Birding holidays
Activity level:
easy/moderate walks
Hen Harrier, Bittern © Csonka Péter
Great Grey Shrike © Miklós Nagy
Europe/Poland
Poland in Winter
Biebrza and Bialowieza National Park, 6 days
Our Poland winter tour takes you to the most famous national parks of the country, Białowieża and Biebrza National Park.
Białowieża National Park is Europe’s biggest, last, undisturbed, primeval lowland forest. It is home to European Bison, Wolf, Lynx and Wild Cat, of which we have very good chances to see Bison, but we need a lot of luck to observe the others. Man bird species have been recorded here including many sought-after birds, of which Hazel Grouse, Pygmy, Owl, Grey-headed, Black, Three-toed, White-backed, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Nutcracker and Common Crosbill may be observed in winter too.
Biebrza National Park is Poland’s largest park, covering nearly 60,000 hectares of vast marshes, wet meadows and woods. During winter White-tailed Eagle, Rough-legged Buzzards patrol the marshes and Hen Harriers hunt for voles over the meadows. Good populations of Elk can also be found here, as well as 3-4 packs of Wolf. Wolf tracks can be followed in the snow, but seeing these elusive creatures requires luck and perseverance.
Participants need to wear warm outdoor clothes and boots, and flasks are also handy as winter temperatures are generally between minus 10 and 20 degrees Celsius. Snow cover may be from 10 to 40 centimeters deep.
Facts
- 6 days in Poland visiting 2 national parks famous for rare birds and mammals
- commence and finish in Warsaw
- using 2 accommodations close to the sites
Highlights
- visiting the two most famous National Parks, Białowieża and Biebrza
- opportunit to observe Bison, Elk and other mammals
- woodpeckers, owls, raptors and wintering song birds
- tracking mammals in the snow including Wolf
Hotels
3 nights in a hotel in Goniadz village at Biebrza National Park
2 nights in a hotel in Białowieża village at Białowieża National Park
Departure Dates
February
Price
Itinerary
Your English speaking Ecotours guide meets you upon your arrival to Warsaw Airport. We leave for Goniadz situated in the heart of the fabled Biebrza National Park.
We visit the Southern Basin to track mammals, following their footprints in the snow. We may find Elk, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Wild Boar, Pine and Stone Marten. We might also encounter White-tailed Eagle, Rough-legged Buzzard, Nutcracker and Common Crossbill. Our next location is the Red Marsh where we search for wolves’ footprints and other signs in the snow. We have a good chance of seeing Elk, Black Woodpecker and Hawfinch, as well as Fox, Weasel, Pine Marten and Stoat. One evening we may have a night walk or spend some time in high seats from where we can spot mammals in the twilight.
We transfer to Białowieża National Park, one of the few places in Europe to see wild European Bison. We look for Black, White-backed, Three-toad, Grey-headed and Middle Spotted Woodpecker during our visit to the strictly protected forest of the national park. Other special birds include Pygmy Owl, Hawfinch and Common Crossbill.
We leave for Warsaw to fly back home.
