Rada Surmach from Russian NGO – the Amur-Ussuri Center for Avian Biodiversity – contacted me about a new birdwatching/photography tour the NGO is running in March 2019. I’m always delighted to help promote ecotourism, especially when the profits go to a good cause. Rada’s tour is a brilliant opportunity to photograph some very sought-after species, especially the Blakiston’s Fish Owl (the largest owl on the planet) in a special part of the world. All profits from the tour will go to support the NGO’s research on birds of the region, including the Blakiston’s Fish Owl. Check out the recent photos below for an idea of what is possible.
From Rada:
This year the Amur-Ussuri Center for Avian Biodiversity, a Russian NGO, is excited to offer an incredible opportunity to see and photograph fishing Blakiston’s Fish Owl near Vladivostok.
The Tour
We will have a field camp set up for comfortable accommodation of 3-4 guests (accommodation in a warm trailer) and two warm tents for night photography. The fish owls will be in the weak light at a distance of 10-20 meters from the tent. During the day you can photograph a female on the nest.
All species (before March 20): Blakiston’s fish owl (the world’s biggest owl), solitary snipe, brown dipper, Eurasian wren). Spotted seals and possibly white-tailed sea and Steller’s sea eagles might also be seen in Vladivostok.
All species (after March 20): Blakiston’s fish owl, brown dipper, Eurasian wren. Spotted seals and possibly white-tailed and Steller’s sea eagles may also be seen in Vladivostok. If you have some special requests or some dates don’t work for you, please let us know.
What’s included: food, accommodation, transport and guide.
Not included: return flights to Vladivostok.
Note: For Chinese citizens an e-visa is required for stays of up to 7 days. It’s free, can be applied for online, and takes only four days to be approved.
Option 1. Before March 20. Available dates: March 9 to March 14, March 15 to March 20
USD1100 per person
Day 1. Arrival to Vladivostok. Check-in to a 3-star hotel. Lunch. Tour around Vladivostok, scenic viewpoints, taking pictures.
Day 2. Check-out, travelling to the photography location (approximately 500 km from Vladivostok). Lunch on the road, dinner upon arrival.
Day 3. Photographing/ birdwatching (Blakiston’s fish owl, solitary snipe, brown dipper, Eurasian wren)
Day 4. Photography/ birdwatching
Day 5. Travelling back to Vladivostok, dinner, evening tour of the city, shopping.
Day 6. Flight back to China/elsewhere
Option 2. Shorter tour before March 20. Available dates: March 9 to March 13, March 14 to March 18
USD 900 per person
Day 1. Arrival to Vladivostok. travelling to the photography location (approximately 500 km from Vladivostok). Lunch on the road, dinner upon arrival.
Day 2. Shooting/ birdwatching (Blakiston’s fish owl, solitary snipe, brown dipper, Eurasian wren)
Day 3. Photography/ birdwatching
Day 4. Travelling back to Vladivostok, dinner, evening tour of the city, shopping.
Day 5. Flight back to China.
Option 3. After March 20. Available dates: March 20 to March 27, March 28 to April 4, April 5 to April 12
USD 1440 per person
Day 1. Arrival to Vladivostok. Check-in to a 3-star hotel. Lunch. Tour around Vladivostok, scenic viewpoints, taking pictures.
Day 2. Check-out, travelling to the photography location (approximately 500 km from Vladivostok). Lunch on the road, dinner upon arrival.
Day 3. Photography/birdwatching (Blakiston’s fish owl, solitary snipe, brown dipper, Eurasian wren)
Day 4. Photography/ birdwatching
Day 5. Travelling to Khanka lake, checking in a comfortable cottage – hot water, shower, fireplace, banya (Russian sauna), dinner
Day 6. Photography/ birdwatching: cranes and storks (red-crowned crane, oriental stork, herons, egrets)
Day 7. Photography/ birdwatching, travelling back to Vladivostok, dinner, evening tour of the city, shopping.
Day 8. Flight back to China/elsewhere
If you are interested, please contact Rada Surmach on email: soarmuch@gmail.com
今年，我们提供了一个绝佳的机会来拍摄毛腿鱼鸮的冬季捕鱼。
我们将设立一个野外营地，为3-4位客人提供舒适的住宿（在温暖的拖车中提供住宿）和2个用于夜间拍摄的温暖帐篷。鱼猫头鹰将在距离帐篷10-20米的微弱光线下，需要额外的闪光。在白天，你可以在巢上拍摄母鸟。
所有物种（3月20日之前）：毛腿鱼鸮（一种非常稀有的鸟，世界上最大的猫头鹰），孤沙锥，河烏，鹪鹩 , 虎头海雕。在符拉迪沃斯托克也可以看到斑海豹和白尾海雕。
所有物种（3月20日之后）：毛腿鱼鸮（一种非常稀有的鸟，世界上最大的猫头鹰），孤沙锥，河烏，鹪鹩 , 虎头海雕, 丹顶鹤，东方鹳，苍鹭，白鹭, 等等在符拉迪沃斯托克也可以看到斑海豹和白尾海雕。
如果您有特殊要求或某些日期不适合您，请告知我们。
其中包括：食物，住宿，交通，指南。
不包括：往返中国的航班
选项1.
3月20日之前。可用日期：3月9日至3月14日，3月15日至3月20日每人1100美元 (7450 RMB)
第1天抵达符拉迪沃斯托克。入住三星级酒店。午餐。游览符拉迪沃斯托克，拍照。
第2天。前往拍摄地点（距离符拉迪沃斯托克约500公里）。在路上享用午餐，抵达时享用晚餐。
第3天。拍摄/观鸟
第4天。拍摄/观鸟
第五天。回到符拉迪沃斯托克，晚餐，晚上游览城市。
第6天。送机。
选项2.
3月20日之前的短途旅行。可用日期：3月9日至3月13日，3月14日至3月18日
每人900美元 (6100 RMB)
第1天抵达符拉迪沃斯托克。前往拍摄地点（距离符拉迪沃斯托克约500公里）。在路上享用午餐，抵达时享用晚餐。
第2天。拍摄/观鸟
第3天。拍摄/观鸟
第4天。回到符拉迪沃斯托克，晚餐，晚上游览城市。
第5天。送机。
选项3.
3月20日之后。可用日期：3月20日至3月27日，3月28日至4月4日，4月5日至4月12日
每人1440美元 (9800 RMB)
第1天抵达符拉迪沃斯托克。入住三星级酒店。午餐。游览符拉迪沃斯托克，拍照。
第2天。前往拍摄地点（距离符拉迪沃斯托克约500公里）。在路上享用午餐，抵达时享用晚餐。
第3天。拍摄/观鸟
第4天。拍摄/观鸟
第5天。前往兴凯湖，入住舒适的小屋（热水，淋浴，壁炉，banya（俄罗斯桑拿），晚餐）
第6天。拍摄/观鸟鹤和鹳（丹顶鹤，东方鹳，苍鹭，白鹭, 等等）
第7天。拍摄/观鸟，返回符拉迪沃斯托克，晚餐，晚上游览城市。
第8天。送机。