Trip Report: Hortobagy, Hungary, April 1-5, 1999

I decided to add some variety to our Easter birding and go to Hortobagy with a friend without special preparations. I wanted to see Great Bustards displaying, and timing was chosen accordingly. Therefore, many migrants (e.g. Red-footed Falcon, Stone Curlew, Great Black-headed Gull) were not yet present. We added Saker and Imperial Eagle to the target list - and got two out of three.

On arrival, we found that we were definitely outside the tourist season. Campings and tourist information were closed (we planned to camp), but the reasonable and friendly guesthouse Hortobagy Fogado was open, and a local bird tour operator was also keen to organise a guide for us (we didn't use it finally). Nobody except birders spoke English, but some people knew German. We birded with a map bought in the reserve shop SE of Hortobagy village and with two bikes borrowed in the village (there is no regular bike rental in Hortobagy!). 1999 was an unusually wet year, and many grasslands were flooded or wet. South of Nagyivan there was single large lake.

I wish to thank very much birders, who responded to my Internet request and shared indispensable information: Leo Boon, Guillaume Bruneau, Marjan Gobec, Lyndon Kearsley, Volker Schmidt, Vincent van der Spek, Tamas Eriko Anna, and especially Zsolt Vegvari.

Places visited:

1.04. Around Hortobagy village, rare animal breeding reserve on the south, south of Mata-puszta

2.04. Visit to Angyalhazi-puszta (strict reserve, SE of Park) with NP worker, Mata-puszta

3.04. Halasto fishponds, Mata-puszta, Darassa-puszta area (NE of Park)

Halasto have several lookout towers, worth climbing for looks over reeds. A hut on the dyke between two ponds of the eastern row gives a view at the two islands: with colonies of Cormorants to the north, and Spoonbills to the south.

Darassa-puszta (and area to the north and also east along road to Balmazujvaros) where small woods and meadows mix is said to be a good spot for raptors (Saker, Imperial Eagle, LL Buzzard). There is a raptor exhibition in a house near Darassa (we did not visit it) where probably further information can be obtained.

4.04. Darassa-puszta area

5.04. Region of Nagyivan (SW of Park), Pincelapos-to and Fenyes-to fishponds

Species List:

1. Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis

2. Black-necked Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis
   2 Halasto, 1 Fenyes-to

3. Great Crested Grebe - Podiceps cristatus

4. Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo
   many flying, colony Halasto

5. Pygmy Cormorant - Phalacrocorax pygmaeus
   5+ flying, 6 resting in reeds, Halasto

6. Bittern - Botaurus stellaris
   heard Halasto, Nagyivan

7. Great White Egret - Ardea alba
   numerous everywhere on meadows and ponds

8. Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea

9. Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea
   singles Halasto and Pincelapos-to

10. White Stork - Ciconia ciconia

11. Spoonbill - Platalea leucorodia
    15+ flying around Halasto, some carrying nest material to the colony, 7 feeding Fenyes-to

12. White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons
    20 Angyalhazi, flocks ca.200-300 flying twice

    *Lesser White-fronted Goose - Anser erythropus
    On Halasto, Hungarian birders informed us on flock of 35 on the northernmost pond. When we got there, geese were flushed by a White-tailed Eagle ca. 1km away on open water, too far for positive identification.

13. Greylag Goose - Anser anser
    numerous on ponds and wet meadows

14. Wigeon - Anas penelope
    several tens on Halasto, Angyalhazi, Fenyes-to, many migrating flocks heard at night

15. Gadwall - Anas strepera
    up to 10 on Halasto and Fenyes-to

16. Teal - Anas crecca

17. Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos

18. Pintail - Anas acuta
    up to 20 on Halasto and Angyalhazi

19. Garganey - Anas querquerdula

20. Shoveler - Anas clypeata
    up to 10 on Halasto and Fenyes-to

21. Pochard - Aythya ferina

22. Ferruginous Duck - Aythya nyroca
    2 pairs Halasto, 3 flying and 1 Nagyivan

23. Tufted Duck - Aythya fuligula

24. Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula
    2,2 Angyalhazi, several Halasto and Fenyes-to

25. Smew - Mergus albellus
    flock of 65 on Halasto

26. White-tailed Eagle - Haliaeetus albicilla
    immatures and adults many times on Halasto, immature soaring Nagyivan

27. Marsh Harrier - Circus aeruginosus
    commonest raptor, males displaying

28. Hen Harrier - Circus cyaneus
    single females 3.04 Mata, 4.04. Darassa

29. Goshawk - Accipiter gentilis
    single on Darassa

30. Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus

31. Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo

    *Imperial Eagle - Aquila heliaca
    According to NP worker, this species was still mostly on the wintering grounds. An immature Aquila sp. fitting best immature Imperial was poorly seen on 5.04. near road 33, 1km W of turn to Nagyivan.

32. Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus

33. SAKER - Falco cherrug
    3.04. one speeding by on N. Mata, 3-4.04. two watched in Darassa region, probably pair before breeding. According to local birders this species is increasing, and now ca.40 pairs are breeding in Debrecen region. Sakers often perch on tall pylons of the high-voltage line crossing the Nagyhegyes - Nadudvar road (E of park).

34. Pheasant - Phasianus colchicus

35. Water Rail - Rallus aquaticus
    heard at ponds and ditches on meadowland

36. Coot - Fulica atra

37. Crane - Grus grus
    250 Angyalhazi, 4-5.04. many flocks of several tens soaring and calling constantly (Mata, Darassa, Nagyivan areas)

38. GREAT BUSTARD - Otis tarda
    7, including displaying male in the strict reserve on Angyalhazi on 1.04. 5.04, flock of 14, some in half display (around 11.a.m.) and two flocks of 8 flying from behind us and passing us NE of Nagyivan village. Location: On the 33 road W of Hortobagy village, turn left (south) near Kaparo Csarda (inn) towards Nagyivan. Dirt roads lead left (east): ca.1km before and just within Nagyivan village. There was no sign prohibiting entry. Walking on these roads you may see Bustards, often on agricultural fields. NOTE. We watched Bustards on Angyalhazi from ca. 2-3km distance, and approaching any closer (according to National Park workers) would disturb them. We kindly ask others to respect this!

39. Avocet - Recurvirostra avocetta
    8 Fenyes-to

40. Lapwing - Vanellus vanellus

41. Dunlin - Calidris alpina
    5 Fenyes-to with 3 unidentified small Calidris sp.

42. Ruff - Philomachus pugnax
    flocks of 100's Mata, Nagyivan, Fenyes-to, Angyalhazi and migrating elsewhere

43. Snipe - Gallinago gallinago

44. Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa
    groups and migrating flocks of 100's e.g. over Mata
    

45. Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus

46. Curlew - Numenius arquata

47. Spotted Redshank - Tringa erythropus

48. Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus

49. Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola

50. Yellow-legged Gull - Larus cachinnans

51. Common Gull - Larus canus

52. Black-headed Gull - Larus ridibundus

53. Woodpigeon - Columba palumbus

54. Collared Dove - Streptopelia decaocto

55. Little Owl - Athene noctua
    Seen 2.04. near building with stable on SE Mata, ca.3km N of Hortobagy

56. Long-eared Owl - Asio otus
    Calling 2-3.04. ca. 1km N of Hortobagy

57. Hoopoe - Upupa epops
    4.04. on Darassa

58. Green Woodpecker - Picus viridis
    Heard 1.04. in N Hortobagy

59. Syrian Woodpecker - Piciodes syriacus
    Male 1.04. in village, riverside poplars near railway bridge

60. Crested Lark - Galerida cristata
    very common

61. Skylark - Alauda arvensis

62. Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica

63. Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla f.flava

64. White Wagtail - Motacilla alba

65. Wren - Troglodytes troglodytes

66. Robin - Erithacus rubecula

67. Bluethroat - Luscinia svecica cyanecula
    males 5.04. ditch near Nagyivan, and singing on Fenyes-to

68. Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros

69. Stonechat - Saxicola torquata
    common, many males show white rump

70. Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe

71. Blackbird - Turdus merula

72. Fieldfare - Turdus pilaris

73. Song Thrush - Turdus philomelos

74. Moustached Warbler - Acrocephalus melanopogon
    many singing and one seen 3.04. Halasto

75. Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita

76. Bearded Tit - Panurus biarmicus
    very numerous 3.04. Halasto and 5.04. Fenyes-to and Pincelapos-to

77. Blue Tit - Parus caeruleus

78. Great Tit - Parus major

79. Magpie - Pica pica

80. Jackdaw - Corvus monedula

81. Rook - Corvus frugilegus

82. Hooded Crow - Corvus corone cornix

83. Starling - Sturnus vulgaris

84. House Sparrow - Passer domesticus

85. Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus

86. Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs

87. Greenfinch - Carduelis chloris

88. Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis

89. Yellowhammer - Emberiza citrinella

90. Reed Bunting - Emberiza schoeniclus

91. Corn Bunting - Miliara calandra
    very common

(a few common species might have slipped out of memory)

Some other animals:

• European Tree Frog - Hyla arborea
  very common, loud concerts at warm nights

• Smooth Snake - Coronella austriaca
  small brown snake 5.04. near Nagyivan was probably of this species

• Stoat - Mustela erminea
  one seen on road

• Fox - Vulpes vulpes
  several seen on daytime 3-4.04., Mata and Darassa

• Roe Deer - Capreolus capreolus
  groups on open fields

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