2 – 3 days trips

Nemuno Delta tour

Vilnius – Kaunas – Jurbarkas – Šilutė (overnight) – Rusnė – Ventės Cape – Vilnius.

Available tour time is from early May to end of September.

We will start with our tour leader from Vilnius and transfer to the Nemunas Delta birding en route. The interesting would be the Nemunas River valley among the Vilkija and Jurbarkas. The Gulls, Terns and also if we will lucky Black Kites and Harrier‘s we will see flying over the valley meadows. The overnight we will have at the Nemunas Delta.

The first day‘s birding we start early morning at the Rusne Island. The meadows, fishponds and lagoon side reed beds are favorite site for Common Schelduck, Great Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Black Tern, and White-winged Tern, Barred Warbler, River Warbler, Savi’s Warbler, Bearded Tit, Red-backed Shrike. Also it is best site for breeding White Stork and Corncrake in Lithuania.

If weather conditions look good we spend few hours birding on the boat trip to Nemunas Delta island Atmata, during the trip we hope to see the Avocet, Oystercatcher, Caspian Tern, Little Tern, Little Gull.

At late afternoon we spent our time at one of the best habitat of the Aquatic Warbler at wet meadows. Our target species include: Aquatic Warbler, Spotted Crake, Corncrake and Great Snipe.

Optional early morning of second day we move to fishponds near the Kintai and wet meadows in the Delta region where is possible to encounter the Common Shelduck, White-tailed Eagle, Spotted Eagle, Lesser-spotted Eagle, Montagu’s Harrier, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Wood Sandpiper, Penduline Tit, Common Rosefinch, Golden Oriole, Marsh Warbler.

After lunch we visit the Vente Ringing Station where unique nets are built up.

In the afternoon we will return to Vilnius.

If we choose our trip time at early spring (from start of April to May) we will have excellent birding of flocking (over 100 000 birds) waterfowl at water overflow meadows: Bewick’s Swan, Whooper Swan, Bean and Lesser White-fronted Goose, Shoveler and Northern Pintail will pack all the overflow area. The coastal areas of Baltic Sea are very important for wintering of many species of Northern waterfowl like: Red-throated and Black-throated Divers, Common Eider, Steller’s Eider, Long-tailed Duck and Common and Velvet Scoter. The end of March to middle of April we may have a good chance for meeting this species.

 If we choose our trip at autumn (form September to middle of October) Nemunas Delta would be fine to have bird watching of waders, such as the Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Little Stint. They are gathered at a wet meadows and fishponds for further long trip to wintering areas. The Curonian Spit also is an intensive autumn migration’s way for many thousands of warblers, finches, doves, raptors. Per one day under favorable weather conditions can be counted over 1.5 million of various birds.

Aukštaitijos tour

Vilnius –Ignalina (Žemaitiškė) – Labanoras – Birvėta –Vilnius.

Available tour time is from early May to end of September.

We will start with our tour leader from Vilnius and transfer to the Aukštaitijos National Park for overnight.

We will have excursion to the Labanoras Regional Park forests at the optional early morning of the first day. We hope to encounter the Honey-Buzzard, Black-Throated Diver, Osprey, Black Kite, Black Grouse, European Roller, Black Woodpecker, Hoopoe, Mistle Thrush, Nightjar, and Woodlark.

Following breakfast, we head to the Žemaitiškės wetlands near Kretuonas Lake, where we have a good chance to encounter many waders and duck species, including Black-necked Grebe, Great Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Marsh and Montagu’s Harriers, Black Tern, White-winged Tern and Whiskered Tern, Little Gull, Common Tern. In the evening we have good opportunity to listen to Corncrake, Spotted Crake, Water Rail, Eurasian Bittern, and Golden Oriole.

If wish is expressed and weather conditions will be good, there is chance to listen to Pygmy Owl, Ural Owl, and Tengmalm’s Owl.

The second day morning we will follow to the Birveta fishponds. It is easternmost part of Lithuania with deciduous and mixed forests, wet meadows and marshes.

Fish ponds on the way often hold a good variety of dabbling ducks and waders. With luck these may include Shovelers and Gadwalls, Goldeneyes and Pochards also Redshanks and Godwits, Wood and Green Sandpipers, Citrine Wagtail, Bearded and Penduline Tits, Red-backed Shrike, Savi’s Warbler, Marsh Warbler, River Warbler. The surrounding forests are nesting area for Osprey, Lesser Spotted Eagle, and White-tailed Eagle.

We will end our birding and will reach Vilnius at late evening.

Dzūkijos tour

Vilnius – Baltoji Vokė – Marcinkonys (overnight) -   Meteliai – Žuvintas – Vilnius.
 
The tour’s time would be from middle of April to middle of October, according agreement in advance.

The start day
We will meet our tour leader at the Vilnius at a hotel, and transfer to the Baltoji Voke fishponds where our targets will be Great White Egrets, Whooper Swans, Black Tern, Little Gull, Marsh Warbler, River Warbler, Great Reed Warbler and Goldeneyes.
Following journey to the Dzūkija National Park we stay for overnight at Marcinkonys.

Optional morning of next day we would visit area near Musteika village where is possible to see Citrine Wagtail, Red-backed Shrike, Penduline Tit.
After lunch we make little journey to visit some ethnographic villages (Manciagire, Zervynos, Lynezeris), birding en route.
If will lucky we meet Hoopoe, Wood Lark, Icterine Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Fieldfare, Black Redstart, Corncrake, Great Grey and Red-backed Shrikes, Thrush Nightingale and Golden Oriole.
We will search birds at the extensive forest tracts around Cepkeliai State Strict Reserve today, looking especially for birds of prey. Among the commoner species, which include European Honey-Buzzard, Common Buzzard, and Hobby, we should see Montague’s Harrier and Goshawk and we will also have a fair chance of seeing Capercaillie. We will also visit some of the many marshes, which hold Black Grouse and Nightjar, Common Crane amongst others. If we have missed any of the late arriving “night singers”, like Corn Crake, Great Reed Warbler, we will find out them now.
The late evening we will return to Marcinkonys for overnight.

The second day
Next morning we will follow to Park forests for Black Woodpecker, Wryneck, Crested Tit, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Green Sandpiper and Hazel Grouse.
After lunch we follow to Meteliai RP and will visit largest Lithuanian lakes. The lakes districts - meadows, marshes and forests are habitats for Montague’s Harrier, Common Gull, Crane, Corncrake and Ferruginous Duck.
Birding en route we will reach the Oldest Lithuanian Nature Strict Reserve – Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve. At the area of Žuvintas Lake we will hope to encounter Aquatic Warbler, Bittern, White-tailed Eagle, Marsh and Montague’s Harriers. In addition we have chance to see Great Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Crane, River Warbler.
After visit to Žuvintas Reserve museum we will return to Vilnius.

Middle Lithuania tour

Vilnius – Kašonys - Birštonas (overnight) - Punios Šilas – Meteliai – Žuvintas - Nemunas islands – Novaraistis (Žiemkelis) – Užulėnis- Vilnius.

Available tour time is from April to October.

We meet our guide and transfer from Vilnius to Birštonas birding en route also will visit the lake Kašonys, where is possible to see, the Black Tern, colony of Black-headed Gulls, Black-necked Grebe, Pochard. At the Birstonas we stay lodging for the night.

The First Day early morning we started to the Punios Silas forest. Some parts of the Punios Silas forest are the most ancient forest in Lithuania, containing virtually all forest types found in the country. It is the habitat for species such as the Black Stork, Hobby, Middle Spotted, Little Spotted, White-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers, Hazel Hen, Golden Oriole, and the Red-breasted Flycatcher.

After lunch at the forest we follow to the Meteliai lakes to search for Ferruginous Duck, Montagu’s Harrier, and Black Tern. Leaving Meteliai we go to our final stop at this day – the Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve. And here we have good opportunity to make acquaintance with the Aquatic Warbler. In addition we have chance to see the Great Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Crane, Montagu’s Harrier, Marsh Harrier, River Warbler. Late evening we return to the Birstonas for overnight.

The second day we will start for birding to the Nemunas river islands where we have a good chance to find the Little Tern, Common Tern, Redshank and Kingfisher. Later we move to the Šilavotas fish ponds for White-tailed Eagle, Whooper Swan, Pochard and other ducks, Savi’s Warbler, Marsh Warbler. Following we visit the Ziemkelis wetlands to encounter the Marsh Harrier, Red-backed Shrike, Great Grey Shrike, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Shoveler, Garganey, Pintail, other waders and ducks.

Further birding continues at the Novaraistis peat bog to search the Hobby, Wood Sandpiper, Common Crane, Black Tern, Great Grey Shrike, Savi’s Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Common Rosefinch and Marsh Harrier.

After lunch we have a trip to the Uzulenis forest and could spend afternoon searching for woodpeckers, raptors and if weather conditions will good for owls … There is a good place to see the Grey-headed, White-backed, Middle Spotted, Little Spotted and Black Woodpeckers, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Black Stork, Common Crane, Red-backed Shrike, Golden Oriole, Marsh Warbler, Thrush Nightingale.

Late evening we ended our journey at the Vilnius.

The Butterflies and Plants tour

The suitable time for visit and exploration would be from 15.05 to 01.07.
The short itinerary: start at Kapiniskes village (Skroblus River valley) further Darzeliai (Gruda River valley) and along the Gruda bank to the estuary of Gruda at Puvociai village at last Merkys River estuary meadows.
Vast areas of forests in which dry pine-forests prevailed, flooded and mainland meadows, raised bogs and fens as well as sandy dunes became a habitat of many plants and animal species. Due to comparatively extensive farming, many protected species have been preserved on the territory of the Park covering 55,900 hectares.
About 750 species of higher plants, over 200 species of lichen and nearly 300 species of mushrooms have been found in Park. 760 of butterflies and 217 wild bees’ species, at least 150 species of birds around 40 species of mammals inhabit the Park.
The valley of small forest river Gruda are paradise for Easter pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens), Angle Onion (Allium angulosum), Red Helleborine (Cephalanthera rubra) or the Yellow Lady-slipper (Cypripedium calceolus). In spring the meadows of Gruda valley and slopes of Skroblus River adorn oneself with blossoms of Broad-leaved Orchid (Dactylohiza majalis), Dark-winged Orchid (Orchis ustulata) and at least Baltic (Dactylohiza longifolia) or Heath spotted (D. maculate) Orchids also abound in the Cross Gentian (Gentiana cruciata) and the Bigflower self-heal (Prunella grandiflora).
Dry riverside sand fields and pastures are a real kingdom of hymenoptera – Scolia hirta, Andrena curvungula, and Bombus semenoviellus. Many rare species of butterflies enjoy warm open slopes of the rivers. Among them are Thyria jacobaea, Zygaena ephyaltes and Zygaena angelicae, Clossiana friga, Oeneis jutta, Lycaena dispar, Epirrhoe tatuensis, Pseudophilotes vicrama, Glaucopsyche alexis.