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B E L A R U S
Great Grey Owl
Bison
Day 4
After another half day of birding at Pushcha, we
travel to Sporovo Reserve, where we stay for one
night. Lake Sporovo and the surrounding
marshes are pristine birding areas. We visit the
main breeding area of one of Europe’s rarest
songbirds, the Aquatic Warbler, which should
just have returned from wintering in Africa.
Corncrake, Great Grey Shrike, Bluethroat, Great
Bittern, Golden Oriole, Eurasian Penduline Tit,
Bearded Reedling and Savi’s Warbler are all
common here. Less common is Citrine Wagtail,
but a few pairs breed. A variety of raptors can be
found here including Northern Goshawk and
Hen and Montagu’s Harriers, but even Greater
Spotted Eagle can be around.
Days 5 to 8
As we leave Sporovo, we will visit the Sielets
Fishponds. This bird-filled area holds a great
variety of duck and waders, terns and raptors. In
particular, we will hope for Gadwall, Garganey,
White-tailed Eagle, Caspian Gull, Citrine Wagtail,
Great Reed Warbler and Eurasian Penduline Tit.
Our last base will be near the famous Pripyatsky
National Park. We spend four nights in Turov in a
comfortable hotel located on the bank of the
river. Several sought-after waders such as Great
Snipe and Terek Sandpipers breed on the banks
of the untamed Pripyat River that floods vast
areas of meadows and forests in spring. Marsh
Sandpipers are also here though less easy to
find.
On Turov Meadow, during migration time, the
evenings often produce spectacular gatherings
of hundreds of Ruff including many extremely
colourful males, while elegant Black-tailed
Godwits and Spotted Redshanks are also found
in good numbers. Watching the Ruffs
skirmishing with their neck-feathers raised is a
wonderful experience. Various terns search for
fish and insects, including Little, Whiskered,
White-winged and Black. Surely one of the
strongest candidates for bird of the trip will be
Azure Tit. Belarus is the only place in Europe
where we have a good chance to find this
stunning bird in its breeding habitat along the
riparian willow forests of the Pripyat River. This is
also a good spot for finding the pendulous nests
of the masked Eurasian Penduline Tits. We
should be able to spot them by their wheezy
calls. Spotted Crakes call their repeated whip
from the marshes, but are less easy to see.
Mammals we may see here include European
Bison, Elk, Eurasian Beaver, and Wild Boar, as
well as Roe and Red Deer and Muskrat.
Common Swallowtail, Green Hairstreak,
Camberwell Beauty and Map butterflies may also
be on the wing.
We also have time to discover the ancient oak,
spruce and birch forests too. Easy walks can
produce Eurasian Wryneck, White-backed,
Black, Lesser Spotted, Middle Spotted, Greyheaded
and even Three-toed Woodpeckers, but
we might also find Collared and Red-breasted
Flycatchers, Barred Warbler, Short-toed
Treecreeper, Thrush Nightingale, and Golden
Oriole. Black Storks and Greater Spotted Eagles
are relatively easy to see in this magic place
while Eurasian Woodcock is also a possibility.
Common Cranes and European Golden Plover
pause here on their northward migration.
We can also visit the Beloe Fishponds. This is
the only location in Belarus where we might find
the beautiful piebald male Smew, along with his
red-headed females. Here we can also look for
the majestic White-tailed Eagle, in a variety of
plumages, from the dark immatures, through
sub-adults, to the stunning pale-headed and fully
white-tailed adults. We shall also look for both
Caspian Gulls and terns, as well as Black-necked
and Red-necked Grebes, and “booming” Great
Bitterns. There is a good population of
Bluethroats here; and waders may include Terek
Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank and Temminck’s
Stint.
Day 9
Today we transfer to the airport, to catch our
indirect return flight to London, arriving early in
the evening.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1 Fly to Minsk and transfer to
Belovezhskaya Pushcha
Days 2-3 Belovezhskaya Pushcha
Day 4 Sporovo
Days 5-8 Turov
Day 9 Depart Minsk
Party Size
Maximum of 12 clients (two leaders with
more than six clients).
Accommodation
Comfortable accommodation in twin/double
and single rooms, with private facilities.
Transport
By minibuses driven by the leaders.
Includes
All flights, meals, accommodation, transport,
entry fees, services of the leaders, VAT,
airport taxes and tips.
Gradings
Good
150
Cool to Warm
Low
Normal
Moderate
Good
Easy
Scheduled
Common Crossbill
To make a booking please call Ornitholidays on 01794 519445
139