With its unspoilt nature, beautiful landscapes, short distances between key sites and good infrastructure, Slovakia makes an excellent and relatively little-explored birding destination.
The Tatra Mountains offer beautiful coniferous forests that are home to pygmy owl, three-toed and white-backed woodpeckers, ring ouzel, golden and lesser spotted eagles. The Slovak Karst’s limestone gorges and mature forest are home to an abundance of raptors. Ural, eagle, pygmy and Tengmalm's owls and almost all the European woodpeckers are also found here. The beech and spruce forests are also home to hazel grouse, nutcracker, collared flycatcher, crested tit, firecrest and common crossbill.
On arrival at Poprad-Tatry Airport, we meet our local guide and head immediately into the mountains of the Low Tatras. Our hotel is located at the entrance of a long and picturesque valley, where dipper and grey wagtail are found along the stream.
Accommodation: Hotel Svatojansky Kastiel, 2-nights
Today we hike forested mountain tracks in Tatra National Park with our local guide in search of golden eagle, black, grey-headed, three-toed and white-backed woodpeckers, and pygmy owl. Among the commoner woodland species, we also hope to find nutcracker, hazel grouse, firecrest and ring ouzel.
Before leaving the Tatras this morning we visit a nearby reservoir, where black-throated and red-throated divers, red-necked and black-necked grebes are all possible at migration time, along with more common ducks and waders. After our visit to the reservoir we drive some three hours south-east through picturesque landscapes to reach the Slovak Karst.
We explore the Szepes-Gömör Mountains, where pygmy owls should be calling. Our local guide should know the breeding sites of Tengmalm’s owl, and at higher elevations we search for hazel grouse, three-toed woodpecker, nutcracker, common crossbill and crested tit.
We also visit the scenic Szádelő Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose dramatic 400-metre-high limestone cliffs hold a rich variety of bird and butterfly life. A nearby meadow with a good population of European souslik (ground squirrel) often attracts the predatory attentions of eastern imperial eagle and saker falcon.
Accommodation: Reva Pension, Turňa nad Bodvou 3-nights
This morning we visit the woods close to the city of Kosice, which hold a hold a sizeable population of Ural owl, invariably one of the highlights of any trip. The same area is excellent for seeing middle spotted, grey-headed, white-backed and black woodpeckers, while the wooded hills are the breeding place of black stork, lesser spotted eagle and goshawk.
After some final morning birding we drive back to Poprad airport for the flight home.
Having been a keen birdwatcher and nature enthusiast since childhood, it was only natural for István to turn his passion into a career.
Graduating from the University of Pannonia with a degree in Nature Conservation Engineer, István has participated in various bird conservation programmes and field monitoring projects throughout Europe as well as leading birdwatching tours across Europe and Asia.
Find out more about the day-to-day sightings and wildlife activities on our group tours from our expert naturalist leaders.
The Slovak Karst region, part of the Carpathian Mountain range is best known for its intricate cave complexes, and plains covered in oak and hornbeam forests, with large tracts of beech forest in the north. Caves here are home to some rare and unique flora and fauna, including 14 or more species of bat. Find Out More about {acc:title}
Forming a natural boundary between Poland and Slovakia, the Tatra are the highest range in the Carpathian Mountains, with about 77% of the range in Slovakia. Protected in both countries, the Tatra are listed as UNESCO World Network Biosphere Reserves. The highest peak in Slovakia is 2,655m, and in Poland 2,499m. Find Out More about {acc:title}
Hotel Svatojansky Kastiel occupies a beautiful 17th century Renaissance building and is surrounded by panoramic scenic views. It offers comfortable well-appointed rooms, with private facilities, kettle, radio, TV and free WiFi. There’s a wellness centre onsite, 24-hour reception and restaurant. Find Out More about Hotel Svatojansky Kastiel
British Travel Awards
Awarded Silver in Favourite Tour Operator for Nature & Wildlife 2024 & 2025
Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards
Awarded Bronze in Best Travel Company for Wildlife & Nature Holidays 2024
