Hungary in Spring

Tour Report 27th May - 3rd June 2014

Ural Owl, Red-footed Falcon, Roller, Turtle Dove, Lesser Grey Shrike, Red-backed Shrike

Tuesday 27th May

We flew out of Gatwick with Norwegian Air and everything went very smoothly. We had soon picked up our hire car and were on our way, driving the short distance to our first destination. We were starting the week a short distance south of Budapest in the Kiskunsag NP and the small town of Ocsa was our base for the first night. After just 20 minutes and our first Red-backed Shrike we arrived to check in. Our room was on a working farm with Horses and Goats and Chickens and it really was a traditional old school farm which was a taste of what we were to see the whole week.

We headed straight out and travelled the short distance to Bugyi hearing Nightingales on the way and more Red-backed Shrikes which are all over the place here. Such stunning birds.

We checked an area around nearby gravel works and watched some Yellow Wagtails with one striking Black-headed type. Common Terns were over the pits with Lapwings and young in the ploughed fields but not the hoped for Collared Pratincole. Moving on we drove along a nearby road noting the first of many Marsh Harriers and stopped at various pull ins. The birding really kicked off here. We stopped to scan a field and Greg picked up 2 Great Bustard striding across a field which held 23 Great White Egret. Marsh Harriers were always around with at least 8 seen.

As we were watching the bustards a stunning male Montagu’s Harrier came in and quartered the field giving some really great views. Moving on we soon noticed our first Roller perched in a hedge line with a cracking Lesser Grey Shrike nearby. It really was a question of where to look! A Hobby dashed by and we later had excellent perched views before we walked along a nearby canal.

Here Great Reed Warbler were everywhere showing very well with Turtle Doves purring, Cuckoos all over the place and Penduline Tit was heard. We watched a Cuckoo visibly checking out a Great Reed Warbler nest and looking like it tried to come in to lay!

It was a stunning few hours and after watching a pair of Stone Curlew and a hunting Long-eared Owl we turned in for the night. Birds galore!

Wednesday 28th May

We were up early with Black Redstarts singing from the rooftops and Serin jangling away nearby. Our hosts were already up and mucking out and we were soon packed up and on our way. We again checked in vain for pratincole before moving to the nearby town of Apaj. Here we went for a nice walk at a wetland area that was very lively with birds. Bee-eaters were close by with another Roller and Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit were out on the wetter areas. Walking through bushy habitat Golden Oriole were all around us and a singing Wryneck showed very well for a long time sat proud at the top of a nearby tree. Continuing on lots of butterflies were getting up including a Large Copper and Ferruginous

ducks were on the lagoons. Purple Heron were giving nice flybys and from the end tower Greg spotted a Black Stork gliding in.

We enjoyed this area before continuing on noticing a Tawny Pipit and some distant Common Crane from the road. We then bought some supplies and had lunch near yet more Black Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher. Driving along a nearby road we noticed birds hovering over a rough field and realised that they were Red-footed Falcons! 5 of them feeding over one small field. Really stunning birds. This was a new bird for both of us and we spent some time watching them and their feeding behaviour. We drove on stopping a short time later to scan a field and a Marsh Warbler was singing in a nearby bush here. We spent some time here taking in the song and trying to see this warbler but it only gave very brief views.

We went to some nearby fish ponds and gravel pits with some close ups of more Turtle Doves and Savi’s warbler was reeling but not seen.

We decided now to move on towards out next destination at Tizsaalpar and we had amazing views of Suslik on the way which is the main prey of the Saker Falcon.

After arriving there, we sorted out our slightly random accommodation on a sand track in a back street and quickly got out birding. We realised we had no clue where to find the top birding spot here but after a quick call to Istvan from local company Eco tours we were pointed in the right direction and we spend the afternoon watching from an excellent vantage point over the wetlands here. The highlight was a Syrian Woodpecker that flew up into a nearby tree showing all its key features before moving off and there was lots to be seen over the water.

We walked the track which led out onto the wetland area watching Savi’s Warbler, many Night Herons, two Whiskered Terns and 3 Squacco Herons with 8 Spoonbill resting on an island. On the walk back a

Little Bittern flew across a pool and Kingfisher was always zipping about the place feeding young on a nearby bank.

We headed for a delicious pizza at the local restaurant before a final wander to take in the sights and sounds as dusk fell with lots of Night Heron heading out to feed and a chorus from the local marsh frogs. We turned in after another great day and after a beer hit the sack.

