Pacsmag

If I can choose a site at the end of this tour I might end up chosing Pacsmag. It is remote, difficult to get close so no major disturbance! It was not easy at all to find it and we had to ask the directions two times but eventually we were there. Agricultural land surrounds the place so I actually could hear some talking when we were on site. 

 Corn fileds near the wetlands.

A channel leading to the lakes.

There were several high stands on our way. I climed up to one of them and looked around. The area is hilly and green. Forested and planted with cereal mainly. I imagine it is well fertilized, so runoffs from those lands could certainly affect water quality.

Whose boat is this? Next time if I'm there I will take it for a ride!

I might have seen a mammal jumping into the water and I have certainly seen a snake, probably Grass Snake (Natrix natrix).

Wildlife and birds are abundant here. If I am not mistaken there is a Red List species in this photo: Aythya nyroca, Ferruginous Duck. I like this bird a lot! Never held it in my hands though.

The roads are rough but no traffic jam!

Dráva

This was the first river experience in this tour. The site is formed from its flood plain, and part of the river is also in the protected area as I learned. The local National Park looks after the natural values of this site as it happens usually. There is a shipping company who drives tourists on the river for a short ride of 20-30 minutes. There you see the ship below.

 

The main attractions of the site are the Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo), so the information bord below explains mainly about them.

I received a leaflet on bord and I was informed about a newly built tourist center for ecotourism and environmental education. As far as I know the project was financed by the EU and it is nearly finished. (Here is a leaflet in Hungarian with lots of pics to see the plans: http://www.ddnp.hu/_user/browser/File/downloads/os_drava_leporello.pdf).

The water was calm and looked clear. It is not recommended to swim in it because of stong twirls. The Dráva is one of the most natural rivers of Hungary and on the border with Croatia.

 Besides the cormorants I haven't seen much. One Podiceps cristatus  (Great Crested Grebe).

The Ormánság is a particular area of Hungary but not a county itself. It needs a great deal of development projects to catch up with other popular parts of the country. For this reason there are several initiatives to jazz up the local economical situation. Here is one: http://www.ormansagzoldut.hu/#!__ormnsag-greenway/greenway .

I have found and quickly took a photo of a map seen on the bord of the boat. The captain and crew explained a great deal of the area and they knew a lot about the popular bird colony. Unfortunately the ship was very loud and smelly for me but the weather was nice so I forgot about the dark side life.

Here is a little patriotism : the Hungarian national flag. 

Csongrád-Bokros

This is the edge of the village Bokros, where we soon enter the eara of interest. There are no particular sign to find the area so we asked a local guy. Actually I used GPS coordination and previous google search.

Agricultural lands are close to the site so run offs could be one of my main drawbacks of the site. 

 It was fairly easy to get close to the site. See picture above!

Beautiful and calm place. I have spotted a dead tree with a Phalacrocorax carbo (Cormorant) colony.

I have seen the usual stuff such as: Fulica atra (Coot), Anas platyrchynchos (Mallard), and an Ardea cinerea (Grey Heron) flying over. I have heard and had a quick view on several passerins, mainly larks.

Distincitve reed cover is noticable around the lake's bord. 

The bord says it is possible to do some angling. The lake looks healthy so get a licence and go on!

Little Blue Bird

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Pusztaszer

I only partly explored this Ramsar area. I arrived by car from Kiskunfélegyháza, passing through Tömörkény. I found an entry just after leaving the town bord of Csanytelek. It is also possible to come here by coach from the bus station of Szeged. 

There was a barrier but I could pass through. Actually the lake I walked around is probably a fishing lake. Lake Csaj, is pretty famous of its bird fauna and this is the one next to the lake I was exploring. There was plenty of wildfowl and bird of prey as well. Birds were timid and flew away straight away as they heard me.

Urtica diocica - Common nettle

It was easy to walk here. I also heard about a photo hide in the middle of the lake but I did not have time to go there. Probably next time!

The water level is artificially regulated I believe. This time of the year it was seemingly quite high.

Birds are laying eggs at this time and for some, chick are already could be hatched.

I have seen:

1. Vanellus vanellus - Lapwing
2. Anser anser - Greyleg goose
3. Egretta alba - Great Egret
4. Anas platyrchynchos - Mallard
5. Fulica atra - Coot