FOREWOOD

Hungary Species List

Black Necked Grebe - Present in 2006 at Budos Szek in the shallow floods seen from the tower hide, and again in the flooded oxbow lakes at Tiszaalpar

Great Crested Grebe - Present in 2006 at Csanytelek in the fishponds, and again in the flooded oxbow lakes at Tiszaalpar

Little Grebe - common and widespread on both visits

Cormorant - uncommon - there was one sighting at the Péteri-tó lake in 2005, and it was apparently more common at Budos Szek, Csanytelek and at Tiszaalpar in 2006

Pygmy Cormorant - A first for me in 2006, splendid little Cormorants with lovely russet brown heads, comparatively long tails and noticeably smaller and slighter than its greater cousin, well seen in good numbers at Tiszaalpar

Bittern - In 2005, there were two in the air together at Bösztör-puszta, one in flight at Szeged, and one booming at Apaj. In 2006, there were two at Apaj, another heard booming there and at Balazspusta, and one well seen in flight at Csanytelek

Night Heron - In 2005, two seen in the air together at Szeged, several nest building at Kolon-tó and Hideg, and heard by the river Tisza at Lakitelek. In 2006 very common and breeding in good numbers at the fishponds at Budos Szek and at Tiszaalpar

Squacco Heron - In 2006, two birds seen flying around at Budos Szek, and several among the other Herons at Tiszaalpar

Little Egret - present everywhere, but in small numbers, commoner in 2006

Cattle Egret - A handful of these birds seen at Budos Szek, and a couple more at Csanytelek in 2006

Great White Egret - common everywhere in substantial numbers on both visits- the commonest of the heron family

Grey Heron - present everywhere, but in relatively small numbers on both visits

Purple Heron - Seen at most reedbedson both visits, and not at all uncommon

White Stork - Just look for the nesting poles or pylons in most villages, and at many isolated farms, too - common and widely encouraged

 

Spoonbill - Localised, not uncommon, in small numbers - a colony at Kolon-tó is closely monitored and recorded (including a ringing programme). There was a large colony at Tiszaalpar in 2006

Mute Swan - Present almosy everywhere there are lakes, but in small numbers on both visits

Greylag Goose - These are really wild birds, no question of feral or escaped populations here, they are wary, common and much thought of. Seen everywhere on both visits

Wigeon - Just two sightings, in 2005, of a handful of individuals - the first at Bösztör-puszta lurking in a flooded grassy depression, and the next day on the edge of flooded fields near the Szeged fish lakes

Teal - Just one record in 2005, of a small flock from Apaj, out in the wet grass with some Garganey - which outnumbered them. A dozen or so birds in the distance at Csanytelek in 2006

Mallard - Common everywhere there was water in 2005, rare in 2006 with just two sightings at Csanytelek and Tiszaalpar

Pintail - Recorded only in 2005 at Apaj, in a pool some distance from the main hide

Gadwall - There were up to 10 pairs at Budos Szek in 2006, not a common duck in Hungary

Garganey - Not uncommon, but take some finding - present at all the wet areas in varying numbers - most were at Apaj in 2005, much more difficult to find in 2006 presumably because breeding would have commenced by then

Shoveler - Present in most lakes, but in varying numbers - most were on the salt lakes at Sósér in the rain and cold in 2005. In 2006 the only record was of birds flying around in small flocks at Budos Szek

Pochard - Present and breeding in 2006 at Budos Szek, not recorded in 2005

Ferruginous Duck - 3 sightings, all of pairs - at Apaj, Szeged, and at Péteri-tó in 2005. At Budos Szek in 2006 there were up to 4 pairs

Tufted Duck - Sighted at two locations to the South, at Szeged and Péteri-tó in 2005. present in small numbers in 2006 at Budos Szek

Honey Buzzard - In 2006, one seen displaying near Cszanytelek, and another well seen in the woods near to Ocsa

Black Kite - One very good sighting at Péteri-tó, soaring high over the woods adjoining the main lake in 2005. A single sighting in 2006 of a bird flying low over our heads at the National park Offices at Tiszaalpar

