HUNGARY IN AUTUMN 24 – 30 OCTOBER 2004

TOUR REPORT LEADER: JÁNOS OLÁH

This year our ‘Hungary in Autumn’ tour was blessed with warm clear weather throughout the entire trip! The unusually late and warm Indian summer also delayed the arrival of the hordes of Greater White-fronted Geese from Russia but we were lucky to find the first Red-breasted Goose flock of the Autumn on our last day on the Hortobágy. In the Zemplén Hills we had seen seven species of woodpeckers including the enigmatic White-backed and managed to find both Ural and Eurasian Eagle Owls. Hungary is well-established as one of the prime Autumn destinations in Europe and offers the spectacle of tens of thousands of Common Cranes on the Hortobágy and large grey geese flocks (regularly containing gems such as Red-breasted) along with large gatherings of Great Bustards and ‘backup’ species such as Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck and many raptors which include Saker, Long-legged and Rough-legged Buzzard as well as both Imperial and White-tailed Eagles. The 2004 trip was a real classic. Half of the group arrived earlier than the others because of some flight delays, so we visited the nearby garden of the Hotel Nyerges where we saw Great Spotted Woodpecker. After everybody gathered at Ferihegy Airport in Budapest we headed straight for the small but famous town of Tokaj. We saw our first mega bird en route, a pair of magnificent adult Imperial Eagles along the M3 motorway. After a little more than 3 hours we arrived in Tokaj where we spent two nights while bird watching the Zemplén Hills. We had our first taste of the famous Tokaj wine at dinner in the Lebuj Csárda. The Zemplén are a range of rounded chalk hills cloaked in ancient deciduous forest with the occasional peculiar volcanic outcrop on which there is invariably a castle, most of which were ruined in the war of independence in the sixteenth century. The beautiful autumn leaf colours of the forest provided a vivid backdrop for an exciting start. The Zemplén Hills are probably the best area in Hungary to see sought-after species such as Ural Owl and most of the woodpeckers on the European list. In the first morning we did some pre-breakfast birding in the Tokaj Quarry where we saw a Greyheaded Woodpecker and a Black Redstart. After a quick breakfast we started our forest birding with the guidance of Zoltán “Woodpeckerman” Petrovics, our local guide. Our first thrill came in the 1 Birdquest: Hungary in Autumn 2004

shape of an excellent male Syrian Woodpecker at Bodrogkeresztúr Village in a walnut tree. Soon after this we visited the upper Száva Valley where we had an amazing selection of woodpeckers. We started with Great Spotted and Middle Spotted, the latter showing his candy-pink vent as he circled above us. The quiet forest with a yellow carpet of leaves on the ground resounded with tapping and pecking. We had good flight and brief perched views of a male Black Woodpecker and a perfect look at a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. Harder to find was the retiring and elusive White-backed Woodpecker, which had us creeping around the woods listening for his hard tapping. Eventually we found a splendid female which obliged with some excellent scope views. Above all these, we had another Grey-headed Woodpecker plus we heard European Green Woodpecker, so we came close to acquiring the full suite of Hungarian Woodpeckers; only the Green was heard and not seen. Later we drove to Makkoshotyka wood in search of Ural Owl but we only had superb views of a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and a flock of Eurasian Bullfinches. Late afternoon found us in a small quarry near Sárospatak where we managed to find a roosting Eurasian Eagle Owl but only parts of it were visible. So we drove back to Tokaj Quarry where we saw another Eurasian Eagle Owl at dusk as it was perched high in a tree calling. This memorable day was closed by a lovely dinner and wine tasting in a world heritage wine-cellar! The next day was spent deep in the Zemplén Hills in search of the magnificent Ural Owl. At the first three territories we were not lucky enough to find any owls, but we did see an obliging male Greyheaded Woodpecker, Willow Tits, Hawfinches and a party of 16 Common Crossbills. Just before lunch, with the help of calling Eurasian Jays, we finally found a roosting bird on a rather steep hillside in a tranquil oak wood. We had superb scope views as he peered down his yellow ‘nose’ from on high. As we got very close he flew majestically through the wood and gave good views for those who could not climb up on the hillside as he swept across the forest in front of them. On our way back to Tokaj we had Eurasian Sparrowhawk and a brilliantly close perched view of an adult Imperial Eagle such that we could even see the white epaulettes and yellow mane. The adult eagles are usually resident in Northern Hungary as their favourite food, hamsters, stay active throughout all but the coldest weather. However, the juveniles move further south to spend the winter in the Balkans and Middle East. Leaving the golden hills behind us we drove out onto the flat lands of the Great Hungarian Plain. We had lunch at Debrecen Great Wood in the Leveles Csárda where we had another flock of Common Crossbills. In the afternoon we drove to the southern part of the Hortobágy to see the Common Cranes roost-flight for the first time. We saw thousands of them cruising in lines from horizon to horizon and dancing on the puszta. We also had hunting Hen Harriers and heard a Little Owl at dusk. We finished this bird-packed day with some excellent dinner in the Trófea Lodge where we spent the next four nights. The following morning we managed to see Water Rail, Eurasian Bullfinches and Black Redstarts in the garden of our lodge in Nádudvar still before breakfast. En route to the northern section of the Park we came across a pair of Sakers perched on pylons in their territory. We had distant but good views of them and soon afterwards one took off hunting their favoured prey, Feral Pigeons, over the endless flat landscape. Our next port of call was at Magdolna Sewage works where we saw several Jack Snipes, not an easy species to see in Hungary, and a few Water Pipits. Still before lunch we spent a magical hour in the Birdquest tower at Dinnyés-lapos. Here we had lots of Western Marsh Harriers circling and hunting with Hen Harriers all around us and persistent scanning among the Common Buzzards finally revealed two Rough-legged Buzzards. As we were watching one of the Rough-legs, suddenly another bird of prey joined it and we were delighted to see a lovely Long-legged Buzzard thermalling with a Rough-legged Buzzard. This is a rare sight anywhere in the world! We drove to our lunch place, a fish csárda close to the Tisza River. While driving we spotted four flying swans and they proved to be Whoopers, which is another very scarce bird in the Hortobágy area. After lunch we were watching some ducks at Gyökérkút Fishponds where we managed to see 41 Ferruginous Ducks, a threatened bird in Western Europe but still relatively easy to find in the Hortobágy, plus 10 Pygmy Cormorants and 5 Red-crested Pochards. Meanwhile, as we enjoyed fantastic views of Bearded Reedlings, we noticed another Hortobágy rarity, a Willow Tit, that just popped up from the reed bed. 2 Birdquest: Hungary in Autumn 2004

