POLAND 24TH 28TH MAY 2016 ORIOLE BIRDING TOUR REPORT

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1 POLAND 24TH 28TH MAY 2016 ORIOLE BIRDING TOUR REPORT

2 TOUR LEADER Neil Donaghy PARTICIPANTS Steve Bolchover Martin Jones Peter Douglas Jones Robert Tallack This was a private tour taking in only the primeval forest in Bialowieza and surrounding area. 24 TH MAY 2016 We met in Warsaw Modlin on time and were heading east shortly afterwards through some horrendous road works which caused us to abandon our original route and birding stop in favour of a slower but easier route. Other than a lot of White Storks, Common Starlings and a few Common Buzzards, we saw very little until and we arrived in Bialowieza in time for dinner. Just before dessert was served, we got notice of some European Bison in a meadow in nearby Pogorzelce and in less than ten minutes, we were there and watching two of these magnificent beasts as the sun went down: what a great start to the trip and dessert tasted so much sweeter for it!! 25 TH MAY 2016 Sunny and warm in the morning followed by thunderstorms and showers in the afternoon Following breakfast, we met up with Mateusz Syzmura who was to be our required local guide for the excursion into the Strictly Protected Area of the forest. The walk to the entrance was unusually quiet with just a couple of singing Whinchats and a flighty Red-backed Shrike seen and a couple of Corn Crakes calling from the long grass. Once inside this amazing place, it was a different story and we enjoyed a couple of hours of excellent birding. First up was a showy Wood Warbler just a metre off the ground, so it was probably near a nest and was the first of several we saw and heard throughout our walk. Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Chaffinches were common and before too long, we had the first of our target species as we watched a pair of Middle Spotted Woodpeckers going back and forth to a nest hole and this was followed shortly after by another pair. The first Great Spotted Woodpecker put in an appearance and after a bit of a struggle, we all managed to get on to a pair of Collared Flycatchers that were showing well near a nest hole. We saw a few others after these birds, but none showed as well. We were then fortunate to encounter a female Three-toed Woodpecker that left the nest hole briefly; this is a late breeding pair and they are still incubating, so we were indeed spared a potentially long wait for the birds to change over. We were not so fortunate with Black Woodpecker as the adult bird did not return to feed the well grown chick that was poking its head out of the nest hole, but we more than made up for it just before we left this part of the forest as an adult male was seen a couple of times in flight and going up and down a tree trunk. Our final bird inside the forest was a superb full adult male Red-breasted Flycatcher that perched and sang above us enabling everyone to get excellent views of what can be a tricky species to see; especially one with a full red breast!! A Red Fox was also seen, as was a Bank Vole and Beautiful Demoiselle. Mateusz returned to work, though we would be meeting again later today and as we walked back, a female Golden Oriole flew over our heads and a couple of Common Buzzards and a much hoped for Lesser Spotted Eagle circled overhead. By now it was lunchtime and we returned to the hotel to eat and sit down. Refreshed, we set off for a walk along the Narewka River and soon had Common Swifts and House Martins circling overhead and much better views of a male Red-backed Shrike than we managed this morning. A female Marsh Harrier drifted over and the same Lesser Spotted Eagle put in a brief appearance. A couple of Yellowhammers were seen flying overhead, Sedge Warblers were song flighting and a couple of Reed Buntings were perched atop the reeds. Our target bird here was Savi s Warbler but it made us work quite hard before giving itself up after we had gotten a soaking form a heavy shower that came from nowhere.

