🦅 BIRDWATCHING TOUR · 2026

APEX TOUR — 8 Mai 2026

142 bird species observed during this 9-day tour led by Daniel Petrescu in the Danube Delta and Dobrogea region of Romania.

142Unique Species

9Days

1Days with Obs.

142Best Day (16 May)

5Sensitive Species

Tour Summary: 10 days - Apex Expeditions

Guide: 🧭 Daniel Petrescu
Dates: 📅 08 May 2026 – 16 May 2026
Group Size: 👥 16 participants
Tour Language: 🌐 EN
Region: 📍 Danube Delta & Dobrogea, Romania
Operator: 🏢 IBIS Tours · License 1753

Complete Species List (142)

Species are organized by taxonomic family. Sensitive species marked with 🔒 have GPS coordinates protected per conservation guidelines.

Anatidae Ducks, Geese & Swans 11

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

#3
Greylag Goose Anser anser

#5
Common Pochard Aythya ferina

#8
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca

🔒 Protected #11
Mute Swan Cygnus olor

#18
Gadwall Mareca strepera

#19
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata

#25
Garganey Spatula querquedula

#26
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea

#27
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

#28
Mallard (domestic) Anas platyrhynchos domesticus

#282

Phasianidae Pheasants & Partridges 1

Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

#30

Podicipedidae Grebes 3

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

#33
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena

#34
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis

#35

Columbidae Pigeons & Doves 4

Rock Dove Columba livia

#38
Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus

#40
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

#41
European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur

#43

Apodidae Swifts 2

Common Swift Apus apus

#44
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba

#45

Cuculidae Cuckoos 1

Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus

#48

Rallidae Rails, Gallinules & Coots 2

Eurasian Coot Fulica atra

#54
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

#55

Recurvirostridae Stilts & Avocets 1

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

#62

Charadriidae Plovers 2

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

#66
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

#70

Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes & Phalaropes 7

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

#71
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea

#75
Little Stint Calidris minuta

#76
Ruff Calidris pugnax

#77
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

#79
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

#80
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

#87

Laridae Gulls, Terns & Skimmers 8

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida

#93
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus

#94
Black Tern Chlidonias niger

#95
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

#96
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus

#97
Pallas's Gull Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus

#99
Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans

#101
Common Tern Sterna hirundo

#106

Ciconiidae Storks 2

White Stork Ciconia ciconia

#110
Black Stork Ciconia nigra

#111

Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants & Shags 2

Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus

🔒 Protected #112
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

#113

Threskiornithidae Ibises & Spoonbills 2

Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

#114
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

#115

Ardeidae Herons, Egrets & Bitterns 8

Great Egret Ardea alba

#116
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

#117
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea

#118
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides

#119
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris

#120
Little Egret Egretta garzetta

#122
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus

#123
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

#124

Pelecanidae Pelicans 2

Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus

🔒 Protected #125
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus

#126

Accipitridae Hawks, Eagles & Kites 4

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo

#133
Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus

#137
Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina

🔒 Protected #141
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla

🔒 Protected #142

Strigidae Owls 2

Little Owl Athene noctua

#150
Tawny Owl Strix aluco

#153

Coraciidae Rollers 1

European Roller Coracias garrulus

#155

Alcedinidae Kingfishers 1

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

#156

Meropidae Bee-eaters 1

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster

#157

Upupidae Hoopoes 1

Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

#158

Picidae Woodpeckers 5

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major

#159
Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius

#163
Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla

#164
Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus

#165
European Green Woodpecker Picus viridis

#166

Falconidae Falcons & Caracaras 3

Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo

#168
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

#169
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus

#170

Laniidae Shrikes 1

Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio

#171

Oriolidae Figbirds, Old World Orioles & Piopios 1

Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus

#173

Corvidae Crows, Jays & Magpies 6

Western Jackdaw Coloeus monedula

#174
Northern Raven Corvus corax

#175
Hooded Crow Corvus cornix

#176
Rook Corvus frugilegus

#178
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius

#179
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica

#181

Paridae Tits & Chickadees 5

Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus

#182
Great Tit Parus major

#184
Coal Tit Periparus ater

#185
Willow Tit Poecile montanus

#187
Marsh Tit Poecile palustris

#188

Remizidae Penduline Tits 1

Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus

#189

Panuridae Bearded Reedling 1

Bearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus

#190

Alaudidae Larks 3

Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis

#191
Crested Lark Galerida cristata

#194
Woodlark Lullula arborea

#195

Hirundinidae Swallows & Martins 3

Common House Martin Delichon urbicum

#198
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

#199
Sand Martin Riparia riparia

#201

Cettiidae Cetti's Warbler & Allies 1

Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti

#202

Aegithalidae Long-tailed Tits 1

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

#203

Phylloscopidae Leaf Warblers 2

Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

#204
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus

#206

Acrocephalidae Reed Warblers & Allies 3

Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus

#208
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

#211
Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus

#212

Locustellidae Grassbirds & Allies 1

Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides

#216

Sylviidae Sylviid Warblers 4

Common Whitethroat Curruca communis

#218
Lesser Whitethroat Curruca curruca

#219
Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla

#221
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin

#222

Troglodytidae Wrens 1

Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

#225

Sittidae Nuthatches 1

Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea

#226

Sturnidae Starlings 1

Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris

#231

Cinclidae Dippers 1

White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus

#232

Turdidae Thrushes 3

Common Blackbird Turdus merula

#234
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

#235
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris

#236

Muscicapidae Old World Flycatchers & Chats 11

European Robin Erithacus rubecula

#239
Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis

#240
Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva

#242
Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia

#243
Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos

#244
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica

#245
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata

#247
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

#249
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros

#251
Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus

#252
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra

#253

Passeridae Old World Sparrows 2

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

#256
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

#258

Motacillidae Wagtails & Pipits 4

White Wagtail Motacilla alba

#262
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

#263
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava

#264
Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus

#299

Fringillidae Finches & Euphonias 6

European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

#265
European Greenfinch Chloris chloris

#266
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes

#267
Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

#268
Common Linnet Linaria cannabina

#270
European Serin Serinus serinus

#273

Emberizidae Buntings 3

Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra

#275
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella

#277
Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

#280

Species	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5	Day 6	Day 7	Day 8	Day 9
Anatidae Ducks, Geese & Swans 11
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos									✓
Greylag Goose Anser anser									✓
Common Pochard Aythya ferina									✓
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca 🛡️									✓
Mute Swan Cygnus olor									✓
Gadwall Mareca strepera									✓
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata									✓
Garganey Spatula querquedula									✓
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea									✓
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna									✓
Mallard (domestic) Anas platyrhynchos domesticus									✓
Phasianidae Pheasants & Partridges 1
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus									✓
Podicipedidae Grebes 3
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus									✓
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena									✓
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis									✓
Columbidae Pigeons & Doves 4
Rock Dove Columba livia									✓
Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus									✓
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto									✓
European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur									✓
Apodidae Swifts 2
Common Swift Apus apus									✓
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba									✓
Cuculidae Cuckoos 1
Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus									✓
Rallidae Rails, Gallinules & Coots 2
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra									✓
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus									✓
Recurvirostridae Stilts & Avocets 1
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus									✓
Charadriidae Plovers 2
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius									✓
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus									✓
Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes & Phalaropes 7
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos									✓
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea									✓
Little Stint Calidris minuta									✓
Ruff Calidris pugnax									✓
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago									✓
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa									✓
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola									✓
Laridae Gulls, Terns & Skimmers 8
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida									✓
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus									✓
Black Tern Chlidonias niger									✓
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus									✓
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus									✓
Pallas's Gull Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus									✓
Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans									✓
Common Tern Sterna hirundo									✓
Ciconiidae Storks 2
White Stork Ciconia ciconia									✓
Black Stork Ciconia nigra									✓
Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants & Shags 2
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus 🛡️									✓
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo									✓
Threskiornithidae Ibises & Spoonbills 2
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia									✓
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus									✓
Ardeidae Herons, Egrets & Bitterns 8
Great Egret Ardea alba									✓
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea									✓
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea									✓
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides									✓
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris									✓
Little Egret Egretta garzetta									✓
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus									✓
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax									✓
Pelecanidae Pelicans 2
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus 🛡️									✓
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus									✓
Accipitridae Hawks, Eagles & Kites 4
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo									✓
Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus									✓
Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina 🛡️									✓
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla 🛡️									✓
Strigidae Owls 2
Little Owl Athene noctua									✓
Tawny Owl Strix aluco									✓
Coraciidae Rollers 1
European Roller Coracias garrulus									✓
Alcedinidae Kingfishers 1
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis									✓
Meropidae Bee-eaters 1
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster									✓
Upupidae Hoopoes 1
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops									✓
Picidae Woodpeckers 5
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major									✓
Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius									✓
Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla									✓
Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus									✓
European Green Woodpecker Picus viridis									✓
Falconidae Falcons & Caracaras 3
Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo									✓
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus									✓
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus									✓
Laniidae Shrikes 1
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio									✓
Oriolidae Figbirds, Old World Orioles & Piopios 1
Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus									✓
Corvidae Crows, Jays & Magpies 6
Western Jackdaw Coloeus monedula									✓
Northern Raven Corvus corax									✓
Hooded Crow Corvus cornix									✓
Rook Corvus frugilegus									✓
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius									✓
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica									✓
Paridae Tits & Chickadees 5
Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus									✓
Great Tit Parus major									✓
Coal Tit Periparus ater									✓
Willow Tit Poecile montanus									✓
Marsh Tit Poecile palustris									✓
Remizidae Penduline Tits 1
Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus									✓
Panuridae Bearded Reedling 1
Bearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus									✓
Alaudidae Larks 3
Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis									✓
Crested Lark Galerida cristata									✓
Woodlark Lullula arborea									✓
Hirundinidae Swallows & Martins 3
Common House Martin Delichon urbicum									✓
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica									✓
Sand Martin Riparia riparia									✓
Cettiidae Cetti's Warbler & Allies 1
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti									✓
Aegithalidae Long-tailed Tits 1
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus									✓
Phylloscopidae Leaf Warblers 2
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita									✓
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus									✓
Acrocephalidae Reed Warblers & Allies 3
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus									✓
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus									✓
Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus									✓
Locustellidae Grassbirds & Allies 1
Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides									✓
Sylviidae Sylviid Warblers 4
Common Whitethroat Curruca communis									✓
Lesser Whitethroat Curruca curruca									✓
Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla									✓
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin									✓
Troglodytidae Wrens 1
Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes									✓
Sittidae Nuthatches 1
Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea									✓
Sturnidae Starlings 1
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris									✓
Cinclidae Dippers 1
White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus									✓
Turdidae Thrushes 3
Common Blackbird Turdus merula									✓
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos									✓
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris									✓
Muscicapidae Old World Flycatchers & Chats 11
European Robin Erithacus rubecula									✓
Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis									✓
Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva									✓
Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia									✓
Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos									✓
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica									✓
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata									✓
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe									✓
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros									✓
Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus									✓
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra									✓
Passeridae Old World Sparrows 2
House Sparrow Passer domesticus									✓
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus									✓
Motacillidae Wagtails & Pipits 4
White Wagtail Motacilla alba									✓
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea									✓
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava									✓
Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus									✓
Fringillidae Finches & Euphonias 6
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis									✓
European Greenfinch Chloris chloris									✓
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes									✓
Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs									✓
Common Linnet Linaria cannabina									✓
European Serin Serinus serinus									✓
Emberizidae Buntings 3
Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra									✓
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella									✓
Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus									✓

🛡️ Conservation Notice

This tour observed 5 sensitive bird species with conservation status. To protect breeding sites and prevent disturbance, exact GPS coordinates for these species have been either rounded (to ~1 km precision) or omitted entirely.

IBIS Tours follows international conservation guidelines including BirdLife International recommendations and the EU Birds Directive (Annex I) for handling sensitive species data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bird species were seen during this tour?

142 unique bird species were observed during the 9-day APEX TOUR — 8 Mai 2026 tour, between 08 May 2026 and 16 May 2026.

Who led this tour?

The tour was led by Daniel Petrescu, working with IBIS Tours, a licensed Romanian tourism operator.

Were any rare or sensitive species observed?

Yes. 5 sensitive species were observed during this tour, including Ferruginous Duck, Pygmy Cormorant, Dalmatian Pelican. For conservation reasons, exact GPS coordinates of these sensitive species are protected.

Can I book a similar tour?

Yes! View our birdwatching tours or contact us for a custom-tailored itinerary based on the species you'd like to observe.

Ready to plan your own birdwatching tour?

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