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