Year: 2010

The December Sakertour set-date eagle photography tour was good, many eagles were around. Tour participant Tony gave a detailed description of the tour in his blog so please take a look: Tony McLean´s East Yorkshire Wildlife Diary

Adult White-tailed Eagle                                                                              Photo: Tony McLean

More eagle news of all the December events is to come with lots of images so keep an eye on our blog and hide gallery!

Sakertour Team

Shinwa tours returned to Hungary again in November 2010 for their annual Red-breasted Goose pilgrimage! The weather was excellent and there were up to 60,000 geese in the Hortobágy region. Happily the group managed absolutely amazing views of both Lesser White-fronted and Red-breasted Geese and other highlights were: over 40 Great Bustards with a flock of 26 big males; a big roost of Long-eared Owls and the evening flight of nearly 10,000 Cranes to their roosting site.

Long-eared Owl                                         Photo: Gabriella Tóth

During the tour all Hortobágy species special for Japanese birdwatchers were ´collected´, such as  Merlin, Saker, Penduline Tit, Bearded Tit, Pygmy Cormorant, Little Owl, Shelduck, Ruff, Peregrine Falcon, Great Grey Shrike, Blue Tit, Brambling, Fieldfare and Ferruginous Duck, etc.

We saw our first woodland species (such as Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Short-toed Treecreeper, Hawfinch, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Black Woodpecker and Marsh Tit) in the Great Forest of Debrecen, and continued collecting them in the Zemplén Hills (Black Redstart, Syrian Woodpecker, Green and Grey-headed Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Coal Tit and Tawny Owl). Eastern Imperial Eagle was another of the highlights in the Zemplén. The ´Bird of the tour´ was inevitably Red-breasted Goose and Hungary remains one of the easiest countries in the world in which to see the wonderful creature.

Sakertour team

We were delighted to operate another Hungary in Autumn tour for Birdquest this year! The tour was positioned to see the fantastic-looking Red-breasted Goose and the increasingly rare Lesser White-fronted Goose on the same tour. This year we saw both species without difficulty. It took some time to locate them amongst the 80,000 geese present in the Hortobágy region but we finally got multiple great looks at both species!

Red-breasted Geese      Photo: tour participant Hugh Gallagher

This action packed short break to Hungary this year was blessed with fantastic weather throughout the tour and in addition to the birds we experienced the superb wine of Tokaj as well.

Ural Owl                         Photo: tour participant Hugh Gallagher

Birding highlights of the five days apart from the geese were eight species of woodpeckers (including White-backed), six species of owls (including Eurasian Eagle and Ural), Ferruginous Ducks, Saker, Greater Spotted, White-tailed and Eastern Imperial Eagles, Great Bustard and thousands of cranes. It is always relaxing to watch the roosting-flight of the cranes. A very nice tour indeed!

Sakertour team

As in previous years, we spent a week in the Hortobágy area. The tour started on 30th of October, a date that usually coincides with the arrival of huge flocks of geese, however, cranes are also still numerous in the area.

We had luck with both, as (mainly in the beginning of the week) beautiful sunsets ensured some memorable moments with thousands of Common Cranes flying towards their roosting area in the evening.

Common Cranes                                                                   Photo:Gábor Simay

In the marshy grasslands and drained fishponds we had three encounters with Red-breasted Geese, and we also saw three nice adult Lesser White-fronted Geese, from quite a short distance and we could study all the field characters of this endangered species. We also had great views of 14 Great Bustards.

Flock of Greater White-fronted Geese                                 Photo:Gábor Simay

Beside these we had a great selection of raptors: magnificent views of Saker Falcons (one of them with prey); many White-tailed Eagles (max. 8 together); 3 adult Eastern Imerial Eagles and an adult Great Spotted Eagle; Long-legged and Rough-legged Buzzards.

