THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Few visitors to the Czech Republic venture outside the beautiful city of Prague. Our visit to the south of the country will reveal a land of rolling hills, forests and lakes that has changed little in hundreds of years. Birds that have become very scarce in the UK such as Wryneck, Red-backed Shrike, Corncrake, Whinchat, Cuckoo and Turtle Dove are all quite common here.
It is less than a two hour flight from the UK with just a one hour time difference, but you may feel you have stepped back several centuries. The accommodation is of a high standard and there is birding on our doorstep in very attractive scenery in all three locations.
By visiting in mid-May nearly all the summer migrants will be in and many of the owls and woodpeckers will still be breeding. There is a good range of birds on this itinerary, including Black-necked Grebe, Garganey, Red-crested Pochard, White-tailed Eagle, Black Grouse, Black Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Bluethroat, Savi’s Warbler, River Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Collared Flycatcher, Crested Tit and Hawfinch. Our final list is sure to include some of the more difficult species too, such as Black Stork, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Red-footed Falcon, Hazel Grouse, Tengmalm’s and Pygmy Owls, White-backed Woodpecker, Barred Warbler and Red-breasted Flycatcher among others. The rich variety of possible birds adds a frisson to every walk.
The Czech Republic boasts a good range of mammals too. Commonly encountered species include Red and Roe Deer, Hare, Fox, Red Squirrel, Muskrat and even Otter. Wild Boar and Elk are sometimes seen in the woods and the European Lynx has one of its strongholds in the Sumava Mountains. It is also excellent for flowers, butterflies and dragonflies. If this is not enough to tempt you; the beer is considered by many to be the finest in Europe and the local vineyards produce some superb wines which we will, of course, sample! Also we can easily make arrangements for anybody wishing to stay on for a few extra nights in Prague.
A two hour drive from the airport will take us into South Bohemia and the Sumava Mountains, a national park which straddles the border with Bavaria. We will spend our first two nights here. The area was depopulated during the cold war and is now used largely for forestry and low intensity farming. Though the mountains are not high the area has a distinctly Alpine look. It is an area rich in flower meadows, forests, rivers and medieval buildings. Our hotel backs on to the woodlands of Mount Boubin. Here both Three-toed and White-backed Woodpeckers can be found along with several species of owl including Tengmalm’s, Pygmy, Eagle, Long-eared and Ural. Around the hotel there are Black Redstarts, Common Redpolls and Crossbills, even Nutcrackers occasionally. There will be an optional pre-breakfast visit to an area for lekking Black Grouse and an evening stroll in the woods looking for owls, Woodcock, Hazel Grouse and mammals. The first Scarlet Rosefinches may just have arrived and we will be listening out for their distinctive song. Ring Ouzels here are of the lovely alpestris race. Raptors include Honey Buzzard, Hobby and Goshawk. After two nights we will move the short distance to Trebon, stopping en route at the World Heritage Site of Cesky Krumlov, reputed to be one of the world’s best preserved medieval towns. The castle gardens here are full of impressive trees that are home to several species of woodpecker, including Grey-headed and Middle Spotted, along with Hawfinch and Golden Oriole. We will also visit one or two lakes, the first of many over the next few days.
Trebon town, also in Bohemia, is our base for the next two nights. It is surrounded by some five hundred fish ponds. They vary in size from little more than duck ponds to vast lakes, but all have a very natural feel, many having been established for several hundred years. The embankments that surround them were planted up with native trees that attract much wildlife.
Trebon is a beautiful town and our hotel is near the centre. Within easy walking distance of the hotel is one of the larger fishponds and the adjoining park has Goldeneye nesting in boxes put up by the local people. The park also has Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Spotted and Collared Flycatchers, Garden Warbler and Redstart. During the day we will take a walk along the embankments of some of the ponds looking for Bluethroat, and River and Marsh Warblers. The ponds themselves may have Red-crested Pochard, Great White Egret, Spoonbill, White-tailed Eagle, Marsh Harrier and Penduline Tit. Otters are quite often seen during the day.
