Description
The hilly country around the small hamlet of Bela Reka, southwest of the much visited Mt. Avala nature reserve, is a traditional farming landscape. One of a few remaining pockets of the grassland and woodland mosaic that used to cover the countryside south of Belgrade, before intensive agriculture and widespread development. Here you can stroll across grassy meadows rich in wildflowers and insect life, perfect habitat for grassland-loving species such as Вівсянка садова (Bela Reka has one of the largest concentrations of this species around the capital), Вівсянка звичайна, Трав’янка лучна, Жайворонок лісовий, Перепілка звичайна and Куріпка сіра.
Bordering the meadows are well-preserved, diverse hedges which harbor many nesting Сорокопуд терновий, Соловейко західний and Кропив’янка сіра. In winter, being rich in sloe and hawthorn berries, these hedges attract flocks of Чикотень, Дрізд білобровий, Дрізд-омелюх and in some years Омелюх звичайний. Right next to these open landscapes are shady woods of oak and hornbeam, criss-crossed with small streams, where breeding Жовна чорна, Дятел середній, and migrating Мухоловка білошия and Мухоловка строката in spring are guaranteed. Also breeding in these woods is Слуква лісова which may be heard and observed on spring evenings. You are also very likely to see Яструб великий, hunting in low flight over the fields and hedges, and soaring Осоїд євразійський.
Details
Access
You can take the bus 407 (enter at Banjica at the start of the bus route and exit at the last stop), or get there by car (park next to the abandoned factory - the same place where the last bus stop is). Click on the P in the map for directions or coordinates. The walking route shown on the map is about 6 km.


