A beautiful week spent in Slatine close to Split and Trogir 26th May - 2nd June with family so not really a birding trip. However a few sightings noted:
Serins were singing and showing well around the villa all week. As was a Greenfinch and Blackbird.
Lots of Pallid Swifts were screaming around the pretty harbour village of Maslinica on the island of Solta
Hundreds of Common Swifts around Split.
Every night a Scops Owl called from woodland near the villa and on the last night a European Eagle Owl also called and a Nightjar was heard churring.
A fleeting distant falcon seen from the villa was either a Hobby or possible Eleonoras. Couldnt clinch a firm ID but it appeared to be chasing Swallows and Swifts. A Common Buzzard and Common Kestrel were the only other raptors seen.
Yellow-legged Gulls were common at the coast.
A day trip to the stunning Zrka National Park promised much but didnt really deliver but Great Reed Warblers and Cettis Warbler were heard singing from the boat along the river. A Grey Wagtail was seen at the waterfalls.
A Sardinian Warbler, Blackcap, 2 Turtle Doves, a few Collared Doves and a Spotted Flycatcher were seen near the villa.
Common Terns and a Little Egret were seen from the ferry over to Split.
However the most unexpected sighting was a summer plumaged Black-throated Diver that spent the entire week just off shore from the villa just loafing around approximately 20 metres from the beach! Apparently a few over-winter in the Adriatic.

With a more concerted effort Croatia would certainly be a promising birding destination. But a beautiful, friendly place and highly recommended.

Spent 11 days holidaying in southern Croatia, staying at Cavtat from 28th May to 8th June
Weather was sunny with a little cloud at times, up to 26 deg C in the afternoons. A relaxing and sightseeing holiday but had binoculars to hand most of the time.

Our room looked out across to Mrkan Island about 1km off shore, this is mainly a nature reserve and held 100s of nesting Yellow-legged Gulls and a large Swift colony of what appeared to be mainly Alpine Swift, these could be seen swirling in large numbers in the early morning before commuting over head to feed inland.
Other sightings from the hotel, small numbers of Shag, a couple of Caspian Terns and a small pod of Dolphins passed through. Lots of House Martins were nesting under the hotel balconies and 2 pairs of Spanish Sparrows were bringing food to nests in a planter adjacent to our balcony. A pair of Red-backed Shrike were seen occasionally in the hotel grounds along with White Wagtail, Common Swift, one or two possible Pallid Swift, Barn Swallow, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Blackbirds. There were a few timid Red Squirrels that were actually black in colour.
A large raptor flew low over the restaurant balcony one evening chased by a handful of very agitated Yellow-legged Gulls. Disappointingly, one of very few raptors spotted during the whole stay and only seen briefly so unable to ID positively but probably a Common Buzzard.

On a late morning walk around the peninsular opposite the one the hotel is on (I think it is called Rat) a couple of Sardinian Warblers were having a territorial dispute, Red-backed Shrike again, Spotted Flycatcher and a Warbler seen very briefly picking through the shrubbery, having never knowingly seen either Olivaceous or Olive-tree it was only later on the trip when I had seen a few Olivaceous and got to be able to ID them that I came to the conclusion that it was probably an Olive-tree Warbler as it was much more heavy billed and strikingly larger than the Olivaceous Warblers.
We began to take a walk around this peninsular most evenings after dinner, this gave me the best sighting of the trip when a bird flew into a shadow cast by the lighting and made a couple of soft almost cooing calls, the flight style made me think it probably wasnt a dove so I walked over to where it had landed and found a Scops Owl watching me at eye level only 10 foot away in its classic alert posture with ear tufts erect. Not knowing much about this species it was quite a surprise to see how small they are, much smaller than Little Owl even.

On a hot day trip to Mostar the only Bee-eaters of the holiday were seen, another large raptor soaring along a high slope and lots of Red-backed Shrike, all seen from the coach on route. Blackcaps heard singing by the river in Mostar.

Not having been able to go and explore very far from the hotel in the mornings I decided to hire a car for a couple of days and managed to get out at dawn up to an area overlooking the resort where Rock Partridges are supposed to occur. Spent plenty of time scanning the slopes but there was no sight or sound for me. I think early May is perhaps the best period for seeing them going off the reports I had read. A Common Buzzard was heard and a Kestrel seen here also plenty of Black-headed Bunting, Black-eared Wheatear and a family of Blue Rock Thrush.
I spent a few hours up to 8:30 on 2 mornings in this area and at a village called Velji Do. The village was a fantastic area to wander, sit and listen from about 6:30am after scanning for the partridges. Nightingale and Cuckoo were heard here. Birds seen in and around the small village included Alpine Swift, Rock Bunting, Black-headed Bunting, Cirl Bunting, 1 Rock Nuthatch taking food into an abandoned garage, Blue Rock Thrush (singing from the pylons), Sombre Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Olivaceous Warbler (plenty of these around gathering food), Subalpine Warbler feeding fledglings, Orphean Warbler, 2 males seen squabbling and also a female foraging, Black-eared Wheatear both black and white throated morphs seen in equal numbers in the village and surrounding areas.
I found a concrete step to sit on for about an hour listening to the wonderful fluty song of the Golden Orioles, there seemed to be plenty around and was lucky to get some great if brief views as they flitted about the area, occasionally landing in full view until they realised they were being watched. It was interesting to hear what I thought was Jay initially but it soon became apparent that this was coming from the Orioles, this call and the song two more disparate sounds it would be difficult to think of.

