Trip report. Spring Birding 30 May - 5 Jun day Birdwatching tour in the Białowieża Forest and Biebrza Marshes

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1 Trip report Spring Birding 30 May - 5 Jun day Birdwatching tour in the Białowieża Forest and Biebrza Marshes Text and photographs by Łukasz Mazurek Tour Leader: Łukasz (Lucas) Mazurek Participants: Lisa, Robert, Elisabeth (USA), Matthew (AU), Mark (UK), Dick (NL) Wildlife: 11 mammal and 148 bird species recorded, full checklist on page 8 1

2 Day 1, Saturday 30th May - Arrival Part of the group arrived the day before so we picked them up at their hotels downtown Warsaw and fetched the others from the airport. In the meantime, the tailgates in our minibus got stuck but we had them repaired while waiting at the airport and all was bright and ready by the time everyone arrived. All the flights were on time so within a couple of hours we were on our way out of the city. We drove in a beautiful sunny weather, seeing plenty of White Storks, Common Buzzards, a Black Redstart. We arrived at our hotel just before sunset to the reeling song of a nearby River Warbler. We had a gorgeous traditional Polish dinner and a short talk over a map about the forest and our plans for the next days. Day 2, Sunday 31 May - Białowieża It rained last night and we woke up to a cloudy sky and a cooler day. We met downstairs for a quick cup of tea and coffee and were out birding shortly in the hotel area before breakfast. On our way to the river valley we saw a nice Icterine Warbler, Lesserspotted Woodpecker still feeding young at a nest hole, a very bright red and tame Scarlet Rosefinch, two Nuthatch, two Spotted Flycatchers. At a viewing tower near the river we saw a nice Savi s Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Common Snipe, Common Redstart, Tree Sparrows, Barred Warbler and a Great Reed Warbler. We kept hearing a few Thrush Nightingale that everyone was eager to see so we tried on our way back to the hotel for breakfast and had some fantastic views of one bird singing out in the open. After a plentiful breakfast we were back in the forest for a few trails in different habitats. The first one took us near the state border with Belarus. Grey-headed Woodpeckers didn t want to show (still incubating) but we saw a juvenile White-backed Woodpecker briefly, a fantastic Wood Warbler, Firecrest and a Red-breasted Flycatcher near. River Warbler could be heard all the time but we couldn t spot it. Further on the trail we had some brilliant views of a Three-toed Woodpecker at the nest and while having lunch at a bridge, we saw a Rosefinch, Great Reed and Icterine Warblers, Red-backed Shrike and two Marsh Warblers. After lunch we have visited some more distant parts of the forest with stunning, huge oak trees, saw a nice Collared Flycatcher and heard a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. 2

3 It became quite hot and quiet in the afternoon so we decided to take a short break before dinner and continue afterwards. Dinner was substantial, as usual, but we managed to get ourselves back into the van for a visit at a Pygmy Owl territory. After a short walk in a picturesque boreal forest we had a brief view of a female at nest and heard a male calling nearby. A few Woodcocks were roding overhead and overall, it was quite an atmospheric evening and a successful first day. Day 3, Monday 1st June - Białowieża This early morning we decided to search for Bison at some glades and the forest edge. We woke up early and the first place we visited was very misty. We could see no Bison but found quite fresh Wolf prints, saw Whinchats and a Corn Bunting. The next 3

4 place we stopped at, still no Bison but a Red-backed Shrike, more Whinchats and a Tree Pipit. We continued our search and at a yet another place we saw a Marsh Warbler, Thrush Nightinigale, a few Common Whitethroats and two Wrynecks. We still had some time before breakfast so decided to pay another visit at the Grey-headed Woodpecker nest and we briefly saw head of a female in the hole. After breakfast, we had a visit in the Strict Protection Area of the National Park planned. We met our guide Irek at the hotel and went on a 4 hrs walk. The guide was extremely knowledgable and very friendly and the forest - simply stunning and breathtaking, as usual. We saw plenty of centuries old huge trees and learned an awful lot about the natural lowland forest ecosystem. Saw a total of three Middle-spotted Woodpeckers and several Great-spotted Woodpeckers there. Afterwards, we had lunch in the village park, had a short break (again a hot midday) and met back in the afternoon for a yet another walk, this time in the north of the forest, the Kosy Most area. We hoped for a Nutcracker but saw none. But a view of two different River Warblers, one of them displaying really well and long was more than we could ask for. Furthermore, there were also three Barred Warblers quarrelling and displaying nicely. On our way back, we heard a Nutcracker and a Hazel Grouse but none of them wanted to show. Day 4, Tuesday 2nd June - Białowieża & SIemianówka Today, we started after breakfast and transferred to the N of the forest for birding around the Siemianowka Reservoir. The first stop was Siemieniakowszczyzna. We saw a nice Lesser Spotted Eagle and a Greater Spotted Eagle, several Marsh Harriers, plenty of 4