Thursday 29th May

We were up early again and by 6 we were back on the watch point with the area buzzing with birds. Watching here a superb male Golden Oriole was sat proud and we watched a cracking Barred Warbler singing away from a nearby walnut tree. Greg then noticed an un familiar song and after a short time the bird was spotted and was coming from an Icterine warbler high in the poplars. From our vantage point we had a super view. Hawfinch flew overhead and a White-tailed Eagle was over the water with Black-winged Stilt spotted. After a stunning start we again walked the path beneath us and watched at close range a new bird for us both. An Olivaceous Warbler. A very pale looking Reed Warbler but with a very different song. It showed well for us and was singing away well really standing out.

After another view of Barred Warbler which was a real treat to watch singing we headed to meet an Eco tours guide who was going to take us to a nearby Red-footed Falcon hide. After a 20 minute journey across lots of farmland we arrived at a small copse with a tower hide just big enough for the two of us. It was an incredible scene here and before getting into the hide Red-footed Falcons were trying to come in. After climbing the wooden ladder we settled in to the hide which had one way glass so no birds could see in. We were surrounded by bird boxes with birds all over the place coming and going. 5 pairs of Red foots were using the boxes and 3 pairs of Kestrels with a pair of Jackdaws in amongst them. We had 3 hours in here to watch the comings and goings and just to enjoy being in amongst them. The Red-footed Falcons were sat on eggs with birds bringing in food for their mate and seeing off the nearby Jackdaws. A Kestrel pair had well developed young and were bringing in a huge number of what looked like very small mice. In the middle of all this action was a Long-eared Owl, sat on its nest. To top it off a pair of Roller were using the box on the side of the hide!! We were just a couple of feet away at times with the birds just sat nearby for long periods. During our time in the hide a Turtle Dove dropped in just in front of us purring away and a Lesser Grey Shrike sang from a close by perch. It was a really amazing experience.

We were soon picked up and on the way back to town and stopped to watch a singing Whinchat while Yellow Wagtails were all over the place and a Lesser Grey shrike was seen hovering and dropping onto a ploughed field as two Grey Partridge moved away.

Back at the car we headed off to the Hortobagy NP. We stopped on the way to watch a flock of White Stork circling with one Black Stork and our only Black Kite of the week. A further loo stop was very productive as we watched a stunning Bluethroat singing away at the reed edges and soon after we arrived into Balmazujvaros, our base for the next 3 nights. We had a couple of hours so we spent the evening down at the Halasto fishponds with hundreds of Whiskered Terns over the ponds, more Bluethroats and some Sedge Warblers that we really studied for Moustached. A Fire-bellied Toad was found with many singing from the water and as we scanned for a chance sighting of a crake we noticed a Water Vole while bitterns were booming. We headed back to the hotel and got our heads down.

Friday 30th May

We decided to drive around some fishponds today hoping to find some drained for waders just seeing what we could find. First thing we headed north of Balmazujvaros but couldn’t see the fishpond area and after spotting a Saker box we were excited to see chicks in the box but belonged instead to Kestrel. We carried on to near Hajduszoboszlo and despite driving around sewage works could not see any drained fishponds we had read about but did find a nice selection of birds on another nearby pool with Ringed Plover, Redshank, Turnstone, Little Ringed Plover and a Greenshank with Spoonbill and Black-winged Stilt also seen.

We carried on and popped into the visitor centre to get some information and on a walk around more lakes spent time watching Penduline Tits building their nest and a Black Tern was with Whiskered over a pool and Squacco often flying over. Although a planned walk after this was too dry to be very productive we did enjoy watching a Bee-eater colony here and more Red-footed Falcons were seen flying over the road to a nearby colony.

We continued driving around and after our second stunning Montagu’s Harrier flyby we decided to return to a large partially drained pool and spend some time here hoping for a Little Crake to come out for an evening feed. We watched Spoonbill feeding close by, Little Ringed Plover, Night Heron but alas no crakes. We did however have a real bonus as lots of Starlings were gathering we kept a close eye on them and saw two Rose-coloured Starling going by. Lots were being reported so it was great to see a couple! As darkness came we went out for a meal before returning to our digs for the night.

