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

Day 3 Wednesday, August 29: Ferihegy Airport, Budapest

Balmaz Hotel http://www.hotelbalmaz.com/en.html

We had just checked out of our hotel in the morning and decided to open our email while waiting for the Airporter – we would met Ross and Margaret Ann at the airport in a few hours and begin our birding trip together, as planned and organized by Ross. An email from Ross let us know their Condor flight from Halifax had been delayed and they missed their Budapest connection in Frankfurt. He hoped they could both get on the next flight, which would put them in Budapest mid-afternoon. We decided to proceed with our plan to go to the airport – and work on yesterday’s birding photos.

At 2:15pm, Barbara waited at the gate with her welcoming sign… but no Ross and MA. Bill checked with the Sixt rental but they had not received any information. He talked them into letting him use their Internet, and received a short message from Ross letting us know they would be arriving via Dusseldorf at 5:20. More work on bird photos!



They arrived on the Dusseldorf flight, although Ross’s luggage did not.

We quickly packed ourselves into our comfortable Citroen Picasso rental van (standard/diesel) and headed east towards our birding destination - Hortobagy National Park in the Eastern Plain region. The sun set and a full moon rose. Sakertours had booked us into Balmaz hotel in the small town of Balmazujvaros. A few hours later, Ross and MA enjoyed a late dinner at the hotel and we celebrated the start of our birding adventure together.



Birds seen Aug 29 2012
*new birds bolded

Bird of the Day: Black-billed Magpie


1. Hooded Crow
2. Feral Pigeon
3. Black-billed Magpie

Trip Total: 56