This is a great tour photographing the diverse bird life around the Danube Delta and Dobrudja region of Romania.
The tour usually runs in June which should be an ideal time to connect with the target species and dates announced around autumn for the following year via my email newsletter.

One of the largest wetlands in the world! Its diverse habitats and very rich birdlife make it undoubtedly one of Europe`s finest birding destinations! The coastal Dobrudjean steppe, rocky valleys and woodlands provide a unique opportunity to see thousands of breeding and migrating birds, which are rare or missing in other parts of Europe! Birding in the Danube Delta during spring and summer is one of the most spectacular events and always produce a long list of specialities. The huge number and variety of birds present here at this time is unique in Europe. Colourful Rollers, Bee-eaters, Hoopoes and Lesser Grey and Red-backed Shrikes are frequent roadside birds. The breeding season is in full swing and specialities to photograph include Dalmatian and White Pelicans, Pygmy Cormorant, White-tailed Eagle and Purple Heron. Waterbirds are numerous and breeding-plumaged Great crested, Black-necked and Red-necked Grebes, Glossy Ibises, Spoonbills, Squacco Herons, Night Herons, Whiskered and Black Terns are abundant. Dobrudja with its coastal shallow lagoons and karst valleys can provide different special birds from the actual delta such as Stone Curlew, Collared Pratincole, Long-legged Buzzard, Crested and Short-toed Larks, Pied and Isabelline Wheatears and Ortolan and Black-headed Buntings.

This tour is 10 nights and will be for 3 photographers and myself enabling everyone to have a great position for the shoots. Our daily routine inside the Danube-delta is to have two photo sessions a day. The morning session usually starts at around 05.00 and finishes at around 10.30-11:00, then the photographers have breakfast and a three-hour rest before going out on the afternoon session (15:00–20:00) so we will have the best of the light every day. Most photography will take place from the custom-built photo-boat. Once we leave the Delta photography will be done from hides or stalking and should include several scare species.
Below is an example itinerary.

Day 1. Late night flight to Bucharest
Day 2. Transfer to Tulcea and board the photo boat and travel to Mila 23 village which is our base for the next 3 nights.
Day 3. 2 x 5-6 hour photo sessions on the boat.
Day 4. 2 x 5-6 hour photo sessions on the boat.
Day 5. If time allows morning photo session on the boat. Transfer to Tulcea stopping to photograph anything interesting on the way.
Day 6. Early this morning we leave for the Macin Mountain National Park where we spend time at a nesting colony of Bee-eater and Roller. There are also two drinking hides are in operation. This rather dry and rocky habitat supports a lot of scarce birds and the hides most probably will be visited by several species. We will work the species that are most likely to provide the best results, probably everyone will spend the morning with the bee-eaters and Rollers before two photographers visit one of the drinking hides while our guide will take the other two to another drinking hide or photograph from the vehicle. Likely targets are Larks, Isabelline Wheatear and Sousliks (Ground Squirrels).
Day 7. As day 6 but photographers swapping routines for the afternoon. Transfer to Constanta.
Day 8. A full day will be spent around Constanta where we will concentrate our efforts on wetland and Steppe species. We usually start the day with Collared Pratincoles, European Bee-eaters, shorebirds or Red-footed Falcons. In the afternoon we can try steppe species like Short-toed Lark, Stone Curlew, Ortolan Bunting, Black-headed Bunting and Pied Wheatear.
Day 9. Transfer to Carpathian Mountains. Evening bear session.
Day 10. 2 x bear sessions. (morning and evening)
Day 11. If time allows morning photo session. Transfer to Bucharest where the tour will end.
The price includes all transportation from Bucharest to Bucharest. All meals. Accommodation. Use of photo boat. Use of hides. Entrance fees. Local guides.

The price excludes international flight to Bucharest. Alcoholic drinks. Services of personal nature (phone calls, laundry etc.). Tips to guides.
Please let me know if you are interested as the trip is restricted to 3 participants and I can keep you updated with email newsletters.
2024 estimated cost 3050 Euros per person. Single room supplement 225 Euros.