Tour information

High bird diversity and high hide disparity. This is a fantastic tour to photograph some rare and localized Eastern European bird species in our sophisticated nature inbuilt hide network installed in the well-known Hortobágy National Park.

The spring-summer season generally can be devided to two periods: mid April to mid May is usually better for waterbirds (Shorebird Hide and Egret-Stork Hide is full operation) while from mid May to early July it is better for colourful birds (Roller, Bee-eater, shrikes). This is a general information and obviously demarcation is not always so strong and highly depends on weather and the actual time of late returning migrants.

Tour starting and ending time: It is important to book your flight according to the official starting and ending times of the tour! Our bus and guide will be waiting all participants in  the Liszt Ferenc Airport at Budapest. Please make sure you can reach the starting point in time at 14:00 on the tour starting date! If you wish to arrive earlier to Budapest our office can help you to book accommodation and logistics. However if you arrive early you need to make your way to the airport for the meeting time. In some cases we can pick up clients from the nearby airport hotels (please check with our office). Also very important that the tour only ends at 13:00 on the last day so please do not book flights out of Budapest earlier than 16:00 on the last day!

Timing: Fixed dates but also available upon request
Recommended period between 20th April and 20th July

Duration: 7 days (6 nights)

Photo hides and species: We have five full days for photography allowing a wide selection of hides to be used. It is possible to use different hides every day but this is all subject of discussion with the guide on the first evening. If somebody want to spend several days in the same hide it is also possible. Photography on the arrival and departure days is not guaranteed on the tour but if hides available it is possible.

Normally we would visit the „Pygmy Cormorant Hide” which is located in deeper water and is suitable to take photos of a wide range of waterbirds (Pygmy Cormorant, Great Egret, Ferruginous Duck, Marsh Harrier etc.). We would also use the „Egret and Stork Hide”, which is located by a shallow pool and excellent for storks, herons and egrets from late April to late May. Our prime target will be Black Stork, Spoonbill and Night Heron but various other birds also possible. Another hide we would use is the „Red-footed Falcon Tower”, which gives an intimate insight into the private life of these magnificent raptors. Our visits to the different „Passerine Drinking Hides” vary greatly but provided weather conditions are adequate many sought-after species are possible (Sparrowhawk, Black, Green, Lesser and Middle-Spotted Woodpeckers, Collared Flycatcher, Warblers, Hawfinch, Yellowhammer etc.). The “Shorebird Hide” is usually good at the beginning of the season in April and early May with changing subjects. Also if we have time we might visit one of our “Mobile Hides” or spend some time with photographing herons and egrets in flight. We also have hides for Roller, Hoopoe and Bee-eater. The latter is usually from mid May only.

Upon request we organize one day for „stalking photography” targeting any possible species available in the area. For more information (available hides, comfort, hide technical information, bird species) visit our hides menu item or contact us!

Logistics: Our daily routine is variable and highly depends on weather and the month (April, May or June). Some of our hides were designed for half days and others for all day usage. Starting times also variable and ranging from 0430 to 0630. If the daily program is for all day’s hide-usage breakfast is taken in the Bíbic Lodge and the photographers supplied with packed lunch. If we have two photo sessions a day, the photographers also supplied by packed lunch as we rarely return to the lodge. In the tours in June or in case of very hot weather the photographers have a few hour rest in the middle of the day. So they have a morning (05:30–10:30) and an afternoon (16:00–20:00) photography session.

Recommended equipment: This tour will offer you very diverse photographing opportunities. Therefore, we suggest that you bring along lenses from fish-eye and wide angle to 300mm and 500mm ones.

Expected number of birds species photographed on this tour: 30-55 species

What to bring: torch, binocular, tripod, insect repellent, sun block and hat

Accommodation & Road Transport: We use the fantastic Bíbic Nature Lodge in Balmazújváros which is perfectly located to reach any of our hides. Road transport is by car (4×4 if required) and depending on weather conditions can be bumpy and rough on some tracks to some hides.

Walking: The walking effort is mostly easy throughout the tour if the weather conditions are not extremes we should be able to drive close to most hides. The ‘Shorebird Hide’ is usually approached by walking in wellington boots.

Climate: In May-June-July most days are warm, dry and sunny and temperature is up to 30C. It can be distinctly cool at dawn however.