
We drive to the Mediterranean Coast to visit Secovlje
Saltpans for European Shag and a nice array
of waders and larids. Later we cross the border into Croatia
and head towards the coastal town of Lovran.
Day 5:
We take the ferry to the beautiful island
of Cres to visit the Griffon Vulture rehabilitation
centre in Beli. Walking on the paths of the nearby reserve
we might find warblers, Griffon Vulture and Short-toed Eagle.
Day 6:
We drive further south along the coast, then have a short
stop at the Gacka River that is home to Bee-eater, Hoopoe
and Lesser Grey Shrike. In the afternoon we arrive to Paklenica
National Park. Before dinner we visit an area
excellent for Rock Partridge, Blue Rock Thrush, Sombre Tit,
Rock Nuthatch and Mediterranean warblers. Prolonged view of
Rock Partridge is guaranteed!
Day 7:
We spend the morning in Paklenica
visiting one of the gorges for Alpine Swift, Crag Martin,
Black-eared Wheatear and any other species we might have missed
the day before. In the afternoon we drive to Lake
Vrana to look for Pygmy Cormorant, Woodchat
Shrike, Spanish Sparrow and Black-headed Bunting.
Day 8:
We drive northeast to explore the Crna
Mlaka Fishponds close to Zagreb where
we might see Black Stork, Ferruginous Duck, White-tailed and
Lesser Spotted Eagle, Black Woodpecker and Penduline Tit.
Day 9:
We drive back to Ljubljana
to take our flight back to London.
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