Late spring tour

A week-long tour to Białowieża Forest and Biebrza Marshes in search of birds and mammals.

The tour consists of visiting two different areas. In Białowieża Forest the tour will focus on the birds of primeval forest. We will look for woodpeckers & Pygmy Owl, as well as for some warblers (incl. Barred, River & Icterine) and Flycatchers (Collared, Red-breasted). On one evening we will also visit Great Snipes lek to see them displaying. A visit to Siemianówka Reservoir is also planned, we expect to see Penduline Tit, Citrine Wagtail & Greater-spotted Eagle there. On forest glades we will search for elusive Corn Crake & Thrush Nightingale.

For a second part of the tour we will switch habitats. On Biebrza Marshes we will look for marsh terns, warblers (incl. Aquatic, Savi’s) but also passerines like Rosefinch, Bluethroat, Bee-eater, Tawny Pipit & Ortolan Bunting. Also grebes (Red-necked & Black-necked) and Crakes (Little & Corn) are expected to be our targets there.

By late May all breeding birds should already arrive so a total of ca. 150 bird species can be observed on such a tour.

During the trip we will also search for mammals like European Bison & Elk. On Biebrza Marshes a dedicated boat trip for Beavers will be also organized. We will also have our eyes wide open as Wolves might cross our road…

Bird targets: woodpeckers (Three-toed, White-backed, Grey-headed, Black, Middle-spotted, Lesser-spotted, Syrian, Wryneck), Pygmy Owl, Nutcracker, Hazel Grouse, warblers (Savi’s, River, Grasshopper, Barred, Aquatic, Marsh, Icterine, Great Reed, Wood), terns (White-winged, Black, Whiskered), Lesser & Greater Spotted Eagle, Little Crake, Corn Crake, Great Snipe, Bee-eater, Tawny Pipit, Citrine Wagtail, Rosefinch, Thrush Nightingale, Bluethroat, Collared & Red-breasted Flycatcher, Penduline Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Ortolan Bunting.

Mammal targets: European Bison, Elk, Beaver, Wolf.