Croatia

A relaxed and non-intensive holiday with many of Europe's sought after birds to delight us. Key species include Rock Partridge, Pygmy Cormorant, Rock Thrush, Scops Owl, and a wide range of southern European species. Squacco, Purple and Night Heron, White Stork, Black-winged Stilt, Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, Glossy Ibis, Stone Curlew, Short-toed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Montagu’s Harrier, Ferruginous Duck, Garganey, Grey-headed and Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Wryneck, Hoopoe, 'real' Rock Dove, Alpine Swift, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Rock Nuthatch, Tawny Pipit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Black Redstart, Blue Rock Thrush, Black-eared Wheatear, Sombre Tit, Subalpine, Orphean, Great Reed, Wood, Fan-tailed and Cetti's Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Bee-eater, Golden Oriole, Hawfinch, Serin, Rock and Cirl Bunting to name but some of the avian delights.

This holiday is bird orientated, but reptiles, insects and butterflies also play a large part, and we might see Hermann's Tortoise, Dice Snake, Balkan Green Lizard, Dalmatian Wall Lizard, legless European Glass Lizard and the near-endemic Dalmatian Algyroides. Butterflies might include Southern Festoon, Scarce and Common Swallowtails, Southern Comma, Cleopatra, Southern White Admiral, Common Glider and endemic Dalmatian Ringlet. Dragons include Beautiful Demoiselle and Common Clubtail, and flora of interest may include Green-Winged Orchid and Lax-flowered Orchid.

'Green and lush, and then rocky country before taking the coast road through Dalmatia along the stunningly beautiful blue Adriatic Sea. We stayed first in Skradin, an attractive old town with red-tiled roofs on the River Krka. Upon arrival a large plane tree outside our hotel was full of twittering Spanish Sparrows with many nests. They provided us with constant entertainment. Scops Owls kept up their hooting throughout and we caught glimpses of them as we sat in the hotel café......... 

'..... The sparse vegetation on the island of Pag is grazed by flocks of sheep which are milked to make the famous Pag Cheese, which we were to sample later. Our hotel in Starigrad was beautifully situated, with the Velebit Mountains rising behind us and the Adriatic Sea just a few yards in front.........

'........We left Croatia with an impression of blue sunny skies, clear Adriatic waters,  spectacular scenery, friendly welcoming people and an impressive list of birds, plus many interesting reptiles, butterflies and plants.'

Extracts from a recent visit by your Heatherlea guide Gerard Gorman.

Day 1: Sat 4 April 2026 Arrival and travel to Jastrebarsko
After relaxing in our complimentary VIP Airport Lounge, we board our plane to Zagreb. Once we arrive, we drive for around one hour to our first base southwest of Zagreb. We should see White Storks as we go and we will make roadside stops for other birds. Night in an hotel in Jastrebarsko.

Day 2: Sun 5 April - Crna Mlaka Wetlands and Woodlands
All day around Crna Mlaka. This mosaic of wetlands and woodlands has fishponds of various sizes, reedbeds, meadows, parkland and old oakwoods. We will work the area on several easy walks and in the middle of the day have a picnic in a suitably birdy spot. Possibilities include Black Stork, a range of herons and egrets, Ferruginous Duck, Garganey, Marsh Harrier, Goshawk, Wryneck, Grey-headed, Middle Spotted, Lesser Spotted and Black Woodpeckers, Great Reed and Savi's Warblers, Short-toed Treecreeper and Hawfinch. There should also be some tern and wader passage with flocks of Ruff and Spotted Redshank likely. Night Jastrebarsko.   

Day 3: Mon 6 April - The Dalmatian Coast and Krka National Park
Today we head south through impressive hinterland landscapes into Dalmatia, the coast and finally to the Krka National Park. We will stop as the birds demand. This is an impressive landscape of karstic limestone plateaux, dry macchia scrub, meadows and broadleaved forests through which the rushing River Krka flows. There are some impressive gorges and waterfalls and a rich range of flora and fauna. Scops Owl, Blue Rock Thrush, Serin and Spanish Sparrow can all be seen near our hotel. Night Skradin.

Day 4: Tue 7 April - Krka National Park
All day in and around the Krka NP. Krka is a fine area for birds of prey with Short-toed and Golden Eagles possible. Two very scenic spots we will visit are the waterfalls at Roški Slap and Skradinski Buk where Pygmy Cormorant, Yellow-legged Gull, Nightingale and Cetti's Warblers are not uncommon. Its rocky gorges are home to Black-eared Wheatear, Rock Nuthatch, Black Redstart, Crag Martin and Alpine Swift. Scrubby hillsides hold Subalpine Warbler and Rock Partridge. On easy walks we will also come across reptiles with Hermann's Tortoise, Balkan Green Lizard and Italian and Dalmatian Wall-Lizards possible. Night Skradin.

