Join me on this Small Group Bird Photography Tour in Rural Bulgaria.
2024 Dates: 12th – 17th June
Cost: £1300 (Maximum: 3) **1 Place Remaining**
“It was a fantastic trip and I would highly recommend it for anyone – thanks Paul for all your help and also Terry for an amazing place!”
Andrew Robinson, Bulgarian Birds Tour, June 2022
Our base for this tour is a Rural Bulgarian village, just over an hour from Varna. Here, surrounded by wooded mountains we photograph the vibrant bird-life of the region.
The Group Size is just 3 People – allowing for more space, greater comfort and more guidance if required. We use a range of wooden photo hides, professionally built and carefully situated for photographers. Backgrounds vary from clean and distant to more mixed natural backdrops of the surrounding habitat. There will be 4 days of photography consisting of 8 photo sessions.
Images from our June 2023 Tour
Our Tree-top Hide allows for unique wildlife watching – at 10 metres high, you are truly amongst the canopy where Woodpeckers scale the trunks, Nightingales sing from deep in the trees and Golden Orioles feed on ripening fruits. In the evening you can hear the hooting of Scops Owl, listen to the churring of Nightjars and be serenaded by Tree-Frogs! The hide also has a Drinking Pool – very few of this kind exist in Europe! The distant mountain backdrop is perfect for photography, with beautiful reflections. Great spotted, Syrian and Green Woodpecker all use the pool as do a range of Tits and Finches, including Hawfinch.
We immerse ourselves in Bulgarian culture, including the beautiful local food. Meals are taken in an authentic Bulgarian restaurant.
Images from previous Tours
In nearby grassland and scrub we have options for setting up Pop-up Hides and photographing from a vehicle. We target the ever-vocal Black headed Bunting, Corn Bunting, Woodlark, Crested Lark and both Red backed and Woodchat Shrike. Nearby Lavendar fields offer amazing colour for photography and here we may see the Western yellow Wagtail and Ortolan Bunting.
Wryneck often breed in the village where they hop around orchards in search of ants. If lucky we may be able to photograph these birds feeding, or returning to a nest site.
Read Photography Tour Testimonials
Play the Video below to see Footage from the Bulgaria 2023 Photo Tour
Target birds include: Golden Oriole, Wryneck, Red backed Shrike, Black headed Bunting, Corn Bunting, Turtle Dove, Green Woodpecker, Hawfinch, Sombre Tit, Jay, Syrian Woodpecker, Great spotted Woodpecker
Other possible species: Hoopoe, Cuckoo, Woodchat Shrike, Little Owl, Lesser grey Shrike, Lesser spotted Woodpecker, Yellowhammer, White Stork
Other Wildlife: The area is so rich in wildlife – in the wildflower meadows you can hear the constant buzz of insects. Throughout the grasslands, woodland and scrub you are constantly surrounded by loud birdsong. On these tours we have seen snakes, lizards, frogs and a huge range of insects including butterflies, dragonflies, shield-bugs, grasshoppers and crickets.
I am continuing to work with my good friend Terry, developing the hides and providing new opportunities in Bulgaria for both Bird and Insect/Macro Photography. We plan to run tours here throughout different seasons.
Useful Information:
- Recommended flights are from London to Varna with Wizz Air
- You will need to to climb stairs to enter the tower hides
- There is minimal walking involved during the tour
- Please wear long trousers to minimise ticks
- Our accommodation is a typical mid-range Bulgarian-speaking hotel
Booking
To book, Contact Me for a Booking Form and Payment Details. It is also important that you read the Photography Tour Terms & Conditions and the Planned Itinerary
If you have any questions about the tour
Email Me: paul@naturephotographycourses.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 7759485791
Cost: £1300 per person
Dates 2024: 12th – 17th June
Maximum number: 3 (1 Place Remaining)
What’s included: 5 nights single en suite accommodation; all meals; vehicle transport; airport transfers; use of photo hides; English speaking guides
Excluded: International flights, alcoholic drinks, extra drinks & snacks and personal items
Equipment required: lenses from 300mm – 600mm; extenders are useful; tripod; shorter lenses are worth taking for possible landscape photography
Deposit: £200
Insurance: You must take out adequate travel insurance
Payment: A deposit can be paid via preferred Bank Transfer, cheque or Paypal. The balance will be payable, by Bank Transfer, 10 weeks before the tour date.
