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

Day 8 Monday, September 3: Komloska, Hungary with Sakertours guide Zoli

Solyomvar Hotel http://www.solyomvar.hu/

We were now in the north east corner of Hungary known as the Zemplen Hills. We hoped it would be cooler than hiking in the plains but it remained hot in the hills, one day reaching 37 degreesC.

We knew our Sakertours guide, Zoltan Petrovics (Zoli) would take us to woodpecker and owl locations in the hills. Hungary has several colourful woodpeckers. So far we had seen the Great Spotted Woodpecker, the Syrian Woodpecker and the Black Woodpecker. As well, we were looking forward to seeing some new owls and eagles.

Zoli drove to Komloska to meet us, about half an hour from his village, Bodrogkeresztur, arriving at 7am. Zoli is a park ranger but was on vacation so could be our guide for four days.

Zoli birds everywhere he goes, so we started at our hotel and checked out some sightings in villages we drove through.

His morning targets were eagles and owls. First we went to a vineyard where we saw a perched Lesser Spotted Eagle and a fly-past Jay. When we tried to get closer, it took off. Then we went to some open fields where we saw a number of Eastern Imperial Eagles soaring about and a Black Stork in a field.

Next we visited an old stone tower and barn where a Barn Owl sometimes roosts. Not today. Then we sought out a Little Owl in a farm stone out building. No luck again.



We passed by a pond where we were pleased to see a Eurasian Hobby and a variety of water birds including a Black Crowned Night Heron. Zoli spotted a Little Bittern but it disappeared before we got a sighting.



Zoli took us to his village where he showed us a Syrian Woodpecker. It flew back and forth from one side of the street to the other, never perching long enough for a photograph.

He stopped at his house where we saw a Goshawk overhead from his backyard. He explained how he makes owl bird houses in his workshop. We paddlers checked out his canoes. Before we left, he invited us to have some pears from his tree.



We stopped for lunch at a café near a river. While waiting for our order, four of us checked out the birds and MA read her book.



Driving through a village, luckily we spotted a white stork perched on a nest.



In the afternoon, we hiked the forest and Zoli found us woodpeckers, including two new ones, the Middle Spotted and White-backed.



He pointed out a spring where we could drink the cool refreshing water, which was welcome on a very hot day.



His plan for the end of the day was to stake out a quarry for an Eagle Owl who emerges as the sun sets. MA read her book at the van while we waited an hour and a half – no action. Barbara dubbed this “boring birding”. Binoculars and camera at the ready, waiting…waiting…



We added two more woodpeckers to our list today. For our owl list, we added the Ural Owl. Total of five woodpeckers and two owls – so far! We are adding eagles and falcons to our list too.

At supper, Ross, MA and Bill tried wild boar which they all pronounced “delicious”.

Birds seen September 3, 2012
*new birds bolded

Bird of the Day: White-backed Woodpecker

1. Great Tit
2. Blue Tit
3. Jay
4. Black Redstart
5. Common Pipit
6. Eurasian Collared Dove
7. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
8. Turtle Dove
9. Whinchat
10. Skylark
11. Tree Pipit – lifer#54
12. European Bee Eater
13. Yellowhammer
14. Red-backed Shrike
15. Barn Swallow
16. Raven
17. Wood Warbler
18. Common Buzzard
19. Stonechat
20. Spotted Flycatcher
21. Western Marsh Harrier
22. Stock Dove – lifer#55
23. Sparrow Hawk
24. Syrian Woodpecker (heard)
25. Great Spotted Woodpecker
26. Lesser Spotted Eagle
27. European Starling
28. Imperial Eagle
29. Saker Falcon
30. Hobby
31. Common Kestrel
32. Great Egret
33. Gray Heron
34. Black-crowned Night Heron
35. Little Egret
36. Mute Swan
37. Mallard
38. Black Stork
39. Little Owl (heard – not counted in total)
40. Spotted Flycatcher
41. Syrian Woodpecker
42. Goshawk
43. Nuthatch
44. White Stork
45. Middle Spotted Woodpecker – lifer#56
46. Robin
47. Ural Owl – lifer#57
48. White-backed Woodpecker – lifer#58

Trip Total: 137

Other Nature
1. green lizard holes
2. wood frog
3. roe deer