Saturday 31st May

It was windy and overcast again today for our final full day exploring the Hortobagy. We decided this morning to go for a long walk around the fishponds north of Balmazujvaros now we had a map and a permit from the visitor centre. We found the starting point easily and set out for a good walk taking in everything that was around in this huge expanse of reedbeds and open water. This was just one small area in the Hortobagy but a staggeringly impressive vast habitat! We got off to a good start noticing 2 White-tailed Eagle in the distance while 3 Little Gulls were over a lake while Marsh Harriers were all over the place.

We continued on hearing Golden Oriole, Nightingale and another Marsh Warbler and had some stunning views of White-tailed Eagle as a young bird came in and caught a fish but had it stolen by a nearby adult bird very quickly, a super sight! We soon noticed a pool with some exposed mud and this area was really teeming with birds. Redshank, Ruff, Black-winged Stilt and two Avocet were feeding with

a flock of at least 27 Garganey, a few Shoveler and a single Shelduck. Greg picked up a small wader on a more distant shore but frustratingly it disappeared before we could identify it.

We spent some time watching this scene taking it all in before moving on seeing White-tailed eagle again and many Little Gulls over the water. A pool which was almost totally drained of water unfortunately didn’t hold any waders so we turned back a headed for the car not before having good views of Nightingale.

We decided to try and see some raptors now and drove past 3 watchtowers stopping to scan and hope for anything flying by. We saw many Common Buzzards, more Marsh Harriers and Kestrel but not the real targets though the conditions made it very difficult. We drove on and decided to return to Halasto to spend the late afternoon and evening there to finish our time in the Hortobagy.

Setting out we instantly heard Penduline Tits and watched a cracking family party moving through the reeds and looking at the nearby bird boxes noticed an amazing family of Long-eared Owls in one of them.

As we strolled on we heard more Great Reed Warblers and again watched the gorgeous Bluethroat blasting away from the reed edges and the pinging of Bearded Tit was all around us. Bitterns were booming and we also heard the more barking call of the Little Bittern.

Stopping at the platforms we had some really close up views of very smart Black Terns dip feeding over the weedier pools. We wandered to the furthest pool enjoying at least 10 very approachable Squacco Herons, with many Night Herons, Purple Herons flying up and glimpsing another Little Bittern with a Nightingale singing in full view.

With our legs a bit heavy after our second long walk of the day our treat for reaching the end of this, long straight path which cuts through the fish ponds was a fantastic encounter with a group of young Bearded Tits. Around 15 were on the boardwalk and up on the railings and coming extremely close to us at times. Amazing little birds.

We climbed the tower and again had a scan of the pool and despite the wind managed to find a smart adult Red-necked Grebe with a second later seen. Walking past the beardies we had a look at the gulls with a Caspian Gull in amongst the Yellow legged Gull colony.

With legs sort of recovered we sauntered back hearing Water Rail more beardies and a superb array of close up herons, with Ferruginous Duck in nice light on a pool. These birds were all over the place in the Hortobagy with up to 30 birds on one lake. As the sun was setting we finished with taking in the superb Bluethroat again.

We drove back to the hotel for a beer and some very well earned sleep.

Sunday 1st June

It was time to move on today and we were up early and on the way to the Bukk hills decided to check out what is known as the little Hortobagy. The miserable weather stopped just after we got there and after lots of Turtle Doves flying up from the approach road we went for a short walk out onto the Puszca. It had been a dry year this year so no terns were around but we did see yet another White-tailed Eagle this time perched and were intrigued by a huge eagle nest in a lone tree. We decided to head for the Bukk hills and before leaving, Greg heard and then we saw another Barred Warbler and watched a family party of Hawfinch with the young birds being fed. We were realising that we were seeing a huge array of juvenile birds on this trip which was very interesting as many we had not seen before.

After a short time we were arriving into the Bukk hills and soon checked in to the fantastic Nomad hotel in Noszvaj. We were too early to drop our bags so went off for a walk along a nearby valley. In a short walk we saw no less than 5 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker with again adults feeding recently fledged young with other common woodland birds, a smart Wood Warbler and a noisy Black Woodpecker. An impressive Stag Beetle was seen on the wing here. After a nice picnic we went to the park near the hotel and enjoyed Hawfinch feeding their young on crushed cherry stones! Quite a sight and so close up. We dropped our bags at the hotel before heading out for an afternoons birding.

