The old country of Yugoslavia was at one time a hugely popular destination for birdwatchers. This largely came to an end as various ethnic groups reestablished their identities and Yugoslavia dissolved into several smaller countries. Many years after this breakup tourists are returning to this attractive part of the eastern Mediterranean, just two hours from London, and birdwatchers are rediscovering the region once more.
Sandwiched between the Alps and the Balkan peninsula, with the Adriatic to the west and the edge of the Asian steppe to the east, Slovenia and northern Croatia offer a wealth of diverse and spectacular habitats, home to a rich and varied avifauna. There are alpine specialists such as Hazelhen, Tree-toed Woodpecker and Ural Owl; Balkan species including Olive-tree Warbler, Black-headed Bunting and Pygmy Cormorant; and a range of difficult European species such as Lesser Spotted Eagle, Rock Partridge, Rock Thrush and River Warbler.
Our hotels are beautifully situated to take in the best of every location from the alpine villages surrounded by traditional hay meadows and lush forests down to the gently lapping Adriatic with its olive groves and fishing ports. In this relaxing tour we’ll experience firsthand the hospitality of the people and array of wildlife this relatively unexplored region has to offer.
Day 1: The tour begins with a morning flight from London to Ljubljana from where we will drive north into the Julian Alps and our hotel for the next two nights. Nestled in the shadow of Slovenia’s highest peak, Triglav, our self-supporting organic hotel provides the perfect base to explore this spectacular area. We may take an afternoon stroll through the pine forests and up to the Savica Falls, a spectacular cascade. The crystal clear rivers here support Dippers and Grey Wagtails whilst in the surrounding pine forests Grey-headed Woodpeckers, Wood Warblers, and Red-breasted Flycatchers may all be seen. Night in Bohinj.
Days 2-3: We’ll spend two days exploring the unspoiled beech, dwarf pine and Norway spruce forests, lakes and mountains of the Julian Alps. Around the turquoise Lake Bled with Slovenia’s only inland island we’ll hope to see species such as Black Woodpecker. Firecrest, Goldcrest, Hawfinch, Collared Flycatcher and Grey-headed Woodpecker and, as we gain height, Crested Tits, Crossbills, Nutcracker and Ring Ouzels will hopefully all become apparent. Keeping an eye to the sky can be rewarding and there is always the possibility of a Honey Buzzard or Golden Eagle. Similarly, although not of avian interest, the forest floor is home to some spectacular amphibians including Fire and Alpine Salamanders and the striking Alpine Newt.
Weather permitting we may make it up through the forest and to the dwarf tree belt and craggy peaks. Here we may encounter Alpine Chough and Water Pipits, while Ibex and Chamois are also found on the rocky precipices. During the afternoons information from local guides may direct us to the whereabouts of such species as Pygmy Owl and Three-toed Woodpecker. Nights in Bohinj.
Day 4: Following breakfast we will set off for Mount Nanos, a unique geological feature and something similar to Conan Doyle’s ‘Lost World’. This isolated mountain is home to a wealth of wildlife with many forms being found nowhere else. As the road winds its way up towards the plateau we will keep a lookout for Golden Eagles along the cliffs and crags. Once on top we’ll search for Woodlarks, Rock Buntings and the beautiful Rock Thrush, which should be displaying by the time we arrive. The rocky scree and grassy plateau are also home to the Rock Partridge, one of Europe’s most elusive and restricted species, and one that we’ll concentrate on finding. Lynx live here although they are very rarely seen but we may catch site of the stunning Nose-horned Viper. Later we’ll drive to the Rakov Skocjan forest deep in the Dinara mountain range where we’ll spend the night. Night in Rakov Skocjan.
Day 5: The first part of the morning will be spent birding close to the hotel with the chance of many woodland species including Black and Middle-spotted Woodpeckers Nightingale and Collared Flycatcher. Our next stop will be the beautiful Lake Cerknica. This stunning wetland is fed by underground springs and as a result is full for only half the year. During this period it is Slovenia’s largest lake but as spring advances the lake shrinks and leaves behind rich hay meadows cultivated by local farmers. This mix of wetland and agricultural habitats is a haven for birds and we can hope to encounter many species including Red-necked Grebe, Little Bittern, White Stork, Ferruginous Duck, Black Tern, Corncrake, Quail, Whinchat, Savi’s, River and Barred Warblers, Red-backed Shrike and Corn Bunting. Night in Rakov Skocjan.
