Poland Trip Report 2006

Saturday morning and Dave Fell met most of the 37 participants on the WildWings Polish Bird Festival at Heathrow for our flight to Warsaw. Here we were met by the five remaining participants and our Polish guide and were transferred by bus to our hotel, arriving just before dinner. Dick Filby, who had flown out earlier, met us at the hotel.

Sunday was our first day in the field and the weather was fine. Early risers explored around the hotel while those who opted for a lie-in met up at 5.30 a.m. for a guided walk down the road to the river. The dawn chorus was in full flow and with most birds giving excellent views, everyone returned to the hotel for a hearty breakfast. Birds seen were Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Thrush Nightingale, Corncrake, River Warbler, Black and Common Redstart and Hawfinch.

For the remainder of the day we concentrated on woodpeckers. Budy Bridge is not known as “Woodpecker Central” for nothing. Black and White-backed Woodpeckers made frequent visits to nest holes while a Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed from a nearby branch. An obliging Three-toed Woodpecker fed on large fat grubs yards in front of us (yes, it really has three toes!) and a Middle Spotted Woodpecker was seen briefly. While warblers sang all around us Collared Flycatchers flitted from branch to branch as a magnificent Lesser Spotted Eagle perched on a nearby tree.

Another group tried their luck in a circular walk through the forest at Wysokie Bagno and came up trumps with three Grey-headed Woodpeckers, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and yet another Three-toed Woodpecker. In all an amazing eight species of woodpecker seen in one day. Other good birds seen were Great Grey Shrike, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Montagu’s Harrier and Serin.

An evening trip for Pygmy Owl was successful. All this plus five Beaver and Red Squirrel got us off to a great start to the festival.

Monday was fine and sunny. Another early start was a guided walk in the Central Forest with the aim of seeing mammals. Several species of woodpecker and flycatchers were seen but the stars of the show must have been the two Bison, which were seen as they crossed a track.

If the forest was the place for Bison, then the local Palace Park was the place for birds. Newly fledged Fieldfares and Song Thrushes were everywhere. Serins, Icterine Warblers and Rosefinches sang from almost every tree and Spotted Flycatchers were on every available perch, or so it seemed. The highlight here was probably the Great Reed Warbler busily weaving its nest around the reeds that surround the lake.

Today saw the first of three trips to the Primeval Forest. These “keep-on-the-trail” walks with a local guide last for about three hours and give a chance to see a unique remnant of the forest that once covered Europe. Black, Middle-spotted and White-backed Woodpeckers were the best birds to be seen but this did not matter as the guide’s knowledge of the forest and its history made it a fascinating walk.

Around the hotel were Black Stork, Montagu’s Harriers, Great Grey Shrike, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Corncrake,

Hazelhen, Crested Tit, along with the now ‘usual’ River Warbler and Thrush Nightingale. Again the evening excursion saw Pygmy Owl.

Tuesday started fine and sunny but clouded over by midday, with a light rain in the mid-afternoon, turning heavy by evening. A full bus went to Lake Siemianovka and as we arrived an immature White-tailed Eagle was showing. A call into the bus was mistaken for ‘seagull’, so apart from a couple of people, the bird was missed. Some of the group later caught up with this “barn door” of a bird.

Other highlights here were five species of tern including plenty of White-winged Black Terns, which wooed the female contingent of the party. A Bittern boomed while cranes bugled in the distance. Marsh Harriers and White Storks drifted overhead and grebes displayed to one another. In the nearby forest a Black Woodpecker was observed and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was excavating a nest hole. One lucky person saw Hazel Hen

and another Polecat. On the journey back to the hotel brief stops were made, successfully, for Ortolan Bunting and a Red-breasted Flycatcher with a red throat.

The Primeval Forest visit had its usual array of woodpeckers and flycatchers plus a colony of Noctule Bats.
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was a good find around the hotel while an evening mammal trip turned up both Beech and Pine Martins.

Wednesday was fine and sunny. Early trips today were the final visit to the Primeval Forest and another visit to the Central Forest. Again the main species seen were woodpeckers and flycatchers along with three Hazel Hens. Several people visited the local Palace Park, which was full of birds and birdsong. Icterine Warblers, Serins, Rosefinch and Great Reed Warblers were much in evidence whilst a Red-breasted Flycatcher meant all four species of flycatcher available could be found here.

After lunch a bus departed for Kosy Most full with anticipation of seeing Nutcracker. Half the party were rewarded with a brief sighting as one was seen just as the bus arrived. Unfortunately it flew off before everyone had a chance to alight from the vehicle. Three Hazel Hens and a Corncrake were seen but raptors took the centre stage. Common and Honey Buzzards, Osprey, Goshawk and Sparrowhawk were found but Lesser Spotted Eagles displaying were the real stars.

A recce to the south-east corner of Lake Siemianovka found Citrine Wagtail and a probable Great Spotted Eagle. The final evening visit to see Pygmy Owl saw the bird showing well whilst the hoped for Tengmalms Owls just did not show.

Thursday was again fine and sunny. People were still waking early and going on the Central Forest walk. Again woodpeckers and flycatchers were seen and a Crested Tit was found at a nest. Red and Roe Deer were the only mammals seen. A full bus went to Siemcienakowszczyzna (south-east corner of the lake) and on the way had great views of Ortolan Bunting before being met on arrival by a stunning male Citrine Wagtail. Two White-tailed Eagles were being mobbed by Marsh Harriers while four Montagu’s Harriers displayed over the marsh. On a nearby hayrick a Lesser Spotted Eagle perched. All this plus three species of marsh tern, Penduline Tit at the nest, Great White Egrets, Hazel Hen, Alpine Swift and Rosefinches made it a great day out.

At Kosy Most good views were had at last of Nutcracker while several raptors and the ‘usual’ warblers were seen. Around the hotel a Corncrake was persuaded to show itself when a comb and zip were used. A Tawny Owl was an addition to the list.

Friday was again warm and sunny. Not too early a start today (5.15 a.m!) and off to Budy Bridge to see woodpeckers but only White-backed obliged. A guided walk to the forest near the hotel found Nutcracker and Crested Tit whilst the elusive and mystical (for some) Hazel Hen was heard.

The main trip of the day was again to the south-east corner of the lake where the Citrine Wagtails were seen along with marsh terns, Peregrine, Great White Egrets, Whooper Swan, harriers and Penduline Tit to name but a few. Several species of butterfly were also seen. Ortolan Bunting was seen on our return journey. Around the hotel four Montagu’s Harriers were displaying whilst in a small copse an Icterine and a Marsh Warbler tried

to mimic each other as rosefinches, Great Grey Shrikes and Golden Orioles were on show probably oblivious to the Lesser Spotted Eagle overhead.

One lucky couple managed to hear and see a Quail whist another saw a Sparrowhawk kill a Red-backed Shrike, only for the raptor to be knocked over by an irate Fieldfare that probably had young nearby. An evening prowl

encountered Wild Boar.

Saturday, our last day in the field, and again the weather was fine and sunny. A few hardy souls set out at 3.15 a.m. on the aptly named “Dawn Madness Trip” managing to see nine Wild Boar, Hazel Hen (perched) and River, Savi’s and Grasshopper Warbler, all in song together.

Most of the group wound down taking strolls or bicycle rides around the village whilst others caught buses out and walked back to the hotel. Grey-headed Woodpecker was finally found for a few who had failed during the week, whilst Icterine Warblers and Rosefinches were everywhere.

That evening we all attended the farewell party with a huge log fire, sausages on sticks, Belarussian folk singers (some in traditional costume), and of course Polish vodka. There was even a mock wedding with Dick Filby as the best man!

Sunday was again fine and sunny. An early start and light traffic on our journey to Warsaw gave us enough time to stop off at a park where we had crippling views of Syrian Woodpecker. This meant we had succeeded in seeing all ten species of European woodpecker. After a short and uneventful flight, we said our goodbyes and went our different ways. With 176 species seen or heard, this ended another successful WildWings Polish Bird Festival.

Biebrza Marshes Excursions

Three two-day excursions were made to these internationally renowned wetlands.

A known site for Rollers was visited but sadly the Rollers did not show. Next stop was at 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 with summer plumaged Red-necked Grebes, marsh terns, Great Reed Warblers, Marsh Harriers, Penduline Tits and Savi’s Warblers.

Then on to the Biebrza marshes, arriving late in the afternoon. From a veiwing platform were Elk, Cranes, drumming Snipe, Marsh Harriers and godwits. This year, as in 2004, no Great Snipes were present on leks in the marshes so other arrangements were made to see another lek after this trip return to Bialowieski. Here several Great Snipe were seen puffing out their breasts and uttering their strange clicking calls as they strutted their stuff to impress the females. On one such trip a flock of about 130 Black-throated Divers flew over.

Next day the first stop was at Mscichy, a known sight for Aquatic Warbler. A stunning male Bluethroat was found and eventually Aquatic Warbler was seen. A further stop was made and several waders including Ruff and Temmincks Stints were also observed. Lunch was taken in a small village called Waniewo, then some groups went out on punts round the nearby marsh. It was a relaxing and successful two-day trip.

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