Join BirdID on a unique learning experience to beautiful Bulgaria and the south-east european wilderness! Through mountains and wetlands we explore one of the most diverse and rich bird areas Europe can offer

April – May every year, as long as there are enough course participants

We can expect to see over 200 species of birds, and we start in the mountains around Trigrad and Rhodope. This is a beautiful landscape with cliffs, rivers and farmland. We will see many species such as Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture, Egyptian Vulture and Black Stork, and perhaps also Eastern Imperial Eagle if we are lucky. We might also see Wallcreeper, Western Rock Nuthatch, Blue Rock Trush,  Lesser Grey Shrike, Masked Shrike, Long-legged Buzzard, Hobby, Golden Oriole, Blackthroated Wheatear, Isabelline Wheatear, Sombre Tit, Black-headed Bunting, Subalpine warbler, Olive-tree Warbler and many others. 

We drive on to Bourgas, a flat area close to the Black sea. This landscape has lots of small lakes and saltpans, and is regarded as one of the richest bird areas in Europe. White Pelican, Pygmy Cormorant and Ruddy Shelduck are found among many other ducks and waders. We also expect to find Roller, Semi-collared flycatcher and many other species.

We continue along the coast of the Black sea to the areas near the Romanian border. Here we will find farmland, lakes and steppe areas, with a diverse bird fauna. Among the numerous wetland birds we expect to find Dalmatian Pelican, Little Bittern and Glossy Ibis. Besides we hope to find Levant Sparrowhawk, Red-footed falcon, Caspian Gull, Olivaceous Warbler, Black-eared Wheatear, Pied Wheatear and five larks to mention a few, and Paddyfield warbler would be worth seeing.

The cost for the whole trip will be 350 Euros/about 3800 NOK per personflights not included. You pay this in front of the trip. This price includes hotel-standard accommodation (2-3 persons per room, 100 Euros extra for single rooms), breakfast and dinner all days and transport in a van. 

Guide and teacher are paid by Nord University, securing a high quality and an economic trip for the students. You have to buy your own lunch and water etc. to drink during the day. We will drop by restaurants when possible, but some lunches will be in the field. 

The fieldcourse is open for all nationalities, and we only require that you pass the exams in Western palearctic bird sound and picture before you can send your application for the trip. This qualification will secure a dedicated and keen group of birdwatchers.

The fieldcourse is open for all nationalities, and we only require that you pass the exams in Western palearctic bird sound and picture before you can send your application for the trip.

The students are given admission to the field study according to the date of application. There is no deadline for sending an application. For the coming year we need the application latest 15th of November, we will go through the list of applications and take contact with all, and we will decide about the trip 1st of December

Other resources