White Tailed Eagle - One electifying sighting at Péteri-tó at a distance of about half a mile in 2005, and a juvenile bird low overhead above the fishponds at Budos Szek in 2006 caused immense panic - compare the Black Headed Gull for size

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Marsh Harrier - Very common everywhere, spectacular numbers in particular at Szeged and Hideg in 2005

Hen Harrier - Just one sighting of a male at Bösztör-puszta on the first day of the 2005 visit

Goshawk - At Hideg, in the rain, in 2005, a Ruff at high speed, closely pursued by a Goshawk, both disappearing into the reeds. No trees to speak of, and no woodland for miles - I can only assume it was on passage

Sparrowhawk - One carrying prey came within feet of me whilst I was sat in a hide at Szeged in 2005, and we had distant views of a soaring bird near Balazspuszta in 2006

Buzzard - Widespread, but outnumbered by Marsh Harriers. Most were seen wherever there were trees, or sat on fences alongside the motorway

Kestrel - Common and widespread

Hobby - Three sightings in 2005 only. Probably migrant birds seen at Apaj and Szeged, and a bird said to be one of a breeding pair from the hide at Kolon-tó. Suprisingly no records in 2006

Red Footed Falcon - A pair sat disconsolately huddled against the wind and rain beside the road just North of Akasztó at a site where they were said to breed. It was most likely this was a newly arrived pair

Several sightings in 2006 at Apaj and Balazspuszta, including this fine male sat beside the road and photographed from the car

Saker - In 2005, a bird appeared quite unexpectedly and casually at Kolon-tó. I had excellent views of it's pale head and light/dark underwing pattern. In 2006 we saw three, and were also shown breeding platforms on electricity pylons

Peregrine - One sighting, in 2005, at Hideg whilst we were looking at the Red Footed Falcons - it appeared overhead and drifted away causing havoc among the Ruff at a nearby shallow lake

Pheasant - Not uncommon and present in most places

Quail - Heard calling at Balazspuszta in 2006

Water Rail - Heard but not seen at several reedbeds and beside the Tisza river in 2005

Moorhen - Present in small numbers and very local on both visits

Coot - Rather more numerous and present wherever there was open water of any size

Great Bustard - I saw 11 the first day near Kunzentmiklos, and 2 more at Apaj, where the female took flight and came flapping slowly past about 50 feet from us. This was the sighting of the 2005 trip for me. In 2006, in great heat, we found 16 males stood out on the Puszta keeping guard over breeding females

Black Winged Stilt - Not uncommon, seen at Szeged (where there was one about 20 feet from the road in the rain) and Hideg in 2005, and at Csanytelek in 2006

Avocet - There were 5 at a scrape near the road at Szeged, and a small flock at Hideg in 2005. They wwere breeding at Budos Szek in 2006

Golden Plover - A small flock at a large flooded grassy area at Apaj in 2005

Lapwing - Very common everywhere, not in large numbers, though

Temminck's Stint - a single bird flushed with some Ruff from the track ahead of us at the salt lake at Sósér in 2005

Ruff - In 2005 the commonest wader, there were flocks almost everywhere I stopped, with some of an hundred or more birds - all on passage, apparently. In 2006 they had all but gone, with just a handful of birds at Csanytelek

Black Tailed Godwit - Seen close to the road at Szeged, and at Apaj and Bösztör-puszta - all said to be on passage in 2005. In 2006 they had all but gone, with just a handful of birds at Csanytelek

Curlew - Uncommon, a passage bird seen at Apaj and Sósér in 2005, and 2 birds flying together at Csanytelek in 2006

Spotted Redshank - Uncommon, a passage bird seen at Apaj and Bösztör-puszta in 2005, and up to 10 at Csanytelek in 2006

Redshank - Breeding and common on both visits

Green Sandpiper - a single bird flushed from a ditch beside the car at Apaj in 2006

Mediterranean Gull - Present in the gull colonies at Szeged and Hideg in 2005, and at Budos Szek in 2006