We spent the second half of the afternoon watching the large collection of gulls and waders on one of the drained fishponds at Akadémia. This allowed an excellent opportunity to study different plumages of the closely related Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls side-by-side and to see some late migrant plovers, ‘peeps’, Spotted Redshanks and Ruffs. We finished the day with watching Whitetailed Eagle and massive numbers of Common Cranes (12,000) at Virágoskúti Fishpond as they flew right overhead before landing in the drained fishpond! A morning stroll in the lodge garden gave an excellent view of a Hawfinch and more Eurasian Bullfinches. After breakfast our plan of the day was to search for one of the largest flocks of Great Bustards present in a farmland area of the Hortobágy, followed by a goose hunt in the afternoon. We had another Saker on a pylon as we drove to Nagyiván where the local warden, Dr. Gábor Kovács was waiting for us. We parked our bus at his house and walked out on the puszta in search of the last remaining Stone-curlews. We managed to find this interesting bird plus Eurasian Golden Plovers and a very late Whinchat as well. Turning our attention back to the Great Bustards, we drove to an oilseed rape crop. After a short search and some ‘rally’ driving in the muddy puddles, we finally located two lovely males as they were preening and sunbathing in the morning sun. Slowly more birds appeared and the final count was 17 Great Bustards! In the end the two males rose up and majestically flew to another rape field, allowing extremely good flight views for the group. There were plenty of Western Marsh and Hen Harriers, a perched Great Grey Shrike, hundreds of Fieldfares and even a brilliant Eurasian Bittern flew right in front of us. After an action-packed morning we shifted to 4-wheel drives and drove to Hortobágy Fishpond to look for geese. In the afternoon we found a flock of 70 Pygmy Cormorants, 3 Eurasian Spoonbills, lots of ducks, White-tailed Eagles, a Northern Goshawk and two Little Owls at the fishponds but we had no luck with the geese at all. In the late afternoon we drove to the Birdquest tower and we assembled beneath the predicted flightpath of the cranes. As dusk was approaching, more and more lines of loudly bugling birds appeared. Flock after flock streamed overhead and the juveniles pursued their parents, audible above the trumpeting call of the adults with their insistent high pitched cheeps. They were still passing as the light failed and the full moon emerged brightly. Although the local warden would estimate 30,000, there were too many for us to count as we stood awestruck! Following an early breakfast our last full day started in Balmazújváros City where we visited a roosting group of Long-eared Owls that contained 58 birds. This roost has reached up to 280 in the hardest winters! After this spectacle we saw a pair of Syrian Woodpeckers as we drove out of the town. Once again we shifted to four-wheel drives and drove to Hortobágy Fishponds. Having positioned ourselves in two tower hides we were ready for the incoming geese. We soon had fantastic flight views of two different Eurasian Bitterns, a distant Black Stork and some White-tailed Eagles. Suddenly grey geese started to fly in from every direction and to our relief a flock of five fine Red-breasted Geese flew in as well, the first arrivals of the Autumn on the Hortobágy. We had very good views of these wonderfully patterned wildfowl. We checked hundreds of Greater White-fronts and Greylag Geese but we had no luck with Lesser White-fronts. The Greylag Geese wintering in Hungary are of the large pale eastern rubrirostris race. There were small flocks of Tundra Bean Geese mixed with the Greater White-fronts and Greylags. A Eurasian Sparrowhawk flying along with a Northern Goshawk gave a good comparison before lunch. After having a substantial lunch in the Hortobágy main Csárda we drove to the beautiful Angyalháza puszta (=‘Angel House’), an area of untouched short grassland almost silent except for the sound of sheep bells and the occasional Common Crane bugling in the distance. Unfortunately, the regular Eurasian Dotterel flock had departed for their wintering grounds in Africa after a disappointingly small passage this year. As some consolation, we saw a lovely Merlin and a pretty distant Peregrine while hundreds and thousands of cranes were gathering. We finished the day by some pylons as we were hoping to have close views of Saker but this evening they used a different site. On our last morning before breakfast we visited another pylon site where we finally had the views of Saker we really wanted! Soon after breakfast we drove to the northern section of the Hortobágy 3 Birdquest: Hungary in Autumn 2004

National Park for some more birding. We had three immature White-tailed Eagles, a Northern Goshawk, Hen Harriers, a Little Owl and two Wood Sandpipers flying over. We left the Hortobágy area and drove back to Ferihegy airport in Budapest. On our way there we had some lovely flight views of an adult Imperial Eagle, a very fitting end to a great trip!

