Spring Colors & Songbirds – Birdwatching around Plovdiv

Arrival in Sofia and next 2-hours transfer to Plovdiv. In the region we will explore different habitats as - rise fields, pastures, riverbed, scrubs and forest patches. Here we expect to found species like European Bee-eater, European Roller, Hoopoe, Sand Martin, Syrian Woodpecker, Common Kingfisher, Booted Eagle, Black Kite, Red-backed Shrike, Golden Oriole, Crested Lark, Corn Bunting. If we are lucky Levant Sparrowhawk and Masked Shrike will show us from the trees. Overnight stay in Plovdiv.

After an early breakfast, we drive for about an hour to a reservoir in the heart of the Thracian Valley — an important stopover for migrating waterbirds and other species. The birdlife changes daily, but we may see Lesser Grey Shrike, Golden Oriole, Common Pochard, Garganey, Purple Heron, Little Egret, Collared Pratincole, Ferruginous Duck, Black-winged Stilt, Ruff, Montagu’s Harrier, Glossy Ibis, Little Stint, various terns and gulls, and more. We’ll spend the morning here before continuing for an hour to the Besapari Hills, where we’ll explore pastures and steppe areas for Calandra and Short-toed Larks, Black-headed Bunting, Woodchat Shrike, Montagu’s Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Black Stork, Western Black-eared and Isabelline Wheatears, European Roller, and others. In the late afternoon, we return to Sofia (2 hours’ drive) and say our farewells.