Black Headed Gull - Widespread, with large colonies everywhere

Common Gull - 2 juvenile birds seen from the main hide at Apaj in 2005

Yellow Legged Gull - a single bird at Budos Szek in 2006

Herring Gull - Widespread in small numbers in 2005, although I cannot say if they were breeding or on passage, or of what race they might have been. No records in 2006

Common Tern - None seen in 2005, but common at all water bodies in 2006

Whiskered Tern - Seen in small groups in 2005, both at Apaj and Hideg, where they are said to breed. In 2006 very numerous, especially at Budos Szek and Tiszaalpar

Black Tern - Seen at the wet floods North of Apaj where there were 8 or so in 2005. Commoner in 2006 at all large water bodies.

White Winged Black Tern - Superb sightings of 2, possibly 3 at the wet floods North of Apaj in 2005, and again in 2006 at Csanytelek and at Tiszaalpar

Woodpigeon - Common in small numbers everywhere

Collared Dove - Common in all the villages and towns

Turtle Dove - Recorded at Apaj and Szeged, said to be newly arrived migrants in 2005. In 2006 they were more numerous and well established

Cuckoo - Not seen in 2005, but in 2006 present almost everywhere. One was seen being given a very severe dusting by two male Golden Orioles at Ocsa

Common Swift - Absent in 2005 (not suprisingly), and present everywhere in 2006

Kingfisher - Seen at Tiszaalpar, and again at Lakitelek in 2006

Bee Eater - Present, widespread, and breeding in 2006 wherever there were sandy banks for nesting, superb birds

Roller - Even more superb, wonderful birds seen often in 2006 in open countryside with trees and bushes, apparently associated with arable farming, easy to admire when found

Hoopoe - Seen at the conservation farm at Bösztör-puszta, and heard at Petéri-tó in 2005. Much more widespread and common in 2006 - better weather I presume

Great Spotted Woodpecker - Just one sighting in 2005, on the first stop of the first day near Fülöpháza

Syrian Woodpecker - Two sightings in 2005, at Péteri-tó and Kolon-tó. A superb close view in 2006 in the woods near Ocsa

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - Fabulous close views of one near it's nest in the woods beside the Tisza river in 2005

Black Woodpecker - One heard, and then in response to me making stupid noises, closely observed beside the Tisza river in 2005

Crested Lark - Common and widespread, seen every day, everywhere. I suspect that in 2005 the weather reduced the sightings for me

Woodlark - A single bird heard then found sitting on electricity wires in an area of sandy heath and relict dunes near to Balazspuszta in 2006. We had sropped here to look at some bee-eaters

Skylark - Recorded at most open grassy areas on both visits, less common than Crested Lark, and not as widepsread or catholic in its choice of habitat

Swallow - Common and widespread, more so in 2006

House Martin - Apparently just arriving in 2005, a few feeding high over the lake at Péteri-tó, and about 30 feeding with the Swallows at Kolon-tó. Common and widespread in 2006, even in the centre of Kecskemet with the Swifts

Sand Martin - Small numbers at Budos Szek and Tiszaalpar in 2006. Apparently whole colonies had been drowned by the Danube floods this Spring

Tawny Pipit - Three sightings of 5 birds in 2006 at Kunszentmiklos / Apaj / Balazspuszta, all on open puszta

Meadow Pipit - One seen across the arable fields near to Tiszaalpar in 2006

White Wagtail - Common and widespread

Blue Headed Wagtail - Common and widespread

Robin - Record in the woods at Ócsa on both visits

Nightingale - One singing near Fülöpháza, and one seen in reeds by Szeged lake in 2005. Several in song at various places in 2006, apparently common

Black Redstart - One sighting by the Tisza river, common in Kecskemét on both visits

Whinchat - One sighting of a single bird from the main hide at Apaj in 2005. Several in the same general area in 2006, also near to Balazspuszta

Stonechat - Common and widespread everywhere on both visits

Blackbird - Not very common, apparently, being seen on 3 occasions in 2005. Most numerous to the East around the Tisza river valley, or in the Hotel garden in 2006

