POLAND IN SPRING 2007

 

“Unusually for our spring tour of Poland, it was cold and wet as our plane touched down in Warsaw.  Despite the inclement weather we were soon heading south-west towards the Carpathian Mountains.  The writing was ‘on the wall’ for a successful trip when our first stop for lunch produced immature White-tailed Eagle, Hobby and Black Stork soaring over the roadside restaurant – common roadside birds!  On our arrival in the south, Golden Oriole, Thrush Nightingale and Serin sang loudly whilst several migrant Honey Buzzards soared overhead.  Nearby in a stand of fruiting trees we enjoyed great views of Syrian Woodpecker and the first of many Wrynecks.  A stop on the banks of the River San produced a resting group of Greenshank on their way north, a superbly confiding Thrush Nightingale and several Goosanders swimming upstream.

 

As we travelled through the picturesque Bieszczady National Park, Black Storks were seen feeding along a shallow stony river bed and also soaring overhead.  Our stop at the aptly named ‘Eagle Valley’ produced sensational views of a perched adult Golden Eagle, three Lesser Spotted Eagles, Goshawk and several Common Buzzards.  Also here Corncrakes ‘crexxed’ from the meadows and Grey-headed Woodpecker calls rang out, echoing through the valley.  In the mixed coniferous woodlands several Nutcrackers were seen, as were a superb family party of Crossbills, a wonderfully confiding Firecrest, and the awesome sight of two hooting Ural Owls made a memorable evening.

 

This area also produced Collared Flycatcher and its drabber cousin, the Spotted Flycatcher was noted in good numbers.  Also singing Treecreeper, Redstart, Black Redstart and Willow Tit gave a wonderful show as did Hoopoe, Middle Spotted and Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers.  Early morning walks build up your appetite and every morning there was a superb spread awaiting us for breakfast including home made Wild Boar sausages, tasty fruit smoothies, fruit pancakes and pierogi.

 

Our journey north produced some superb sights and sounds too, including ‘yaffling’ Green Woodpecker, singing Short-toed Treecreeper and a very active family of Tawny Owls; the sight of elegant male Montagu’s Harriers sailing over roadside fields, no less than twenty-four Red-footed Falcons hunting flying insects over the fishponds whilst hundreds of Black, Whiskered and White-winged Black Terns zipped low over the reeds.  The evocative Bittern was booming from the reed beds at several sites whilst its smaller cousin the Little Bittern tried hard to stay invisible but eventually gave itself up for all to see.  The avian cacophony continued unabated with the mechanical sounding Savi’s Warbler reeling, Great Reed Warbler ‘crunching’ and Little Crake ‘laughing’ in the background.  Early morning walks in traditional parkland habitat produced superb views of Wryneck, Icterine Warbler, Golden Oriole and the wonderfully cute Red Squirrel.

 

Other sights on our way north included numerous Golden Orioles, dapper male Bearded and Penduline Tits, ‘sky dancing’ Marsh Harriers and at one particular site we enjoyed a fly-over Osprey.  Aquatic Warbler was seen at two locations and gave good views perched out in the open.  Nearby, a Savi’s Warbler sang out in the open from a small bush allowing close study and a superb male Barred Warbler chattered from the base of a small bush; although a very elusive species we could make out the barred underparts and the distinctive bright yellow iris.

 

We arrived in Bialowieza Forest and our three-day stay here allowed us to explore the forest in greater detail, observing species such as Pygmy Owl, Honey Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, River Warbler, Crested Tit, nesting Hawfinch and many woodpeckers including five Black, two White-backed, Lesser-spotted, nesting Three-toed, 10+ Great-spotted and several Wrynecks.  The warm weather was producing plenty of flying insects, thus attracting large numbers of Collared Flycatchers and handfuls of Pied, Spotted and a single dapper Red-breasted.  One morning our ‘extra early’ start also produced a Beaver swimming along a stretch of the River Narew – a lovely surprise!

 

We were greeted with a warm sunny evening when we visited an area known to hold lekking Great Snipe, not only did we see Great Snipe here we were also treated to the weird bubbling of distant lekking Black Grouse, reeling Grasshopper Warbler, ‘crexxing’ Corncrake, singing Whinchat, calling Black Woodpecker and a chorus of croaking Marsh Frogs; sounds so evocative of Poland in spring.

 

Our visit to Siemianowka Lake on the Belarus border produced Blue-headed Wagtail, numerous Thrush Nightingales, no less than seven Great White Egrets, superb adult White-tailed Eagles, many Whiskered Terns, a fantastic close view of an immature Goshawk, several Hoopoes, three Great Grey Shrikes and several fly-by Montagu’s Harriers.

 

Heavy rain and the earlier spring snow fall had resulted in much higher water levels than usual, but warm weather prior to our arrival had reduced many flooded areas to shallow mud and, as a result, a good selection of waders were present with many Ruff seen on the Narew River floodplain along with Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, two Curlew Sandpipers in bright red summer plumage, the wonderfully elegant Spotted Redshank in its dusky black summer dress, Redshank, Greenshank, three Temminck’s Stints, and many Wood Sandpipers, not to mention lots of Garganey, Little Gulls and a single Little Tern.

 

Other sites within the Biebrza Marshes produced a beautiful singing male Bluethroat, over 300 Common Cranes, up to 2000 White-winged Black Terns, many Black Storks, singing Ortolan Buntings and no less than eight magnificent impressive White-tailed Eagles together with two of the rare and elusive Greater Spotted Eagle.  Four magnificent Elk were seen from various viewpoints across the marshes with other mammals including Red Fox and Roe Deer.

 

As we prepared to head towards Warsaw on our final day, we had a wonderful surprise when we stopped off to check out an area where, in the past, three pairs of Bee-eaters have nested.  Imagine our reaction when not six but fourteen Bee-eaters were hawking insects from roadside wires in bright sunshine.  Nearby we got great looks at a freshly arrived Marsh Warbler as well as nine migrant Whooper Swans.

 

The bird of the trip?  This year it was totally unanimous that the superb male Bluethroat seen near the end of the tour was the best bird; who could ask for more?  A blue-throated male which sang in full view at eye-level, even at one stage fanning its tail to show the reddish patches at the base, affording tremendous close up views and a wonderful experience for the whole group.  Second place was taken by the wonderful male Corncrake which did a great impersonation of a lawn mower as it carved through the grass, and third was the family of Crossbills; the bright red males contrasting with the streaky youngsters.  As in previous years we left with some wonderful memories of the sites and sounds of Poland.”  Stuart Elsom.

 

Bird List:

 

This is a list of all the species seen during the last thirteen tours to Poland.

 

Key:

 

Column A = Number of tours this species has been recorded on.

Column B = Number of days this species was seen on the last tour.

Column C = Maximum daily count for this species on the last tour.

H               = Heard only

N               = Nesting evident

 

A                                                                                B           C        

 

1

Red-throated Diver

 

 

 

Gavia stellata

3

Black-throated Diver

 

 

 

Gavia arctica

11

Little Grebe  

1

2

 

Tachybaptus ruficollis

13

Great Crested Grebe  

6

15

 

Podiceps cristatus

13

Red-necked Grebe  

2

6

 

Podiceps grisegena

3

Slavonian Grebe   

 

 

 

Podiceps auritus

13

Black-necked Grebe  

 

 

 

Podiceps nigricollis

13

Cormorant  

3

9

 

Phalacrocorax carbo

13

Bittern  

5

2

H

Botaurus stellaris

5

Little Bittern

1

2

 

Ixobrychus minutus

1

Little Egret

 

 

 

Egretta garzetta

8

Great Egret  

1

7

 

Egretta alba

13

Grey Heron  

7

4

 

Ardea cinerea

13

Black Stork  

6

2

 

Ciconia nigra

13

White Stork  

9

 50+

 

Ciconia ciconia

1

Glossy Ibis

 

 

 

Plegadis falcinellus

13

Mute Swan 

8

20

 

Cygnus olor

9

Whooper Swan  

1

9

 

Cygnus cygnus

13

Greylag Goose  

4

25

 

Anser anser

2

Bean Goose

2

12

 

Anser fabalis

9

Wigeon  

2

4

 

Anas penelope

13

Gadwall  

3

4

 

Anas strepera

5

Teal  

 

 

 

Anas crecca

13

Mallard  

11

20

 

Anas platyrhynchos

2

Pintail

 

 

 

Anas acuta

13

Garganey  

3

4

 

