Weekend in Hortobágy National Park

When I visited Hortobágy National Park in October 2011 I immediately fell in love with puszta and their precious autumn guests. Tens of thousands of migrating Common Cranes use the steppe region of Hortobágy as a migration stop. They feed on mowed cornfields and night roost in the wetlands or local fishponds.

I didn't want to miss the great spectacle of migrating cranes this year as well. With friends, Erik and Zuzana, we spent a weekend in puszta, vast lowland area eastwards from Budapest. As it was their first visit there I wanted to show them my way of enjoying Hortobágy puszta in the autumn. It is a beautiful combination of local culture, traditions, amazing nature and last but not least, delicious local cuisine.

Instead of reading about it, check the photos from this weekend.

cloudy morning in the Hortobágy National Park

muddy roads after Friday's rain

Common Cranes (Grus grus) were feeding very close to our guesthouse

visit in local animal breeds zoo

typical sight in puszta - Hungarian longhorned grey cattle

it was also St. Dömötör feast - great oportunity to spot all the local animals and their herdsmen

herdsmen in colorful costumes

horse carriage and famous nine-arch bridge behind

on our way to fishponds - it's birdwatching time!

instead of walk we chose narrow-gauge train

Kondás fishpond from the watching tower

one of the birdwatching hides

it was early afternoon, so we spot only few Cranes, but there was plenty of geese, ducks and waders

Curlew (Numenius arquata)

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

change of birding site - waiting for Cranes flying to their night roost site

one of a few informations translated to English

large cloud over puszta

not an ordinary shed - Little Owl (Athene noctua) occupies its chimney

delicious catfish stew - "Harcsa halászlé"

traditional dessert - "Somlói galuska"

in addition we visited Lake Tisza Ecocentre in Poroszló

man can find here large freshwater aquarium

fish swim over your head

List of recorded bird species:
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmeus)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug)
Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
Common Crane (Grus grus)
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
large Gull (Larus cachinnans/michahellis)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia )
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Little Owl (Athene noctua)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)
Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
Western Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Northern Raven (Corvus corax)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus)
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)

Not enough? Watch my videos from this weekend:

Sunday on Danube

Sunday's morning walk was oriented again on Danube. I visited Hrušovská zdrž water reservoir near Čunovo. I had several interesting sightings including lifer Wheatear or my first ever Slovak sightings of Grey Plover or Canada Goose. Despite higher water level Danube brought another wader species. Two Ospreys and young White-tailed Eagle flew over. Another reason why I need better camera than my smartphone and spotting scope used as a lens.

Probably Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans). It can be Yellow-legged Gull as well. They are so similar.

Not very shy Canada Goose (Branta canadensis). Bird was reported in the area since late June after the large flood on Danube.

Juvenile Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina). There were 5 youngsters.

There was colour-ringed Mute Swan (Cygnus olor). It was ringed in Hungary.

I tried to take the picture of my lifer Wheatear, but it didn't appear again. Only this juvenile Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros).

Record shot of Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago).

Three Grey Plovers (Pluvialis squatarola) and couple of Curlews (Numenius arquata)

Fire-bellied toad (Bombina sp.).

While photographing Fire-bellied Toad this bug landed on my tripod. Black and Red Bug (Lygaeus equestris).

Bird migration on Danube in early September

Hrušovská zdrž water dam on Danube below Bratislava is an important migration stop for plenty of birds. I had several interesting sightings last few days, mostly waders. 3 lifers + 2 Slovakia list additions.

Thursday, September 5: 2 Lapwings, 2 Ringed Plovers - yearlist addition, Curlew - my first ever in Slovakia, 8 Dunlins, 3 Wood Sandpipers, 3 Little Egrets, flock of c3000 Starlings

Friday, September 6: 15 Ringed Plovers, late Little Ringed Plover, 5 Curlews, rare Red Knot - lifer, 42 Dunlins, Greenshank - yearlist addition, 5 Little Egrets

Sunday, September 8: 13 Ringed Plovers, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Curlews, 52 Dunlins, 6 Sanderlings - lifer, 8 Little Stints - my first ever in Slovakia, 6 Curlew Sandpipers - another lifer, Ruff, 3 Shovelers, 30+ Teals, 6 Little Egrets singing Chiffchaff, Kingfisher

Sunday, September 15: 5 Curlews - probably the same as last weekend, 13 Dunlins, 3 Grey Plovers - my first ever in Slovakia, Common Snipe, 6 Little Egrets, 5 Great Egrets, singing Chiffchaff, Kingfisher, Wheatear - lifer, White-tailed Eagle, Osprey and Canada Goose - present since end of June, may be it is an escapee