Month: January 2011

The Hungarian Ornithological Society (MME) – http://www.mme.hu/ – made the 8th Hungarian Eagle count in mid January. During this event over 275 observers counted wintering eagles all over Hungary. The most common eagle was White-tailed Eagle with 475 individuals and about 60 of these were in the Hortobágy region! This number in the Hortobágy area was well undercounted because of thick fog throughout the counts (14-15 January). Just 10 days later well over 90 WtE were counted in the Hortobágy area. Second most common was the Eastern Imperial Eagle with 170 individuals seen, followed by one Golden Eagles and three Greater Spotted Eagle.

The activity around the Sakertour eagle hides in the Hortobágy National Park is changing every day. Today we had 3 WtE at one of our hides.

Adult White-tailed Eagle carrying food                                                            Photo: János Oláh

Sakertour team

One of our partner tour operator arrived today to the Hortobágy National Park. The Terres Oubliées group main target is Whit-tailed Eagle photography. Hopefully the weather will be good, the forecast is promising with cold winter days and sunshine for the next week with some snow. A definite improvment to the foggy, misty, wet two weeks behind us!

Adult White-tailed Eagle                                                                            Photo: János Oláh

We will let you know the success of the photo-tour!

Sakertour Team

The winter in Hungary is certainly wet and variable this year (2010/2011)! The water situation has not improved (since April) at all and the eastern part of the Hortobágy National Park received almost 1400mm precipitation in 2010. This is just about three times the normal and made photography difficult last year.

Adult White-tailed Eagle                                                                                                        Photo: Gábor Simay

The White-tailed Eagle photography was excellent throughout December however and many of our visiting photographers enjoyed great views and many actions of these magnificent birds. Since Christmas the activity droped but still very nice images were captured!

Juvenile White-tailed Eagles                                                                          Photo: Johan and Chris Paulussen

Unfortunately a rapid change does not help with the eagle-photography and they can be rather unpredictable. Most of the time, however, at least one hide is visited by the eagles almost on daily basis.Also several colour-ringed birds were seen and photographed giving good data fot the research team.

Colour-ringed subadult White-tailed Eagle                                                    Photo: Johan and Chris Paulussen

Also the daily activity can vary a lot depending on the weather and other circumstances. We had a few days when many eagles visited the hide area daily and then lots of action shots were possible!

Juvenile White-tailed Eagle fighting with crows                                                                        Photo: János Oláh

See a few images below and also more images are due to be uploaded into our galleries so please keep checking here!

Calling adult White-tailed Eagle                                                                     Photo: Johan and Chris Paulussen

Subadult White-tailed Eagle                                                                           Photo: Johan and Chris Paulussen

We will have the annual eagle count on the 14th and 15th January so we will get to know the number of wintering eagles in Hungary. We will keep you posted!

Sakertour team