Penduline Tit         Photo:Gábor Simay

Owing to the mild weather we saw fair numbers of Ferruginous Ducks (max 40 on one day), some Pygmy Cormorants and even some Spoonbills (quite a late date). The reedbeds were full of Penduline Tits and Bearded Reedlings.

Beraded Reedling Photo:Gábor Simay

We had good views of Syrian, Middle-spotted and Black Woodpeckers, Short-toed Treecreeper and in the forested areas many Hawfinches.

Hawfinch                                                                                Photo:Gábor Simay

Weatherwise it was a really beautiful week with sunshine and no wind or fog at all!

Sakertour team

We had a full day´s birdwatching in the Hortobágy and despite it being cloudy we had a lucky bird-full day with some spectacular sightings as well.

First came a Stone Curlew and after some walking we spotted a few Great Bustards as well. Nearby newly-arrived juvenile Hen Harriers and a few White-tailed Eagles flew by eventually flushing the bustards. We were extremely lucky indeed as we had some cover and they didn´t notice us, so we could enjoy a closefly past of no less then 19 female Great Bustards.

After this we walked a short distance around the first section of Hortobágy-fishponds where we saw 21 Penduline Tits in one flock and a couple of very confiding Bearded Reedling as well as a first year Purple Heron, which should have migrated south by now.

On our way to Balmazújváros we saw a Saker (our second bird today), which pearched up in a pylon close by. Suddenly it took to the air and started to chase some Starlings, eventually landing nearby in a freshly ploughed field, where we could enjoy unusually close views of this first year bird.

After spending most of the afternoon in the northern grasslands we visited a wetland near Balmazújváros where we saw 4 Cattle Egretts together, still a scarce bird in Hungary, plus a very late Red-necked Phalarope in juvenile plumage, which was rather a surprise.

At the and of a successful birding day, we enjoyed an evening watching cranes flying towards their roosting site.

Simay Gábor

One of the four Cattle Egrets                  Photo: Simay Gábor

Juvenile Red-necked Phalarope              Photo: Simay Gábor

This weekend (4-5 September, 2010) we had several photographers and a party of 8 birdwatchers to visit the Hortobágy with Sakertour.

Although the photography is slower then in Spring our guests had Little Crakes, Water Rails, Pygmy Cormorants, Kingfishers and Otters in front of the hides and also had a stalking photography session for Dotterel!

Dotterel on the Hortobágy (4th September) Photo: Attila Szilágyi

The birdwatching group also had an amazing day with the following highlights (number of birds in brackets):

Squacco Heron (17)

Spoonbills (120)

White-tailed Eagle (1)

Short-toed Eagle (2)

Pallid Harrier (1male)

Pallid Harrier on the Hortobágy (4th September) Photo: Michael Turner Caine

Honey Buzzard (3)

Red-footed Falcon (20)

Saker (2)

Little Crake (1)

Great Bustards (8)

Stone-Curlew (5)

Collared Pratincole (1)

Dotterel (3)

Temminck Stint (1)

Marsh Sandpiper (4)

White-winged Tern (8)

Turtle Dove (500+)

Little Owl (1)

Long-eared Owl (29)

Roller (4)

Syrian Woodpecker (2male)

Tawny Pipt (1)

Bluethroat (5)

Savi´s Warbler (8)

Red-backed Shrike (120+)

Sakertour team

János Oláh and Zoltán Baczó were birding in the Southern Hortobágy on the 1st of September and were lucky to find an adult Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Borzas Fishponds. For the location please check the rarebirds.hu map. This is only the 8th record for Hungary and the third for the Hortobágy region! Many thanks for Ádám K. Selmeczi for the brilliant documentation images (more images on the birding.hu) on the first day!

Adult Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the 1st September Photo: Ádám K. Selmeczi

Adult Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the 2nd September Photo: János Oláh

Sakertour team

The report of our 2010 tour with Wild Images has now been uploaded and you can see it here. We are delighted to note that the next tour in May 2011 is already full! Book early for 2012 to avoid disappointment!

