Where are the migrants?

Without question the spring migration has completely messed up across Europe. I have seen the very same question from birders from various countries from the UK through Germany to Hungary and further east in Europe. Birds should already have arrived are not here while birds should already have left for their northern breeding territories areContinue

Frustratingly slow birding for the migrants

Today I had another try for observing migrants from the tower at the Ferencmajor fishponds. Weather was killer with 33˚C/91.4˚F temperature in shade. The bservation tower is an open construction so heat feel was way higher than 33˚C. 40˚C/104˚F forecasted for the weekend so better to make birding early in the morning. As usual this timeContinue

Northern Lapwings are mixing flocks with Common Starlings

I had again a day long bird survey in the middle of the country for a industrial project with my friend, Laci. Weather was moderate and sunny and there were sign of spring almost everywhere. In the Kiskunság National Park we saw moving Northern Lapwings. That is a real sign of the end of hardContinue

Increasing wild geese numbers at the fishponds

Just shortly after midday I drove to the Ferencmajor fishponds to find the last shorebirds in this season. Despite suitable feeding habitats are available just a single overflying Wood Sandpiper was heard and seen. It was quite disappointing but on the other hand it was nice to see the increasing number of wintering geese which groupContinue

Signs of fall migration

We could ring an extremely low number of birds in the ringing camp this week. Number of trapped birds hardly exceeds 50 while in average years 150-200 caught birds are quite normal. First fall Garden Warblers (new addition to year list…) has been ringed just today. Little Bitterns are moving intensively and seems to haveContinue