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

We were delighted to operate another Hungary in Autumn tour for Birdquest this year! The tour was positioned to see the fantastic-looking Red-breasted Goose and the increasingly rare Lesser White-fronted Goose on the same tour. This year we saw both species without difficulty. It took some time to locate them amongst the 80,000 geese present in the Hortobágy region but we finally got multiple great looks at both species!

Red-breasted Geese      Photo: tour participant Hugh Gallagher

This action packed short break to Hungary this year was blessed with fantastic weather throughout the tour and in addition to the birds we experienced the superb wine of Tokaj as well.

Ural Owl                         Photo: tour participant Hugh Gallagher

Birding highlights of the five days apart from the geese were eight species of woodpeckers (including White-backed), six species of owls (including Eurasian Eagle and Ural), Ferruginous Ducks, Saker, Greater Spotted, White-tailed and Eastern Imperial Eagles, Great Bustard and thousands of cranes. It is always relaxing to watch the roosting-flight of the cranes. A very nice tour indeed!

Sakertour team

As in previous years, we spent a week in the Hortobágy area. The tour started on 30th of October, a date that usually coincides with the arrival of huge flocks of geese, however, cranes are also still numerous in the area.

We had luck with both, as (mainly in the beginning of the week) beautiful sunsets ensured some memorable moments with thousands of Common Cranes flying towards their roosting area in the evening.

Common Cranes                                                                   Photo:Gábor Simay

In the marshy grasslands and drained fishponds we had three encounters with Red-breasted Geese, and we also saw three nice adult Lesser White-fronted Geese, from quite a short distance and we could study all the field characters of this endangered species. We also had great views of 14 Great Bustards.

Flock of Greater White-fronted Geese                                 Photo:Gábor Simay

Beside these we had a great selection of raptors: magnificent views of Saker Falcons (one of them with prey); many White-tailed Eagles (max. 8 together); 3 adult Eastern Imerial Eagles and an adult Great Spotted Eagle; Long-legged and Rough-legged Buzzards.

Penduline Tit         Photo:Gábor Simay

Owing to the mild weather we saw fair numbers of Ferruginous Ducks (max 40 on one day), some Pygmy Cormorants and even some Spoonbills (quite a late date). The reedbeds were full of Penduline Tits and Bearded Reedlings.

Beraded Reedling Photo:Gábor Simay

We had good views of Syrian, Middle-spotted and Black Woodpeckers, Short-toed Treecreeper and in the forested areas many Hawfinches.

Hawfinch                                                                                Photo:Gábor Simay

Weatherwise it was a really beautiful week with sunshine and no wind or fog at all!

Sakertour team

We had a full day´s birdwatching in the Hortobágy and despite it being cloudy we had a lucky bird-full day with some spectacular sightings as well.

First came a Stone Curlew and after some walking we spotted a few Great Bustards as well. Nearby newly-arrived juvenile Hen Harriers and a few White-tailed Eagles flew by eventually flushing the bustards. We were extremely lucky indeed as we had some cover and they didn´t notice us, so we could enjoy a closefly past of no less then 19 female Great Bustards.

After this we walked a short distance around the first section of Hortobágy-fishponds where we saw 21 Penduline Tits in one flock and a couple of very confiding Bearded Reedling as well as a first year Purple Heron, which should have migrated south by now.

On our way to Balmazújváros we saw a Saker (our second bird today), which pearched up in a pylon close by. Suddenly it took to the air and started to chase some Starlings, eventually landing nearby in a freshly ploughed field, where we could enjoy unusually close views of this first year bird.

After spending most of the afternoon in the northern grasslands we visited a wetland near Balmazújváros where we saw 4 Cattle Egretts together, still a scarce bird in Hungary, plus a very late Red-necked Phalarope in juvenile plumage, which was rather a surprise.

At the and of a successful birding day, we enjoyed an evening watching cranes flying towards their roosting site.

Simay Gábor

One of the four Cattle Egrets                  Photo: Simay Gábor

Juvenile Red-necked Phalarope              Photo: Simay Gábor

This weekend (4-5 September, 2010) we had several photographers and a party of 8 birdwatchers to visit the Hortobágy with Sakertour.

Although the photography is slower then in Spring our guests had Little Crakes, Water Rails, Pygmy Cormorants, Kingfishers and Otters in front of the hides and also had a stalking photography session for Dotterel!

Dotterel on the Hortobágy (4th September) Photo: Attila Szilágyi

The birdwatching group also had an amazing day with the following highlights (number of birds in brackets):

Squacco Heron (17)

Spoonbills (120)

White-tailed Eagle (1)

Short-toed Eagle (2)

Pallid Harrier (1male)

Pallid Harrier on the Hortobágy (4th September) Photo: Michael Turner Caine

Honey Buzzard (3)

Red-footed Falcon (20)

Saker (2)

Little Crake (1)

Great Bustards (8)

Stone-Curlew (5)

Collared Pratincole (1)

Dotterel (3)

Temminck Stint (1)

Marsh Sandpiper (4)

White-winged Tern (8)

Turtle Dove (500+)

Little Owl (1)

Long-eared Owl (29)

Roller (4)

Syrian Woodpecker (2male)

Tawny Pipt (1)

Bluethroat (5)

Savi´s Warbler (8)

Red-backed Shrike (120+)

Sakertour team

János Oláh and Zoltán Baczó were birding in the Southern Hortobágy on the 1st of September and were lucky to find an adult Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Borzas Fishponds. For the location please check the rarebirds.hu map. This is only the 8th record for Hungary and the third for the Hortobágy region! Many thanks for Ádám K. Selmeczi for the brilliant documentation images (more images on the birding.hu) on the first day!

Adult Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the 1st September Photo: Ádám K. Selmeczi

Adult Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the 2nd September Photo: János Oláh

Sakertour team

The report of our 2010 tour with Wild Images has now been uploaded and you can see it here. We are delighted to note that the next tour in May 2011 is already full! Book early for 2012 to avoid disappointment!

European Roller on the 2010 Wild Images tour to Hortobágy Photo by participant John Hunt

Sakertour team

We were delighted to attend the first Pannonian Bird Experience (www.birdexperience.org) organized in the Seewinkel area of Austria. This was the first BirdFair in Central Europe and there were 3000 visitors to the event. Birdwatchers and photographers came to visit our stand and chat about birds and to taste the superb Tokaj wine and the tasty mangalica salami.

We shared a stand together with HEA (www.hortobagyte.hu) and advertised the natural beauty of the amazing Hortobágy National Park in Hungary.

Our stand at the Pannonian Bird Experience Photo: János Oláh

Sakertour team

We have had several Little Crakes visiting our Pygmy Cormorant and Reedbed Hides throughout August. They are daily visitors with probably more than two individuals at each location. These secretive birds seem to be regular from our hides in late summer. Based on our 2009 and 2010 experiences we can say that our hides in the Hortobágy are the most reliable sites to photograph this skulking species! They have feeding very close to the hides, sometime as close as 50cm(!) but usually within 8 meters against a lovely background of yellow Fringed Water-lily and Greater Bladderwort.

Come and photograph Little Crakes from our hides!

Little Crake in front of the hide Photo: János Oláh

Sakertour team