Belarus – Birding the Eastern Taiga
17 – 23 May 2012
- Price per person £945
- Deposit per person £250
- Suggested Flights: Lufthansa 919, Heathrow to Minsk, 16/17 May, 20.00 – 13.10
Lufthans 1487, Minsk to Heathrow, 23 May, 14.25 – 17.50
Belarus will most probably become one of the prime birding destinations in Europe.
This country that is the Eastern neighbor of Poland is second to none. The variety of birds which include several highlight species and very rarely seen in other parts of Europe is only one aspect.
Imagine roads taking you through ancient forests, hundreds of meandering rivers, the biggest marshes and fens of the continent, while you hardly meet any traffic or even people.
Truly an unbeatable paradise remaining intact and wild, no wonder Belarus conserves huge population of Bison, Lynx and Wolf. We have searched good quality hotels situated close to the best birding sites. Tasty local cusine, witnessing true rural life in small ancient villages are part of our trip.
This country is perfectly safe, yet, you can experience the taste of an era that is already left behind in most parts of Eastern Europe. Our tour visits 2 key places: Sporovo Reserve protecting the major part of the world's Aquatic Warbler population and Pripyatsky NP that is a paradise for sought-after waders offering an unique variety of primarily Eastern species.
Day 1-3
After landing at Minsk Airport we drive to Sporovo Reserve, where we will stay for 2 nights. The forest close to our accommodation holds some breeding pairs of Great Grey Owl, and we hope we can admire this magnificent owl. Little, Spotted Crakes and Corncrake are all loud at this time of the year, which gives us the chance to spot them, but the evening will surely be spent admiring the characteristic songflight of Europe's rarest songbird, the Aquatic Warbler.
Great Grey Shrike, Goshawk, Hen and Montague's Harrier, Common Rosefinch, Golden Oriole, Penduline and Bearded Tit are all common here.
Depending on what we have found on our first 2 days at Sporovo as we travel from here to our next base on the 3rd day we can visit another reserve, where Great Grey Owls have several nests and Woodpeckers are abundant. It is also possible to find Otter, Red Deer or Wildboar.
Day 4-6
Our next base will be near the famous Pripyatsky NP. We spend 4 nights in Turov in a comfortable hotel located on the bank of the river. Several sought-after shorebirds such as Great Snipe, Terek and Marsh Sandpiper breed on the banks of the untamed Pripyat river that floods vast areas of meadows and forests in spring.
On Turov Meadow evenings often produce spectacular gatherings of hundreds of migrating Black-tailed Godwit and Ruff including many extremly colorful males, but elegant Spotted Redshanks are also found in good numbers.
Surely one of the strongest candidate for bird of the trip will be Azure Tit.
Belarus is the only place in Europe where we have good chances to find this stunning bird in its breeding habitat along the riparian willow forests of the Pripyat river. We will have some time to discover the ancient oak, spruce and birch forests too. Easy walks can produce White-backed Woodpecker, but we might also find Collared and Red-breasted Flycatcher, Short-toed Treecreeper, Black, Middle Spotted and Three-toed Woodpecker, Thrush Nightingale, Bluethroat, Common Rosefinch, Golden Oriole, Citrine Wagtail are relatively easy to see in this magic place. Black Storks and Great Spotted Eagles circle above the flat meadows where with luck we can spot herds of European Bisons as well.
Day 7
We drive back to the airport, birding en route. Depending on the flight time we might check out nearby fishponds for Ferruginous Duck, Red-necked Grebe or Smew. Results of Otters' activity will be obvious as well.
Accommodation
- 2 nights at Sporovo Reserve
- 4 nights at Pripyatsky NP
Price includes
- All travel as noted in the itinerary
- All accommodation based on shared rooms (single rooms available for a £100 supplement)
- 3 meals per day, generally breakfast, packed lunch, dinner (consists of at least two courses)
- Services of the leader(s) throughout
Activity level
- Easy walks, but for certain areas you will need wellingtons.
- Rain and colder weather possible
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