Eastern Hungary in May

Hungary has some of Eastern Europe’s finest birdwatching. Based at two centres (Bükk Hills & Hortobagy Plain) this tour takes in key forests, grasslands and wetlands in an easy-going but bird-rich itinerary.

Day 1 - Fly into Budapest. Meet guide upon arrival and head north-east by private air-conditioned bus (about 2 hours) to the Bükk Hills. We will stop on route as the birds demand but also at sites we know for Eastern Imperial Eagle. Other birds on the way should include White Stork, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Golden Oriole, Bee-eater, Yellow Wagtail, Serin, Corn Bunting, Crested Lark and Red-backed & Lesser Grey Shrikes.

Days 2 & 3 - The Bükk is one of the most scenic areas in Hungary with quiet villages, dense deciduous forests and rocky limestone hillsides and stone quarries dotted with scrub and bushes. We’ll have two full days to explore the key habitats and to look for all of this upland region’s typical birds. We’ll explore the mixed oak, beech and hornbeam forests for Grey-headed, Lesser Spotted, White-backed and Black Woodpeckers. Syrian Woodpecker and Wryneck are usually seen in villages and old orchards. In particular the beechwoods here are good for Red-breasted Flycatcher, oakwoods for Collared Flycatcher and Middle Spotted Woodpecker and rocky areas for Rock Bunting. A special bird here is Ural Owl, numbers vary from year to year but at this time of year there should be some large fledged young and attendant adults about. Diurnal raptors Eastern Imperial, Lesser Spotted and Short-toed Eagles, Honey Buzzard, Hobby & Goshawk. Black Stork can also be expected. Other quite common birds include Hoopoe, Common Nightingale, Black Redstart, Woodlark, Barred Warbler & Hawfinch, all of which can be seen near our hotel. Warblers will be feeding young and include Barred, Marsh and River.

Days 4 - Today we leave the Bukk. We may spend the morning in the area or set-off after breakfast depending on how successful our birding here has been. We will drive through wooded valleys, then open areas with vineyards where Bee-eaters are quite common and then enter the Great Hungarian Plain for a four night stay on the Hortobágy, arguably Hungary’s best bird area. As soon as we reach the plain we’ll soon encounter typical birds of the region such as Lesser Grey Shrike, Red-footed Falcon and Roller. The Red-footed Falcons nest in colonies and are particularly confiding and photogenic.

Days 5-7 - Though we’ll have three full days at Hortobagy we will have many sites to visit. Fish-pond systems will be alive with breeding birds such as Pygmy Cormorant, Red-necked Grebe, Great White & Little Egrets, Squacco, Night & Purple Herons, Common & Little Bitterns, Spoonbill, Whiskered Terns & Yellow-legged & caspian Gulls. Passerines include Bluethroats (white-spotted race), Penduline & Bearded Tits & Icterine, Savi's & Great Reed Warblers. There is also a chance of seeing Little Crake. Hungary's grasslands, puszta are another key habitat. Great Bustards are here as we look for them we will probably encounter Tawny Pipit, Crested Lark, Corn Bunting, Montagu’s Harrier, Little Owl, Common Crane, Stone Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Lesser Grey Shrike plus more Red-footed Falcons. Long-legged Buzzard & Saker hunt over grasslands, too. Fresh-water marshes & smaller brackish lakes host Black-necked Grebe, Garganey, Ferruginous Duck, Black & White-winged Black Terns. Though rarer we’ll also look for Collared Pratincole.

Day 8 - Departure after breakfast for Budapest. There should be time for some brief sight-seeing in the capital (if requested) before your return flight.