Two Days Birdwatching in Kiskunság - April 18-19

Spring Birdwatching Tour in Hungary: Two Days with 121 Species

On April 18 and 19, I led a two-day birdwatching tour. We stayed near Tiszaalpár.

On April 18 we started birdwatching at Csaj-tó in the southern part of Kiskunság National Park in nice spring weather. On this large wetland we saw many waders because spring migration was still strong. We observed Ruff (Calidris pugnax), Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa), Greenshank (Tringa nebularia), Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus). Among herons we saw Great Egret (Ardea alba), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), and also Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides). Among birds of prey we saw White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus). Songbirds were also active and singing: Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscinioides), Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca), European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster), European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur). Among ducks there were many Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) and Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina). Whiskered Terns (Chlidonias hybrida) were very active, and we also found one White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus), we were very happy because it was my first this year.

After Csaj-tó we went towards Tiszaalpár, where we watched a nesting Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug). The female was in the nest, and the male was sitting on an electric pole a few hundred meters away. After this we visited a wetland near Tiszaalpár, where there was very good raptor activity. We saw White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), and Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), and also many Black Storks (Ciconia nigra). We finished birdwatching here on this day.

On April 19 we started early at 6:30 and went to Apaj-Bugyi, we mainly wanted to see Great Bustard (Otis tarda) during display. We arrived before 8 o'clock and at the first observation point we saw at least a dozen birds, and luckily two males were in full display. After this we visited a small woodland near Apaj, where we saw Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), and many Wood Warblers (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) were migrating. After the woodland we continued birdwatching at the fishponds, where we observed Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmeus), Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca), Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina), Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus), Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon).

We finished the two-day birdwatching here, and during the two days we observed 121 species, which is a very good number in this period.