Hungarian Bird Festival 2008

SUMMARY

The 2008 WildWings Hungarian Bird Festival got off to a good start as the flight from the UK arrived in Budapest on time and everyone was soon heading eastwards towards the Festival base at the edge of the Hortobagy region. On route one of our bus drivers impressed everyone by spotting an Eastern Imperial Eagle ! A bit distant, but a great find nevertheless.

Most of the Festival participants arrived in Hungary with a handful of target bird species that they really wanted to tick-off, and they soon let us know! On the first day birds such as Saker, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Great Bustard, Collared Pratincole, Ural Owl, Syrian Woodpecker, Lesser Grey Shrike and Aquatic, Barred and River Warblers were mentioned as key objectives. For others, almost everything was of interest and many mentioned how thrilled they were to see how abundant White Storks, Purple Herons, Great White Egrets, Squacco Herons, Marsh Harriers, European Bee-eaters, Golden Orioles, Red-backed Shrikes and Tree Sparrows are in the Hungarian countryside.

So, with the key birds in mind, we set about organising the various excursions to different habitats (fishponds, rice-fields, marshes, grasslands, backwaters, farmland) in and around the Hortobagy National Park. During the week we had 4x4 trips, bus trips and some went on foot and by bike. We also arranged trips a little further afield into the Heves and Borsod grasslands and longer day trips to the broadleaved forests of the Bukk and Zemplen Hills. On most days a hard-core of Festival participants worked the area around Tiszafured on foot before breakfast. Finding one's own birds is a very satisfying part of birding and the parkland and backwaters of the Tiszafured area certainly offered that possibility. At every breakfast there were tales of Wryneck, Syrian Woodpecker, River Warbler etc.

Besides the common species and the speciality birds we knew we were expected to find, we also came across some unexpected ones: like Black-throated Diver, Terek Sandpiper (which proved really popular with many participants) and Black-winged Pratincole (a real bonus). By day three most participants had seen the real Hungarian specialities such as Eastern Imperial Eagle, Red-footed Falcon, Saker Falcon, Great Bustard and Aquatic Warbler. Other special Eastern European birds like Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck, Long-legged Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Little Crake, Collared Pratincole, Caspian Gull, White-winged Black Tern, Ural Owl, River Warbler, Barred Warbler, Collared Flycatcher and Lesser Grey Shrike were popular, too. Personally, I was particularly pleased that eight woodpecker species were seen during the Festival. Woodpeckers are my favourite bird family. Indeed, Wryneck and Syrian Woodpecker were seen daily as they were very active around our accommodation.

A few participants took time-outs from the birding and relaxed by the pool, one or two even took the plunge and tested the water. But generally birding was the reason most came to Hungary and that is what took up most people's time. Local bird guides Bence, Dan, Sandor, Gabor and Szabolcs all worked hard to show the participants the birds they had come to Hungary to see and I would like to thank them for making the Hungarian Bird Festival a success.

Gerard Gorman, June 2008.

This is the ’official’ species list, seen during the first event held 3rd – 10th May 2008 as recorded during the nightly group logs.

GAVIIDAE (Divers)

Black-throated Diver, Gavia arctica

PODICIPEDIDAE (Grebes)

Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis

Great-crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus

Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps griseigena

Black-necked Grebe, Podiceps nigricollis

PHALACROCORACIDAE (Cormorants)

Pygmy Cormorant, Phalacrocorax pygmaeus

Common Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo

ARDEIDAE (Herons, Egrets and Bitterns)

Little Egret, Egretta garzetta

Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea

Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea

Great White Egret, Egretta alba

Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides

Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax

Common Bittern, Botaurus stellaris

THRESKIORNITHIDAE (Ibis and Spoonbills)

Eurasian Spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia

CICONIIDAE (Storks)

Black Stork, Ciconia nigra

White Stork, Ciconia ciconia

ANATIDAE (Waterfowl)

Mute Swan, Cygnus olor

Greylag Goose, Anser anser

Common Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna

Eurasian Wigeon, Anas penelope

Gadwall, Anas strepera

Common Teal, Anas crecca

Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos

Garganey, Anas querquedula

Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata

Common Pochard, Aythya ferina

Ferruginous Duck, Aythya nyroca

Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina

ACCIPITRIDAE (Hawks, Eagles and Kites)

Eurasian Honey Buzzard, Pernis apivorus

White-tailed Eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla

Western Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus

Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus

Montagu's Harrier, Circus pygargus

Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus

Common Goshawk, Accipiter gentilis

Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo

Long-legged Buzzard, Buteo rufinus

Lesser-spotted Eagle, Aquila pomarina

Eastern Imperial Eagle, Aquila heliaca

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

FALCONIDAE (Falcons)

Eurasian Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus

Red-footed Falcon, Falco vespertinus

Eurasian Hobby, Falco subbuteo

Saker Falcon, Falco cherrug

PHASIANIDAE (Pheasants, Grouse and Quails)

Common Quail, Coturnix coturnix

Ring-necked Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus

RALLIDAE (Rails and Coots)

Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus

Little Crake, Porzana parva

Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus

Common Coot, Fulica atra

GRUIDAE (Cranes)

Common Crane, Grus grus

OTIDIDAE (Bustards)

Great Bustard, Otis tarda

CHARADRIIDAE (Plovers and Lapwings)

Greater Ringed Plover, Charadrius hiaticula

Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius

Northern Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus

SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers)

Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago

Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa

Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus

Common Redshank, Tringa totanus

Common Greenshank, Tringa nebularia

Green Sandpiper, Tringa ochropus

Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola

Terek Sandpiper, Xenus cinereus

Common Sandpiper, Tringa hypoleucos

Little Stint, Calidris minuta

Temminck's Stint, Calidris temminckii

Dunlin, Calidris alpina

Ruff, Philomachus pugnax

BURHINIDAE (Stone Curlews)

Stone Curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus

HAEMATOPODIDAE (Oystercatchers)

Eurasian Oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus

RECURVIROSTRIDAE (Avocets and Stilts)

Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus

Pied Avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta

GLAREOLIDAE (Pratincoles)

Collared Pratincole, Glareola pratincola

Black-winged Pratincole, Glareola nordmanni

LARIDAE (Gulls and Terns)

Little Gull, Larus ridibundus

Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus

Yellow-legged Gull, Larus michahellis

Caspian Gull, Larus cachinnans

Whiskered Tern, Chlidonias hybridus

White-winged Black Tern, Chlidonias leucopterus

Black Tern, Chlidonias niger

Little Tern, Sterna albifrons

Common Tern, Sterna hirundo

COLUMBIDAE (Pigeons and Doves)

Feral Pigeon, Columba livia

Stock Dove, Columba oenas

Woodpigeon, Columba palumbus

Turtle Dove, Streptopelia turtur

Eurasian Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto

CUCULIDAE (Old World Cuckoos)

Common (Eurasian Cuckoo), Cuculus canorus

STRIGIDAE (Owls)

Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo

Ural Owl, Strix uralensis

Little Owl, Athene noctua

Long-eared Owl, Asio otus

APODIDAE (Swifts)

Common Swift, Apus apus

ALCEDINIDAE (Kingfishers)

Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis

MEROPIDAE (Bee Eaters)

European Bee-eater, Merops apiaster

CORACIDAE (Rollers)

Eurasian Roller, Coracias garrulus

UPUPIDAE (Hoopoes)

Hoopoe, Upupa epops

PICIDAE (Woodpeckers)

Eurasian Wryneck, Jynx torquilla

Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos minor

Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos medius(heard only)

White-backed Woodpecker, Dendrocopos leucotos

Great-spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major

Syrian Woodpecker, Dendrocopos syriacus

Black Woodpecker, Dryocopus martius

European Green Woodpecker, Picus viridis

ALAUDIDAE (Larks)

Crested Lark, Galerida cristata

Eurasian Skylark, Alauda arvensis

HIRUNDINIDAE (Swallows)

Sand (Bank Swallow) Martin, Riparia riparia

Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica

House Martin, Delichon urbica

MOTACILLIDAE (Wagtails and Pipits)

White Wagtail, Motacilla alba

Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava

Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea

Tawny Pipit, Anthus campestris

Tree Pipit, Anthus trivialis

Red-throated Pipit, Anthus cervinus

TROGLODYTIDAE (Wrens)

Winter Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes

TURDIDAE (Thrushes)

Eurasian Robin, Erithacus rubecula

Thrush Nightingale, Luscinia luscinia

Common Nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos

Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica

Black Redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros

Common Redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra

Common Stonechat, Saxicola torquata

Northern Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe

Eurasian Blackbird, Turdus merula

Song Thrush, Turdus philomelos

Mistle Thrush, Turdus viscivorus

SYLVIIDAE (Old World Warblers)

River Warbler, Locustella fluviatilis

Grasshopper Warbler, Locustella naevia

Savi's Warbler, Locustella luscinioides

Aquatic Warbler, Acrocephalus paludicola

Moustached Warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon

Sedge Warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Marsh Warbler, Acrocephalus palustris

Great Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Icterine Warbler, Hippolais icterina

Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus

Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita

Wood Warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix

Barred Warbler, Sylvia nisoria

Garden Warbler, Sylvia borin

Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla

Common Whitethroat, Sylvia communis

Lesser Whitethroat, Sylvia curruca

MUSCICAPIDAE (Old World Flycatchers)

Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata

Pied Flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca

Collared Flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis

PANURIDAE (Parrotbills)

Bearded Tit, Panurus biarmicus

PARIDAE (Titmice)

Marsh Tit, Parus palustris

Willow Tit, Parus montanus(heard only)

Coal Tit, Parus ater

Great Tit, Parus major

Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus

AEGITHALIDAE (Long Tailed Tits)

Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus

SITTIDAE (Nuthatches)

Eurasian Nuthatch, Sitta europaea

CERTHIIDAE (Creepers)

Common Treecreeper, Certhia familiaris

Short-toed Treecreeper, Certhia brachydactyla

REMIZIDAE (Penduline Tits)

Eurasian Penduline Tit, Remiz pendulinus

LANIIDAE (Shrikes)

Red-backed Shrike, Lanius collurio

Lesser Grey Shrike, Lanius minor

CORVIDAE (Crows and Jays)

Eurasian Jay, Garrulus glandarius

Black-billed Magpie, Pica pica

Eurasian Jackdaw, Corvus monedula

Rook, Corvus frugilegus

Hooded Crow, Corvus corone

Common Raven, Corvus corax

STURNIDAE (Starlings)

Common Starling, Sturnus vulgaris

ORIOLIDAE (Orioles)

Golden Oriole, Oriolus oriolus

PASSERIDAE (Old World Sparrows)

House Sparrow, Passer domesticus

Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus

FRINGILLIDAE (Finches)

Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs

Eurasian Serin, Serinus serinus

Eurasian Greenfinch, Carduelis chloris

Common Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis

Linnet, Carduelis cannabina

Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes

EMBERIZIDAE (Buntings)

Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella

Rock Bunting, Emberiza cia

Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus

Corn Bunting, Emberiza calandra

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