4 Birdquest: Hungary in Autumn 2004

SYSTEMATIC LIST Species which were heard but not seen are indicated by the symbol (H). PODICIPEDIDAE Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis: Noted in small numbers at Hortobágy Fishponds with a maximum of 25. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus: It was common on the Hortobágy at most fishponds. PHALACROCORACIDAE Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo: Every day we saw about 500 in the Hortobágy area. Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus: Maximum of 150 counted at Hortobágy Fishponds. ARDEIDAE Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris: Good flight views of three on the Nagyiváni puszta plus two more at Hortobágy Fishponds. Great Egret Egretta alba: It was very common on the Hortobágy, with a maximum of 180 counted at the Hortobágy Fishponds. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea: 10-50 were seen on most days in the Hortobágy area. CICONIIDAE Black Stork Ciconia nigra: An extremely late individual was seen circling at Hortobágy Fishponds. THRESKIORNITHIDAE Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia: Up to 8 late individuals were at Hortobágy Fishponds. ANATIDAE Mute Swan Cygnus olor: Three birds at Hortobágy Fishponds on two days were the only observation Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus: Four birds of this scarce bird were seen over the puszta at Cserepes in the Hortobágy area. Tundra Bean Goose Anser rossicus: Small numbers noted in the Hortobágy with other geese. Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons: Up to 600 were noted on the Hortobágy, most of the passage population being late this year. Greylag Goose Anser anser: Up to 1700 were seen at the Fishponds on the Hortobágy. The form concerned is rubrirostris. Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis: Excellent views of a group of five were seen at Hortobágy Fishpond on our last day. Another singleton was found by David on the same pond a few minutes later. Eurasian Wigeon Anas Penelope: A few were seen at the Hortobágy Fishponds. Gadwall Anas strepera: Up to 200 were seen at the Hortobágy Fishponds. Common Teal Anas crecca: Up to 3000 were counted at the Hortobágy Fishponds. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos: 500-1000 was seen daily in the Hortobágy area. Northern Pintail Anas acuta: Maximum 100 were seen in a day at the fishponds on the Hortobágy. Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata: 100 were seen daily on the Hortobágy. Common Pochard Aythya farina: Only small numbers (up to 20-50) were noted on the Hortobágy. Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina: Five individuals of this rarity were seen at Gyökérkút Fishponds. Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca: Up to 41 were counted at Gyökérkút Fishponds on the Hortobágy. Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula: Only one singleton was seen at Gyökérkút Fishponds on the Hortobágy. Smew Mergus albellus: Up to four redheads seen twice at Hortobágy Fishponds.

5 Birdquest: Hungary in Autumn 2004

ACCIPITRIDAE White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla: Up to three daily on the Hortobágy, mostly at Hortobágy and Virágoskúti Fishponds. Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus: Several were seen on the Hortobágy. Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus: Up to 12 were the maximum daily count on the Hortobágy. Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis: We saw single birds three times on the Hortobágy. Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus: Up to 8 were seen daily. Common Buzzard Buteo buteo: Very common! Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus: Fantastic views of a circling bird at Dinnyés-lapos on the Hortobágy puszta. Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus: Two were seen at Dinnyés-lapos on the Hortobágy puszta. Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca: Excellent views of adults were obtained at three different times. The one in the Zemplén foothills was perched particularly in close view. FALCONIDAE Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus: Fairly common all over Hungary. Merlin Falco columbarius: Two were seen on the Hortobágy puszta: both were female/ immature types. On Angyalháza puszta we had really good views of one. Saker Falcon Falco cherrug: Good views of 5 different birds at their regular sites on the Hortobágy. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus: One rather distant perched bird at Angyalháza puszta on the Hortobágy. PHASIANIDAE Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus: Very common. RALLIDAE Water Rail Rallus aquaticus: Regularly heard calling around the fishponds on the Hortobágy, with one seen at our lodge. Eurasian Coot Fulica atra: It was common on the Hortobágy with 450 at Gyökérkút Fishponds. GRUIDAE Common Crane Grus grus: Up to an estimated 30,000 coming in to roost over Dinnyés-lapos on the Hortobágy. We had about 12,000 at Virágoskúti Fishponds and they were also seen in small flocks scattered over the surrounding farmland and puszta. The echoes of their trumpeting calls filled the autumn air. OTIDIDAE Great Bustard Otis tarda: Close perched and flight views of a flock of 17 birds feeding in an oil-seed rape field on the Nagyiván puszta. BURHINIDAE Stone-curlew (Eurasian Thick-knee) Burhinus oedicnemus: One very late individual was seen on the puszta near Nagyiván. CHARADRIIDAE European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria: Twelve were seen on the puszta near Nagyiván. Grey Plover (Black-bellied Plover) Pluvialis squatarola: Up to 4 were seen at Akadémia fishponds on the Hortobágy. Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus: Up to 170 were seen on the Hortobágy. SCOLOPACIDAE Little Stint Calidris minuta: Two were seen among other waders at Akadémia Fishponds on the Hortobágy. 6 Birdquest: Hungary in Autumn 2004

