Full-Day Birding Trip in Apaj region - October 5

Full Day Birdwatching Trip in the Northern Part of Kiskunság National Park

On October 5, we had a birdwatching tour in areas of the Kiskunság National Park, around Apaj, Bugyi, and Kunpeszér. It was a rainy day, and we started our trip from Budapest at 8:00 in the morning. After about forty minutes of driving, we arrived first near Bugyi.

As usual, we started the day by searching for Great Bustards. Luckily, at the first viewpoint we could already see them. At the same place, we also saw a young Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), which is less common at this time of the year.

After the agricultural areas, we continued birdwatching on the grasslands around Apaj. We were very lucky here, because we saw a Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) sitting on the ground. Not far from it, we also observed an Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) sitting in a tree.

On a flooded part of the grassland, we watched several shorebirds. We saw Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), Ruff (Calidris pugnax), Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus), Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago), and Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata). We also saw a Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmeus). Among birds of prey, White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) showed themselves.

After this area, we went into Apaj, where we visited the village center to see roosting Long-eared Owls (Asio otus). They were sitting nicely on pine trees and showed themselves very well. In the village center, we also saw a Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis).

After that, we headed towards the Ürbői fishponds. Here we were very happy to see an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), which I see only a few times a year. Among songbirds, I really wanted to see Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus) and Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus), and luckily both species showed themselves well. At the fishponds, we also saw a Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), which is very rare in this area.

During the whole day, we observed a total of 63 species. Despite the cloudy weather, we were lucky with the conditions, because there was no significant rain and no strong wind. It was a pleasant October day.

All photos were taken by Yeji Yun.