5 Great White Egrets, as well as Elk (Moose) and three species of marsh terns in the distance (Black, White-winged and Whiskered). We transferred to the north of the lake for lunch of sandwiches and freshly brewed coffee and saw more terns, a White-tailed Eagle and an Ortolan Bunting. We also had a short walk into the marsh and saw two males of Citrine Wagtail, two Black Storks, several Red-backed Shrikes and a lot more other birds, see list. On our way back for an earlier dinner we decided to check out on some Bison meadows and it was a good decision as we saw two Bison Bulls grazing slowly and lying down for an afternoon s rest. After the usual gorgeous dinner we were back in the van, ready to visit the Great Snipe lek at dusk. The weather and the landscape were fantastic, we saw two Roe Deer and two Great Snipe jumping (spotted by Lisa). A while later one more snipe flew across right in front of us showing the white spots on the tail nicely. They started lekking and we could hear them quite near but we saw them no more (tall vegetation) until it was too dark and we retreated back. 5

6 Day 5, Wednesday 3rd June - Białowieża to Biebrza This was our last morning in the Białowieża Forest as we transferred to the Biebrza Marshes after breakfast. We decided to take our last chances for Bison so took a detour to one of our favourite sites and saw the two bulls once again. Furthermore, two Lesser Spotted Eagles were also displaying just overhead giving unforgettable views. On our way, we stopped at the Dojlidy fishponds near Białystok and had a walk there. Saw 9 Marsh Warblers, a few Great Reed Warblers, a Mediterranean Gull, Penduline Tit at nest, Red-necked Grebes, one Little Grebe and a few Whiskered Terns. Later we stopped at a sandpit in the countryside and found 9 Bee-eaters that gave us fantastic views, a Tawny Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear and Sand Martins. A yet another stop at a different set of ponds brought us great views of 3 White-tailed Eagles. 6

7 We arrived at the hotel for an earlier dinner and left soon afterwards to catch a boat on the river for chances of Beavers swimming at dusk. The weather was bad, far too windy for Beavers to come out. The storm was gathering and we decided to call it a day and then saw one Beaver on our way back, a good, long view. Day 6, Thursday 4th june - Biebrza Southern Basin We woke up early once again and had a short walk in the hotel area before breakfast. Saw two Cranes, a Great Grey and a Red-backed Shrike, Linnets, Spotted Flycatchers, Goldcrest, heard a Marsh Warbler. Later we also saw a Woodlark, Montagu s Harrier and two Black Storks just over our guesthouse. After breakfast we went on a drive around the best sites of the Biebrza Marshes southern basin. Had plenty of stops and plenty of great sightings. Just to mention some best ones.. In Osowiec it was a few Rosefinches, Icterine Warbler, three Bluethroats, Thrush Nightingale feeding young, Garden Warbler and two Lesser Whitethroats. In Mścichy - a total of three Black Storks, dozens of White Storks, two White-tailed Eagles, plenty of Herons and Great White Egrets. In Brzostowo - Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Black, White-winged and Whiskered Terns and at a few other sites - a yet another Black Stork, plenty of White Storks, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Garden Warbler and a lot more, see list. A nice touch was teas and coffees served by the farmers at the rivers edge and an unplanned sighting of cows swimming across the Biebrza river that the Brzostowo village is famous for. 7

