Month: March 2020

The MME/BirdLife Hungary organized the 3rd Pannonian Eagle Count (which was also the 17th Hungarian), where experts from seven countries were involved to search and count all the Eagles possible to assess a wintering population in the area. Besides the Eagles other raptor species were counted as well.
A total of 396 observer from Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia counted more than 1,100 White-eailed Eagles and more than 530 Imperial Eagles and for addition almost 13,000 other raptor species were taken into account including an interesting number of almost 9,000 Common Buzzard.

For more detailed information visit the site for the conservation of the Pannonian population of Imperial Eagles. 

This season the Hortobágy was again the No.1 site for White-tailed Eagles (again) and the feeding stations operated by Sakertours (within the Hortobágy National Park) are important for the wintering eagles.

For more pictures and a short summary about the 2019/2020 winter season in the Hortobágy please take a look at our Hortobágy Photography blog.

Juvenile Imperial Eagle surrounded by White-tailed Eagles in the Hortobágy by ©Jure Novak

Adult White-tailed Ealge from the Hortobágy by ©Jure Novak

Sakertour Team

In 2020 we are also launching our exciting Zemplén Photo Safari Extension which is a great photo experience in old style stalking photography and using mobile blinds / tents for various subjects in the World Heritage Tokaj area. Altough its famous for its superb and unique white wine the region also has amazing natural resources! This tour can be linked as a pre or post tour extension to our Spring-summer Hide-Photography Tour in the Hortobágy area. Also recommended for birder / photographers as some scarce species possible. In late April and early may we target Ural Owl and various woodpecker species (like Black, White-backed and Middle and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers) while later in the season (from mid May) the unique Wryneck is the star of the show. We have hundreds of owl nest boxes in this area as Zemplén has been one of the main areas our owl nest box project was running.

Ural Owl in its special breeding cravices in the Zemplén Hills (János Oláh)

Sakertour Team

In 2020 we are a launching our One Day Hortobágy Crane Photography Tour in the Hortobágy National Park. This tour was designed for anybody who want to make the best of the Crane experience when visiting this fabulous park in the October Cranes season when up to 150 000 birds staging in the area. Of course the weather is unpredictable but this tour was designed to make the best of the day in any circumstances. We only take up to 3 person a day from 1st to 20th October in every year. Read more about this at the tour page. The 2019 testing of this tour was a great success with many happy clients and some superb Crane experiences. The Crane Spectacle in the Hortobágy can be amazing when 50 000 Cranes roosting together!

Roosting Cranes in the Hortobágy National Park by drone – right in front of our Roosting Crane Hide (Attila Szilagyi)

Cranes right in front of the hide at dawn (Attila Szilágyi)

Sakertour Team