I talked my Wife in to returning with me after breakfast to pick up the Ronald Brown Pathway and attempt to walk to the summit of the mountain. The birds had gone fairly quiet by 11am so we pressed on up the slope, however we contrived to miss the cut off to the right for the summit and continued on the level track. By this time the amount of butterflies was incredible of so many different varieties but also lots of other insects including a few dragonflies, large bees and flying beetles that were beginning to affect the Wifes equilibrium, after a couple of near misses she turned tail and scarpered back to the car toot sweet. I made a more leisurely descent trying to take in the sheer abundance of insect life. Fabulous to see and hear so much wildlife appearing to thrive.

This part of Croatia is beautiful, the sea crystal clear with plenty to see and do, Dubrovnik stunning if a little overcrowded. I think the northern areas of the country would be better for birdwatching as down in this area everything is hemmed in by mountains and with the border of BIH being very close habitat variety is limited but it is always nice to see different species of birds in their natural habitat.

I went back to Jarun to thrash the woodland where I saw the Collared Flycatcher and hoped for further migration - I was to do well. The temperatures were at a balmy 21 so it was crawling with cyclists people and kamikaze rollerbladers (this place is popular with them) but I was to focus on thrashing the woodland further afield - I hit the jackpot in one which seemed replete with NIGHTINGALES affording me good views of this lifer species - there were at least three seen with many more heard, and as I was scanning the scrub, another lifer, a WRYNECK leapt just feet away.

Other birds seen were Serin x 2, plus a total of 5 Pied Flycatchers, and tonnes of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers etc.

After a four-day break because of flu and the weekend (which I spend usually with my GF) I wrapped up and headed back to Jarun - it's a beautiful sunny, warm day at about 15 degrees, the ground drying out - the lake wasn't what I'd call interesting for birds, but the woodland is - no Hoopoe, but the highlight was a M COLLARED FLYCATCHER a lifer; also a M Pied Flycatcher - a lifer as well. several Spotted Flycatchers, Blackcaps, Chiffchaff heard,
A stunning M Sparrowhawk was around.

I decided to have a birthday birdwatch and selected Lake Jarun, another urban lake - problematic was proving the weather - cold and damp, as it has been the main of the trip.
But I was in for a happy birthday surprise when a Hoopoe showed briefly - a lifer for me. Migration was further evident with masses of Blackcaps around, but nothing more exotic. Further, Black Redstarts were everywhere in the piece of flooded wood I was focussing on.

Yesterday, I had my first ever Crested Lark in the car park of an out-pf-town mall - praying for a turn in weather!

Look forward to reading your reports John. I've spent lots of time in Croatia and love the place.

Highlights from Bundek Lake and the Sava banks today, my first outing in Zagreb this trip. When I landed there was a bad bout of snow (Monday) but today it's thawing, though it stands at over a foot in places.

There were a good few bits and pieces of waterfowl on the lagoon-like lake - A cracking Garganey pair, three male Shovelers and a drake Teal.
In the trees were 2 x Hawfinches, 2 Treesparrows, and a male Blackcap, so good signs of migrants - this was further fostered by the sighting of a seperate M and F Black Redstart sighting, and there were loads of Water Pipits around and a female Whinchat showed ridiculously well near the larger of the lakes as it reverted between the snow and the stony foreshore.

As I climbed the stairs to the bridge over the Sava another M Blackcap was six feet away drinking from the dew droplets from the grass!
On the route back I had two Kestrels

Some nice little reports there John. Makes for interesting reading. Well done on your lifers.

One last effort in Pula. Some fantastic stuff seen, including two lifers:

Spent six hours+ from sunrise in the forests and just behind the orchards outside town. This yielded: Sombre Tit (lifer) lots of Woodpeckers including at least 1 Middle-Spotted, and the usual Great-Spotted; About six Green Woodpeckers heard only (doubtful they were Grey-headed as Collins claims the range isn't inclusive of the Istrian Peninsular, but on the rest of wider Croatia)
Hard work in the scrub produced a M Sardinian Warbler, several Olivaceous Warblers, a Garden Warbler,a F Blackcap, plus a M E.Orphean Warbler (nearly seen all the non-British typical species now in the two years)

Best of the rest: Wood Warbler, Sparrowhawk, Spotted Flycatcher loads, Jays all over.