3 Unfortunately, that was the scene for the rest of the afternoon as we tried to ensure we were birding in areas with cover to dodge the intermittent rain. It worked quite well though as we encountered a few Black Redstarts, House Sparrows, White Wagtails and Spotted Flycatchers around the town and the area around the Czar s Lake produced a few Mallards, several Common Rosefinches including a nice full plumaged red male, a male Blackcap and a couple more Spotted Flycatchers. A singing Great Reed Warbler steadfastly to show itself to all, though some had excellent, if brief views of it perched up on a reed stem and during a heavy shower, we had the amazing sight of a female Hawfinch feeding a fledgling about a metre off the ground; sadly this bird looked as though it may not have been ready to leave the nest and could have fallen out prematurely and its survival prospects didn t look great. A few Fieldfares were feeding in the newly cut grass in front of the dacha, and just before a big thunderstorm arrived, we had the amazing spectacle of a singing Eurasian Serin, a Black Woodpecker and a pair of Rosefinches all flying out of the same tree!! Finally, a couple of Hawfinches flew overhead as we got back to the hotel just before prolonged rain began. The rain stopped as we were eating dinner, so we decided to have a look for Pygmy Owl but on this occasion, we had to make do with hearing a bird at close quarters, but just could not find it in the dense vegetation. A couple of Eurasian Woodcocks flew were roding as the light failed to round off a very enjoyable day. 26 TH MAY 2016 Warm and sunny in the morning with thunderstorms in the afternoon We woke to a beautiful warm and sunny morning with no breeze and almost immediately heard a singing Eurasian Wryneck outside the hotel, but it showed only very briefly before flying away and was not seen by all. From here we walked to the Park Naradowy to try for Grey-headed Woodpecker but saw only a pair of Middle Spotted; though these birds showed well as compensation. Our first Tree Sparrows of the trip posed nicely as they flew in and out of a vegetable garden and we finally all managed to see the Great Reed Warbler first noted yesterday, but not before it had given us the run around again. However, persistence paid off and we got good views as it skulked around the base of its territory. This was followed by a family party of Northern Long-tailed Tits with snow white heads on the adults that were busy feeding the recently fledged juveniles and we were fortunate to find a singing Marsh Warbler in a roadside bush that perched up very nicely allowing us to see its bright orange gape as it sang. As we scanned, the meadow outside the Strictly Protected Forest, a different Lesser spotted Eagle rose up and circled a few times; the bird identifiable by the lack of missing primaries on the bird seen yesterday. A displaying Northern Lapwing here was new for the trip. As we walked back through the park, we enjoyed sensational views of a male Collared Flycatcher that was busy visiting its nest and we watched this beautiful bird for some time before leaving. A European Robin was also in this spot. Reaching the bridge over the Narewka River, we stopped for a pair of Lesser spotted Woodpeckers that were busy at a changeover as they were obviously still incubating. The male flew out as the female entered the nest hole and we rounded off a splendid ten minutes or so by watching a singing Thrush Nightingale in a bare overhang which was facing us allowing us to see the spotting on the breast before it dropped sown into dense cover; fantastic! We stopped for lunch back at the hotel where the other Lesser Spotted Eagle drifted overhead. Following lunch, we set off for Budy but were stopped in Pogorzelce first by one and then another singing River Warbler both of which refused to show, but we had a bonus bird in the form of a singing Barred Warbler that we originally picked up in the middle of the road!! The bird was very flighty and constantly one the move but with a bit of patience, we all got decent views. We also saw Common Whitethroat here, but as we reached Budy a huger thunderstorm arrived and we had to seek shelter for an hour before it stopped. We tried at the bridge, but saw very little, so we came back to Bialowieza via a roadside stop for a showy Red Squirrel, a drumming Common Snipe and another unsuccessful attempt to see River Warbler. We tried the other bridge over the Narewka and this proved a good move as we had superb views of a Eurasian Wryneck feeding on the side of the road before it flew off to be replaced by a Thrush Nightingale, though this bird was very brief. Up to four Marsh Warblers were busy chasing each other through the reed beds, another River warbler went unseen and a distant Eurasian Honey Buzzard circled over a few times before we headed back for an early dinner in readiness for this evening s excursions. After an hour s driving and a short walk out across the wet meadow we were in place for the Great Snipe lek.

