Well Hide

Hungary

Location and installation year

This hide is located in the northern part of the Hortobágy National Park. This is a multifunctional hide what we use for geese, waders and drinking passerines in summer and than for eagles and gulls in winter. Nowadays it is our main eagle hide!The hide is inside an old well so allows low angle photography and perfectly blends into the landscape as it was a well in the past. It was installed in an open steppe habitat in August 2009, later refurbished in 2013 and rebuilt in 2023 with an extra cabin. So capacity now up to 5 photographers.

Access

It is usually possible to drive to the hide. In extreme wet conditions especially in winter with no ice we may need to walk (10 minutes) to reach the hide.

Size and style

It is circular inside (being inside a well) and the diameter 220 cm and 190 cm high. It has three 220 cm by 50 cm photo-through windows into three different directions. The upper part of the hide is 300 cm by 300 cm. Exactly 80 cm of the hide is inside the well, below the surface. It is comfortable for three photographers. The secnod newly installed section is comfortable for two more photographers.

Comfort and accessories

Three chairs with back support
Curtains
Gas operated heating system (to ensure a temperature of 15°C when it is -10°C outside) from November to March
Storage place
Ventilators against the steaming up of the glass window
Portable toilet

Regulation

Spring-summer regulation: this hide can be entered any time of the day. The use of the curtain system is essential if more than one window is in operation!

Winter regulation: this hide must be entered before daylight (cc 06:00) and can only be left after dusk (cc 17:00), since the eagles are very shy and once disturbed they can abandon the feeding station for days. Smoking is strictly forbidden in the hide because of the heating system. The use of the curtain system is essential if more than one window is in operation!

Recommended Photo Equipment

The distance of the eagles from the hide can be regulated by placing out fish. The eagles are shy but they usually come about 10-30 meter close. It has a pool near the hide. The pool starts 2 meter away and about 15 meter long so the furthest point of the pool is about 17 meter from the hide. All sorts of lenses are recommended but 500 mm for perched birds and 300 mm for flight shots are best. Occasionally the eagles can appear within 10 meters from the hide and then a 70-200 zoom is very handy. Extenders.

What to bring

Spring-summer
-No essential items

Winter
– Headlight
– Warm clothing for emergency

Photo period

All year round

Possible species

Grey Heron (all year round), Great Egret (April to September), White-tailed Eagle (December to March), Greyleg Goose (March to October); Greater White-fronted Goose (November and February); Lesser White-fronted Goose (September); Red-breasted Goose (February); Crane (September to November); Common Buzzard (December to March), Rough-legged Buzzard (December and January); Goshawk (December and Januray); Hen Harrier (December to March), Saker (December), Merlin, Common Kestrel (May to August); Lapwing (March to October), Ruff (Agust and September); Wood Sandpiper (June to August); Greenshank (August and September); Eurasian Curlew (August to October); Common Snipe (June to October) Black-headed Gull (March to September), Common Gull (December to March), Caspian Gull (November to April), Yellow-legged Gull (November to April), Lesser Black-backed Gull (March); Skylark ()June to September); Great Grey Shrike (December to March), Hoopoe (April to July); Wheatear (April to July); Magpie (all year round), Jackdaw (March to September), Rook (all year round), Hooded Crow (all year round), Raven (December to March), Starling (March to September);