Birding holidays
Activity level:
easy/moderate walks
some longer drives expected
Spotted Nutcracker © Csonka Péter
Europe/Slovenia & Croatia
The Alps and the Adriatic Coast
Julian Alps, Island of Cres, Paklenica NP, 9 days
Slovenia, with its breathtaking scenery of high Alpine peaks, vast evergreen forests and beech woods, complements Croatia perfectly, a country with one of the most beautiful coastlines of Europe. This is a land of rugged limestone hills and a myriad of delightful islands. These two countries combined offer an exciting Alpine and Mediterranean fauna and flora amidst a splendid, scenic landscape.
The holiday takes you to the Julian Alps for Golden Eagle, Pygmy Owl, Three-toed and Grey-headed Woodpecker, Nutcracker and Common Crossbill. Seasonal Lake Cerknica and scenic Mount Nanos are wonderful locations for birdwatching, providing home for Ferruginous Duck, Corn Crake, Rock Thrush and Rock Bunting among others. The Secovlje Saltpans on the Slovenian Coast offer a nice array of shorebirds.
In Croatia we adventure onto the island of Cres to observe its Griffon Vulture colony. We visit Paklenica National Park, home of Rock Partridge, Sombre Tit and Western Rock Nuthatch. We discover Lake Vrana where Pygmy Cormorant, Spanish Sparrow and Black-headed Bunting are expected. Crna Mlaka Fishponds are excellent for herons, egrets, White-tailed Eagle and marsh terns.
Facts
- 4 days in Slovenia and 5 days in Croatia
- start and finish in Ljubljana or Maribor
- using 5 accommodations
Highlights
- visit to the Julian Alps
- 1 day on the island of Cres
- exploring Paklenica National Park, home to the enigmatic Rock Partridge
- birding in Alpine and Mediterranean habitats
- superb scenery, rare birds and butterflies
Hotels
2 nights in Bohinj, Slovenia
1 night in Rakov Skocjan, Slovenia
2 nights in Lovran, Croatia
2 nights in Starigrad, Paklenica, Croatia
1 night in Karlovac
Departure Dates
May
Price
Optional extensions
Cable car to the higher regions in the Julian Alps
Itinerary
After arrival at Maribor or Ljubljana you will be met by your English-speaking Ecotours guide. We make our way to the Julian Alps and book into our hotel on the shore of scenic Lake Bohinj. If time permits we look for woodpeckers and Pygmy Owl in the region.
We spend the day around Bohinj looking for Golden Eagle, Grey-headed and Three-toed Woodpeckers, Nutcracker and Red-breasted Flycatcher. After a morning birding in the area we head for Mount Nanos where we might see Rock Thrush and Rock Bunting, as well as Chamois and many butterflies.
Our first stop is Lake Cerknica, a seasonal lake where we have good chances to observe Red-necked Grebe, Ferruginous Duck, Corn Crake and Barred Warbler. Then we drive to the Mediterranean Coast to explore Secovlje Saltpans for Shag and a nice selection of waders and larids. Later we cross into Croatia and make for our next destination, the coastal town of Lovran.
A ferry trip brings us to the beautiful island of Cres where we visit the Griffon Vulture rehabilitation centre in Beli. As we walk along the trails of the nearby reserve we may find warblers, Griffon Vulture and Short-toed Eagle.
We move further south down the coastline, and make a short stop at the Gacka River, home to Bee-eater, Hoopoe and Lesser Grey Shrike. By the afternoon we reach Paklenica National Park. Before sitting down for our evening meal we pay a visit to an area excellent for Rock Partridge, Blue Rock Thrush, Sombre Tit, Rock Nuthatch and Mediterranean warblers. We pass the morning in Paklenica visiting one of the gorges for Alpine Swift, Crag Martin, Black-eared Wheatear and whatever other species we may have missed the day before. In the afternoon we drive to Lake Vrana to look for Pygmy Cormorant, Woodchat Shrike, Spanish Sparrow and Black-headed Bunting.
We drive northeast to explore the Crna Mlaka Fishponds near to Zagreb. Here we may see Black Stork, Ferruginous Duck, White-tailed and Lesser Spotted Eagle, Black Woodpecker and Penduline Tit.
We drive back to Ljubljana or Maribor to catch our return flight to the UK.
