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Stanisoara Lake, Retezat National Park, Romania, July 2009
Photo by Cristian Mihai

[edit] Overview

Situated in the south-eastern Carpathians in Hunedoara county, Romania, this is a mountainous area with many peaks at over 2000m. Most of the area is forested with beech, fir and spruce with dwarf pine scrub in higher areas as well as glacial lakes and alpine meadows. 185 species of birds are found here, which is half of the Romanian bird species, and 122 of them nest in the Park and adjacent areas.

Retezat Saddle with Stanisoara Lake in the distance, Retezat National Park, Romania, July 2009
Photo by Cristian Mihai

[edit] Birds

[edit] Notable Species

The birds include many upland specialities such as Golden Eagle and Eurasian Eagle Owl, Water Pipit, Wallcreeper and Alpine Accentor. However, it is the forest birds that are the main draw for birders.

Owls include Eurasian Pygmy Owl, Ural Owl and possibly Tengmalm's Owl and there are Grey-headed Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker and Three-toed Woodpecker.

Other forest dwellers include Hazel Grouse and Western Capercaillie, Firecrest, Crested Tit, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Hawfinch and Common Crossbill.

[edit] Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Lesser Spotted Eagle, Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Hazel Grouse, Black Grouse, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Eurasian Pygmy Owl, Ural Owl, Tengmalm's Owl, Alpine Swift, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Water Pipit, Alpine Accentor, Ring Ouzel, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher, Willow Tit, Crested Tit, Wallcreeper, Spotted Nutcracker, Northern Raven, Eurasian Siskin, Common Crossbill, Hawfinch

[edit] Other Wildlife

The park has an extremely rich flora including many endemics and has a scientific area where access is restricted. 55 species of mammals can be found in the park, such as wolf (Canis lupus), bear (Ursus arctos), lynx (Lynx lynx), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), deer (Cervus elaphus), roedeer (Capreolus capreolus), wildcat (Felis silvestris), otter (Lutra lutra) and 13 species of bats.

[edit] Site Information

[edit] History and Use

Retezat is the oldest Romanian national park and was founded in 1935. It covers an area of 380 km², and has over 100 clear glacial lakes and 60 mountain peaks over 2,300 m (7,500 ft).

[edit] Areas of Interest

To do

[edit] Access and Facilities

It can be reached on the roads 68 and 66 which follow the northern edge of the range. Roads to the mountain resorts leave Piu and Clopotiva and accommodation is available in the towns, villages and possibly in mountain chalets.

[edit] Contact Details

To do

[edit] External Links

Retezat National Park

Content and images originally posted by Steve