Saturday morning and Dave Fell met 42 participants on the Polish Bird Festival at Heathrow for our flight to Warsaw and onward bus transfer to our hotel, arriving just before dinner. Here we were met by Dick Filby who flew out on Friday.

Sunday our first day in the field and the weather was fine but cool and windy. Pre-breakfast walks around the hotel saw Wryneck, several Red-backed Shrikes (one nest building), Hawfinch, a singing Barred Warbler and stunning views of Thrush Nightingale. Behind the hotel a Corncrake was flushed and at the bridge over the nearby river, Golden Orioles were seen and River Warblers could be heard singing.

Breakfast was followed by an introductory meeting after which a bus left for a two-day trip to the Narew and Biebrza Marshes. This was the first of three such trips, the others departing Tuesday and Thursday (see separate report).

Other trips during the day focused on woodpeckers. At Budy Bridge excellent views were had of White-backed and Black Woodpeckers as they regularly visited next holes. Other woodpeckers seen or heard at this site were Great Spotted, Lesser Spotted and Three-toed.

Collared Flycatchers were abundant here and Black Stork, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Montagu’s Harrier, Honey Buzzard, Nutcracker and Firecrest were also seen.

In the nearby Palace Park and Directors Park, Grey-headed Woodpecker was seen along with Icterine Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, more Golden Orioles and breeding Fieldfare.

Two Beavers were seen by a few on an evening walk to the bridge.


Monday started off damp and got wetter and wetter but the early start to Lake Siemianowka and Bachury Fishponds was still a success. Birds of note were White-tailed Eagles, Great White Egret, Whiskered, Black and White-winged Black Terns, Black-necked and Red-necked Grebes, Caspian Gull, Great Grey Shrike, Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, Crested Tit and an assortment of waders.

Another early morning trip was to Zebra Zuber (Bison Ribs Boardwalk) where Hazel Hen, Middle-spotted Woodpecker and Black Woodpecker were seen.

Afternoon trips, again concentrating on woodpeckers, managed to see White-backed, Grey-headed, Black and Three-toed Woodpeckers, along with Hobby, Icterine Warbler and Red-backed Shrikes. An interesting find was a hybrid Collared x Pied Flycatcher at a nest hole.

Mammal of the day went to an Otter although Beaver, Moose and Red Squirrel were all seen.


Tuesday turned out fine and sunny although breezy. No really early trips today so those who decided against the 5.00 a.m. trip to the Primeval Forest birded locally finding the now familiar birds - River Warbler, Thrush Nightingale, shrikes etc. along with a Purple Heron.
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The Primeval Forest trip was the first of three guided ”keep -on-the-trail” walks with local guide Arek. Each walk lasted for about three hours and gave a chance to see a unique remnant of the forest that once covered Europe. Collared, Pied and Red-breasted Flycatchers and Tawny Owl was the best of the birds but this did not matter as Arek’s knowledge of the forest and its history made it a fascinating walk.

After breakfast the second marshes trip departed closely followed by a bus to Kosy Most. Here the target bird, Nutcracker, was seen well and a walk to the bridge produced Hazel Hen, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Osprey, River and Barred Warblers.

With most if not all participants out on trips, Dick took time out to visit the N.E. and S.E. corners of Lake Siemianowka. His efforts were rewarded with a female Red-footed Falcon, Citrine Wagtail, and Roller along with the usual marsh terns, eagles and waders.

Also today a return trip to the marshes for evening viewing of Great Snipe, with other birds including Common Crane, Aquatic Warbler, Marsh and Montagu’s Harriers.

After dinner, and completely decimating the log, two trips went in search of owls and corncrake. Corncrakes by torchlight produced nothing except a reeling Grasshopper Warbler. The owl trip fared better. Although they saw no owls they did manage to see a Wolf.


Wednesday started overcast and cold but cleared to a fine and sunny afternoon.

An early start was made again to the lake. Here the party went in different directions. A few spent a couple of hours in the forest fighting off the mirage of mosquitoes and looking for Hazel Hen whilst the majority birded the lake.

In the forest a Hazel Hen was eventually seen but by only two of the party. The people who birded the lake had Black Kite, Osprey, White-tailed Eagles, Marsh Harriers, Black Stork, Citrine Wagtail, three species of marsh tern and would you believe it, on a track back to the bus a Hazel Hen!!

Another early start was to Hajnowka on a “twitch” for a reported Syrian Woodpecker. The bird was seen well and filmed but, on later scrutiny of the film, its identity was under question. An afternoon trip here failed to locate the bird but there were plenty of Serins and Lesser Whitethroats to be seen and heard in the town and park.

Other afternoon trips were taken again to the Bison Ribs Boardwalk, where three Middle Spotted Woodpeckers and Lesser Spotted Eagle were seen, and to the Directors Park where the Grey-headed Woodpecker was again found.

Around the hotel a flyover Black Stork, a Common Rosefinch singing its “Pleased to meet, meet you” song, Marsh Warbler and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker’s nest hole was discovered.

After dinner another attempt at owls, this time with some success. The Pygmy Owl was seen but the Tengmalm’s Owl was only heard.


Thursday started bright and sunny but clouded mid morning but remained dry. An early start was made for Hazel Hen at the Bison Ribs Broadwalk with the second of the three trips to the Primeval Forest leaving a little later.

At the boardwalk a Hazel Hen was seen perched for 10 minutes (you lucky people) with Middle Spotted and White-backed Woodpeckers also there. Whilst in the Primeval Forest were Middle Spotted Woodpecker and Red-breasted Flycatcher. Wolf footprints and scat were also found.

After breakfast the third and final marshes trip departed whilst other trips left for the lake and Kosy Most returning in time for dinner. At the lake two Hazel Hen were seen (most people now catching up with this elusive species) along with White tailed Eagles, two Great Spotted Eagles, Peregrine, Hobby, Citrine Wagtail, Quail and a pair of Northern Long-tailed Tits.

At Kosy Most a Nutcracker was present along with Hazel Hen, five Honey Buzzards, Hobby, Black Woodpecker and Green and Common Sandpiper.

A two hour search of Hajnowka failed to find the “Syrian” Woodpecker but turned up Serin, Common and Black Redstarts, Icterine Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Middle Spotted Woodpecker.

Again this evening another trip to the marshes for Great Snipe also seeing Aquatic and Grasshopper Warbler, Woodcock and Cranes.


Friday was fine and sunny, if a little windy, which gave rise to an increase in butterfly sightings the pick of which were - Queen of Spain Fritillary, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Large Tortoiseshell, Camberwell Beauty and Swallowtails.

Early starts were made to Bison Ribs Boardwalk and to the Primeval Forest where Three-toed, Middle Spotted, White-backed and Grey-headed Woodpeckers were seen.

After breakfast all day trips to the lake and Kosy Most departed. At Kosy Most two Nutcrackers were seen before the bus then travelled to the south-east corner of the lake.

At the lake raptors were much in evidence with Great Spotted Eagle, six White-tailed Eagles (two adults), Osprey and Hobby. Possibly two pairs of Citrine Wagtails were on territory and Caspian Gull and Black-necked Grebe were worthy of note. In addition to these were the “usual” other birds - three species of marsh tern, waders, cranes and duck.

An afternoon trip for Rollers was requested so a bus left for a know roller site and then on to Dojlidy Fish Ponds. An amazing four Rollers were seen whilst at the fish ponds were Red-necked and Black-necked Grebe, resplendent in their breeding plumage, Great Reed, Reed and Savi’s Warblers and Whooper Swan at nest.

As everyone was out on trips the opportunity arose for Dick, myself and Michael, one of the Polish guides, to visit the lake. On our return to the hotel we passed through a long stretch of forest and to our amazement sat in the road was a Lynx. The Lynx walked into the forest and again sat, this time looking at us, as we viewed this rare and magnificent creature through our bins.

In the evening a last excursion to the marshes for Great Snipe was made and a last “Owl Prowl” again turned up Pygmy Owl but alas the Tengmalm’s Owl could only be heard and not seen.


Saturday, our last day in the field, started fine and sunny but clouded over by midday and then rain set in mid-afternoon, some showers being heavy.

An early start was made with a ringing demonstration. A Robin, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat and Marsh Warblers were successfully trapped and rung.

Most of the group played ‘catch up’, trying to find birds that they had failed to see during the week, notably, Hazel Hen and woodpeckers. Trips were taken to Budy Bridge, where a Three-toed Woodpecker nest was discovered, and to Bison Ribs Broadwalk where Hazel Hen, Crested Tit, Firecrest, Middle Spotted, White-backed and Black Woodpeckers were seen.

At the south-east corner of the lake the Great Spotted Eagle was again present along with Lesser Spotted Eagle and Osprey.

A guided walk was taken around the hotel environs and saw Goshawk (with kill), Common Rosefinch, Marsh Warbler and Montagu’s Harrier. The group also witnessed the release of a Quail.

Also seen around the hotel was Corncrake, Nutcracker, Crested Tit and four species of woodpecker as well as the nesting White Storks.

In the Directors Park a Waxwing and Redwing were both good finds.

That evening, despite the rain, we all went to a farewell party with a huge log fire, sausages on sticks, Belarussian folk singers, some in traditional costume, and Polish vodka to keep us warm.


Sunday was fine and dry and after breakfast our coach set off to Warsaw Airport. After a short and uneventful flight, we said our goodbyes and went our different ways. With 179 species seen, this ended another successful Polish Bird Festival.

Biebrza Marshes Excursion
The first two-day excursion to the internationally recognised wetlands, left the Bialowieski Hotel after breakfast on Sunday morning. Our Polish guide for the trip was Thomas who sat in front of the minibus next to the driver, ever ready to instruct him to stop if something interesting was seen. This came into play as we approached our first stop along a rather bumpy track. There were close views of a male Common Kestrel that stooped into some long grass and shortly after a Great Grey Shrike that was seen perched on a wire.
A known site for Rollers was our first destination of the day and we enjoyed views of Whinchat, Blue-headed Wagtail, Hobby, Hoopoe, Common Cranes (heard), Fieldfare, Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Hooded Crow and Lesser Spotted Eagle but sadly the Rollers did not show.
Next stop for packed lunch was at the Dojlidy Fishponds which are managed to produce carp, a traditional Polish dish at Christmas. The series of reed-fringed pools were set among larger reedbeds and willow scrub. The birding here was excellent: a Red-necked Grebe was sitting on a nest in the first pool, pairs of Black-necked Grebes could be watched close at hand and the place was vibrant with the calls of nesting Black-headed Gulls and singing Great Reed Warblers. Black Terns and several Little Gulls were flying over a large lake at the back and Marsh Harriers hunted over the reedbeds. Thomas took us to a place where we observed a pair of Penduline Tits building a remarkable hanging nest. A Savi's Warbler could be heard singing from the reedbeds nearby and fire-bellied toads were making their hoot-like croaks. One participant made the bank partially collapse under-foot. Thomas later explained that he had fallen down a musk rat-hole! Before leaving the site we all enjoyed close views of a small party of White-winged Black Terns passing through.
Then on to the Biebrza Marshes, arriving late in the afternoon. We drove along 'Towers Road', built through the marsh by the Russian Army. From a viewing platform we watched a Common Crane, an Elk, several Montagu's Harriers, drumming Common Snipe, distant Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit and a close, eye-level view of a Honey Buzzard. Nearby was the Zybszko Hotel, our base for the night, where we had an evening meal. We were somewhat disappointed to hear from Thomas that no Great Snipe were present on leks in the Biebrza Marshes this year but still drove out to another viewing platform at dusk. It was rather cold with a chilly wind but we still managed to see two Elk, several Montagu's harriers and White-winged Black Terns.
Monday dawned wet and we did not venture out until after breakfast. Our first stop was Mscichy, a known site for Aquatic Warblers. No sooner had we exited the minibus, when Thomas found a stunning male Bluethroat, singing from willow trees nearby. A good start and the weather was improving. We followed a track through the marshes on foot and saw many wetland birds including up to 8 Garganey, numerous flocks of Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit. Five Great White Egrets were seen in flight in the distance and a Lesser Spotted Eagle flew above some far away trees. As we arrived at the area for Aquatic Warblers the sun came out and right on cue, a male began singing from a sedge-bed nearby. It did not take long to see the bird as it was perched on a dead stem and we all enjoyed excellent views. However the bird soon flew off and we did not see or hear another Aquatic Warbler that day. A pair of Little-ringed Plovers flew over our heads and landed on the track nearby. Thomas said it was time to go and we set off back to the minibus. One person saw a probable but rather distant Red-footed Falcon and a second Bluethroat was seen briefly.
We were then taken to a very good view point over part of the marshes at Buizyn. Flocks of White-winged and Black Terns hunted over the marsh, two Elk waded through the floods in the distance and five Great White Egrets stood next to the river.
Lunch was taken in a small village called Waniewom, then most of the group went out on punts round the marsh nearby. The punts were somewhat rickety but the experience was worthwhile. The convoy of punts went past a Beaver lodge and Savi's Warblers could be heard close by. It was tempting to stand up but that water looked cold! Flocks of Wood Sandpipers were perched in short reeds next to the cuttings and several Hobbies were hunting overhead. The day's third Bluethroat was seen singing from a willow bush at one point.
Back safely on land we were driven back to the Bialowieski Hotel where Dick was waiting to greet us. We later enjoyed a pleasant evening exchanging notes with others who had been out in the woodlands.
Footnote: A new Great Snipe lek was found later in the week and most of the group got to see them.