Today I was up at 7am to go over some scrubland outside the Pula centre - a good choice as it was heaving!
I can describe the patch as a orchard/allotment bordered by a hedge and surrounded by forest and open land and more taller trees.
The lifers this morning were Redstart, a pair in the hedge, male shot in, the female coming out to the tree to feed; a Middle-spotted Woodpecker was in the scrub and occasionally drumming faintly; I finally confirmed Olivaceous Warbler here, sure I had it the other day.
Other birds about were Lesser Whitethroat, a Golden Oriole singing with both lungs in the distance, several Spotted Flycatchers and Melodious Warblers.
As the heat got up I hung around a forest for a bit, and heard the loud taunting call of what could either have been Green or Grey-headed Woodpecker in several places, missing the sighting.
A good day in all.

Just began a month-long holiday in Croatia. Week One: It's thirty plus every day here in Pula, so birding is slow and passarines elusive despite me checking a variety of habitats. Nonetheless there's been some decent sightings -

Golden Oriole, Red-Backed Shrike, Wood Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher (both lifers, having evaded me in the UK) Peregrine Falcon, Yellow-legged Gull, from three outings.

A good stint was spent watching a juvenile Grey Heron in a stream off the main sea. As I was doing so a few Common Sandpipers (probably passage birds) plus a Kingfisher were around!

Week Two awaits!

Cheers, Dave, right you are I saw some good things, but I was totally unprepared in terms of not planning where to go and I did have little time (had to juggle my wife too) so all's well end's well. Needless to say therefore I didn't see Rock Partridge - would have been good to have climbed a mountain to search for it, Wallcreeper, Rock Nuthatch, even Alpine swift, but not this time!
I know that you visit Croatia and love it so maybe next summer or when you come over next I can show you around some places and if you ever need advice on Cro birding I am confident that my research is now good enough to warrant passing that on.

Still birding- recent sightings

Cormorant (over)Spotted Flycatcher, Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker (all near the Sava in Zagreb) - plus one snake (possible Black Adder?) which crawled from the smelliest stream I'd ever seen.


Finally now wraps up my five week trip:

Highlights in five weeks:

Lifers- Golden Oriole, Black Winged Stilt, Sardinian and Icterine Warbler, Great Egret, Beeater, Yellow Legged Gull, Woodchat Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Rock Dove, Turtle Dove, Pygmy Cormorant, Hooded Crow.

Last post rounds up my trip - I extended it by five days but I won't go birdwatching anymore - looking forward to Lonsko Polje in winter, though :P

Maksimir Park, yesterday morning:

Literally 100 + Nuthatches
Lots of Tree Sparrow, Great Tit, Blue, some Chaffinch etc, some just on the ground in flocks, feet away!!
Grey Herons on the lakes, but not much else except ducks
Hooded Crows.

Today I had a quick look round a dense woodland near Pula mid-morning and was mightily impressed - Great Spotted Woodpeckers were around (might be all kinds of exotic kinds in there) and Wood, Icterine and Sardinian Warbler, and the usual common Great Tits, Blackbirds etc etc.
Unfortunately, the ground had suffered a fire recently :/

BBC tells me it's 36 degrees herein Pula today, and it feels like it. I stepped out briefly, but nothing of note - Great Tits, lots of Jays, Hooded Crows, Magpies etc etc.

It's a good opportunity for me to outline the background of my birding in Croatia so far - I'm here on social duty more than as a birding holiday, so I 'break free' when I can - otherwise I am sure I would increase my species-count vastly, not to say I am disappointed so far!
I need to spend more early mornings out, I reckon.

Jon

So much to cram in and little time!

I have had the pleasure and luck of taking in many sites so far when I could - including three visits to Vransko Lake, where we're based not far from at the moment. I've also birded in woods near the coast, and Krka National Park.
Today was the standout birding day in Croatia so far - approx five Golden Orioles in a wood outside Vransko Lake, and there were more in woods near the lake itself. On the lake today were Little Egret, Pygmy Cormorant, Black Winged Stilt - on the way home I had a Sardinian Warbler, Woodchat and Redback Shrikes, Beeaters, Treesparrow, Hooded Crow Goldfinches and Siskin.

Beeateaters and Shrikes were common in the woods near our house - I saw
Rock Dove live in Krka National Park, seen from the boat.

Other things seen so far - Yellowlegged Gull, Skylark, Great Egret (as mentioned)

I have two more weeks remaining and I am due to Pula by boat tomorrow.

Croatia, summer 2011 - Day 1 31st July

Zagreb:

Using Zagreb to begin my tour I decided to walk down the Sava river towards a lake I knew of - Bundek Lake.
I didn't have much time today, but all the same it's my first flavour of foreign birding.

Lots of Hooded Crows were around (lifer for me), as well as some Goldfinch and Great Tit. Lots of Sandmartin on the river, with mallard and plenty of Moorhen on the lake.
Going home I spotted Starlings, a Female Siskin in a tree and then I arrived at a car park in the middle of blocks of flats where I was surprised to hear a Woodpecker of some description on the other side - by the time I went across it had either flown or wasn't calling anymore so couldn't be found.

I'll update this regularly - things will really hot up as I am Dalmatia-bound very soon.

Enjoyed reading your report dave sounded like a good trip.