4 A couple of Northern Lapwings were displaying overhead, several Corn Crakes called unseen close by and a couple of Common Snipe were heard drumming. As the sun went down, we began to hear the clicks of the Great Snipes at fairly close range and soon we were enjoying the amazing sight of these birds jumping out of the long grass in a flurry of wings and tail. At least five birds put on an excellent display and were accompanied by bugling Common Cranes and reeling Grasshopper Warblers in a very atmospheric scene, while a Brown Hare on the side of the road was a nice way to end the day. 27 TH MAY 2016 Sunny and hot with no breeze. Our last day and we decided to head north into the area known as the Kosy Most and were joined by Neil s partner Dorota Siomko. The entrance road provided us with excellent views of a male Hawfinch taking grit, and we were to see several more during the morning. A couple of Great spotted woodpeckers were also noted and we had a fascinating ringside seat as the local Barred Warblers and Red-backed Shrikes chased each other off their respective territories. Our first Sand Martins and Common Ravens of the trip soon followed and a couple of Common Cranes soared overhead while a Coal Tit called and several Chaffinches sang unseen and a few Common Buzzards took to the skies. Dorota had the good fortune to flush a Corn Crake, while the rest of us had to make do with only hearing them again and likewise three River Warblers all refused to show and an Icterine Warbler only put in the briefest of appearances. However, it seemed strangely quiet for birds, so we concentrated instead on the numerous butterflies of which Black-veined White and Map seemed particularly prominent. We also noted Chequered Skippers and a couple of Green Hairstreaks, as well as a single Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Comma on what was now turning into a hot day. We took lunch and decided to visit the meadows in Hajnowka and this proved to be an excellent choice of destination, as well as being a very beautiful place to spend the afternoon. Several Yellowhammers, Sky Larks, Greenfinches and a couple Linnets greeted us on arrival and a couple of Grey Partridges flushed at close range; an unexpected addition to the tour list, as was the Great White Egret that was feeding alongside a Common Crane and a White Stork in a remarkable threesome in the same binocular view!! A Eurasian Jay flew overhead and at least four Marsh Harriers were present, two males and two females, but it seemed as though none of the birds were paired up. Once again it was butterflies that took the prizes with more Chequered Skippers, a couple of Common Blues, a Dingy Skipper, a Wall Brown, an unidentified and odd looking copper and an amazing Swallowtail that we caught and were able to study before releasing it safely and a stunning Green Underside Blue rounded things off. There was still time for a singing Willow Warbler and we finished the day with a cracking Great Grey Shrike before we headed back to the hotel in Bialowieza. 28 TH MAY 2016 With a lunchtime flight, there was no time for birding today, though we did see a Common Redstart and three Black Terns en route which were new for the trip. We departed on time and arrived five minutes late in Bristol, where the tour concluded. Martin & Steve were staying on until 2 nd June and visiting Biebrza Marshes with some friends from Suprasl. SYSTEMATIC LIST 1/Mallard 2/Grey Partridge 3/Corn Crake [H] 4/Common Pheasant [H] 5/Grey Heron 6/Great White Egret 7/White Stork 8/Lesser Spotted Eagle 9/Marsh Harrier 10/Common Buzzard 11/Eurasian Honey Buzzard 12/Eurasian Sparrowhawk

5 13/Common Crane 14/Northern Lapwing 15/Eurasian Woodcock 16/Great Snipe 17/Common Snipe 18/Black-headed Gull 19/Black Tern 20/Feral Rock Dove 21/Wood Pigeon 22/Collared Dove 23/Common Cuckoo [H] 24/Eurasian Pygmy Owl [H] 25/Common Swift 26/Black Woodpecker 27/Great Spotted Woodpecker 28/Middle Spotted Woodpecker 29/Three-toed Woodpecker 30/Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 31/Eurasian Wryneck 32/Sky Lark 33/Sand Martin 34/Barn Swallow 35/House Martin 36/White Wagtail 37/European Robin 38/Thrush Nightingale 39/Common Redstart 40/Black Redstart 41/Whinchat 42/Song Thrush 43/Fieldfare 44/Blackbird 45/Barred Warbler 46/Garden Warbler 47/Blackcap 48/Common Whitethroat 49/Lesser Whitethroat 50/Sedge Warbler 51/Grasshopper Warbler [H] 52/River Warbler [H] 53/Savi s Warbler 54/Marsh Warbler 55/Great Reed Warbler 56/Icterine Warbler 57/Willow Warbler [H] 58/Wood Warbler 59/Common Chiffchaff 60/Goldcrest [H] 61/Northern Wren 62/Spotted Flycatcher 63/Red-breasted Flycatcher 64/Collared Flycatcher 65/Great Tit 66/Coal Tit [H] 67/Blue Tit

6 68/Marsh Tit 69/Long-tailed Tit 70/Common Nuthatch 71/Great Grey Shrike 72/Red-backed Shrike 73/Black-billed Magpie 74/Eurasian Jay 75/Western Jackdaw 76/Rook 77/Common Raven 78/Common Starling 79/Golden Oriole 80/House Sparrow 81/Tree Sparrow 82/Chaffinch 83/Linnet 84/Goldfinch 85/Greenfinch 86/Eurasian Serin 87/Hawfinch 88/Common Rosefinch 89/Reed Bunting 90/Yellowhammer BUTTERFLIES Swallowtail Orange Tip Black-veined White Common Blue Green Underside Blue Speckled Wood Northern Chequered Skipper Chequered Skipper Dingy Skipper Brimstone Green Hairstreak Sooty Copper Comma Peacock Small Tortoiseshell Map Wall Brown Small Heath OTHER WILDLIFE Brown Hare Red Fox Bank Vole European Bison