Anas querquedula

13

Shoveler  

2

1

 

Anas clypeata

1

Red-crested Pochard

 

 

 

Netta rufina

13

Pochard  

2

50

 

Aythya ferina

1

Ferruginous Duck  

 

 

 

Aythya nyroca

13

Tufted Duck  

4

30

 

Aythya fuligula

3

Goldeneye  

1

2

 

Bucephala clangula

1

Red-breasted Merganser

 

 

 

Mergus serrator

4

Goosander  

2

4

 

Mergus merganser

12

Honey Buzzard  

6

8

 

Pernis apivorus

2

Black Kite

 

 

 

Milvus migrans

13

White-tailed Eagle 

3

10

 

Haliaeetus albicilla

2

Short-toed Eagle

 

 

 

Circaetus gallicus

13

Marsh Harrier  

8

20

 

Circus aeruginosus

4

Hen Harrier  

 

 

 

Circus cyaneus

13

Montagu's Harrier  

6

10

 

Circus pygargus

8

Goshawk  

3

1

 

Accipiter gentilis

13

Sparrowhawk  

2

2

 

Accipiter nisus

13

Common Buzzard  

9

15

 

Buteo buteo

1

Steppe Buzzard

 

 

 

Buteo vulpinus

13

Lesser Spotted Eagle  

7

8

 

Aquila pomarina

9

Spotted Eagle  

1

1

 

Aquila clanga

8

Golden Eagle  

1

1

 

Aquila chrysaetos

6

Osprey  

1

1

 

Pandion haliaetus

13

Kestrel  

6

1

 

Falco tinnunculus

5

Red-footed Falcon  

2

24

 

Falco vespertinus

12

Hobby  

5

4

 

Falco subbuteo

1

Saker

 

 

 

Falco cherrug

4

Peregrine

 

 

 

Falco peregrinus

2

Black Grouse

1

5+

H

Tetrao tetrix

4

Hazel Grouse

1

1

H

Bonasa bonasia

13

Grey Partridge  

1

2

 

Perdix perdix

5

Quail  

 

 

 

Coturnix coturnix

13

Pheasant  

1

1

 

Phasianus colchicus

8

Water Rail  

1

1

 

Rallus aquaticus

4

Spotted Crake  

 

 

 

Porzana porzana

10

Little Crake  

2

2

H

Porzana parva

13

Corncrake  

8

2

H

Crex crex

13

Moorhen  

1

1

 

Gallinula chloropus

13

Coot  

7

20

 

Fulica atra

13

Common Crane   

6

10

 

Grus grus

12

Little Ringed Plover  

1

1

 

Charadrius dubius

9

Ringed Plover  

1

2

 

Charadrius hiaticula

3

Grey Plover  

 

 

 

Pluvialis squatarola

13

Lapwing  

9

3

 

Vanellus vanellus

10

Temminck’s Stint  

1

3

 

Calidris temminckii

1

Curlew Sandpiper

1

2

 

Calidris ferruginea

8

Dunlin  

1

2

 

Calidris alpina

13

Ruff  

1

20

 

Philomachus pugnax

13

Common Snipe  

3

4

 

Gallinago gallinago

12

Great Snipe  

1

5

 

Gallinago media

13

Woodcock  

3

1

 

Scolopax rusticola

13

Black-tailed Godwit  

2

10

 

Limosa limosa

3

Whimbrel  

 

 

 

Numenius phaeopus

11

Curlew  

1

1

 

Numenius arquata

5

Spotted Redshank  

1

1

 

Tringa erythropus

13

Redshank  

1

1

 

Tringa totanus

2

Marsh Sandpiper

 

 

 

Tringa stagnatilis

8

Greenshank  

1

2

 

Tringa nebularia

6

Green Sandpiper  

1

1

 

Tringa ochropus

13

Wood Sandpiper  

2

2

 

Tringa glareola

13

Common Sandpiper  

3

3

 

Actitis hypoleucos

2

Turnstone  

 

 

 

Arenaria interpres

1

Arctic Skua  

 

 

 

Stercorarius parasiticus

1

Great Black-headed Gull

 

 

 

Larus icthyaetus

8

Little Gull  

2

2

 

Larus minutus

13

Black-headed Gull  

8

35

 

Larus ridibundus

12

Common Gull  

 

 

 

