Day 1: Arrival in Prague, transfer to Sumava NP

SUMAVA: Sumava Mountains, a national park which straddles the border with Bavaria, 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. Here both Three-toed and White-backed Woodpeckers can be found along with several species of owl including Boreal, Pygmy, Earasian Eagle, Long-eared and Ural. Around the hotel there are Black Redstarts, Common Redpolls and Red Crossbills. Optional pre-breakfast visit to an area for lekking Black Grouse and an evening stroll in the woods looking for owls, Eurasian Woodcock and mammals. Ring Ouzels here are of the lovely alpestris race. Raptors include Honey Buzzard, Eurasian Hobby and Northern Goshawk. After meeting at the airport, transfer to Sumava National Park. Evening: owl observation.

Overnight in Sumava

Day 2: Sumava National Park

Spend the whole day birding in this spectacular mountain area.

Overnight in Sumava

Day 3: From Sumava via Cesky Krumlov to Trebon

TREBON: Trebon is a beautiful town surrounded by some five hundred fish ponds. They vary in size and 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. Within easy walking distance of the hotel is one of the larger lakes and the adjoining park has Common Goldeneye nesting in boxes put up by local people. The park also has Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Spotted and Collared Flycatchers, Garden Warbler and Common 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 Egret, Eurasian Spoonbill, White-tailed Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier and Eurasian Penduline Tit. Otters are quite often seen during the day.

Morning spent birding in Sumava NP. Transfer to Trebon with a short lunch stop in Cesky Krumlov, a real gem among Czech cities (UNESCO), dominated by its magnificent Renaissance palace, the second largest after the one in Prague. Transfer to Trebon.

Overnight in Trebon

Day 4: Owls in Trebon pond area

Whole day birding in Trebon fishpond area. Evening: European Nightjar, Eurasian Woodcockand owls (Pygmy, Boreal) observation:

Overnight in Trebon

Day 5: Trebon fishponds, Transfer to South Moravia

SOUTH MORAVIA: Much of the land in the area was owned by the Liechtenstein family who built tremendous palaces, castles, hunting lodges and follies those grounds make superb wildlife havens with their old woodlands, lakes and gardens. A great chance to see several wetland birds including Garganey and Western Marsh Harrier, plus Savi’s, Great Reed and Eurasian Reed Warblers. Other birds breeding around the hotel are Long-eared and Tawny Owls, Black Woodpecker, Red-backed Shrike, Icterine and Marsh Warblers, ,Common Nightingale and Eurasian Golden Oriole. Scrubland in the surrounding area is home to species such as European Bee-eater, and Eurasian Hoopoe and Syrian Woodpecker. Red-backed Shrikes abound and we may find one of our target birds here, the Barred Warbler. From here we will visit a restricted access area in the extreme south of the country where many raptors breed including Black Kite, Red Kite, Eurasian Hobby, Saker Falcon, White-tailed Eagle and Eastern Imperial Eagle.

Morning birding in Trebonsko. Later on, transfer to South Moravia with a lunch stop in Telc, really lovely medievalUNESCO listed town, characterized by impressive château and square surrounded with picturesque gabled houses. Transfer to South Moravia – Hlohovec

Overnight in Hlohovec

Day 6: Lednicke ponds

Early morning birding in Lednicke Ponds and the confluence of Jihlava and Svratka rivers, a system of five large fishponds, an important bird locality - protected by Ramsar convention. We hope to see: Little and Great Bitterns, Black-crowned Night Heron,Whit-tailed Eagle, Red and Black Kites, Black and Syrian Woodpeckers, Eurasian Hoopoe, European Beeater, Eurasian Penduline Tit and Short-toed Treecreeper. In the evening, we will go to Turold quarry to see Eurasian Eagle Owl.

Overnight in Hlohovec

Day 7: Bird paradise on confluence of Dyje and Morava rivers

Thanks to non-disturbance this is one of the best birding sites of the Czech Republic. Raptor observation in South Moravia on the confluence of Morava and Dyje rivers: Eastern Imperial Eagle, Saker Falcon, Red and Black Kites, White-tailed Eagle + waders and various passerines. Wine tasting in a local wine cellar with a unique, unrepeatable atmosphere.

Overnight in Hlohovec

Day 8: Birding at Nove Mlyny reservoir, Prague-Pruhonice park

Morning birding at Nove Mlyny reservoir. Transfer to Prague with a stop for birding on the way and still arrive at Pruhonice Park on the outskirts of the city in time for lunch. Later we will take a walk in this beautiful park before going to our hotel in the city center. We will then take a two hour river cruise through Prague whilst we enjoy our evening meal.

Overnight in Prague

Day 9: Departure

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight