Romania's Danube Delta & Carpathian Mountains

Naturetrek Tour Report 4 - 13 August 2018

Great Bittern by Florin Palade Campanula carpatica by Paul Harmes Melampyrum bihariense by Paul Harmes

Report and photos compiled by Paul Harmes Additional Photo by Florin Palade

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Tour Report Romania's Danube Delta & Carpathian Mountains

Tour participants: Paul Harmes (leader), Florin Palade (local guide), George (driver), with 14 Naturetrek clients

Day 1 Saturday 4th August

Fly London Heathrow to Bucharest – Transfer to Zarnesti Fourteen tour-group members met with Paul at London Heathrow, Terminal 5 for the 1.15pm British Airways flight BA886, to Bucharest. After completing immigration formalities and collecting our luggage, we made our way into the arrivals area where we were met by Florin, our local guide, who showed us to the exit and to our bus where we met our driver, George. Leaving the airport, we made our way onto the E60 and drove north. After 10 minutes, we stopped at a local restaurant where we took our evening meal.

After eating, we continued north through an area of light industrial buildings and arable crops, towards Ploiesti and on north-westwards, through the Sub-Carpathian hills, and the towns of Breaza and Sinaia. Our route took us through Busteni, before turning west to Rasnov. After about three hours, we arrived at the Hotel Elena Pension in Zarnesti, our base for the next four nights. We were welcomed by our hosts, George and Elena, who quickly settled us into our rooms, before we retired for the night.

Day 2 Sunday 5th August

Piatra Craiului National Park – Coltii Chiliilor – Bran - Tohmai Zarnesti is situated in the Piatra Craiului National Park, and our first two days would be spent in different habitats within the region.

After breakfast, we joined our vehicle for the short drive to an area of meadows, tracks and light, patchy forest, in the Barsa Valley, where we spent the morning. As we approached the car park, White Stork was spotted on a roof, and a Fox was seen in the in a roadside field. Leaving the vehicle, we set off to explore, taking the main track towards the monastery of Coltul Chiliilor. Early finds included Common Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Red- backed Shrike and Lesser Grey Shrike. In the early sunshine, butterflies were becoming active. Common Blue, Clouded Yellow, Berger’s Clouded Yellow and Small White were all noted. Plants included Arctium tomentosum (a Burdock), Scabiosa ochroleuca (Yellow Scabious), Geranium pratense (Meadow Crane’s-bill), Salvia verticillata (Whorled Sage) and Parnsssia palustris (Grass-of-Parnasus). As we moved higher, we added Nutcracker, Raven, Crested, Marsh, Coal, and Willow Tits and Common Buzzard. By now, as the morning temperatures rose, more butterfies appeared. Brimstone, Small Heath, Silver-washed Fritillary, Meadow Brown, Peacock, Comma and Ringlet were all added, as well as Burnet Companion and Shaded Broad-bar moths. Aconitum vulparia (formerly A. lasianthum, Wolf’s-bane), Salvia glutinosa (Jupiter’s Distaff), Aconitum moldavicum (a Monk’s-hood) and Telekia speciosa were all seen along the margins of the woodland.

We took our picnic in the shade of a large tree, by the Monastery, before retracing our route back to the vehicle.

As we were in Transylvania, the afternoon was spent in the small town of Bran, where we had free time. Some of the group visited Castle Bran, one of the castles of Vlad the Impaler (also known as Vlad III Dracula); others chose to relax with refreshments, and a few went to the local park to look for birds. Nuthatch, Chaffinch, and a solitary Red Kite were seen.

Romania's Danube Delta & Carpathian Mountains Tour Report

Returning to Zarnesti, we stopped briefly on the Bran Pass, where Florin explain