Bird watching in Poland
(program proposal)

DAY 1 
WARSAW - MAZURIAN LAKELAND
Arrival at the Warsaw Airport. Coach to Rajgród. Accommodation at the three-star hotel Lega Inn located in the countryside. D

DAY 2
MAZURIAN LAKELAND
Trip to the Augustow Forest and the picturesque Suwalskie Lakeland - an area rich in different glacial landscape forms and peat vegetation. Among the cultural attractions are the historic and well-preserved Augustowski Canal. BD

DAY 3
BIEBRZA MARSHES
Enjoying the natural history of the Biebrza marshes. This is the largest inland marsh area in Europe. Among the many rare bird species that can be observed are: the Black Grouse, White-Winged Black Tern, Aquatic Warbler and Great Snipe. BD

DAY 4
NAREW RIVER - TYKOCIN
The group moves on, along the southern basin of the Biebrza. Highlight of the day is a short trip in local fishing boats in the tranquil valley of the amazing Narew River. Then, we drive to the small town of Tykocin with its Baroque monuments in the Old Market Square and fine 18th century houses. BD

DAY 5 AND DAY 6 
BIAŁOWIEŻA
We move to a hotel in Hajnówka or Białowieża. Exploration of the primeval forests and remote river valleys of Białowieża, now a National Park with an impressive array of fauna and flora. During many walking trips you will see a variety of trees and forests, numerous wild flowers, insects, birds (Collared Flycatcher, White-Backed and Three-Toed Woodpecker) and mammals - including the European Bison. For those interested, early morning and night excursions will be organised to observe Owls, Nightjar and other night-active animals. BD

DAY 7
WŁODAWA LAKELAND GRABARKA - CHEŁM
Departure for Chełm. On the way we visit Grabarka, a pilgrimage centre of Orthodox Christians which has hundreds of wooden crosses collected on the "Holly Hill". In the afternoon, some stops in the Łęczna - Włodawa Lake District, famous for its swamps. In the evening we will reach Chełm - a town located near the Ukrainian border, our accommodation place for one night. BD

DAY 8
CHEŁM BUG RIVER VALLEY
An early morning bird-watching excursion to the carbonate marshes near Chełm. This area is well-known because of an extraordinary high density of two interesting bird species: Montagu's Harrier and Aquatic Warbler. We will also explore the Bug River valley. BD

DAY 9
ZAMOŚĆ
In the morning we visit the Old Town in Zamość - a unique example of a purely Renaissance city in layout and architecture. After lunch we drive through the Lublin Upland - a country of loessial ravines, rolling hills, extensive agriculture and elements of steppe fauna and flora. One of the characteristic mammals is Spotted Souslik, easy to observe in the reservation near Miączyn. A short visit to the Roztocze National Park - the last refuge of the Tarpan - a wild horse. BD

DAY 10
KRASICZYN
This day will be spent at the Przemyśl Foreland. Observation of two bird species will be extremely interesting: the colourful Bee-Eater, regularly breeding in some colonies, and the Syrian Woodpecker, already extending its breading area into the North-West. In the afternoon we will walk along the small Wiar River. Numerous birds of prey, especially the Lesser Spotted Eagle may be observed there. In the evening we will try to spot an Ural Owl. BD

DAY 11
KRASICZYN - KAZIMIERZ - WARSAW
Driving back to Warsaw. On the way a stop in Kazimierz Dolny beautifully located on hills and slopes of loessive valleys and the bank of the Vistula River. In the evening a short stroll through the streets of the Old Town of Warsaw. BD

DAY 12
WARSAW
Depending on the time available - longer or shorter touring of Warsaw, and then a departure. B