Serbian Birds of prey and Owls Spring Tour

Join The Urban Birder - David Lindo on a magical trip to Serbia April 15 – 22, 2012

Red-footed Falcon, Bee-eaters and Eastern Imperial Eagle. Enjoy the Serbian hospitality, culture and food. Most importantly, come and have a great time! Enjoy an 8 day journey around the heartland of Serbia watching loads of great birds plus visit Kikinda – the best place on the planet for Long-eared Owls

Program  itinerary:

Day 1. Belgrade-Zrenjanin

After arrival in Serbia, departure from Belgrade to Zrenjanin

Day 2. Rusanda and environs (Here you can see: Red-footed Falcons, Common Kestrels, Barn, Long-eared, Little Owls).

Day 3. Rusanda and environs (Here you can see: Red-footed Falcons, Common Kestrels, Barn, Long-eared, Little Owls).

Day 4. Departure to Vrsac, visit to the Vrsac Mountains in the afternoon. Overnight in Vrsac, motel Vetrenjača.

Day 5. Whole day on Vrsac Mt. exploring and ringing owls and birds of prey. Overnight in Vrsac, motel Vetrenjača.

Day 6. Whole day on Deliblato Sands with the birds of prey. Overnight in Vrsac, motel Vetrenjača.

Day 7. Whole day on Deliblato Sands with the birds of prey. Overnight in Vrsac, motel Vetrenjača.

Day 8. Deliblato- Belgrade

After breakfast, departure to Belgrade

Site 1 (Important Bird Area)

Lake Rusanda is a highly saline, shallow wetland in the Vojvodina region of Northern Serbia. Beside well known nature reserve Slano Kopovo, this lake is one of the last remaining natron lakes in Serbia and probably the saltiest one of all in the whole of Pannonian plains. Lake Rusanda has a C-shape and is surrounded by agricultural plough land and pastures, while in the centre of the ellipse there are orchards and vineyards with cottages. Lake itself is shallow, only up to 60 cm at it’s deepest points and stretching nearly 4.5 km and 300-400 m wide. On the NE bank of the lake there is a large reed-bed up to 100 m wide, Other parts of the lake, especially southern and western parts of the lake don’t have reed-beds at all, but have muddy shallow banks. Water in this lake is alkaline, having up to 1.4 % of salt.

A total of 210 bird species were found during the recent and historical research on the site. The lake itself is an outstanding migratory stopover site for dozens of species such as grebes, ducks, geese, cranes, waders and gulls. Beside that, local park in the Spa holds one of the largest and densest breeding populations of Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon and Long-eared Owl in Serbia. Important breeding bird species include also Black-necked Grebe, Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt and Redshank.

Around Rusanda there are several good localities with Red-footed Falcon colonies, clutches of Common Kestrel and Long-eared Owl breeding pairs, plus Barn and Little Owl breeding sites.

Site 2 (Important Bird Area, Nature Reserve)

The Vrsac Mountains are arch-shaped hills covered by the mixed oak, beech, hornbeam and lime woodlands, vineyards and extensive farmland situated about 25km NE from Deliblato Sands.

Birds include: Goshawk, Sparrow Hawk, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Ural Owl, Tawny Owl, Little Owl, Scops Owl, Long-eared Owl, Syrian Woodpecker, Black Redstart.

Site 3 (Important Bird Area, Nature Reserve)

Deliblato Sands is a unique wilderness comprising 33,000 hectares of grasslands, farmlands and mixed forest on a large sandy region. It is bordered by the Danube, Tamis and Karas rivers and
is home to a rich flora and fauna. It’s famed for its high degree of endemism, including many unique plants and insects. The Danube sandbanks are home to the largest Central European Sand Martin breeding colony, with up to 18,000 pairs! It’s also home to Susliks, European Polecats, Marbled Polecats and at least three packs of Grey Wolves.

Birds include: White-tailed Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Black Kite, Goshawk, Long-legged Buzzard, Hobby, Saker Falcon, Little Owl, Scops Owl, Nightjar, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Roller, Wryneck, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Tawny Pipit, Barred Warbler, Collared Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Golden Oriole, Ortolan Bunting.

Price per person 480 GBP

Price is valid for group of minimum 10 persons
Supplement for single room:  50 GBP per person

- Flight with JAT airways, from London, price per person from 165 GBP including airport taxes (no cancelation)

- Flight from London, price per person 260 GBP including airport taxes, for minimum 6 persons (possible cancelation one month before departure)

JU 211 E 15APR 7 LHRBEG 1340 1725
JU 208 E 22APR 7 BEGLHR 1810 2015

Price includes:

- Transfer according the program

- Accommodation in Zrenjanin (3 nights) and in Vrsac (4 nights) – bed and breakfast or half board

- Guide during the tour

Price doesn’t include:

- Flight to/from Belgrade

- Other meals and drinks not mentioned in the program

• Program poster in PDF
• Program in PDF
• Booking form

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This national park protects a picturesque ridge of hills that extend 78 kilometers west from south of Novi Sad towards the Croatian border. In prehistoric times the hills were an island in the Pannonian Sea which covered the whole of northern Serbia. They also have a rich cultural history: no fewer than 16 orthodox monasteries are located here, and traditional farmsteads (Salas) provide a hearty welcome to visitors. The hills comprise a variety of habitats, including mixed forest, grazed steppe, farmland and meadow. Birds include: Imperial Eagle, Goshawk, Honey Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Hobby, Saker Falcon, Wood Lark, Creasted Lark, Black, Grey-headed, Syrian and Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Hoopoe, Golden oriole, European Bee-eater, Short-toed Treecreeper, Collared Flycatcher, Hawfinch, Ortolan Bunting, Black-headed Bunting.

This Special Nature Reserve comprises the Serbian portion of an international wetland wilderness that extends over the borders into neighboring Croatia and Hungary. The whole vast complex represent one of the finest birding and wildlife areas in Europe. It comprises oak, willow and poplar forest on alluvial soil with numerous seasonal pools. The forest are famed for their Wild Boar and Red Deer population, and nearby fish ponds provide an additional attraction for waterfowl. Birds include: Black Stork, Little Bittern, Greylag Goose, Red-crested Pochard, White-tailed Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Saker Falcon, Black Woodpecker, Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, Yellow Wagtail, Collared Flycatcher, Red-blacked Shrike, Sivi's Warbler, River Warbler.

This unique wilderness comprises 33,00 hectares of steppe and mixed forest growing on the largest area of sand in Europe, once part of a vast prehistoric desert. It is bordered by Danube, Tamis and Karas rivers and includes extensive flooded wetlands along the Danube. The region is famed for its degree of endemism, including many unique plants, reptiles and insects. It is also home to one of the greatest variety of mammals in Europe, with such rarities as European Molerats, Marbled Polecats and at least three packs of Great Wolves. Birds include: Glossy Ibis, Bittern, Little Bittern, Squacco Heron, Great White Egret, Spoonbill, Ferruginous Duck, Garganey, White-tailed Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Goshawk, Saker Falcon, Scops Owl, European Nightjar, Black Woodpecker, European Bee-eater, Hoopoe, European Roller, Wryneck, Sand Martin (up to 18.000 pairs), Tawny Pipit, Red-blacked Shrike, Barred Warbler, Great Reed Warlbler, Marsh Warbler, Northern Wheatear. This well-known bird sanctuary east of Novi Sad receives special protection as a Ramsar site. 260 species have been recorded here. The reserve consist of flooded forest with large seasonal pools and extensive reed beds (the largest in Serbia), fringed with willow and poplar woodland. The surrounding fish ponds are the largest in Europe and host significant concentration of water bird. The area can be explored on foot and by boat, and a number of platforms and hides allow viewer over the pools and reed beds. Birds include: Bittern, Little Bittern, Great White Egret, Squacco Heron, Spoonbill, Ferruginous, Duck, Garganey, White-tailed Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Water Rail, Corn Crake, Little Crake, Whiskered and Black Terns, Lesser spotted, Middle-spotted and Syrian Woodpeckers, Wryneck, Penduline Tit, Bearded Tit, Great Reed Warbler, River Warbler, Savi's Warbler.