Day 6: Leaving this region we’ll then make our way to the Mediterranean coast and a totally different fauna and flora. Later we catch a morning ferry across the clear blue Adriatic to the island of Cres, where we’ll spend the majority of the day exploring a variety of Mediterranean habitats. Griffon Vultures, a locally endangered species has colonies on Cres and we expect to see them circling above us along with the occasional Golden Eagle, Honey buzzard or Short-toed Eagle.
Nearby extensive oak and chestnut woods provide habitat for a wealth of warblers including Olivaceous, Subalpine and Eastern Orphean Warblers, whilst in the open areas it is possible to find Tawny Pipit and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. In the late afternoon we will catch another ferry to the island of Krk where we’ll stay in a beautifully situated hotel. After dinner we will go out in search of Nightjars and Scop’s Owls in the Asphodelus garden. Night in Krk.
Day 7: Our morning will be spent birding in the idyllic Asphodelus gardens. This important crop is harvested by the locals for its oils and with a long history of cultivation and management these gardens have become very important wildlife refuges. Here we’ll look out for Stone Curlews, warblers and buntings while along the cliffs we may find a dashing Eleonora’s Falcon and further out to sea Cory’s or Yelkouan Shearwaters or even a pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins.
Later in the morning we’ll drive along the coast and then cross the high Velebit mountain range to arrive to the valley of the Gacka River, where we will look for farmland birds including Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Lesser Grey Shrike and Golden Oriole. We then drive to our next destination, the Paklenica National Park. This park, with its huge gorges and ancient Austrian Fir and Beech forests promises some great birding. Night in Starigrad
Day 8: Venturing into the Park we wind our way towards the inner plateaus of the Velebit and we should start to come across a whole range of new species. The crags are home to such species as Sombre Tit, Western Rock Nuthatch, Alpine Chough, Crag Martins, Blue Rock Thrushes, Black-eared Wheatear and Ortolan Bunting. This is another site for Rock Partridge in case we missed it earlier, and Bonelli’s Eagle and Lanner may also put in an appearance. In the scrub Olivaceous and Sardinian Warblers provide a soundtrack along with Lesser Whitethroats, Wrynecks and Golden Orioles. Paklenica is home to a fantastic diversity of wildlife and we are likely to see many butterflies including Swallowtails, Festoons, Two-tailed Pasha’s, Southern White Admirals and many whites, blues and hairstreaks.
In the afternoon we’ll drive to Lake Vrana. This is Croatia’s largest lake and separated from the sea by a narrow strip of land. The lake hosts a range of species and hopefully we’ll find Pygmy Cormorants, Glossy Ibis, rails and crakes, marsh terns, a variety of waders, Middle and Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers, Black-headed Wagtails, Penduline and Bearded Tits, and Black-headed Bunting. Night in Starigrad.
Day 9: After some early morning birding in the Paklenica gorge we’ll head for the Sava River and Lonsko Polje. Our birding will concentrate on the rich riparian forests and mosaic of wetland habitats. Here we may find Great White Egret, Night Heron, Black Stork, Spoonbill, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Black Kite, Whiskered Tern, River and Savi’s Warbler, and a variety of woodpeckers including Grey-headed. The nearby village of Cigoc is the stork village of Croatia with 30 pairs scattered around the rooftops of the traditional houses. Night in Lonjsko Polje.
Day 10: After some early morning birding in the Paklenica gorge we’ll head inland to Plitvice Waterfalls. This magnificent national park is nestled in high forested mountains and has sixteen crystal-clear, blue-green lakes fed by a myriad of streams and brooks babbling through lush beech and fir forests. The ancient trees are home to a good selection of forest species including White-backed and Black Woodpeckers. Our hotel for the night is perfectly situated at the park entrance, ideal for some rest and relaxation.
Day 11: Today we return to the ancient town of Ljubljana. We may be able to visit Krakovski Forest, a remarkable ancient area which is one of the least inhabited areas of Slovenia with a wonderful patchwork of meadows, bogs, and forests. Many of Europe’s most secretive species breed within the forest such as Black Stork, Honey Buzzard, Goshawk, Hobby, Wood Warblers, and Lesser Grey Shrike. Later we connect with a flight back to London, where the tour ends.
Updated: 31 October 2007
Prices
- 2008 price about $4,100
- Single Occupancy Supplement $330
Notes
This tour is limited to 14 participants with two leaders. Both leaders will accompany the tour regardless of group size.
Participants wishing to join the tour in Slovenia should contact the WINGS office.
This tour is organized by our English company, Sunbird.