Arrival to Nizhny Novgorod via Moscow (see direct flights operated by Aeroflot). The group leader meets you at Strigino International Airport. Group transfer to 4*hotel “Ildorf” (about 1 hour by car). If we have time, we will make a small trip to the lakes Svetlye to listen to and take pictures of scops owl. There are 7-8 pairs of the owls breeding around the lakes. The distance between the males courting is just 250 m!

In the morning we are heading to the Varekhovskoye bog, which is about 10,000 years old where dwarf birch trees grow to observe great grey owls – there are several couples nesting around the bog, the males hunt for water voles and shrews in the evening while the females guard nests. Two pairs of these owls live in the nests of buzzard, and two others live on the platforms that we have specially built for them. Common species for pine forests here are crested tit and black woodpecker. On the fringe of the bog we will look for three-toed woodpecker. After we are walking along the floodplain of the forest river Lukh to look for white-backed woodpecker and maybe will meet honey buzzard. After lunch we are having a 1.5-hour car transfer to the vicinities of Nizhny Novgorod. There, in small woodlands among agricultural fields, we are observing Ural owls. There are about 70 nest boxes for this type of owl, and more than 10 are constantly used by owls. Here we can see gray-headed woodpecker, greenish warbler, red-breasted flycatcher and wryneck. On the overgrown fields we are observing booted warbler and foraging Montagu's harrier, pallid harrier can be met here occasionally. After we are driving to check in to the hotel “Extremeland”, located near the Volga river valley. On the way, we can drive to the breeding area of tawny owl.

Early in the morning we are going to the floodplain of the small river Shava to observe a magnificent azure tit nesting here in hollows of willows and our nest boxes. Among the vast reed beds we will find paddyfield warbler and Savi's warbler. Here we are also watching citrine wagtail, Blyth's reed warbler and bluethroat. On small steppe slopes with feather grass we can observe ortolan buntings. After we are having a long journey (the road takes about 3.5 hours) to the north of the region in the floodplain of the Vetluga river - the left confluent of the Volga. Here we are checking in to the hotel “Gray Horse”, having lunch and going to the floodplain of the Vetluga, where we can see yellow-breasted buntings singing in thin wild rose bushes among water meadows. Two pairs of yellow-breasted bunting are used to nest here regularly. We are observing them and here we are waiting for an exciting great snipe’s courtship that starts at dusk. Then we will return to the hotel.

In the morning we are going to the top place by the river Vetluga to observe yellow-breasted bunting, where they live with high density! The road takes about 2 hours. In a limited area, we have registered about 30 pairs of these beautiful birds. Their tunes are heard from all sides. We can see them at their best and enjoy the singing! Here, on the bank of the river, we are watching unremarkable Terek sandpipers and oystercatchers. After lunch we are returning to Nizhny Novgorod. The road takes about 5 hours. On the way, we can make stops to observe curlew and black-tailed godwit that live in the meadows near the highway. We are staying at a hotel in the centre of Nizhny Novgorod. In the evening we can go for a walk.

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Strigino International Airport – flying home via Moscow.