This fantastic nine-day tour focuses on the Danube Delta and Macin Mountains of Romania. The tour combines hide-photography and stalking photography, though these two will merge together in our special photo-boat inside the delta allowing superb possibilities getting close to birds!


Black-necked Grebe

Dalmatian Pelicans

White Pelican

Red-necked Grebes

Squacco Heron

Black-headed Bunting

Collared Pratincole

Pied Wheatear

Rock Thrush

This fantastic nine-day tour focuses on the Danube Delta and Macin Mountains of Romania. The tour combines hide-photography and stalking photography, though these two will merge together in our special photo-boat inside the delta allowing superb possibilities getting close to birds!

A high variety of subjects are guaranteed in the Danube Delta where special targets are White and Dalmatian Pelicans, Whiskered Tern, Black Tern, Squacco Heron, Night Heron, Purple Heron, Little Bittern, Glossy Ibis, Red-necked Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Pygmy and Great Cormorant, Pallas's Gull, Caspian Gull, Kingfisher, Penduline Tit, Bearded Tit, White-tailed Eagle, Golden Jackal and more.

In the Macin Mountain National Park the landscape and bird life is totally different and we shall have opportunities in hides to photograph Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Ortolan Bunting, Pied Wheatear, Rollers, Bee-eaters, Hoopoes, Isabelline Wheatear, Red-rumped Swallows, Red-backed Shrike, Turtle Dove, Syrian Woodpecker, Barred Warbler and even Levant Sparrowhawk.

ITINERARY

Day 1 Friday 5 June 2020

We depart London Heathrow on a scheduled British Airways flight to Bucharest arriving late afternoon. On arrival in Bucharest we transfer to Tulcea - the gateway to the Sulina arm of the Danube Delta. We spend the night in Tulcea.

Day 2 - 5 Saturday 6 June - Tuesday 9 June 2020: Danube Delta

After breakfast we will board our purpose built photo-boat called 'Borzas' and travel towards Mila 23 village deep in the Danube Delta. We will have nearly four full days of photography inside the Delta to allow us to enjoy a variety of subjects in this last true wilderness of Europe. The exact program will be determined by the subjects available and the wishes of the photographers but we will have two photo sessions daily. Use will be made of the photography boat and also of fixed / mobile hides. A photography day usually starts at 0415 hrs with fruit, cereal, toast, jam and hot drinks. Photography time is usually around five to six hours in the morning (between 0500 and 1030 hrs) and around six hours in the afternoon (between 1430 - 2000 hrs). Brunch is typically at 1100 hrs and then you have time to download your images, charge batteries and rest until 1430hrs.

Day 6 Wednesday 10 June 2020 Danube Delta: Macin Mountains National Park

In the morning we plan to visit a site where Pallas's Gulls breed and Dalmatian Pelicans and Caspian Gulls are also possible. Those that wish to use the fixed hides within the hotel grounds are free to do so. After lunch we head back to Tulcea and onwards to our base in the Macin Mountain National Park where there will be time for a session at the drinking hides or Bee-eater / Roller photography. Overnight in Greci village.

Day 7 - 8 Thursday 11 June - Friday 12 June 2020: Macin Mountain National Park

We spend two full days in the National Park. We will have use of two different 'fixed' drinking hides plus hides for Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush and mobile hides for Bee-eaters, Rollers and Hoopoes. There may also be opportunities for stalking Ground Squirrels, Isabelline Wheatears and other available subjects. The daily routine is similar to the previous days with two sessions per day. Overnights in Greci village.

Day 9 Saturday 13 June 2020: Macin to Bucharest

We will leave the Macin area in the early morning and make our way towards Bucharest. However, we plan one more early morning photography session by visiting a wetland for Collared Pratincoles. We will have about two hours with these wonderful birds before we have to leave for Bucharest airport to catch our flight back to London Heathrow.

SOME OF THE HIDES WE USE:

Purpose Built Photo Boat (Click here to see this hide)

This 6.5 m long very stable flat bottomed boat was designed for photographers. It has four seats in the middle of the boat which are removable so, when required, photography takes place from cushions allowing the lowest possible angle. The boat is installed with special photo-through glass - the same as in our hides in Hungary - on both sides of the boat and also with a curtain system. The windows also open so photography is also possible through lens holes in the curtains. The boat can be used in all weather as it has a removable roof as well. It is comfortable for four photographers. It is usually accessed from stable ground and you do not need to get wet feet to board!

Species may include: Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Little Grebe, Great Cormorant; Pygmy Cormorant, White Pelican, Dalmatian Pelican, Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Little Bittern, Bittern, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Spoonbill, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, White Stork, Glossy Ibis, Mute Swan, Mallard, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Garganey, White-tailed Eagle, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Black-tailed Godwit, Black-winged Stilt, Lapwing, Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Caspian Gull, Pallas's Gull, Common Tern, Whiskered Tern, Black Tern, White-winged Black Tern, Tawny Owl, Kingfisher, Barn Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, Savi's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Moustached Warbler, Collared Flycatcher, Thrush Nightingale, Penduline Tit, Bearded Tit, Reed Bunting, Hooded Crow. Mammals: Muskrat, Otter, Wild Cat, Racoon Dog. Reptiles: Dice Snake; Grass Snake; European Pond Terrapin. Amphibians: Edible Frog.

Macin Drinking Hides (Click here to see one of the hides)

Two hides are located in the Macin National Park in a generally dry landscape. We have a drinking pool in front of the hides. It is a gentle walk of about 300 metres to the hides.

Species may include: Levant Sparrowhawk, Turtle Dove, Wryneck, Syrian Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Pipit, Nightingale, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Barred Warbler, Sombre Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Golden Oriole, Hawfinch, Ortolan Bunting, Corn Bunting, Hoopoe, Roller, Honey Buzzard and Wood Lark.

Rock Thrush Hide (Click here to see this hide)

This hide is located in the Macin National Park in a generally dry and rocky landscape. This is a rather basic hide but it is only used for short period of time. It was installed in October 2013. The hide is on a hillside so some fitness is required to access it. It is about 20 minutes walk from the car park area at the base of the mountain. Our guides are able to assist you to carry your equipment.

Species may include: Rock Thrush, Northern Wheatear, Pied Wheatear, Ortolan Bunting, Wood Lark, Red-backed Shrike, Common Redstart, Tawny Pipit and Hoopoe.

Ad-hoc Hides

Our ground agents in Romania have several mobile hides (eg. for Bee-eaters, Rollers etc) and we may use them for species presenting good photographic opportunities.

Holiday Information 2020 Operating Dates

Fri 5th June

-

Sat 13th June

 

COST

£2695

 

Single Supplement

£175

 

DEPOSIT

£500

Group Size - maximum 6 photographers


Need more Information?

No problem! We'd be delighted to discuss this holiday with you. Please call us on 01950 460939 or drop us an e mail.

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