European Roller on the 2010 Wild Images tour to Hortobágy Photo by participant John Hunt

Sakertour team

We were delighted to attend the first Pannonian Bird Experience (www.birdexperience.org) organized in the Seewinkel area of Austria. This was the first BirdFair in Central Europe and there were 3000 visitors to the event. Birdwatchers and photographers came to visit our stand and chat about birds and to taste the superb Tokaj wine and the tasty mangalica salami.

We shared a stand together with HEA (www.hortobagyte.hu) and advertised the natural beauty of the amazing Hortobágy National Park in Hungary.

Our stand at the Pannonian Bird Experience Photo: János Oláh

Sakertour team

We have had several Little Crakes visiting our Pygmy Cormorant and Reedbed Hides throughout August. They are daily visitors with probably more than two individuals at each location. These secretive birds seem to be regular from our hides in late summer. Based on our 2009 and 2010 experiences we can say that our hides in the Hortobágy are the most reliable sites to photograph this skulking species! They have feeding very close to the hides, sometime as close as 50cm(!) but usually within 8 meters against a lovely background of yellow Fringed Water-lily and Greater Bladderwort.

Come and photograph Little Crakes from our hides!

Little Crake in front of the hide Photo: János Oláh

Sakertour team

We hosted our Dutch partner BirdingBreaks between 24-31 May for a classic week of birding in the Hortobágy and the Zemplén Hills. Once again the tour was a great success and the group saw all the target birds. Highlights of the tour were Great Bustard, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Saker Falcon, Aquatic Warbler, Moustached Warbler, Ural Owl, White-backed Woodpecker and lot of other supporting cast (Eagle Owl, Little Crake, Roller, Bee-eater, Barred Warbler etc.).

Short-toed lark Photo: Kees de Vries

Bee-eater Photo: Kees de Vries

Lesser Grey Shrike Photo: Kees de Vries

Please take a look at the report of this classic birding tour with a serious of Eastern European specialties!

Sakertour team

Our friend Eusatce Barnes came to recce Hungary and Transylvania for a proposed tour in 2012. The tour will be a new and exciting one with a start in Budapest and a finish in Bucharest. It will cover the main areas within just two weeks!

We had a great time in late May with many exciting birds. Eustace´s party arrived from Poland so the floods were familiar to them but unfortunately the rain continued to fall in Hungary too. It was not as severe as the preceding weeks and did not hamper our birding. In fact the Transylvanian part was blessed with great weather!

Wallcreeper Photo: Zoltán Baczó

Endless flowering meadow in Transylvania Photo: Zoltán Baczó

Sakertour team

Our partner Shetland Wildlife was also pretty unlucky with weather just as our Photo-tour was at the same time! But birdwatching is easier in the rain than photographing and the group managed to see all the main targets on the classic Hortobágy-Zemplén tour.

They started with Broad-billed Sandpiper in the Hortobágy and then Aquatic and Moustached Warblers performed well. For Great Bustard it was a long walk as the muddy conditions did not allow easy access but it was well worth the effort!

In the Zemplén woodpeckers and owls were the main target and once again it was not a problem for us to find Ural and Eurasian Eagle Owls as well as all the woodpeckers, including the secretive White-backed Woodpecker.

You can find a more detailed description in the Shetland Wildlife news section and a report is due to come!

Hopefully next year the sun will shine on Shetland Wildlfie!

Sakertour team

We operated our first ever photo-tour with our partners Wild Images from 16th to 22nd May, 2010. The weather was simply horrific as we did not see the sun for 5 days at all and it rained more or less continously. This has never ever happened to one of our Hungary groups before and it was frustrating and disappointing. Finally the last full day of the tour and the day of departure enjoyed good and sunny weather. This did show to our photographers what could be done from the series of hides. Next time!

Middle-spotted Woodpecker Photo: Tour participants Eric McCabe

Female Red-footed Falcon in the rain Photo: János Oláh

Let´s hope the weather will be kinder for the rest of May and other photographers!

