Ócsa

This city is well known amongs birders in Budapest and nearby. Lots of people gained experience in ringing in this station (http://omve.hu/beforeafter.html). It is possible to even volunteer there and it is not that difficult to get there. I took a train and came home by bus. The ringing station is outsite of the city, circa 15minutes on foot.

This is the road, which takes us to the ringing station. It's possible to stay in the house of the ringing station and help out if needed. Every saturday there is ringing activity even in winter time and other season the station works as normal. When birds nest, the ringing activity is lower not to disturb the birds too much.

The ramsar site is marshy area, and there are several traits where nature lovers can wonder into the wild, however it is only possible to enter it with a guide as far as I know. Around the nets and the ringing station it is only possible to stay under regulation.

Me and my little one.

The habitat can be suitable for many species. I only noted 3 species while I was out as it was almost dark and did not have the time to wonder out.

1. Eurasian Jay - Garrulus glandarius (I spoted it after its call, however I could not identify what species did he mimic)
2. Common Magpie - Pica pica (I loved them on the trees, there were like pearls sitting in a jewellery box)
3. Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus

Many years ago, the area was a huge wild land so called: "turján vidék" but it was regulated and lost quite a bit of its original size and beuty. Now under strickt protection it became well known for nature specialist and the attention made its effect.

As far as I know Black Woodpecker leaves a different mark on the trees but so it can still be at least 3 other species but someone who knows woodpecker mark or the local woodpecker fauna at the area could tell for sure.

Tata

Tata and its Ramsar site is undeniably urbanized. I can not show it with numbers but as far as I know because of the heavy industry nearby at Tatabánya, the waterquality was quite bad for years and it is still polluted.

This does not have such a negative impact on the wildlife, even it seems to serve as a perfect wintering place for wild geese and other waterfowl species.

In November there is a huge festival (http://www.vadludsokadalom.hu/videok.html) built around the natural event of geese flying in formation.

Tata has a great history and I heard of a place near the lake where one must buy a hot chocolat but I missed as I did not want to miss the big thing, so the famous flying in formation of the flocks.

 

Here we are at the lake. This pic came out really well, although I did not have the professional equipment. So the lake's shore is mostly surrounded by artificial concrete wall which functions as a fence too. The water level was low as the lake's bed was visible for some extent.

This is the point where I started to feel a bit strange about the whole thing as people started to flow in bigger and bigger groups towards the lake. I have suddenly noticed the official festival and one of my eyes was crying and the other one was happy. There were so many people there, I must say I could not tell if there were more geese coming in by twilight or more people wathing the birds coming in to rest after a long day.