Ruff Philomachus pugnax: Six were seen at Akadémia Fishponds on the Hortobágy. Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago: Up to 20 were on the Hortobágy daily. Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus: Seven were flushed from the sewage ponds at Magdolna Sewage Works on the Hortobágy. Yeuch! Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa: Two were seen among geese at Hortobágy Fishponds on the 28th. Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata: Up to 180 were seen daily on the Hortobágy. Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus: Up to 250 were counted at Hortobágy Fishponds. Common Redshank Tringa totanus: One very late bird was seen at Akadémia Fishponds on the Hortobágy. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia: Two at Akadémia Fishponds on the Hortobágy. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola: Two flew over us at Dinnyés-lapos on the Hortobágy. LARIDAE Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus: Common, mainly on the Hortobágy. Mew Gull (Common Gull) Larus canus: 10-15 were noted at the Hortobágy Fishponds. Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis: Common at the fishponds of the Hortobágy. Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans: Also common at the fishponds of the Hortobágy, providing a useful side-by-side comparison of all ages with the last species. COLUMBIDAE Rock Dove Columba livia: Common. Stock Dove Columba oenas: up to 15 were seen daily. Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto: Very common in the villages and up to 300 were counted on the Hortobágy. STRIGIDAE Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo: Two different birds were seen in the Zemplén foothills. Little Owl Athene noctua: Up to two were seen daily on the Hortobágy. Ural Owl Strix uralensis: After a thorough search we had very good telescope views of one in the Zemplén foothills. Long-eared Owl Asio otus: 58 were counted at their regular roost site in the centre of Balmazújváros and allowed excellent views as usual. ALCEDINIDAE Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis (H): Heard commonly around the fishponds on the Hortobágy. PICIDAE Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus: Stunning views of a male in a tree at Gerendás plus two more in the Zemplén Hills. European Green Woodpecker Picus viridis (H): Two heard in the Zemplén foothills. Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius: One in the Zemplén foothills. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major: Very common in the Zemplén foothills. Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopus syriacus: Good views of an individual at Bodrogkeresztúr and several others seen at various locations on the trip. Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus medius: Up to ten were seen and several others heard in the Zemplén foothills. White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopus leucotos: Awesome views of a female in a hornbeam and oak woodland in the Zemplén foothills. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus minor: Four were seen in the Zemplén foothills.

7 Birdquest: Hungary in Autumn 2004

ALAUDIDAE Crested Lark Galerida cristata: Common, several seen in the middle of towns. Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis: Rather scarce on the puszta but we saw small flocks almost daily on the Hortobágy. HIRUNDINIDAE Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica: One very late bird was seen at Virágoskúti Fishponds on the Hortobágy. MOTACILLIDAE Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis: Up to 40 were seen daily on the Hortobágy. Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta: Four birds at Magdolna Sewage Works on the Hortobágy. White Wagtail Motacilla alba (H): A single bird was heard on the Hortobágy. TROGLODYTIDAE Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes: Up to 5 were seen in the Zemplén foothills. PRUNELLIDAE Dunnock Prunella modularis (H): Heard only at our lodge on the Hortobágy. TURDIDAE European Robin Erithacus rubecula: Only two were seen in the Zemplén foothills and several heard on the Hortobágy. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros: A few were noted around the castle ruins and quarries in the Zemplén foothills. Whinchat Saxicola rubetra: A very late bird was seen on the puszta at Nagyiván. Common Blackbird Turdus merula: Very common. Song Thrush Turdus philomelos: Up to 15 were seen in the Zemplén foothills. Redwing Turdus iliacus: One was spotted by Bruce at Virágoskúti fishponds on the Hortobágy. Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus: Common in the Zemplén foothills. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris: Up to 300 daily. SYLVIIDAE Chiffchaff (Common Chiffchaff) Phylloscopus collybita: Only a single were seen in the Zemplén foothills. Goldcrest Regulus regulus: Several noted daily. TIMALIIDAE Bearded Reedling (Bearded Tit) Panurus biarmicus: Up to 40 seen daily around the fishponds of the Hortobágy. PARIDAE Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus: Several flocks of the white-headed continental form seen in the Zemplén foothills. Marsh Tit Parus palustris: We saw this species daily in the Zemplén foothills. Willow Tit Parus montanus: Three were seen around Gerendás in the Zemplén foothills and a very interesting observation of one on the Hortobágy. Coal Tit Parus ater: Several noted in the Zemplén foothills and some on the Hortobágy. Blue Tit Parus caeruleus: Common. Great Tit Parus major: Very common.