Sakertour team

The first time ever our partner Shetland Wildlife is starting a birdwatching tour in Hungary. They are doing our classic Hortobágy-Zemplén tour.

The weather is not looking good with plenty of rain in the forecast but I am sure the unusually wet Hortobágy will have a lot of surprises. There are plenty of White-winged Terns starting to breed and Broad-billed Sandpipers were seen in the last few days.

We will keep you updated about the tour!

Sakertour team

Our two country classic tour, which was introduced by Sakertour in the early 1990´s was a great success again! We visited the famous Hortobágy National Park and Transylvania in a 9 days tour with our partner Limosa!

Temminck Stint

It was a keen party of birders and we worked hard to see as many special birds and moments as possible. We recorded 209 species in 9 days, which is a terrific total in Europe just over a week. There were many highlights but surely the fighting Wallcreepers were a great delight to all of us as it finished on the top of the ´Bird of the trip´ contest!

Red-throated Pipt in breeding plumage

Other memorable moments were displaying Three-toed Woodpeckers on the same dead treetop, thre Brown Bears in broad sunlight from a hide, all the possible warblers (17 species!) including River, Aquatic, Moustached and Icterine Warblers, superb male Red-breasted Flycatcher and many Collared Flycatchers, as many as 20 Red-throated Pipits, excellent views of Ural and Scops Owls, a fine male of the shy White-backed Woodpecker, many Temminck Stints and four summer plumaged Broad-billed Sandpipers were the icing on the cake. And this list could go on and on…but look out for the report on the Limosa website!

Ural Owl

Sakertour team

We can say that we were very lucky with the group as we encountered only a few quick showers in this very wet spring and the weather was exceptionally nice during the majority of the trip. We started with a nice Eastern Imperial Eagle view, just an hour after the plane touched down at Budapest airport. The Zemplén hills proved very productive and encounters during our two and a half day stay included two Ural Owls, Tawny Owl, male and female White-backed Woodpecker, Corncrake, Barred and River Warblers. A beautiful male Collared Flycatcher chasing away a Great Tit in the leaf litter of the nice beech forest just 5 meters from our feet was a memorable sight, while the view of White and 4 Black Stoks, 2 White-tailed Eagles, a Lesser Spotted Eagle, a Black Kite and a Hobby from one point was also very nice. On the Hortobágy we also managed to pick up the specialities during our four days stay, such as Ferruginous Duck, Stone Curlew, Saker Falcon, Great Bustrad, Aquatic Warbler, Moustached Warbler, many Pygmy Cormorant, many parties of Bearded Reedlings with freshly fledged juveniles, a Penduline Tit nest with the feeding adults, and as a bonus, we encountered two Broad-billed Sanpipers by a small pool. In the last morning in a nearby forest we completed our woodpecker list with Middle-spotted and Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers, and thus we saw all 9 species of this interesting family, which is available in Hungary.

Landscape in the Zemplén hills Photo: Gábor Simay

Ural Owl Photo: Gábor Simay

This spring White-winged Black Terns were numerous over the marshes of the Hortobágy Photo: Gábor Simay

Sakertour team

We had three days birding in the Hortobágy region with superb weather following two days in the Zemplén mountaines where we experienced heavy rain. After all we managed to see all target species in both areas and finished a great five days birding in Eastern Hungary!

Five minutes after we entered Hungary from Austria a female Pallid Harrier was flying slowly above us.

In the Hortobágy we encountered Ferruginous Ducks,  Long-legged Buzzard, several Montagu´s Harriers, Saker, Red-footed Falcons, no less than 8 Great Bustrads some of them displaying for us, brilliant scope views of Sone-curlew, Mediterranean Gull, a beautifully perched European Nightjar, singing Aquatic Warblers, Moustached Warblers and a very late migrating Firecrest.

