Breaking up their holiday in Budapest, Iain and his son (from Singapore) came to the Hortobágy to clean their European list (6th to 9th October). Due to intense bird activity and perfect weather, all of their missing species were seen one after another: We had a close view of Long-legged Buzzard, Saker, Great Bustard (21 ind.), Dotterel, Golden Plover, Red-footed Falcon, Jack Snipe, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Penduline Tit, Bearded Tit, Black-throated Diver, Pygmy Cormorant and Syrian Woodpecker. For a short day, we had a trip in Zemplén, where all of the four wanted species were sighted, such as Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, Ural Owl, Tawny Owl and Eagle Owl. Iain had never had three new owl species in a day before!

Zoltán Ecsedi