New Year Birding

A Foggy Start to the New Year: Birdwatching on January 1

The new year began with my traditional birdwatching trip on January 1. Unfortunately, the weather conditions were far from ideal. A thick fog had blanketed central Hungary for four consecutive days, and temperatures hovered around 0°C. Due to the heavy fog, I decided to start my birding later than usual, around 10 AM.

My first stop was the grasslands near Nyárlőrinc, located in the southern Kiskunság area. Despite the limited visibility, I was excited to explore this habitat. The highlight of the visit was spotting a Little Owl (Athene noctua), a species I always enjoy observing. However, the real surprise came when I encountered a Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) — a first for me in this particular area. Discovering this species in such an unexpected location was undoubtedly the highlight of my morning.

Next, I moved on to Tiszaalpár, where I focused on the Great Lake ("Nagy tó"). Unfortunately, the dense fog severely limited visibility, making it challenging to identify much of the birdlife. As a result, I decided not to spend too much time on wetland habitats for the rest of the day. Nevertheless, I did manage to spot a Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago), a fascinating and elusive species, and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor), a delightful addition to my sightings.

Despite the challenging conditions, I observed a total of 34 species on this foggy day. While the weather wasn't ideal, the unique encounters with the Little Owl and Long-eared Owl made the outing worthwhile. Starting the year immersed in nature and birding is always a rewarding experience, no matter the circumstances.

Here's to more adventures and exciting birding discoveries in the coming year!