Birding trip Hungary (+
Eastern Austria) 4-16 May 2005 report by John van der Woude at www.jvanderw.nl |
Private trip, by car, 2
persons, mainly camping. Relatively cool weather (good for birding). Used maps: Shell map Hungary 1:350.000; detailed map of Bükk NP provided by Farm Lator. Visited areas: |
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GPS Waypoints (in WGS84):
GPS235 N47°47'38,55"
E016°54'53,41" (campsite Zicksee) |
Species
highlights (see also full species list) Great Bustard - displaying group Hansag Austria (see map). Short-eared Owl - 4 hunting together Hansag Austria (at GPS237). River Warbler - several Hansag Hungary + Bodrogköz. Penduline Tit - gathering nest material Hansag Hungary; several heard along Tisza river (esp. near Aroktö). Pygmy Cormorant - together on dead tree with Cormorant Hortobagy (N of GPS243). Little Bittern - flying below watchtower Hortobagy (GPS243). Black Stork - once soaring together with 2 Buzzards. Ferruginous Duck - several Hortobagy; close views! Esp. near hide of Ohat fish ponds. Imperial Eagle - 1 near nest Borsod Mesozeg (thanks Farm Lator), 2 hunting nearby W of Zemplen, near Fony. Red-footed Falcon - many in Hortobagy, always in groups (except 1 stray juv. inside Zemplen). Best spot: where road to Nagyivan splits from main road in Hortobagy. Saker Falcon - 2 next to their nest box in power pylon (thanks EcoTours). Whiskered Tern and White-winged Black Tern - together with Black Tern in Borsod Mesozeg; Whiskered also in Bodrogköz E of Zemplen. Bee-eater - several, just arriving. Roller - on two occasions, just arriving? Hoopoe - several, one foraging closeby in Bodrogköz E of Zemplen (at Zalkod). Wryneck - many heard, several seen; e.g. on campsite Farm Lator. Syrian Woodpecker - finally one, during field lunch in Bodrogköz E of Zemplen (GPS245). Middle Spotted Woodpecker - near nesting tree (thanks Michael B) behind Farm Lator. White-backed Woodpecker - we found a nest (thanks Farm Lator for pointing out best valley). Grey-headed Woodpecker - several heard, finally seen a pair at Zemplen. Tawny Pipit - 3 times in pusztas (once also at arable field). Barred Warbler - several heard, often with brief views, twice with good views. Both in Bükk and in Zemplen (e.g. road to Basko). Red-breasted Flycatcher - 3 singing in valley SE of Repashuta, 1 seen closeby Collared Flycatcher - commonly heard and several seen, once a pair at nest hole. Also at campsite of Farm Lator. Red-backed Shrike - just arriving, last day many (Zemplen) Lesser Grey Shrike - a pair along Northern W-E road of Hortobagy Abundant passerines e.g.: Golden Oriole, Tree Sparrow, Hawfinch (in Zemplen also often on the ground!), Corn Bunting, Yellow Wagtail. In Bükk NP forests Hawfinch is probably the most abundant breeding bird! Good numbers of e.g. Whinchat (in Hansag and pusztas), Great Reed Warblers (wherever there is some old reed), Bearded Tit (Halasto fish ponds). |