Northern Serbia
Long-eared Owl Tour
29 November 2015 to 3 December 2015
Led by David Lindo – The Urban Birder
ONLY £695 plus flight – The same price as 2014
If you don’t see an owl on this trip we will give you your money back!
Serbia has rapidly become the most talked about birding destinations in Eastern Europe. Why? Because, it is officially the best place in the world to see Long-eared Owls. Indeed, it is the best place on the entire planet to see parliaments of owls in unimaginable numbers!
The great thing about this popular trip is that there is very little walking involved. Plus, we will never be too far away from a cup of coffee because most of our birding will be urban based.
We guarantee that you will leave Serbia beaming!
Tour Overview
We will base ourselves for duration of the trip at a comfortable hotel in Ečka, some 35km west of the border with Romania. The parkland grounds at the back of the hotel are a good spot for owling. Long-eared, Little and Barn Owls can all be easily located within a stone’s throw of the hotel.
Over the ensuing days we will spend our time exploring some of the towns and surrounding areas looking for owls, Great Grey Shrikes as well as wintering flocks of thousands of Common Cranes, White-fronted Geese and the odd Lesser White-front and Red-breasted Geese that mingle among them.
One of the towns we will visit is the now world famous Kikinda. The town’s main square holds huge gatherings of Long-eared Owls – upwards of 800 in some years – and has been declared by the local government as a nature reserve. Indeed, Kikinda is the best place in the world to see Long-eared Owls.
During the course of this short break we can guarantee more Long-eared Owls than you could ever imagine!
Expected Birds
Long-eared Owl, Barn Owl, Little Owl, Short-eared Owl, White-tailed Eagle, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Merlin, Great Grey Shrike, Syrian Woodpecker, Pygmy Cormorant, Great Egret, Bearded Tit, Penduline Tit, Raven and Caspian Gull
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Belgrade. Transfer from airport to Ečka – a 1.5 hour minibus drive. Dinner at hotel followed by optional night walk around the hotel grounds for owl species.
Overnight stay in Ečka.
Day 2
A visit to Kikinda, the World’s Owl Capital, for the chance of seeing several hundred Long-eared Owls.
Overnight stay in Ečka.
Day 3
A lovely day at Bačko Gradište village and yet more Long-eared Owls. On the way to Fantast Castle where we will look for several owl species, we will stop off at on of the largest carp fishponds in the country for Pygmy Cormorants and other waterfowl. Overnight stay in Ečka.
Day 4
We will spend a fantastic day birding at Slano Kopovo Nature Reserve watching multitudes of Common Cranes and geese. Overnight stay Ečka.
Day 5
Transfer to Belgrade airport for the flight home.
Price: £695.00 (£1045.00 including flight)
Further information via :
Special trip notes
This trip is suitable for all ages and abilities.
Very little walking involved.
The weather can range from being mild to extremely cold so bring warm clothes.
Collared Dove – David Lindo
Common Crane – David Fettes
Long-eared Owl group – David Fettes
Long-eared Owls – David Fettes