SPRING BOTANY (and BIRDS)
May
10
days (9 nights)
Day 4 KAVARNA
- BOURGAS
After breakfast transfer (90 miles) to the southern Black Sea port of
Bourgas.
We break the journey twice, firstly to explore the rocky landscape near
Balchik, where we should see Mattiola odoratissima, Astragalus excapus,
A.vesicarius, A.pubiflorus and Gypsophyla glomerata. Our second stop, in the Eastern Balkan Mountains,
will show us some of the flora of the oak forests.
Dinner and first of two
nights in hotel White House in neighbouring Pomorie.
Day 5:
BOURGAS SALTPANS
Today we explore Lake Atanasovsko Reserve, one of
Bulgaria’s five “RAMSAR” sites. The 1690 ha. complex includes
extensive saltpans, freshwater pools, marshes and areas of scrub and
semi-steppe. The site’s main interest is ornithological, but the highly
specific conditions here make for a fascinating flora too.
Lake Atanasovsko’s position
on the east European Via Pontica migration flyway attracts a great
variety of migrant birds in spring and autumn. More than 300 birds species have
been recorded here.
We will be able to enjoy the spectacle of the lake’s breeding birds,
including some hundreds of Avocets, Black-winged Stilt,
Collared Pratincole (Black-winged have been seen here too!),
Kentish Plover, Gull-billed Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Little Tern, Marsh
Harrier and Penduline Tit. Caspian Tern, Slender-billed Gull and Squacco
Heron are also seen at this season, and we may turn up Marsh
Sandpiper. Cetti’s Warbler and Little Bittern breed in the
reedbeds, and Black-headed Buntings and Red-backed Shrikes are
numerous on fields surrounding the lake.
The site’s vegetation is typified by Salicornia herbacea, S.
europaea and Typha angustifolia, but includes two species endangered in
Europe: Coryspermum nitidum and Lepidotrichum uechtritzianum.
For dinner we sample traditional Bulgarian
cuisine in a folk-tavern in the historic town of Nessebar. Return to Pomorie.
Day 6:
BOURGAS - SINEMORETZ
After breakfast, transfer (35
miles) south to the seaside town of Sinemoretz, visiting en route the reserves
of Ropotamo, Arkutino and Alepu. At Ropotamo we will explore a
primary alluvial forest of Quercus pedunculiflora, Ulmus laevis
and Alnus glutinosa with Smilax exelsa and Peiploca
graeca. The psammophytic vegetation near Arkutino includes
Lepidotrichum nechtritzianum, Anchusa velenovskyi, Linum tauricum bulgaricum,
Pancratium maritimum Silene euxina,
Hypecoum ponticum, Jurinea albicaulis kilaea, Stachys maritima, Medicago marina,
Eryngium maritimum, Euphorbia paralias, etc. Arkutino lake is famous for
its abundance of Nymphaea alba . Generally in the area we
can expect to find Tulipa hageri, Scilla bythinica, Fritillaria pontica,
Heptaptera triquetra, Ruscus aculeatus, Symphytum tauricum, Iris suaveolens, etc.
Several orchid species are found here too, including Anacamptis
pyramidalis, Orchis purpurea, Orchis ustulata and Limodorum
abortivum.
Dinner in Sinemoretz (on
the south Black Sea coast) and first of 3
nights in Villa Philadelphia.