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B U L G A R I A White Stork Outline Itinerary Day 1 Fly to Bourgas and transfer to Pomorie Days 2-7 Pomorie Day 8 Depart Bourgas 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 private coach or minibus. Includes All flights, meals, accommodation, transport, entry fees, services of the leaders, VAT, airport taxes and tips. Montagu’s Harrier Cisticola are to be found in the dense reed-beds at the western end of the lake. Summer visitor breeders, such as Great Reed and European Reed Warblers, may still be present. Immediately to the south is Lake Mandra, which in the 1960s was converted from a brackish lagoon into a freshwater reservoir. Despite this change, it still contains several areas of high conservation value. This lake is perhaps more productive in terms of terns (Gull-billed, Sandwich, Common and Little) and gulls (Caspian and Black-headed). As we complete a circuit of its shore, we will spend time on two hills that over the years have proved to be excellent points from which to watch the migration, not only of storks, but particularly raptors. Indeed, virtually all of Europe’s raptor species have at some time been seen here. There are good chances of watching Lesser and Greater Spotted, Eastern Imperial and White-tailed Eagles, along with four species of harrier (Marsh, Hen, Montagu’s and Pallid) as well as Eurasian Hobby and Peregrine Falcon. We will also spend some time in the areas of woodland and scattered shrubs behind Lake Mandra looking for woodpeckers and tits, particularly Sombre Tit. In the villages, the now empty nests of White Stork are still home to large numbers of Spanish Sparrows. Unfavourable weather can make the hills to the north of Pomorie another superb raptor-watching area for the likes of Red-footed Falcon, Shorttoed and Steppe Eagles, Long-legged and Steppe Buzzards, European Honey Buzzard and Levant Sparrowhawk. In this steppe-like area, we should also see Crested Lark and Woodlarks, Tree and Tawny Pipits, Cirl and Corn Buntings and most likely some migrants such as European Roller, European Bee-eater, shrikes and wheatears. Lastly, there are three locations which will make a welcome break from wetland watching. The area around the village of Poroy is good for shrikes (Red-backed, Woodchat, Isabelline and even Masked) and its woodland holds flycatchers (Red-breasted, Collared and Pied), Hawfinch and woodpeckers. To the south of Bourgas is the Ropotamo Reserve, where the relict riverine forest can often attract a wide diversity of migrant species. Quite close to this Reserve, at Maslen Nos, there is an ancient Thracian ceremonial site. The short walk to this site takes us through woodland that has a remarkable record for woodpeckers, including Lesser Spotted, Middle Spotted and Great Spotted, as well as European Green, Grey-headed and Black. Our hotel at Pomorie is well situated, overlooking the sand dunes and the Black Sea. The dunes sometimes hold migrant Common Redstarts and Eurasian Hoopoes. There will be time to do some sea watching, looking out particularly for Black-throated Diver and Great Crested, Red-necked and Black-necked Grebes. Day 8 We have the morning to spend birdwatching in the Pomorie area, with a last chance to check the salt pans and bushes for newly arrived migrants, before departing to the airport at Bourgas for our afternoon flight back to London. Gradings Good 150 Warm to Hot Low Normal Relaxed Good Easy Scheduled Pygmy Cormorant To make a booking please call Ornitholidays on 01794 519445 149
O U R T E A M O F L E A D E R S Our Team of Leaders MARK AYRE lives on the South Island of New Zealand and has been a keen birder for most of his life. He is originally from the UK, where he worked as a warden on various bird reserves. Mark is very active in the local Royal Forest and Bird Protection Societies and is particularly involved in the conservation management of the endangered Mohua (Yellowhead). He has led our tour to New Zealand for the past ten years. SIMON BOYES was brought up and learnt his birds in the Cotswolds. He graduated in Classics (helpful for scientific names of birds!) from Oxford University in 1974, and took his Master's Degree in Environmental Conservation in Edinburgh. Before leaving college he had already travelled round Kenyan and Tanzanian game parks, overland to India and round Scandinavia. In 1976 he worked for the RSPB as a summer warden on Fetlar and at Minsmere. In 1977 Ornitholidays invited him to co-lead a tour to the Seychelles, which turned out to be the first of many international tours. Since then he has become one of Ornitholidays' principal leaders and has now led over 300 tours to all seven continents. There can be few bird tour leaders in the world that rival Simon’s knowledge of world birds. He is especially interested in bird-song and taxonomy; and his other interests include swimming, snorkelling, wildlife gardening, cricket and playing the mandolin. He lives with his family in the Welsh borders. COLIN BUSHELL is a principal leader for Ornitholidays and has been a birdwatcher for over 30 years. Birding has taken Colin to many different parts of the world - throughout Europe and North Africa, Gambia, Thailand, India and Nepal: but it is the Neotropics that hold a particular fascination for him. Travels over the last 15 years have taken him to Chile, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia and many trips to his favourite country - Peru. Colin has visited Manu and the north of Peru on many occasions. He is an enthusiastic student of bird vocalisation - a very useful skill in the tropical Americas where bird diversity is immense. KUEN-DAR CHIANG has been the co-leader for our last two tours to Taiwan. He has been a licensed tour guide and tour leader since 2006 and has led over 30 tours. He has close ties with the Wild Bird Society of Taipei. He has a good knowledge of where to find all the island’s endemics and he is a master at finding the best restaurants for eating Chinese banquets! TREVOR CODLIN is an ecological consultant and is one of the leading exponents of digiscoping – using a telescope to take digital photos. During the past few years he has led a number of tours within Europe and was a very popular leader on our recent spring tours to Spain and Turkey. RICHARD COOMBER has been associated with Ornitholidays for over 40 years as in 1968, as a young bank clerk on the Isles of Scilly, he showed Lawrence Holloway and one of our early groups to the islands an Upland Sandpiper that he had discovered on St. Mary’s. By 1974 he had given up banking to run a guesthouse on the Isle of Mull, where in 1976 he hosted our first tour to the island. On moving back to the south in the 1980s he joined the Ornitholidays team and has now led over 250 tours covering all seven continents, visiting over 50 countries watching birds and wildlife. He is a past winner of the Dusk to Dawn section of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and willingly shares his knowledge of digital photography with clients on tour. In addition to birds and photography he is interested in other aspects of wildlife, especially flora, butterflies and moths. When not on tour he gives illustrated talks to RSPB and other groups. He now lives near the New Forest in Hampshire where he is an active member of the Hampshire Moth Group. DOBROMIR DOMUSCHIEV is Bulgarian and his interest in birds and wildlife began when he was a child. His love of birds and nature is the reason for his involvement in their conservation and he is working on a number of environmental projects. His true wish is to make the Bulgarian people believe that sustainable tourism is a real alternative to poverty and quick intensive depletion of natural resources in the beautiful countryside of his home country. Beside his native Bulgarian, Dobromir also speaks English and Russian. He loves leading birdwatching tours, as this not only gives him the opportunity to spend more time with nature, but also to meet people and share his passion. TREVOR ELLERY is originally from the UK and he spent four years guiding and conducting bird surveys across Israel before gaining his first taste of Neotropical birding when he first visited Ecuador. Based out of the famous Tandayapa valley he spent 18 months birding and guiding throughout the country. In 2008 he moved to Colombia where he has combined guiding with investigation and exploration work for the conservation NGO ProAves. He has made return visits to Ecuador and more recently has made several extensive birding trips to Peru. He has co-led several of our recent Colombia tours. He is a keen sound-recordist and occasional photographer. Rufous-tailed Jacamar, REGUA, Brazil 150 For a previous tour report or further information please call: 01794 519445
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ORNITHOLIDAYS 2014 49 Our Forty-Nin
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49 Our Forty-Ninth Year ORNITHOLIDA
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I S O R N I T H O L I D AY S R I G
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L AT E 2 0 1 3 T O U R S Summary of
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T O U R G R A D I N G Tour Grading
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G R E E N TA X E S A N D C A R B O
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Bryce Canyon, Utah, USA
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U S A - U TA H & A R I Z O N A USA
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U S A - U TA H & W YO M I N G USA -
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U S A - N E W E N G L A N D USA - N
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U S A - F LO R I D A USA - Florida
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U S A - H A W A I I USA - Hawaii Ii
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M E X I C O Mexico Western Mexican
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C O S TA R I C A Costa Rica Classic
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C U B A Cuba Endemic Birds & Winter
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T R I N I D A D & T O B A G O Trini
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S T LU C I A St Lucia at Leisure Pi
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G U YA N A Guyana Rainforests, Wate
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C O LO M B I A Colombia Birding’s
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B R A Z I L Brazil Atlantic Forest
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B R A Z I L Brazil - Photographic T
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E C U A D O R Ecuador Tumbesian & A
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Waterhole at Etosha, Namibia
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S O U T H A F R I C A South Africa
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S O U T H A F R I C A & B O T S W A
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TA N Z A N I A Tanzania - Photograp
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G H A N A Ghana In search of Picath
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E T H I O P I A Ethiopia Undiscover
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U G A N D A Uganda Birds & Primates
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N A M I B I A Namibia Etosha & the
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T H E G A M B I A The Gambia A Tast
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E GY P T Egypt Birds & History Frid
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M O R O C C O Morocco High Atlas &
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M O R O C C O Morocco Atlantic Coas
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Sing-sing with Huli, Papua New Guin
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J O R D A N Jordan Birds & History
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K U W A I T Kuwait Birding in the G
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I N D I A India - Goa Birds, Beache
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S R I L A N K A Sri Lanka Teardrop
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M O N G O L I A Mongolia Eastern St
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TA I W A N Taiwan Island Endemics S
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B H U TA N Bhutan Birds & Buddhism
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N E PA L Nepal Chitwan, Koshi & Phu
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V I E T N A M Vietnam Land of the D
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B O R N E O Borneo Island in the Cl
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PA P U A N E W G U I N E A Papua Ne
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N E W Z E A L A N D New Zealand Kiw
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Boating on the Danube Delta, Romani
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G R E E C E Greece - The Island of
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G R E E C E Greece - The Island of
Page 101 and 102: S PA I N Spain - Coto Doñana & Sie
Page 103 and 104: S PA I N Spain - The Canary Islands
Page 105 and 106: S PA I N Spain - Coto Doñana & Ext
Page 107 and 108: S PA I N Spain - The Island of Meno
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Page 119 and 120: P O R T U G A L Portugal at Leisure
Page 121 and 122: P O R T U G A L Portugal at Leisure
Page 123 and 124: I TA LY - S I C I LY Italy - Sicily
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Page 127 and 128: I TA LY Italy at Leisure Birds & Wi
Page 129 and 130: F R A N C E France - Wallcreeper To
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Page 135 and 136: I C E L A N D Iceland Winter Wonder
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Page 143 and 144: F I N L A N D Finland Owls, Woodpec
Page 145 and 146: H U N G A R Y Hungary Spring Tour S
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Page 149 and 150: R O M A N I A Romania Danube Delta
Page 151: B U L G A R I A Bulgaria at Leisure
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Page 157 and 158: C A L E N D A R Calendar 2014 JANUA
Page 159 and 160: C O N D I T I O N S O F B O O K I N
Page 161 and 162: C O N D I T I O N S O F B O O K I N
Page 164: ORNITHOLIDAYS 29 Straight Mile Roms
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