Mediterranean Gull Photo: János Oláh

In the Bihar plains we saw a total of 26 Glossy Ibises which was a record number in the area! We also saw Squacco Heron, Red-crested Pochard and close views of Little Crakes and Grasshopper Warbler.

In the vicinity of the Hortobágy we found five species of woodpeckers so we headed towards the mountains with great expectations.

Despite the bad weather in the Zemplén area we could see all our target species including Lesser Spotted Eagles, Short-toed Eagle, Corncrake, Eagle Owl, Tawny Owl, River Warbler and Rock Bunting.

On the way back to the airport we found an adult Imperial Eagle which proved to be a super ending of a very successfull tour.

Attila Simay

Sakertour team

We have three of our partner tours arriving on the 1st of May! This is the offical start of a very busy Spring (following our tour cancellations because of the volcano activities). Birds are abundant and most of the late arriving birds also returned from the wintering grounds. Even Corncrake, Aquatic Warbler, Marsh Warbler and Red-breasted Flycatcher is allready here.

The Hortobágy area is very wet this year and hence we are looking forward to a superb year for breeding marshterns. Already thousands of White-winged Black Terns looking for suitable breeding area.

White-winged Black Tern in the Hortobágy (2010) Photo: János Oláh

Hide Photography season is well under its way as well and not only two pairs of Red-footed Falcons occupying nest boxes close to our hide but most other hides also brilliant! The waterbird hides are great with up to 6 species of ducks are being photographed there daily!

Ferruginous Duck in front of the PygmyCormorant hide Photo: János Oláh

In the Passerine hide despite the rainy weather up to 24 species has been seen daily in the last days.

Hope to see you in Eastern Europe soon!

Sakertour team

A Subalpine Warbler was caught at Hódmezővásárhely in southern Hungary. This is the second ever observation of the species in Hungary!

This superb bird was caught by Borbáth Erna on the 17th of April so our great thanks goes to her!!!

A few images of the bird:

Subalpine Warbler after the realase Photo: Attila Szilágyi

Subalpine Warbler in the hand Photo: János Oláh

Subalpine Warbler in the hand Photo: János Oláh

Sakertour team

Our tour with Island Ventures was unable to come because of the Iceland volcanic activities!

Lets hope this event will not carry on throughout the Spring.

Check out the itinerary here and there could be one or two spare spaces left for 2011!

Sakertour team

In the second half of April some of our guides spent a weekend in the Carpathian Mountains. The weather was nice although there were still 80cm of snow and the night temperature was down to -9C. We stayed in a so called ´lekking house´ close to a Capercaillie display area. We managed to see up to 8 Capercaillies.

The ´lekking house´ at night Photo: János Oláh

Surprisingly some Ring Ouzels were already in the breeding elevation though large number of migrants were seen on the lower pastures. Crossbills were busily feeding youngs and Three-toed Woodpeckers were starting to drumm.

Female Crossbill Photo: János Oláh

For more images please check out our Transylvania blog here.

Sakertour team

For the second time this year we were disposing owl nest-boxes. This time Tengmalm´ Owl boxes were distributed in Slovakia. 

Tengmalm´s Owl boxes with Zoltán Photo: János Oláh

The Sakertour nest box scheme supplies new breeding boxes for owls every year. This year we have constructed 25 Ural Owl nest boxes and 10 Tengmalm´s Owl nest boxes.

The scheme helps us to show our tour participants these secretive birds with a higher success rate then any other company in the Carpathian region!

Eurasian Pygmy Owl Photo: János Oláh

During this nest-boxing weekend we encountered several species and individuals during both daytime and at dusk. One of the Eurasian Pygmy Owls was posing superbly for us. The best encounter was seeing Ural Owl, Eurasian Pygmy Owl and Tengmalm´s Owl from the very same spot (virtually not moving our feet) and also heard a fourth species (Tawny Owl) there.

Other highlights of the weekend were several Hazel Grouses and four White-backed Woodpeckers.

Sakertour team