Day 5: Wed 8 April - Lake Vrana and Pag Island
Coastal drive stopping at Lake Vrana and Pag Island. Lake Vrana is the largest natural lake in Croatia and recognized as an internationally important wetland for migrating and breeding birds. The lake lies by the Adriatic and is a migration stop-over in both April and September. One of Croatia's most important bird reserves and an ornithological research station, lies at the north-western end of the lake. A key species here is Pygmy Cormorant and there should be gulls, terns, herons and wildfowl. Next we visit Pag Island, reached via a road bridge. Pag lies in the Dalmatian archipelago and is the fifth largest island on the Croatian coast, and the one with the longest coastline. Most of the interior is of stony terrain though there is some macchia scrub, vineyards, olive-groves and bush-dotted, grass-sage grazing land, criss-crossed by dry-stone walls. Typical birds here are Stone Curlew, Short-toed and Crested Larks, Tawny Pipit, Hoopoe and Woodchat Shrike. Rock Partridges are here, too. At the heart of the island is a freshwater wetland, Veliko Blato, where we will look for Squacco and Purple Herons, and the black-headed race of Yellow Wagtail. We will also stop to check the island's coastline for passage waders, ducks and divers. Night Starigrad Paklenica.

Days 6 & 7: Thu 9 & Fri 10 April - Paklenica National Park
All day in the Paklenica NP. The Paklenica National Park lies is part of the Velebit Mountain range, and the views of the Adriatic coast are often stunning. The park is dominated by two gorges, Mala Paklenica and Velika Paklenica. Once again, we will take our time and make several fairly easy walks. Birds we should see here are Blue Rock Thrush, Sombre Tit, Alpine Swift, Alpine Chough (at low levels!), Cirl Bunting, Rock Nuthatch and Crag Martin. Rock Partridges are fairly common here. The Rock Doves here are genuinely wild, too. The sea often hosts birds on passage such as Black-throated Diver and Red-breasted Merganser. This arid landscape is ideal for reptiles and we may come across the endemic Dalmatian Algyroides. Nights Starigrad Paklenica.

Day 8: Sat 11 April - Departure
Travel to Zagreb Airport for the flight back to London.

What's included in your holiday price:

• scheduled return flights between London and Zagreb, airport taxes,
• ground transportation as outlined including all transportation in Croatia in a modern and spacious air-conditioned vehicle,
• accommodation and all meals, including breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• the services of your leader/s.
• entrance fees to parks and reserves, and tips to hotels and restaurants.
• The Heatherlea Pre-Flight Service offers everything you need at the airport, including hotels, car parking, airport lounges, regional flights, and upgrades. Let Heatherlea take the strain! Pre-flight airport hotel and lounge included subject to terms and conditions. Read more....

What's not included in your holiday price:

• personal insurance, drinks and other personal expenses, visa costs where necessary, optional tips to the driver and local guide, and any other costs not specified as 'included'.

More holiday information

Accommodation is in comfortable hotels or guest houses with all rooms en suite.
Food Breakfast is usually continental style. Fruit juice and tea or coffee is available at breakfast. Food can be quite Mediterranean, with salads, fruit and often seafood and fish. Local dishes may also feature. Evening meals are usually a set menu (not a la carte), dietary requirements will be catered for, please inform us in advance. Picnic lunches will be provided by your guide, and will include a variety of local produce plus soft drinks. Vegetarian and other diets are welcome.
Walking is generally light/moderate. There may be some uphill track and road walking, though generally an average level of fitness is required.
Weather Croatia has a varied climate, with continental climate conditions in the north and Mediterranean ones on the Adriatic coast. When we visit in April the weather should be pleasantly warm during the daytime, with cooler mornings and evenings. There is a possibility of rain at this time of year.
Insects There may be biting insects, a good mosquito repellent is recommended just in case.
Group size is restricted to 7 clients..
Flights are by scheduled airline, from London.. We may be able to offer flight arrangements from another airport and/or or quote without flights so you can make your own arrangements. If you wish to add an extension either before or after your holiday, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange this for you.

Your leader:

Gerard Gorman is an acknowledged authority on birding in Eastern Europe, having led many tours over more than twenty years.  Gerard is also a well-known author of birding books, including 'Woodpeckers of Europe'.