The Danube Delta in Romania is the Europe’s largest wetland and among the richest bird sites too. This vast area is very sparsely inhabited and supports not only an excellent variety of species but also high numbers of birds.

For our tour we will be based in the northern edge of the Delta, opposite the Ukrainian border, in a private estate of more than 1000 ha, offering excellent bird and wildlife photographic opportunities – both from specially build hides, canvas hides and from vehicles and walking. Here we will be able to photograph both pelicans (White, Dalmatian), Terns – marsh and caspian, grebes – black-necked, possibly red-necked, herons – Purple, Squacco and Night, waders, ducks, Pigmy cormorants, collared pratincoles, Kingfisher and other wetland birds, plus Bearded Tit, Penduline tit, Roller, Bee-eaters, Hoopoe, woodpeckers and other small passerines. We will also have a boat trip to some other nearby parts of the delta where we will photograph pelicans and marsh terns.

All the sites we will photograph at are placed at short distance (10 min drive) from the hotel where we stay and can be reached by vehicle, electric car or walking. This way we can be very flexible and everybody can focus on the preferred species. Dragonflies and butterflies will provide opportunities for macro photography and we can also get very good golden jackal, at dedicated hides, and possibly otter or wild cat for which we also have a special hide.
Everything is planned to provide a pleasant and relaxing photography week with excellent opportunities for wetland and mammal species that are not easy to get elsewhere in Europe.

You can read a report and see more photos on our blog (sorry, only in french):
Delta du Danube en mai

White Pelican

Day 0 (or J-1) : Arrival at Bucharest airport in the evening, transfer to our hotel in Bucharest. Night at Bucharest.

Day 1 : Transfer to our wildlife reserve in the north-est of the Danube Delta, first by road to Tulcea, then by boat on the Danube river. Arrival in the evening, visit by 4x4 of the reserve.

Private domain, more than 1000 ha in the Delta

Days 2-6 : All day photography, in hides, boat, for different species in various places.

Golden Jackal

Day 7 : Morning photography in the reserve, then visit and photography in another coastal site (afternoon), then transfer to Bucharest, night at Bucharest.

Day 8 : Transfer to Bucharest airport in the morning. Flight back home.

White-tailed Eagle

4x4

Black Woodpecker

Bearded Tit

Purple Heron

© www.patrickdieudonne.com, all photographs