8 Birdquest: Hungary in Autumn 2004

SITTIDAE Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea: Common in deciduous woodland throughout, with up to 50 in the Zemplén foothills daily. CERTHIIDAE Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris (H): Commonly heard in the Zemplén Hills. REMIZIDAE Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus: Up to 15 noted at the fishponds on the Hortobágy. LANIIDAE Great Grey Shrike (Northern Grey Shrike) Lanius excubitor: Up to 8 of the substantial wintering population seen daily throughout. CORVIDAE Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius: Common. Common Magpie Pica pica: Very common. Western Jackdaw Corvus monedula: Up to 30 on the Hortobágy. Some of the bids we saw were the eastern sommeringi subspecies. Rook Corvus splendens: Common. Hooded Crow Corvus cornix: Common. Common Raven Corvus corax: Seen twice in the Zemplén foothills. STURNIDAE Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris: Very common. PASSERIDAE House Sparrow Passer domesticus: Very common. Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus: Common throughout. We had a massive flock of up to 500 in the Zemplén foothills. FRINGILLIDAE Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs: Common, up to 30 in the Zemplén foothills. Brambling Fringilla montifringilla: Heard daily in the Zemplén foothills and two were seen on the Hortobágy. European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris: Very common. European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis: Small numbers daily on the tour. Eurasian Siskin Carduelis spinus: Daily in the Zemplén foothills, with a flock of 300+ at Makkoshotyka. Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra: We had 16 at Gerendás in the Zemplén foothills and 15 in Debrecen Great Wood. Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula: Very abundant this year everywhere in the Zemplén foothills and on the Hortobágy. Most of the birds were the “northern” form of bullfinch with the slightly nasal call. Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes: Small flocks in the Zemplén foothills and singletons around our lodge on the Hortobágy. EMBERIZIDAE Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella: Flocks of up to 30 seen on the open areas of the Zemplén foothills and on the Hortobágy. Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus: Up to 20 daily on the Hortobágy. Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra: Flocks of up to 15 were seen on the Hortobágy.

9 Birdquest: Hungary in Autumn 2004

MAMMALS Red Fox Vulpes vulpes: Three were seen on the Hortobágy. Stoat Mustela ermine: One seen at Gyökérkút Fishponds on the Hortobágy. Western Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus: Up to 12 daily on the Hortobágy. Wild Boar Sus scrofa: Three were seen in the Zemplén foothills. Eurasian Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris: One seen in the Zemplén foothills. Brown Hare Lepus europaeus: One was seen on the Hortobágy. Noctule Bat Nyctalis noctula: Several migrating individual were seen daily.

BUTTERFLIES (Thanks to Bruce & Mary Carrick) Large White Pieris brassicae: c 10 Small White Artogeia rapae: c 12 Pale Clouded Yellow Colias hyale: 2 (Hortobágy only) Clouded Yellow Colias crocea: c 30 Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni: 2 (Hortobágy only) Peacock Butterfly Inachis io: 1 (Zemplén only) Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta: c 10 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui: 1 (Hortobágy only) Comma Butterfly Polygonum c-album: 1 (Hortobágy only)

10 Birdquest: Hungary in Autumn 2004