Kiskunság, Zemplén Mountains, Lake Tisza, Hortobágy

During this trip in the first day we will be birding in Kiskunsag a Pusta (steppe, grassland). Kiskunság is some 70 km South-East of Budapest and is the biggest habitat of Great Bustard which is our main target bird for the day. We will also visit fishponds where different gulls, herons, shanks and waders can be seen. On the second day we will be birding in Zemplén Mountains. Zemplén is an excellent habitat to see woodpeckers and owls as well as raptors. We spend two nights in a lovely small medieval town Tokaj, also very famous of its wine. On the third day we will visit the Lake Tisza, and reach Hortobágy the best marketed birding place in Hungary, where we will spend the fourth day with birding at the Great Fishpond system.

Scheduled dates: 21-24 June 2008, 5-8 July 2008, 19-22 July 2008

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Day 1 - Kiskunság

IBAs visited: 22
During our way to Kiskunság, we will stop at an artificial Saker nest, where we hope we can see Saker falcon either in the nest or flying. The nest is on an electric pylon and we can observe the Saker from safe distance without disturbing this globally endangered raptor.

We will continue our trip to Kiskunság. Kiskunság like Hortobágy is a big “Pusta” (steppe) with grasslands, saline lakes and in certain areas quicksand. The Great Bustard is a resident bird in Hungary and one of its highest populations can be found in Kiskunság. Usually it can bee seen in larger flocks (30-40 species) and it is an unforgettable experience when you see them in flying. If we are fortunate on the steppe we will also see different birds of prey like Buzzard, Kestrel, Merlin or Red-footed falcon.

In the Kiskunság we will have lots of opportunity to see some smaller birds which are typical for grasslands such as House and Tree Sparrows, Reed Buntings, Corn Buntings, Sky Larks, Crested Larks, Red-backed Shrikes, White and Yellow Wagtails. We will also see several Buzzards, with some luck even Rough-legged Buzzard and Kestrels hovering in the sky.

We will also go to a fishpond. Depending on water conditions at the fishponds we have chance to see Ruffs, Redshanks, Spotted Redshanks, Lapwings, Avocets, Marsh Sandpipers and many Grey Herons,Great White Egrets and Spoonbills. We will have a chance to see raptors like Mars Harrier or if we are fortunate even White-tailed Eagle.

Day 2 - Zemplén

IBAs visited: 42
We will leave at 7am from the Hotel and will drive immediately to the Zemplén Mountain, where we will arrive at around 8.30h. We will visit the inner parts of the mountains, observing woodpeckers, raptors and songbirds. The first bigger region where we will start birding is the surroundings of Újhuta, where our target species are woodpeckers, like Black, Middle-spotted or Syrian Woodpecker.

With some luck we can find even Grey-headed and White-backed Woodpecker. In the surroundings of Újhuta we will likely see Willow Tits, Marsh Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Golden Orioles, Wryneck, Mistle and Song Thrushes. On the fields we will see several Red-backed Shrikes and Tree Sparrows and we will have reasonable chance to see Lesser Grey Shrikes.

In the afternoon we will visit some places where raptors usually appear. In the Zemplén area Imperial Eagles, Lesser Spotted Eagles, Golden Eagles or even Short-toed Eagles might be observed in good weather conditions. During our trip if you are interested in architecture and history we can stop at Boldogkőváralja, which is one of the most beautiful ruins of Hungary, and will have a closer look at a lovely mountainous village called Hejce.

At sunset we will be already in a volcanic stone-mine in Southern Zemplén, looking for Eagle Owl. In the evening we can have our dinner in Tokaj and taste excellent wines.

Day 3 - Lake Tisza, Hortobágy

IBAs visited: 33, 32
On our third day we will check out from the Hotel at 7.30 and will drive to our next destination the Tisza Lake. The Tisza Lake is actually a large reservoir on the Tisza river, but fortunately it does not look like a reservoir but a flood-plain of the 18 th century.

Tisza Lake is also an ideal habitat for herons. In bigger continuous reeds heron colonies like Purple Heron, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Spoonbill and Squacco Heron and Little Bittern can be found.

Lots of Cormorants, Grey Herons and Common Terns can be also observed at Tisza Lake and in the gallery forests of the reservoir Black Stork, Black Kite, Saker and Hobby can also appear.

From Tisza Lake We will drive to Hortobágy. At around 4pm we will visit Nagyiván which is a special Hungarian village. In this village nest the most White Storks per citizen in Hungary, almost on every pylon there is a Stork nest. At the village there is a grassland where we can see Tree Sparrows, Crested Larks, Corn Buntings and Red-backed Shrikes.

Day 4 - Hortobágy

IBAs visited: 32
The whole day we will spend at the Great Fish Pond (Nagy Halastó) in Hortobágy which is regarded as a birding Eldorado in Hungary. Over 300 bird species have been observed here so far by birders and in almost every season ten and hundred thousands of birds can be seen. The system of fishponds of Hortobágy Halastó covering 2073 hectares was created in 1915 in an alkaline grassland area called Bad Lands.

This lake offers a big variety of species, and the birds of the neighbouring plains also visit the lakes and their airspace. During the trip Great White and Little Egret, Night Heron, Purple Heron, Little Bittern, Squacco Heron, Spoonbill and the rare breeder Pygmy Cormorant can be seen.

Gulls, terns, plovers occur here in great numbers and among the waterfowls there is a chance to find such rarity like Collared Pratincole.

We can see the globally endangered Ferruginous Duck either floating on the water or flying, but this area offers new experiences every time you visit it. We will have good chance to see other ducks like Gadwal , Teal, Mallard and Shoveler. We will also have chance to see different raptors in the area like White-tailed Eagle or Marsh Harrier.

Before leaving Hortobágy to Budapest we can make a short walk in the Village of Hortobágy by admiring the wonderful 9-arch bridge, which is a symbol of the Hortobágy. We leave Hortobágy at around 4 pm and arrive to the hotel in Budapest at 7pm.