12/13/2015

Angyalháza-puszta

We did as it was recommended in the Ramsar book and turned to an abandoned road from the paved way at the 17th km stone. All along the way we have spotted cranes and geese flying above our heads. This time of the year the Hortobágy National Park is full of those migrating wild birds. There is a festival or so to spot huge crane (Grus grus) flocks when they reach the peak numbers for the area. 


Angyalháza is one of the main site for cranes to reside after foraging during day time. Abandoned stables and sties were around the site and it was very weird to see those buildings. During the dark 50s people from the cities were deported to those kind of establishment and forced to work for free etc. I'm not sure where were those "prisons" exactly but for now they are occupied by an other kind of inhabitants and those flying creatures chose to stay there not forced to.


I could not photographed it properly but there are plenty of wire alert all over the site. They supposed to divert birds from the electric poles I believe. It is widely necessary as there are plenty of accident for sure if the birds fly low.


The mud prevented us to proceed further nevertheless we did a big tour as there were paved roads almost until the Dög-erdő (a forest called beast). The road was a bit rough but still manageable even with a small car like ours!


Lone ranger?


Moss on the top to the abandoned sties. I'm not sure what kind of animal was there before but for sure we have seen plenty of sheep and their shepherd going around.  Rough job with plenty of tradition. Food, instruments, customs and old stories came from those kind of people. Will this profession be disappearing or it depends on the current agricultural trends and national park politic?



Cranes (daru in Hungarian) in the distance. It is wonderful to listen to their calls. They are marvelous!

11/30/2015

Borsodi-mezőség

Ossature, this is a French world I have learned recently and this blog is pretty much like this so only a frame so far. I visited nearly all the Ramsar sites in Hungary and I'm willing to fill this blog with detailed information about those sites. Maps, the time of visit, species list and other useful tips for everyone who is willing to explore the wilderness of our beloved country.
Below one can see the area called Borsodi-mezőség, which is found near the Hortobágy region. We explored the site only a little spending a night in Mezőnagymihály.


The weather condition was not appropriate for a family trip so we skipped the long tracking and only had one stop near the road to Ároktő, where we took the ferry boat to the other side of the river Tisza.


This traditional well serves to give water to the cattle and it is still in use! Moreover we have met a man walking a sheepdog who was pretty much the kind of person who let's say a bit rural. He was a Hungarian "cowboy" I guess...
The habitat was full of water patches and could have been a nice stop over site for migrating waders but we could not spot any this time.  



I could even catch the fading Sun with our new Nikon D3200 camera. With this machine we have entered a new era probably and can't wait to have proper lenses to put some nice bird photo on this site! Will have to visit all the sites again if we purchased the new lens and we are also packed up with a telescope which will certainly allow us to identify and spot more species, flying or having a rest around.




For any grammatical mistake I apologize and will correct the language when revising the site. It is still released officially...

8/06/2015

Kardoskút

Back into the Origo. Short after graduation I was a volunteer at the red footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) project at Kardoskút. I was surrounded with real hard core ornithologists and enjoyed my work very much. We ringed and tracked the falcons also checked nest boxes so it was a rather colorful job.


The area was dry in this time of the year and we were out just before the storm so I could capture some very interesting moments of this site.


WALKING IN


This saline lake is shallow so an ideal place for waders and other waterbirds too but the summer was long and hot so there was not much water in the basin. We could hardly see anything moving, it was peaceful and silent.



Going up and watching around...



7/31/2015

Montág-puszta

We were pretty lucky, when we visited the site of Montág-puszta as a we could spot a flying flock of cranes (Grus grus). It took me by surprise as cranes are abundant during winter time, not now. Nevertheless this area is famous of its resident crane population too. The site lies next to the road so it was possible to locate it without any problem.


Restricted site for visitors. 


Cranes were loud and easy to recognize.



Nesting box to populate the site with different species.


Other than bird.


This observation tower is next to the road, where we could look around quite well. 


We hired a little house in Tótkomlós, right in the middle of two Ramsar sites, and visited the two sites in two consecutive days. Meanwhile we looked around in Tótkomlós as well and during of our afternoon walk, we spotted a dirty pavement...


It turned out that the tree was a nesting site for long-eared owl (Asio otus).

6/17/2015

Gemenc

This site was totally astonishing. Well organized train trips are available on site with a narrow gauge train, and if the weather allows we can also check out an old steam engine, which runs through the whole floodplain forest. (English site is on the way: http://kisvasut.hu/index.php?rfa=12&lang=hu)


The habitat was very interesting for me as it is a site for black stork (Ciconia nigra) and I could rarely catch a glimpse about this wonder creature. Time to time I check out a webcam (http://pontu.eenet.ee/player/melnais-starkis.html) for a Latvian black stork family, however I'm keen on exploring their habitat in Hungary as well and spot them on site if possible. Of course my little train  trip did not reveal any nest site but some mammals popped up on the way and looked up surprised from the detailed undergrowth. 


Here are some pics about the railway trip and the train itself. From Budapest the highway goes directly to the site however one can discover other possibilities to go on site such as couches.


Wood covered carriage. Old fashioned but functional. This carriage also runs in wintertime not the open air one. As I saw it is also possible to "turn on the heating" with an iron fire place.


Lovely place for wild boars and other huntable (not sure if this word exisits...) species. I'm not from a family where people do hunting but I'm aware of the quality meat, which comes from this forest.


The Danube looked empty as it was nearly midday and actually one of the hottest summer days...


We only took a short ride and shared the train with a school group. If the situation allows it is possible to take a ship ride from the end station or continue the way with a little steam engine. Canoeing is also possible on the Danube and would totally allow professional/non-professional explorations.  


It does really exist! 


Central heating! I guess it works with coal. 


Our departure and destination. Hopping on the train in Keselyűs and coming back to the same station took around 90 minutes with a short stop in the middle of the forest. 


Hiking trails are marked with the famous bird. Surely recommended to try one of the trails! Ticks and mosquitoes are there but we shall wear appropriate cloths and put on some repellent agent.  


To own a boat at this site would allow us to explore the area a bit better. It is totally possible but a bit far for us right now.


Frogs and birds were abundant at the site and I spotted a white wading bird perching on a dead tree. Probably it was a great egret (Ardea alba). 




The train station is small but new. Refreshments/rest rooms are available!

4/27/2015

Mártély

We did not take public transport to visit this site but it is near a popular holiday site so if you want to visit it, it is possible without a car. 
We chose the shortest way to the site but it was bit of a surprise when we arrived to the river Tisza and there were no bridge there... well it turned out that we should take a ferry boat/bridge and actually it was quite fast (however one has to pay for it).


Not in an excellent condition but a well used raft on the river Tisza.


In the floodplain of Tisza the holiday houses stand on poles. Sometimes this additional 2-3 meters isn't sufficient and the house can be completely flooded.


This is already the lovely Ramsar site. The lawn is still empty and very green.


Floodplain forest at spring time. There was not much animal visible but we had nice weather and marvelous lighting.


There are some pools filled with water in the middle of the forest. 



Moss on the bark of the trees.



The is the backwater of river Tisza.


Dead trees can be really good for some bird species. On the other hand it is possible that guano of cormorants can kill trees (such as on the pictures but it is not confirmed by local personnel).



The study trail of this site is not that well kept and some development is needed. Description is missing, however everything is from wood. 



Fares for the ferry boat on the Tisza (not the only way to get to the site and there is a lunch break for the staff so if you arrive in the wrong time you should wait a bit).