Larus canus

2

Lesser Black-backed Gull

 

 

 

Larus (fuscus) graellsii

6

Caspian Gull

1

2

 

Larus (cachinnans) cachinnans

10

Yellow-legged Gull  

 

 

 

Larus (cachinnans) michahellis

13

Common Tern  

9

2

 

Sterna hirundo

13

Little Tern  

1

2

 

Sterna albifrons

13

Whiskered Tern  

5

15

 

Chlidonias hybrida

13

Black Tern  

5

20

 

Chlidonias niger

13

White-winged Black Tern  

6

6000

 

Chlidonias leucopterus

13

Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon  

11

10

 

Columba livia

13

Stock Dove  

 

 

 

Columba oenas

13

Woodpigeon  

9

2

 

Columba palumbus

13

Collared Dove  

11

10

 

Streptopelia decaocto

13

Turtle Dove  

2

2

 

Streptopelia turtur

13

Cuckoo  

11

6

 

Cuculus canorus

1

Eagle Owl

 

 

 

Bubo bubo

8

Pygmy Owl  

1

1

 

Glaucidium passerinum

10

Tawny Owl  

1

2

 

Strix aluco

10

Ural Owl  

2

3

 

Strix uralensis

2

Long-eared Owl

 

 

 

Asio otus

5

Tengmalm's Owl  

 

 

 

Aegolius funereus

4

Nightjar  

1

1

 

Caprimulgus europaeus

13

Common Swift  

11

50

 

Apus apus

3

Kingfisher

1

1

 

Alcedo atthis

8

Bee-eater  

1

14

 

Merops apiaster

6

Roller  

 

 

 

Coracias garrulus

12

Hoopoe  

6

1

 

Upupa epops

13

Wryneck  

5

5

 

Jynx torquilla

13

Grey-headed Woodpecker  

3

2

 

Picus canus

13

Green Woodpecker  

1

1

 

Picus viridis

13

Black Woodpecker  

5

5

 

Dryocopus martius

13

Great Spotted Woodpecker  

6

4

 

Dendrocopos major

8

Syrian Woodpecker  

1

2

 

Dendrocopos syriacus

13

Middle Spotted Woodpecker  

1

1

 

Dendrocopos medius

13

White-backed Woodpecker  

2

1

 

Dendrocopos leucotos

11

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker  

1

1

 

Dendrocopos minor

12

Three-toed Woodpecker  

1

1

N

Picoides tridactylus

4

Crested Lark  

 

 

 

Galerida cristata

13

Woodlark  

3

1

 

Lullula arborea

13

Skylark  

10

5

 

Alauda arvensis

13

Sand Martin  

7

30

N

Riparia riparia

13

Swallow  

11

50

 

Hirundo rustica

13

House Martin  

11

30

 

Delichon urbica

1

Tawny Pipit

 

 

 

Anthus campestris

13

Tree Pipit  

2

2

 

Anthus trivialis

13

Meadow Pipit  

 

 

 

Anthus pratensis

13

Blue-headed Wagtail  

4

10

 

Motacilla flava

12

Citrine Wagtail  

1

2

 

Motacilla citreola

13

Grey Wagtail  

1

1

 

Motacilla cinerea

13

White Wagtail  

11

4

 

Motacilla alba

7

Dipper

3

2

 

Cinclus cinclus

13

Wren  

3

1

 

Troglodytes troglodytes

12

Dunnock  

1

1

 

Prunella modularis

1

Bohemian Waxwing

 

 

 

Bombycilla garrulus

13

Robin  

3

3

 

Erithacus rubecula

13

Thrush Nightingale  

8

10

H

Luscinia luscinia

10

Bluethroat  

1

1

 

Luscinia svecica

13

Black Redstart  

7

2

N

Phoenicurus ochruros

13

Redstart  

5

2

 

Phoenicurus phoenicurus

13

Whinchat  

9

10

 

Saxicola rubetra

12

Stonechat  

3

2

 

Saxicola torquata

13

Northern Wheatear  

1

2

 

Oenanthe oenanthe

5

Ring Ouzel

2

1

 

Turdus torquatus

13

Blackbird  

11

3

 

Turdus merula

13

Fieldfare  

11

5

 

Turdus pilaris

13

Song Thrush  

9

4

 

