We spent 3 full and two half days – shared between the Hortobágy and the Zemplén-hills – with Simon and his friends and we did have some really great birding. We had really close and fabolous views of male Little Crake, long scope views of singing Moustached, River, Marsh and Barred Warblers, Ural Owl in the forest and a good range of woodpeckers and raptors, including a fine male Pallid Harrier fighting with a Short-eared Owl. Great Bustrads were still displaying, while around some wetlands we found Great Snipe, 3 Broad-billed Sandpipers, Red-throated Pipits and we had side-by-side views of Great Bitterns. The biggest surprise for sure was two adult Dalmation Pelicans in the Hortobágy!

(Photos: Gábor Simay)

Sakertour team