Dragonflies of Dobrudzha Area and Black-Sea Coast (Bulgaria)

Best Time: June

This tour will take us to one of the less known parts of Bulgaria: Southern Dobroudzha. We will visit the last natural wetlands that have survived along the Danube riverside and the Black Sea coast as well as the picturesque valley of river Roussenski Lom. Our goal will be to watch more than 40 species of Dragonflies, some of which you can see only here. The tour also offers the observation of more than 100 species of birds breeding here, many of these are extremely beautiful. There are also rare and protected European species. Those interested can also observe many species of butterflies typical for Southeast Europe. For your facility’s sake we have designed the tour to be spent entirely around two places for accommodation thus avoiding long travelling and frequent change of hotels.

DAY 1
The tour starts at the village Vetren, municipality of Silistra where the tourists will be accommodated for 5 nights in the Pelican Birding Lodge. The village is located very close to the majestic river Danube and the world-renowned managed nature reserve Lake Srebarna. The reserve is under the aegis of UNESCO as a Monument of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The Lodge proper is situated near a small wood crossed by a similarly small brook. Almost throughout the year the courtyard of Pelican Birding Lodge echoes with the songs of birds and is visited by various species of butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles and mammals. During this first day of your stay there we will visit the lake Malak Preslavets, the Garvan Marsh and several small dams. We will be looking for Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna isoceles), Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator), Blue-eyed Hawker (Aeshna affinis), Darters (Sympetrum) and Skimmers (Orthetrum), Small Redeye (Erytromma viridulum), Blue-eye (Erithromma lindenii). Although less likely we may be lucky enough to watch also the Eastern Willow Spreadwing (Lestes parvidens) and Winter Damselfly (Sympecma fusca), which start flying in the open later in the summer. We will be looking again for Blue-eyed Goldenring (Cordulegaster insignis), River Clubtail (Gomphus flavipes) и Common Clubtail (Gomphus vulgatissimus). Packed lunch for the day. Dinner and night at Pelican Birding Lodge.

DAY 2
Today a longer trip lies ahead of us but we shall stop at many places for observing wildlife so let’s hope we shall not feel annoyed by the trip. We will visit Varbishki Mountain Pass situated at the foot of the majestic Balkan Range (Stara Planina Mountains). We will cross the valleys of small mountain rivulets in the search of the Balkan Goldenring (Cordulegaster heros), Odalisque (Epallage fatime) in the northernmost European locality of the species, the Eastern Specter (Caliaeshna microstigma) and Balkan Emerald (Somatochlora meridionalis) as well as many others.

DAY 3
Today we will ride in the van for only about 10 to 15 km. We will visit the surroundings of the reserve Lake Srebarna. Here, more than 40 species of dragonflies have been discovered and we will try to find the greater part of these species. We will also watch interesting bird species like the Dalmatian Pelican, Pygmy Cormorant, Levant Sparrowhawk and many others as well as interesting species of butterflies.

DAY 4
Today again a bit longer trip lies ahead of us but we will be rewarded by seeing beautiful natural landmarks. We will visit the nature Park ‘Roussenski Lom’ – a deep river valley cut through massive limestone rocks. Our main goal for the day will be riverine species of dragonflies: Common Clubtail (Gomphus vulgatissimus), Snaketail (Ophiogomphus cecilia), Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus), Ornate Blue (Coenagrion ornatum), Small Bluetail (Ischnura pumilio) and some others. Also, we can see some rare bird species in the park like the Black Stork, the Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus), Levant Sparrowhawk (Accipiter brevipes) as well as the globally threatened Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus). One can observe many species of butterflies and interesting species of plants.

DAY 5
Today, after a short trip, we are going to visit the protected site named ‘Kalimok-Brashlen’ and the vicinity of the town of Toutrakan. Almost all sites of our today’s programme are marshes and reed beds as well as small groves around them. Hopefully, we may see species like Darters (Sympetrum) and Skimmers (Orthetrum), Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope), Robust Spreadwing (Lestes dryas), Migrant Spreadwing (Lestes barbarus), Small Spreadwing (Lestes sponsa) and other species. In the early afternoon we will visit a couple of small brooks in search of the Blue-eyed Goldenring (Cordulegaster insignis): this area is one of the most important habitats for this species in Europe. We will visit also the Danube riverside looking for the River Clubtail (Gomphus flavipes). We can also watch a lot of bird species like Golden Oriole, (Oriolus oriolus) , Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus), Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus), Marsh Terns, etc.

DAY 6
Today, we will travel to the east, to the Black Sea coast. We will cross the vicinities of the town of Devnya and visit the saline parts of Varna lake, the mouth of Devnya river and the protected site ‘Yatata’. We will be looking for the Dark Spreadwing (Lestes macrostigma), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum) as well as other species. To the north of the city of Varna we will visit the valley of river Batova where we will be looking for Turkish Goldenring (Cordulegaster picta), Eastern Specter (Caliaeshna microstigma) and the Balkan Emerald (Somatochlora meridionalis). Packed lunch for the day. Accommodation in hotel ‘Nash Dom’ (Our home) in the town of Kavarna for 2 nights.

DAY 7
We will visit the lakes Shabla and Dourankoulak. Both these lakes are immediately by the seashore-actually they are separated only by a strip of beach. We will be looking for the Dark Spreadwing (Lestes macrostigma), Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), Yellow-winged Darter (Sympetrum flaveolum), White-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum albistylum) and other species. Here we can watch the rare European species Paddifield warbler

DAY 8
Today, after the last observations in the area of the steppe reserve ‘Kaliakra’ and the rocky valley of Bolata our tour will come to its end (depending on the time of departure). The reserve ‘Kaliakra’ is a stony steppe bordering with the sea to which cliffs towering 100 m and more fall away. ‘Bolata’ is a rocky valley on the bottom of which there is a small pond overgrown with reed. The vertical cliffs are perforated by a number of natural caves in which the local pair of Eagle Owls hide. Along with different species of dragonflies like … one can watch several rare European species of birds like Pied and Isabeline Wheatears, Black-headed Bunting, Rosy Starling, etc.

LAND ONLY PRICE
€760.00
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT
€100.00
DEPOSIT
€150.00
INDIVIDUALS
€840.00

ADDITIONAL PRICE INFO
Payment may be made in all convertible currencies at the Euro exchange rate for the day of payment. The prices include : All the ground transport, FB – full board with packed lunches, where is necessary, accommodation in hotels and guest houses. English speaking guide, All the taxes for reserves. The prices don’t include : Insurance, drinks, and all the items of personal nature

Booking: Please use the Prices and Booking section of our website to send your requests.