Autumn Birdwatching in Hungary

(October- November)

The main feature of this season's birdwatching is the bird migration. Throughout the Autumn huge flocks of geese and common cranes are arriving. After long or short stays, they may migrate to the south or spend the cold and harsh winter here with us. Tens of thousands of geese and ducks are very attractive prey for the raptors: white-tailed eagles and peregrines are appearing around them.

 

Day 1:

We will meet you at Budapest Airport and after a two-hour transfer, we will arrive at your accommodation in Túrkeve. If time allows after your arrival, we will take a walk in Túrkeve and the local area around the house. Birds in the gardens of your accommodation often include grey-headed woodpecker, fieldfare, waxwing and brambling.

Day 2:

We will visit the surrounding fishponds. We will observe the birds of the area’s swamps, marshes, lakes and reed beds. On the open water surfaces we will see ferruginous ducks, pochards, mallards, great-crested grebes. Mixed flocks of white great egrets and grey herons are looking for prey on the drained and freshly exposed mudflats. In the sky, flocks of common cranes are flying towards the south. In the reed beds, bearded tits are moving around. If we are lucky, we will find the little gull and pygmy cormorant as well.

Day 3:

Today we will explore the largest reservoir in our local area. This huge lake is a meeting point for thousands of geese and ducks. Among the ducks we will find mallards, pochards, ferrunginous ducks, pintails, wigeons, gadwalls and showelers. The great flocks of geese mainly consists of greylag, bean- and white-fronted geese, but among the flocks of ducks and geese we can usually find rare birds such as: lesser white-fronted and red-breasted geese as well as the long tailed duck. These tens of thousands of geese and ducks are a very attractive prey for the white-tailed eagles. On the nearby Puszta hen harriers, rough-legged buzzards and great grey shrikes are looking for prey. In the sky, flocks of common cranes are flying towards the south. If we are lucky we will see the saker falcon and the imperial eagle.

Day 4:

We will visit two big fishpond systems, which are playing a major role in the autumn bird migration. We will observe the gathering flocks of ducks and geese. Black-nacked grebes and gulls are swimming in the fishponds. We can observe migratory waders on the drained fishponds. With a bit of luck divers, red-breasted geese and great black-headed gulls can be spotted as well.

Day 5:

We will visit the world-famous Hungarian Puszta. We will explore the area and observe the flocks of great bustards. During our birdwatching, we are most likely to meet with common cranes, hen harriers, imperial and white-tailed eagles. In the sky, flocks of common cranes and geese are flying towards the south. On the Puszta, buzzards, rough-legged buzzards, great grey shrikes, peregrines and merlins are looking for prey. With a bit of luck sakers, pallid harriers and short-eared owls can be seen as well. Before dinner, we take a short walk to see the main local roosting place for the long eared owl, where at this time of the year there are around one hundred birds to a flock.

Day 6:

This is the day for forest birdwatching. During our tour we will visit the old oak copse, riverside woodlands and deciduous woodland plantations, where we can observe the migratory songbirds. At this time of year the leaf wablers are the most active on migration. We can spot the black, syrian, great, middle, lesser spotted and green woodpeckers and sometimes we can see the grey-headed woodpecker as well. If we are lucky, during our tour we will see one or two of the ring ouzel and short-toed tree creeper too.

Day 7:

During our tours we are expected to see 130-160 different bird species.

The price of this tour: 700 GBP Now only 600 GBP!

Book it NOW!