Activity level:

Generally easy to moderate walks

Eastern Europe / Poland

The most ancient forest of Europe
and the biggest marsh in Poland
Poland, 9 days
 
Our Poland spring tour takes you to the most famous national parks of the country, Białowieża and Biebrza National Park. Białowieża National Park, established in 1947, is the largest and last undisturbed lowland primeval forest in Central Europe. Its area covers 10,500 hectares and is home to European Bison, Wolf, Lynx and Wild Cat. 160 bird species are nesting within the park including Black Stork, Short-toed, Booted and Lesser Spotted Eagle, Hazel Grouse, Eagle Owl, Common Rosefinch, Nutcracker and Golden Oriole. There are about 250 bird species recorded, among them 14 species of birds of prey, 8 species of owls, and 8 species of woodpeckers. Biebrza National Park is the largest national park in Poland. It was created in 1993 and covers nearly 60,000 hectares of vast marshes, wet meadows and woods. Between March and May most of the area is flooded by the Biebrza River creating a shallow lake that holds huge numbers of water birds. 275 bird species were recorded in the park and 186 permanently breed here, of which Aquatic Warbler, Greater Spotted Eagle and Great Snipe are the most notable ones. The park is also home to populations of Elk and Wolf.

Fact File
- 9 days in Poland visiting 2 national parks famous for rare birds and mammals
- start and finish in Warsaw
- using 2 accommodations located close to the sites

Highlights
- visiting the two most famous National Parks, Białowieża and Biebrza
- 8 woodpecker, 8 owl and 14 raptor species
- possibility to observe lekking Great Snipe and displaying Black Grouse
- interesting mammals such as Bison, Elk, Wolf and Lynx

Accommodation
4 nights in a hotel in Goniadz village at Biebrza National Park
4 nights in a hotel in Białowieża village at Białowieża National Park

Departure Dates
30 April - 8 May, 2010

Price
Ask for the actual price.

Our price includes:
- all travel as noted in the itinerary;
- all accommodation based on shared rooms (most rooms are twin bedded), at most locations there are single rooms as well for extra charge (Please ask for a single room at the time of booking!);
- 3 meals per day, generally breakfast at the accommodation, packed lunch, dinner (consists of at least two courses);
- services of the leader(s);
- trip materials.

Not included:
- flight to and from Warsaw;
- optional programmes to places of interest and entrance fees involved;
- airport and other departure taxes, tips;
- food beyond generally 3 meals/day mentioned in the itineraries;
- excess baggage charges;
- telephone calls;
- alcoholic beverages;
- compulsory personal insurance.
If you have questions about the inclusion of any cost item, please contact us.

Activity level
Generally easy to moderate walks
Longer driving distances on the first and last day
Weather can be cool and rainy in the spring months

Itinerary

1-4

We meet our English speaking guide at Warsaw Airport and drive to Biebrza National Park. We bird along the banks of the Biebrza River expecting Lesser and Greater Spotted Eagle, Ortolan Bunting, Thrush Nightingale and Common Rosefinch. We walk to the displaying grounds of Black Grouse and Great Snipe, and we visit the southern basin of the Biebrza NP to search for Aquatic Warbler and Corn Crake. We explore Red Marsh Reserve where ancient oak forests, marshlands and sand dunes are home to woodpeckers, Lesser and Greater Spotted Eagle. We visit the middle basin of Biebrza National Park where flooded meadows and pastures host water birds and raptors, while reed beds hold Bearded Tit and Bittern.

5-8

We leave Biebrza to transfer to Białowieża National Park birding en route to look for Roller, Red-necked and Black-necked Grebe, as well as different species of terns and gulls. We explore the ancient forest of Białowieża National Park to look for European Bison, White-backed and Three-toed Woodpecker, Hazel Grouse and Pygmy Owl. We also visit a Siemianówka reservoir in the northern part of the forest where ducks, waders, White-tailed Eagle, Black Stork, Whiskered and White-winged Tern and Citrine Wagtail may be observed.

9	We drive back to Warsaw Airport to catch our flight to London.