Hungary-Slovakia Birding Trip: August 27- September 10, 2012

Day 11 Thursday, September 6: Stratena, Slovakia with Sakertours guide Zoli

Safran Penzion http://www.pension-safran.de/EN/Index.htm

Ross checked to see if there were a dipper in the running water across the road. Zoli checked too as soon as he got up. No dipper.

Zoli was staying with us at our hotel for two days – too far for him to commute!

We drove to a forest road beyond the town of Dobsina. We saw many tits, including a new one, a Crested tit.



Zoli worked tirelessly calling woodpeckers. We wanted to photograph a Black Woodpecker, but it was not possible. Oh we got a couple of sightings, and they did respond, but they never sat still in view for a photo - they rapidly flew back and forth checking out Zoli's calls. There was also a long shot for a Three-toed Woodpecker, but we did not get one, in spite of Zoli's efforts.

Click on the photo of Zoli below to see a video of him successfully calling in a Pygmy Owl:


Luckily for us, the owl came out and perched at the top of an evergreen tree.



Zoli spotted us a tiny yellow-bellied toad in a puddle. He caught it for us and showed us the underside.



Zoli continued on, trying woodpecker calls, both by mouth and with a recorder. He tapped a tree too to imitate a woodpecker. We had a rest while Zoli scouted ahead.



After many hours in the forest, we hiked out and headed for Rejdova where we staked out a walnut tree. This was in hopes that a Spotted Nutcracker would appear. As this was more “boring birding” for Barbara she hiked around the pretty village. No Nutcracker. A village woman gave us some freshly washed red apples which we enjoyed.



Near Stratena we followed a trail in hopes of finding a Ural Owl. Zoli heard one and circled around to find it, but it slipped away in spite of lots of looking.



We headed back to Stratena for more Internet and beer.

Zoli, Ross and Bill decided to try again for the Ural Owl after dark. No action.

One more day of birding with Zoli left…

Birds seen Sept 6 2012
*new birds bolded

Bird of the Day: Pygmy Owl

1. Great Tit
2. Coal Tit
3. Crested Tit
4. Willow Tit
5. Goldcrest
6. Nuthatch
7. Wren
8. Dunnock
9. Hawfinch
10. Chiffchaff Warbler
11. Marsh Tit
12. Robin
13. Raven
14. Black Woodpecker
15. Pygmy Owl lifer#64
16. Jay
17. White-backed Woodpecker (heard – not counted in total)
18. Sparrow Hawk
19. Common House Martin
20. Wood Warbler

Trip Total: Trip Total: 149

Other Nature
yellow-bellied toad