SOUTH MORAVIA
The third area we will visit is South Moravia. We will spend our final three nights at the fantastic Border Chateau near the village of Hloholvec. Much of the land in the area was owned by the Liechtenstein family who built tremendous palaces, castles, hunting lodges and follies which remain in near perfect condition. The grounds of these buildings make superb wildlife havens with their old woodlands, lakes and gardens. The restaurant of our hotel was a former hunting lodge and the dining room looks out over a lake where we are likely to see several wetland birds including Garganey and Marsh Harrier, plus Savi’s, Great Reed and European Reed Warblers. Other birds breeding around the hotel are Long-eared and Tawny Owls, Red-backed Shrike, Icterine and Marsh Warblers, Black Woodpecker, Nightingale and Golden Oriole. There are many vineyards and scrubland in the surrounding area which has species which are scarce for the area such as Bee-eater and Hoopoe. Red-backed Shrikes abound and we may find one of our prize birds here, the Barred Warbler.
From here we will visit a restricted access area in the extreme south of the country where many scarce raptors breed including Black Kite, Red Kite, Hobby, Saker Falcon, Red-footed Falcon and Eastern Imperial Eagle.
We will also visit a local wine cellar one evening for a meal and wine tasting.
On the last day the flight does not leave until the evening, allowing time for us to visit Pruhonice Castle, on the edge of Prague. As well as being of cultural interest, the grounds of this magnificent castle are superb for wildlife, providing the perfect ending to the holiday.
If you would like to add on a city break in Prague at the end or beginning of the trip please let us know on the booking form so that we can book appropriate flights. We are happy to arrange anything you need; hotels, transport or guiding. Please feel free to ring us to discuss your plans.
Breakfast will be taken at about 7.30am most mornings, perhaps later to fit in with pre-breakfast walks. Basic fitness is all that is required. Full days will be spent in the field and reasonable length walks will be undertaken regularly. There will be some uphill walking on the first few days, but at a sensible pace.
Full board accommodation is provided, with two nights at Hotel Arnika, in the Sumava Mountains, two nights in Trebon at the Golden Star Hotel and three nights at the Border Chateau near Lednice, in Moravia. All accommodations are of a very good standard and the food and drink is excellent. All rooms have en suite facilities.
PRICE INCLUDES …..
All birdwatching excursions with expert leader, local guides on four days, full-board accommodation (starting with lunch on 9th, ending with lunch on 16th), soft drinks at meal times, reserve entrance fees, local transport by minibus, international flights and airport taxes.
Our optional travel insurance, payable at the time of booking. Items of a personal nature, some alcoholic drinks, laundry.
Return flights from London Heathrow to Prague using the scheduled services of British Airways. The outbound flight leaves early morning, with the return touching down mid-evening. Shuttle flights are available on this tour for £70 return (due at time of booking), from Manchester and other regional airports. However, due to the flight times it may be necessary to stay overnight at Heathrow. If you wish to fly direct from a different airport we may be able to accommodate you if we can get suitable flights. Please call for details.
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7 nights:
Principal leader:
Local guides:
Maximum group size:
Cost with discount (if you book before 24th January 2009):
Full Cost:
Single supplement:
Deposit:
Insurance premium:
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9th to 16th May 2009
Andrew Woodall
Slavek Kloubec and Martin Hrouzek
12 clients with one leader and local guides
£1390 per person sharing
£1490 per person sharing
£190
£300
£26 due at time of booking (£39 for age 65 to 69) (£52 for age 70 and over)
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Our hotel near Lednice
Prague
Collared Flycatcher
Alpine Ring Ouzel
The photographs below were taken by our local guide during the 2008 & 2009 tours. They show the beautiful landscape and architecture that greats us everywhere we travel on this tour.
