NEW! Slovakia

This new and original short break is aimed to take in the resident, arriving and passage birds of a superb but under-watched corner of Europe. We are based in south-west Slovakia, a region with remarkably diverse landscapes and habitats, and travel via Vienna, one of Europe’s most desirable capital cities, a place steeped in history.

During two full days we hope to see a wide range of central European birds, in a variety of habitats including forests, woodlands, parkland, wetlands, farmlands, orchards and old vineyards. Raptors include Honey Buzzard, Goshawk, Marsh Harrier, Hobby and White-tailed Eagle. There is an impressive list of woodpeckers, and we’ll visit sites for Wryneck, Middle Spotted, Lesser Spotted, Great Spotted, Syrian, White-backed, Green, Grey-headed and Europe’s biggest, Black Woodpecker. A good range of wetland dwelling warblers should be in song, including Grasshopper, Sedge, Savi‘s, Reed, Great Reed and Marsh.

Other birds of note might include Red-necked Grebe, White Stork, Black Stork, Red-crested Pochard, Pygmy Cormorant, Night Heron, Caspian, Yellow-legged, Little, and Mediterranean Gull, Black, White-winged Black and Whiskered Tern, Green and Wood Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank, Tawny and Long-eared Owls, Turtle Dove, Golden Oriole, Short-toed Treecreeper, Common Nightingale, Bearded and Penduline Tit, Crested Lark, Red-backed Shrike, Hoopoe, Black Redstart, Tree Sparrow, Serin, Stonechat, Whinchat, Collared and Spotted Flycatcher, Hawfinch, Corn Bunting, White Wagtail, the nominate blue-headed race of Yellow Wagtail and many other birds. Although not common, there is also a chance of Great Bustard here.

After this short but bird-filled break, there are many cultural attractions for those who wish to extend their stay, and we will be happy to help you extend your holiday under our ATOL Licence.

Enjoy your complimentary pre-flight overnight hotel before your holiday begins. Full details from our office! Read more about our Pre-flight Service here!

Day 1: Thurs 24 April 2025 - Arrive Vienna and transfer to Slovakia
After relaxing in our complimentary VIP Airport Lounge, we fly to Vienna, Austria. We meet our local guide and driver, and transfer by road to Slovakia. Before checking into our hotel, about an hour away, we’ll make birding stops in one or two woodlands on the way. The exact choices of location will depend upon the latest local birding news: indeed, throughout our stay the expert knowledge of our guide will benefit us greatly. On this our first day we may well see the likes of White Stork, Black Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Sparrow, White Wagtail, Serin, Hawfinch and no doubt a woodpecker or two from the nine species present.

Days 2 & 3: Fri 25 and Sat 26 April - Bratislava and Cunovo
We have two full days to explore some superb and diverse habitats - forests, woodlands, parkland, wetlands, farmlands, orchards and old vineyards. We will visit the best birding sites, taking short drives and walks. The going is generally easy. Just to the south of Bratislava is Čunovo, a wooded floodplain by the River Danube with an oxbow lake and reedbeds.

A good range of wetland dwelling warblers should be in song: Grasshopper, Sedge, Savi‘s, Reed, Great Reed and Marsh. Other birds in this excellent area are Golden Oriole, Kingfisher, Syrian Woodpecker, Wryneck, Short-toed Treecreeper, Common Nightingale, Bearded Tit and Penduline Tit. Cuckoo is still a common herald of spring here and should be calling. Raptors include Honey Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Hobby and White-tailed Eagle. A convenient birdwatching tower overlooks the Danube Reservoir from where we will look for Red-necked Grebe, Gadwall, Common and Red-crested Pochards, Pygmy Cormorant, Great White and Little Egrets and Night Heron. All three Marsh Terns, Black, White-winged Black and Whiskered Tern, and Caspian, Yellow-legged, Common, Little, Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls, are possible: some of these breed locally and others move through on passage following the course of the Danube. We will also look for waders such as Green and Wood Sandpipers, Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank and Common Snipe.

Lowland farmland near the Austrian border hosts Turtle Dove, Crested Lark, Red-backed Shrike, Hoopoe, Stonechat, Whinchat, Corn Bunting and the nominate blue-headed race of Yellow Wagtails. Although not common, there is also a chance of Great Bustard here. The mixed forests, mainly oak and beech, of the Malé Karpaty, the ‘Little Carpathian Mountains’, begin just to the north of the city. They are home to Marsh Tit, Common Treecreeper, Collared Flycatcher, Hawfinch, Goshawk, Stock Dove, Black Stork, Tawny and Long-eared Owls, and many other birds. There is an impressive list of woodpeckers here, too, and we’ll visit sites for Middle Spotted, Lesser Spotted, Great Spotted, White-backed, Green, Grey-headed and Europe’s biggest, Black Woodpecker.

Day 4: Sun 27 April - Depart                              
After breakfast, if flight times permit, we will do some local birding. Later, we return to Vienna Airport to catch our return flights. There is much to see culturally for those who wish to extend their stay: should you wish to extend your holiday under our ATOL Licence with a city break in Vienna, please contact our office.

What's included in your holiday price:

• scheduled return flights between London and Vienna, airport taxes.
• ground transportation between birdwatching sites and also to and from Vienna airport by minibus or by small coach, depending on group size.
• three nights comfortable accommodation with all meals; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
• the services of your leaders.
• 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 free of charge subject to terms and conditions. Read more...

What's not included in your holiday price:

• travel to and from departure airport before and after holiday
• incidental tips, expenses of a personal nature including drinks and personal insurance.

More holiday information:

Accommodation is in a comfortable hotel or guest house with all rooms en suite.
Food is included from breakfast through until dinner. Picnic lunches will be provided by your guide, and will include a variety of local produce.
Walking is generally light/moderate. There may be some track and road walking, occasionally over rough terrain, though generally an average level of fitness is required.
Weather Typically, temperatures in April will be around a pleasant 17°C with only a little rain expected.  
Insects We may experience biting insects.
Group size is restricted to 12 clients maximum.
Flights Departure from London.
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.