October 1st in the Hortobágy
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