Song Thrush - One in the woods at Lakitelek in 2005, and two near to Tiszaalpar and again at Ócsa in 2006

Mistle Thrush - One sighting at cultivated land beside the reeds at Péteri-tó in 2005, and one came flying past as we were admiring Red Footed Falcons at Kunszentmikos in 2006

Savi's Warbler - Common in reeds everywhere, and singing well most days in spite of the weather in 2005, and again in 2006

Moustached Warbler - Heard, then glimpsed, from the main hide at Apaj, and at Kolon-tó in 2005. Not recorded in 2006

Sedge Warbler - Apparently late arriving in 2005, but recorded from most reed beds only in one's and two's in 2006

Reed Warbler - Even less common than Sedge Warbler on both visits, eventually positively identified at Péteri-tó and at Csanytelek and Balszpusta

Great Reed Warbler - Heard at Bösztör-puszta and Péteri-tó, and then well seen in reeds at the latter place in 2005. In 2006 this was the commonest warbler, shouting away in almost every reed bed, large or small, that we saw

Blackcap - All my 21005 sightings were away from the Puszta, first near Fülöpháza, at Lakitelek, and then at Ócsa. In 2006 they were by the time of the visit the only warbler still singing in numbers, anywhere there were trees

Wood Warbler - Recorded in 2005 with several birds singing at Ócsa, 2 in particular gave very obliging close views

Chiffchaff - Like the Blackcap, all my sightings on both visits were away from the Puszta, first near Fülöpháza, then at Lakitelek, and then at Ócsa

Spotted Flycatcher - Recorded in 2006 in woods near to Tiszaalpar and at Ocsa

Bearded Tit - Briefly seen, though heard well, at Apaj in 2005, and good views in 2006 at Budos Szek

Penduline Tit - Excellent close views of 3 or 4 birds at Budos Szek in 2006

Long Tailed Tit - Seen in the woods at Ócsa in 2005. In 2006 we were shown a nest and led to believe they are uncommon

Blue Tit - Just two sightings, at Péteri-tó and Ócsa in 2005, and in 2006 only a handful of sightings, all in woodland

Great Tit - More common than Blue Tit, in trees, and also seen in reeds at Szeged in 2005

Nuthatch - Well seen in trees beside the Tisza river in 2005, and in the wood at ocsa in 2006

Short Toed Treecreeper - Excellent close views in 2006 at Ocsa

Golden Oriole - One heard then glimpsed at Péteri-tó, apparently a very early individual. In 2006 very good numbers present almost anywhere, with some superb close sightings - but we weren't lucky or quick enough to get any photos. 2 males seen very aggressively beating up a Cuckoo at Ocsa

Red Backed Shrike - Recorded in 2006 almost everywhere we went, common and widespread, brilliant

Lesser Grey Shrike - Seen in 2006. Only slightly less common than Red-Backed but exclusively seen in open habitat

Jay - Occasional sightings - up to 12 birds in bushed among the reeds at Apaj reckoned to be on passage in 2005. None seen in 2006

Magpie - Uncommon, but widespread, mostly around villages and towns

Jackdaw - A small breeding colony at Hideg, in the National Park farm building, and a few around town in Kecskemet

Rook - Uncommon in 2005, seen near to Fülöpháza. Common and widespread in 2006

Carrion Crow - These are Hooded Crows, and are common everywhere. For me the Grey/Black plumage was often confusing, and I thought I was looking at something different!

Starling - Common everywhere

House Sparrow - Common everywhere

Tree Sparrow - Happily, common everywhere, even on houses!!

Chaffinch - Common everywhere

Serin - Singing in Kecskemét town centre, and up to 5 at feeders in the hotel garden one morning in 2005

Goldfinch - Common everywhere, and present at feeders in the hotel garden every day

Greenfinch - Widespread in small numbers, and present at feeders in the hotel garden every day

Hawfinch - In 2005, a really close view of a male which was apparently upset by my presence in the woods at Ócsa - superb. Not recorded in 2006

Reed Bunting - Common, in small numbers, at all reedbeds I visited

Corn Bunting - Common everywhere, a migrant which returns early in the season

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