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Deliblato Sands Nature Reserve

Vojvodina Province  >  Serbia

The special nature reserve Deliblato Sands (Serbian: Deliblatska pescara) lies about an hour east of Belgrade.

Added* by Dragan Simic
Most recent update 3 февруари 2025

Description

Deliblato Sands Nature Reserve is so conveniently close to Belgrade city that you can choose to go only for the morning and to be back by noon, or to spend the entire day in the sands. Covered by grazing pasture, steppic habitats, woodland, scrub, conifer plantations, vineyards and agricultural land, the Deliblato Sands Important Bird Area and a Special Nature Reserve comprises an elongated tract of sand, spreading from the Danube River northwest towards Vladimirovac and Banatski Karlovac villages. More than half of the area of Deliblato Sands is now overgrown with planted forest of Locust Tree, Austrian Pine and Scots Pine. Juniper is the only conifer indigenous to the area. It was gazetted as a nature reserve in 1977.

About 180 bird species have been recorded here, among them крекс, козодој, орел змијар, осојад, Лисест (Белоопашест) глувчар, мал орел, ливадска еја, пчеларка, ќук, Пупунец, вртивратка, зелен клукајдрвец, сивоглав клукајдрвец, обично страче, мало страче, Цуцулеста чучулига, шумска чучулига, полска трепетилка, дамчесто грмушарче, саријазма, славејче, дебелоклун црешар, etc. Generally, the best birding is in ecotones where forest meets grassland, and wherever there is any source of water.

Other wildlife is characterized by species of steppe habitats. When butterflying Deliblato Sands and nearby Labudovo Okno Reserve, look out for Southern Festoon Z. polyxena, Clouded Apollo P. mnemosyne, Danube Clouded Yellow C. myrmidone, Large Copper L. dispar, Green-underside Blue G. alexis. Forests are inhabited by Red Deer, Roe Deer and Wild Boar. Mammals also include rarities like Ground Squirrel, Mole Rat and Steppe Gerbil - all of them highly threatened.

Be sure to bring at least a litre of water per person. You can restock at petrol stations, but do not count on village shops with their erratic opening hours.

Details

Access

The best access roads are from Vladimirovac village (north) to Devojački bunar area (in the arable fields en route, look out for the highly localised мала чучулига), from Deliblato village (west) to Čardak area, and from Šušara village (east) into surrounding areas. Šušara is reachable from Izbište village; and not from Deliblato, as suggested by Google Maps. Do not try to drive the Deliblato to Šušara “road”, unless you are driving a Hummer or similar! Zoom in on the map and click on the "P" (parking) sign for driving directions.

If driving along an unpaved road (99%), be extra careful not to start a wildfire by an overheated exhaust pipe! Also, don’t damage the sensitive steppe vegetation by driving at will: follow only the existing dirt tracks and be careful not to get lost, nor stuck in the sand.

Terrain and Habitat

Forest , Grassland , Steppe , Dunes , Scattered trees and bushes

Conditions

Flat , Sandy , Dry , Open landscape , Dusty

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

Spring

Best time to visit

Spring migration , Spring , Autumn migration

Route

Unpaved road , Wide path

Difficulty walking trail

Average walk

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle , Car

Birdwatching hide / platform

Yes

Extra info

For several days, your best option is the Kaštel Marijeta (Mariette) Guest House in the Šušara Village (eastern side, from Pančevo towards Vršac till Uljma, then right to Izbište, and right again to Šušara; 100 min from Belgrade), in and around the village offering ќук, црн клукајдрвец, саријазма, мало страче, Цуцулеста чучулига, Пештерска (Црвенкаста) ластовица, дамчесто грмушарче, полска трепетилка, црноглава стрнарка, градинарска стрнарка, etc. (see the links below).

On the other hand, the Čardak area (southwest side, from Pančevo, through the villages of Dolovo and Mramorak to Deliblato, and then to Čardak; 60 min from Belgrade) could be the most suitable for short, morning visits because of its closeness to Belgrade and the network of marked walking trails (check the map among the photos), followed by excellent Turkish coffee and fresh muffins in the local restaurant (see the links below).

Links

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

Map

Top 5 birds

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