Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians, Insects, Tracks and Signs...

Perhaps not surprisingly the time we spend in the bird habitats of Eastern Europe, when guiding groups or birding alone, brings us into contact with many other aspects of the natural world. When guiding we never neglect non-bird wildlife and indeed take a great interest in all aspects of the habitats we visit. We also arrange, upon request, specialised trips and tours that focus on Natural History in general or specific animal groups.

Large carnivores that we have encountered on guided trips have included Brown Bears in Romania and Wolf and Lynx in Slovakia. Other mammals that it is possible to see in the region include Beaver, Wild Boar, Red Deer, Chamois, European Bison, Marmot and Suslik. Many of the spectacular cave systems and old forests of the region hold internationally important bat roosts. Species include Geoffroy's, Screiber's, Parti-coloured, Pond and Greater and Lesser mouse-eared Bats.

In many of the areas we visit we regularly come across amphibians such as Fire-bellied & Yellow-bellied Toads, Agile & Tree Frogs and Fire Salamander, and reptiles like Hermann's & Spur-thighed Tortoises, Pond Terrapin & Sand, Wall, Balkan Green & Green Lizards. Some sites such as the Bükk Hills (H), Paklenica (HR), Palava Reserve (CZ) Aggtelek (H) and Slovensky Kras (SK) are rich in butterflies and dragonflies are often locally abundant, too.

We also lead Tracking Tours in Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. These tours focus on finding, following and learning about the many tracks & signs that Europe's wildlife leaves. There is no better way of improving your field skills. Such signs include hoof and paw prints, claw marks, trails, dung, scat, sprait, pellets, nests, burrows, dens and food remains. We conduct these in the field and often concentrate on large mammals and forest birds such as woodpeckers.

If an all-round Natural History or Tracking tour appeals, then do not hesitate to contact us for further details or to arrange a bespoke tour.

Lepidopterists! We are now arranging Butterfly Tours in HUNGARY. Around 170-180 species occur here which is about three times the number found in Britain. A typical week-long tour takes place in the Aggtelek and Bükk Hills and the northern part of the Great Plain and up to 100 species can be seen. From June to August species include Scarce & Common Swallowtails, Southern Festoon, Clouded Apollo, Eastern Bath White, Orange Tip, Eastern Pale Clouded & Berger's Clouded Yellows, Fenton's Wood White, Black Hairstreak, Small, Large, Sooty & Purple-shot Coppers, numerous blues including Holly, Chalk-hill, Eastern Short-tailed, Alcon, Large, Chequered, Idas, Turquoise, Reverdin's, Silver-studded & Chapman's, there are Purple & Lesser Purple Emperors, Poplar Admiral, Hungarian Glider, Camberwell Beauty, Map, numerous fritillaries such as Queen of Spain, Silver-washed, Marbled, Glanville's, Knapweed, Heath, Nickerl's & Scarce and also Dryad, Wall Brown, Woodland & Great Banded Graylings and many heaths and skippers... Email us for more details: Butterflies