8 We finished the day birdwatching at the Długa Luka and Bagno Ławki and saw 4 Aquatic Warblers, Common Snipe, Marsh and Montagu s Harriers and Short-eared Owls. Back at the guesthouse, we had a nice farewell dinner, as usual plentiful and very tasty. Day 7, Friday 5th June - Biebrza to Warsaw After our last traditional Polish breakfast we packed our stuff and headed towards Warsaw but the journey was planned so that we could see some more birds. About lunch time we arrived at a site in the valley of a small river in the beautiful countryside. We could hear a few Hoopoes and Curlews and after a short walk we also saw one Roller that gave us some good views displaying a few times and flying around. We also saw a Hen Harrier, Red-backed and Great Grey Shrike, a Honey Buzzard, Mistle Thrush, Woodlark, Icterine Warbler, Kestrel, Hawfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and heard a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Quite a list for just one site and a fantastic end to our birding holiday. A couple of hours later we arrived in Warsaw and dropped everyone where they wanted downtown/airport. F - footprints E - evidence H - heard C - common Checklist BIRDS 017 Little Grebe / Dabchick Tachybaptus ruficollis Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Great / Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris H H H Great White Egret Egretta alba Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

9 035 White Stork Ciconia ciconia Black Stork Ciconia nigra Mute Swan Cygnus olor Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Greylag Goose Anser anser H Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Gadwall Anas strepera Shoveler Anas clypeata Garganey Anas querquedula Pochard Aythya ferina Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Honey-Buzzard Pernis apivorus Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Hazel Grouse / Hazelhen Bonasa bonasia H Quail Coturnix coturnix H H Corncrake Crex crex H H H Spotted Crake Porzana porzana H Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Coot Fulica atra Crane Grus grus Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Redshank Tringa totanus Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa H Curlew Numenius arquata Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Great Snipe Gallinago media Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus C C Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus

10 175 Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans Common Tern Sterna hirundo Black Tern Chlidonias niger White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida Feral Pigeon Columba livia feral C Stock Dove Columba oenas Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Cuckoo Cuculus canorus H 3H Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium passerinum Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Swift Apus apus Hoopoe Upupa epops 1 H H Kingfisher Alcedo atthis H Bee-eater Merops apiaster Roller Coracias garrulus Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius H Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor 2 H H Wryneck Jynx torquilla Skylark Alauda arvensis H Woodlark Lullula arborea Sand Martin / Bank Swallow Riparia riparia Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica C C House-Martin Delichon urbicum Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis White Wagtail Motacilla alba Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola Wren Troglodytes troglodytes 4H 3H Hedge Accentor / Dunnock Prunella modularis H Robin Erithacus rubecula Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia 4 H H H

11 261 Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus 1 1 H Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 12 C 3 H Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Blackbird Turdus merula C C C Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria 1 3 H Garden Warbler Sylvia borin H H Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 6 C H H Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca H Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis H Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia 3H River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides 2 H 1H H H Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus 1H 1H 1 H Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris 2H H Great Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus 4 H 1H 4 H Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus H H Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix H Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita H H H H Goldcrest Regulus regulus Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla 2 H Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis Great Tit Parus major Coal Tit Periparus ater Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus Willow Tit Poecile montanus Marsh Tit Poecile palustris Bearded Tit / Reedling Panurus biarmicus

12 321 Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus Nuthatch Sitta europaea Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor Magpie Pica pica Jay Garrulus glandarius Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes H Jackdaw Corvus monedula C C Rook Corvus frugilegus C Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Raven Corvus corax Starling Sturnus vulgaris C C C C C C Golden-Oriole Oriolus oriolus 2 H H House Sparrow Passer domesticus C Tree-Sparrow Passer montanus Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 12 C Linnet Carduelis cannabina Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Greenfinch Carduelis chloris Serin Serinus serinus Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes H Scarlet Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus 3 H Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra H 2 H 3 Number of species: Mammals European Bison Bison bonasus F F Red Deer Cervus elaphus F F 0 Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus F Wild Boar Sus scrofa F 0 Elk Alces alces F

13 Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Northern white-breasted hedgehog E. roumanicus 1 1 European Beaver Castor fiber E 1 1 Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgarus E 1 1 European Hare Lepus europaeus Number of species: REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS Grass Snake Natrix natrix Fire-Bellied Toad Bombina bombina H H H 0 Common Toad Bufo bufo Natterjack Toad Bufo calamita H 0 Moor Frog Rana arvalis 2 2 Edible Frog Rana esculenta Pool Frog Rana lessonae + 0 European Common Frog Rana temporaria C 0 Number of species: For full size photographs, please visit our news at or our facebook page: