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Sfantu Gheorghe

Tulcea  >  Romania

Small village at the Black Sea coast with many different types of habitats around where you can find a lot of birds.

Added* by mayer.dom_birdphotography
Most recent update 5 kesäkuu 2024

Description

There's a variety of habitats around the village of Sfantu Gheorghe you can reach on foot. mehiläissyöjä are one of the most common species. They breed in every sandhill and you can hear their call all the time.

If you go east on the way to the beach you pass by a marsh and open habitats with bushes. In the marsh there is a colony of valkoposkitiira and you can see ruskosotka and all species of herons as well. In the open habitats between the village and the sea you can find tons of songbirds like vaaleakultarinta, pikkusieppo, sepelsieppo, pajulintu, mustaotsalepinkäinen, pikkulepinkäinen, hernekerttu, pensaskerttu, sinirinta during migration. At the beach you can go seawatching. There are chances for different waders like meriharakka and pikkukuovi you usually don't see on shore, gulls like mustapäälokki, mustanmerenlokki and even kaitanokkalokki as well as terns like riuttatiira, räyskä and pikkutiira. If you are lucky you may even see a kuikka or merikihu flying along the coast.

Another nice walk is north the village. If you leave Sfantu Gheorghe at the lighthouse and go north along a path at the edge of the forest you have good chances to see golden jackals, but also many birds like harmaasieppo, Kuhankeittäjä and harmaapäätikka. Especially in the area around the lighthouse there are many sininärhi, harjalintu and of course mehiläissyöjä, but also mustaotsalepinkäinen and minervanpöllö.

If you want to go on boat trips going to Lacuna Sacalin or along the Tataru Canal is recommended. On the way to the lagoon you can hear many birds in the willows along the canal. kiharapelikaani and pelikaani are swimming on the river, yöhaikara are sitting in the willows and several merikotka are living along the canal. In the lagoon itself you can see fishing pelicans and huge colonies of terns and gulls breeding on the aquatic plants. Please consider that it is forbidden to enter most of the lagoon that is marked with buoys.

Along the Tataru canal you find open habitats as well as forests. There are many different birds like satakieli, Kuhankeittäjä, sininärhi, harjalintu, mustaotsalepinkäinen, sarvipöllö, turturikyyhky, nuolihaukka, punajalkahaukka and many more.

Details

Access

Reaching the village of Sfantu Gheorghe is only possible by boat. There is a ferry connection from Tulcea to Sfantu Gheorghe (Tulcea - Baltenii de sus - Mahmudia - Sfantu Gheorghe) along the Saint George branch or you can arrange a speedboat transfer from any of the towns along the branch. From Mahmudia to Sfantu Gheorghe (50 km) for example it takes around one hour by speedboat for a price around 80 lei (16 euros) per person. The village has a small harbour where most of the boats arrive.

The roads in the village are mostly sand paths and there are nearly no cars, but many people have electric trikes there. The easiest way to explore the area is by foot because it is difficult to rent any vehicles in the village. There is a possibility to rent some bikes if you want to do a longer trip.

There is also the posiblility to do boat trips to Laguna Sacalin in the south and Lacul Rosu in the north.

Terrain and Habitat

Wetland , Grassland , Scattered trees and bushes , Steppe , Sea , Reedbeds , City/village

Conditions

Flat , Sandy , Open landscape

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

Spring , Autumn , Summer

Best time to visit

Spring migration , Autumn migration

Route

Unpaved road , Narrow trail

Difficulty walking trail

Average walk

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle , Boat

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Extra info

For boat trips or bikes I would always recommend to ask in the accommodation where you are staying. Maybe they offer boat trips themselves or they can organize something.

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

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