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The Fest of Cranes - a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle
Hortobágy
October 9 to 16, 2011
October 13 to 20, 2012
Description
During this exciting tour we visit the fabulous steppes, lakes, and marshes of the Hortobágy, at the very best time for the spectacular migration of cranes and geese, as well as the beautiful Hungarian deciduous forests on the last days of Indian Summer.Some local breeding birds will have departed the area, but numerous small passerines, raptors, waders and waterfowl are moving down from their northern breeding grounds.
The sweeping landscapes of the steppe country extend across a huge swathe of temperate Eurasia, eastwards to Mongolia and beyond. In only one place does a part of this vast steppe wilderness just stretch into Europe - the plains of Eastern Hungary. This is the Hortobágy, an ancient flood-plain that contains not only steppe grasslands, but also a chain of wetlands of international importance. One of Europe´s largest national parks, the Hortobágy offers some of Europe´s most exciting birdwatching, particularly in the autumn.
This is the main eastern flyway for Cranes in Europe. At their peak, there may be no less than 100,000 of these magnificent birds in the area. The sight of squadron upon squadron of them filling the sky with their wings, and the air with their calls as they go to roost, must surely be one of Europe´s great wildlife spectacles.
During our stay we shall also explore the forests of the Zemplen Hills, and Bükk Hills offering a large array of raptors and other forest specialities, including owls and woodpeckers, which are often relatively easy to see at this time of year.
Group size: 4 to 14 participants
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival, transfer to the Hortobágy:Flight out to Budapest to be met by your knowledgeable English speaking local guide, then make the 3 hours drive towards your exclusive Riverside accommodation, near Hortobágy. We stop off to explore the Lake Tizla, where we expect to see some geese, gatherings of gulls, and other wetland birds. Saker Falcon, Imperial Eagle and Cranes are among the local specialities we will look for, with an outstanding possibility of Lesser White-fronted Goose.
Overnight: For the next three nights our base is a charming hotel overlooking the River Tisza.
Day 2 - Hortobágy National Park:
From our very comfortable base in the Eastern part of Hungary we visit the famous Hortobágy National Park - Hungary´s largest protected area, and the largest natural grassland in Europe lying in the path of the main migration corridor and serving as a major staging point for large gatherings of birds, including geese, ducks and roosting cranes, Marsh Harriers and White-tailed Eagles hunt, with many waders in the drained ponds and small passerines in evidence. Reed beds host Penduline and Bearded Tits. The grasslands, called „pusztas” are hunting areas for many raptors such as Saker, Merlin, Long-legged, Rough-legged and Common Buzzards. Flocks of Great Bustards and Stone Curlew are also on the agenda. Little Owls are quite common and Long-eared Owls are often beginning to roost in numbers at this season. Here we also hope to find Lapland Buntings and a late trips of Dotterels with exceptional numbers of up to one hundred birds together, occasionally recorded in traditional places on the drier Hortobágy steppe. Great Grey Shrikes are often seen along the roads, looking for a prey from the top of a tree or telegraph poles.
An evening visit to an outstanding location offers unique opportunity to see without doubt one of Europe´s great bird spectacles. Just before dusk, we will witness the impressive arrival of the noisy flocks involving thousands of cranes moving between their favourite grazing areas and their main roosting site. We can hear their trumpeting sounds and watch their ritualised prelude, both in the air and on the ground, keeping in family groups of few birds or in chevron formation lines of many hundreds, passing overhead and landing at the pre-roosting fields.
Overnight: Return to our base for dinner and second night at Csege Csárda.
Day 3 – Hortobágy Fishpond day
Pre-breakfast birdwatching around the Hotel, looking for White-tailed Eagle, Kingfisher, woodpeckers, small passerines and herons along the River Tisza.
Today we spend the day between the fishponds at the largest and famous pool system, called "Hortobágy Halastó", which is very important feeding and breeding sites for many species including different ducks and geese... In Hungary both, the Taïga and Tundra Bean Geese occur and we will be continuously checking their flocks looking for Red-breasted and Lesser White-fronted Geese. The latter one can be found in some specific regular areas, especially managed by the National Park. White-tailed Eagles are numerous at this time of the year, and we often see them hunting over the wetlands. The reed bed holds a lot of passerines like Great Reed Warbler, Penduline and Bearded Tits. It is one of the best sites to experience the Crane spectacle, so we will wait until dusk to see their flight into the roosting sites.
Overnight: Third night at Tiszacsege, Csege Csárda.
Day 4 - Facing to the Hills
Pre-breakfast birdwatching around the Hotel, looking for woodpeckers, passerines, raptors and herons along the River Tisza.
Today afternoon we leave the Puszta and fishponds and head onto the Zemplém Hills. Heading north we pause on the way to enjoy our final scene of an awesome spectacle of cranes and geese, before changing grassland to the forest. Along the way, we will see the open landscapes of the plain gradually giving way to the hilly area. Hawfinches, woodpeckers and owls are among woodland birds we will look for, also keeping an eye out for notable mammals and reptiles. We will stop in Tokaj, a lovely and very famous traditional wine-producing village, where we look for a resident Eagle Owl sitting on the rock of a local stone mine.
Overnight: Comfortable accommodation at Baskó, Kõröshegyi Fogadó.
Day 5 - Zemplém Hills
Pre-breakfast birdwatching around the Hotel. The area is excellent for raptor watching, Corn Buntings, Ravens, and other forest birds that we look for just before breakfast.
Birding in Zemplém Hills - one of the last wild and untouched forests in Hungary. During the day we explore the ancient forests of the Zemplén Hills, for a range of raptors and other speciality woodland birds, including owls and woodpeckers, which are often relatively easy to see at this time of year. There is a good chance of seeing White-backed Woodpecker and Ural Owl as well.
Overnight: Baskó, Kõröshegyi Fogadó.