Turdus philomelos

4

Redwing

1

1

H

Turdus iliacus

13

Mistle Thrush  

3

1

 

Turdus viscivorus

13

Grasshopper Warbler  

5

2

H

Locustella naevia

12

River Warbler  

2

4

 

Locustella fluviatilis

13

Savi's Warbler  

5

2

 

Locustella luscinioides

13

Aquatic Warbler  

2

2

 

Acrocephalus paludicola

13

Sedge Warbler  

5

2

 

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

13

Marsh Warbler  

1

1

 

Acrocephalus palustris

13

Reed Warbler  

5

2

 

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

13

Great Reed Warbler  

8

6

 

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

13

Icterine Warbler  

4

4

 

Hippolais icterina

13

Barred Warbler  

2

1

 

Sylvia nisoria

13

Lesser Whitethroat  

6

2

 

Sylvia curruca

13

Whitethroat  

7

4

 

Sylvia communis

13

Garden Warbler   

3

1

 

Sylvia borin

13

Blackcap  

9

4

 

Sylvia atricapilla

13

Wood Warbler  

8

30+

 

Phylloscopus sibilatrix

13

Chiffchaff  

10

5

 

Phylloscopus collybita

13

Willow Warbler 

11

4

 

Phylloscopus trochilus

13

Goldcrest  

 

 

 

Regulus regulus

9

Firecrest  

4

2

 

Regulus ignicapillus

13

Spotted Flycatcher  

10

4

 

Muscicapa striata

13

Red-breasted Flycatcher  

1

1

 

Ficedula parva

13

Collared Flycatcher  

4

40

 

Ficedula albicollis

13

Pied Flycatcher  

 

 

 

Ficedula hypoleuca

3

Bearded Tit  

1

5

 

Panurus biarmicus

10

Long-tailed Tit  

 

 

 

Aegithalos caudatus

12

Marsh Tit  

1

2

 

Parus palustris

10

Willow Tit  

3

2

N

Parus montanus

12

Crested Tit  

1

2

 

Parus cristatus

13

Coal Tit  

3

2

 

Parus ater

13

Blue Tit  

7

6

N

Parus caeruleus

13

Great Tit  

8

2

 

Parus major

13

Nuthatch

3

2

N

Sitta europaea

13

Treecreeper  

3

2

N

Certhia familiaris

10

Short-toed Treecreeper  

1

2

 

Certhia brachydactyla

13

Penduline Tit  

4

3

N

Remiz pendulinus

13

Golden Oriole  

6

3

 

Oriolus oriolus

13

Red-backed Shrike  

8

3

 

Lanius collurio

2

Lesser Grey Shrike

 

 

 

Lanius minor

13

Great Grey Shrike  

5

4

 

Lanius excubitor

13

Jay  

11

4

 

Garrulus glandarius

13

Magpie  

11

10

 

Pica pica

11

Nutcracker  

1

2

 

Nucifraga caryocatactes

13

Jackdaw  

11

20

 

Corvus monedula

13

Rook  

11

50

 

Corvus frugilegus

13

Hooded Crow  

8

10

 

Corvus (corone) corone

13

Raven  

6

4

 

Corvus corax

13

Starling  

11

00s

N

Sturnus vulgaris

13

House Sparrow 

10

5

 

Passer domesticus

13

Tree Sparrow  

5

6

N

Passer montanus

13

Chaffinch  

11

10

 

Fringilla coelebs

13

Serin  

10

3

 

Serinus serinus

13

Greenfinch  

8

5

 

Carduelis chloris

13

Goldfinch  

8

4

 

Carduelis carduelis

8

Siskin  

 

 

 

Carduelis spinus

13

Linnet  

4

2

 

Carduelis cannabina

9

Crossbill  

1

6

N

Loxia curvirostra

11

Scarlet Rosefinch  

1

1

 

Carpodacus erythrinus

12

Bullfinch  

 

 

 

Pyrrhula pyrrhula

13

Hawfinch  

6

8

 

Coccothraustes coccothraustes

13

Yellowhammer  

10

1

 

Emberiza citrinella

12

Ortolan Bunting  

1

1

 

Emberiza hortulana

13

Reed Bunting  

8

6

 

Emberiza schoeniclus

13

Corn Bunting  

1

2

 

Miliaria calandra

 

 

06/07