Hortobagy, Hungary, 29th May, 2011

Thursday 26 May 2011

Hortobagy, Hungary, 29th May, 2011

Day 2 was planned for a visit to the Bee-eater Hide in the morning and the Reed Bed Hide in the afternoon.

A thunder storm and a lot of rain overnight, the day starting of overcast, by 10.30 hours light improved, by afternoon blue skies again and very hot.

Outside the hotel

Syrian Woodpecker, 1

Set out at 04.40 hours, 4 x 4 again, David the driver, on route seeing

Whiskered Tern, 4
Great White Egrets, at least 40, all in one area of water beside the road

Bee-eater site
The temperature was cool ! Not much activity ! Light, dull

Sand Martins, nesting in the same bank as Bee-eaters
Hoopoe, 2 feeding on the grass close by
Golden Oriole, seen and heard all the time in the surrounding trees

Sand Martin

Bee-eater

At about 10.30 hours, light improved, bee-eaters became a bit more active, allowing decent photos to be taken.

Leaving this site at about 11.00 hours to go to the Reed Bed Hide saw

Wheatears, 5

At the Reed Bed Hide saw

Whiskered Tern, 4
Bearded Tit, many
Ferruginous Duck
Pochard
Greylag Goose
Mallard
Morehen
Marsh Warbler

Purple Heron, fly over
Spoonbill, fly over
Pygmy Cormorant, fly over
White Stork, fly over
Bittern, fly over