This afternoon we headed north to Szilvásvárad and after climbing high into the heart of the Bukk hills

we stopped in some good looking habitat and had some stunning views of 3-4 male Collared Flycatcher

and further on watched a female carrying food to a nest hole. Reaching the top we walked out through

the woodlands to some open meadow areas where yet another Collared Flycatcher was seen catching a

butterfly. We set about scanning the shrubs, bushes and woodland edges for our target bird here the

Ural Owl. Reaching the final glade we split up and on scanning the bare branches midway up a nearby

tree I couldn’t believe my eyes as a stunning Ural Owl was sat in full view. We both had excellent scoped

views before it silently drifted away. What a buzz!

We kept quiet and explored along the path and amazingly with the help of some noisy Blackbirds found 4 Ural Owlets! They were well developed and evidently needed some feeding. We decided to just stand still on the glade edge and after a short time Greg caught an adult Ural Owl dropping into the grass from its hidden tree perch! We waited with baited breath as the Ural Owl picked up with a small mouse in its beak as it headed for the young. A truly amazing sight! For the next 3 hours we watched both adults hunting, catching more prey and giving some amazing close views and flybys all in broad daylight. They

were often using very open perches and totally oblivious to us. Once we had soaked up this amazing bird we dragged ourselves away leaving both adults sat in full view!

We were both delighted with the amazing afternoons birding and headed back down the hillside. On the way we stopped as a flock of female Mouflon were just off the road in the forest, before running away into the woodlands. We got back to the hotel in good time and sat down to a delicious 3 course dinner swilled down with a nice lager. A top day again.

Monday 2nd June

We were up at 6 for a couple of hours of birding from the hotel before breakfast. As we walked out of the front door a Red Squirrel was on the tree and Serin was jangling on the driveway. We walked along the road listening to the Black Redstarts which were all over the place and a Black Woodpecker flew overhead with a lot of Song Thrushes.

After a short time we headed towards a small pond where Hawfinch were again all around. We headed to the woodland further on and were alerted to a noisy woodpecker call but we weren’t certain which it was. The noise was not moving as on closer inspection it was coming from a very well developed Black Woodpecker peering out of the nest hole! We had superb views but no adults came in despite the calling. It was a very lively walk and we headed back for a superb breakfast with a huge spread!

Fully fed we headed out and today we were hoping to do a spot of raptor watching despite to un-promising conditions. Hoping that the weather would improve a bit we first tried for River Warbler. The first area we tried just drew a reeling Savi’s Warbler but continuing along we were driving past excellent habitat and we pulled in to listen! On getting out of the car we could instantly hear the amazing mechanical reel and it was very close too!

The bird was working an area but proving very difficult to locate but we did get some brief views if a little obscured. As it moved further away again we decided to move on and try again for better views later.

We drove to a good looking raptor view point looking over the forest and surrounding slopes and fields. We watched here for the hoped for eagles and although they did not appear we did get good views of 4 Honey Buzzards with their distinct display flight a treat to watch.

We drove on to another area watching a Black Stork and as the weather took a turn for the worse we went back to get raincoats and went for a walk in the woods for a bit of shelter. With conditions clearing we watched the skies again but just yet more Honey Buzzards were seen along with Common Buzzards.

We took a drive to the nearby town of Eger for a look around the park where there were more Hawfinches and the lots of bird boxes including Scops Owl boxes!

We finished the afternoon with more eagle watching in a very good looking spot and although eagles evaded us we did see more Common Buzzard, 2 Honey Buzzards, a Marsh Harrier and Goshawk which showed very well and looked to be hunting a flock of feral pigeons that were high above the woodland. Red-backed Shrikes and purring Turtle Doves were a welcome distraction.

Giving up we went for another look at the River Warbler area and this time managed to see the bird in full view sat proud reeling away. It had been a difficult day with the conditions but we still managed to see some great birds and headed back to the hotel for another excellent meal.

Tuesday 3rd June

It was our final day today and with our flight in the afternoon we had time for another pre breakfast walk. On leaving the hotel there was a Wryneck singing loudly and we saw the bird very briefly before it flew off towards the park. We headed in this direction and in the park had brief views of a female Collared Flycatcher flitting around!

We continued on and heading towards the woodland heard blackbirds alarming loudly. On closer inspection we saw a pair of Tawny Owls sat next to each other showing there very different colour forms. It was a lovely site and moving on we came across a mighty Stag Beetle. We had a good look before moving on and noticing another Collared Flycatcher flitting around in a garden flycatching.

There was always something to look at with Spotted Flycatcher common here and Greg picked up a Middle-spotted Woodpecker preening high in a tree. We had some great views of the bird before moving back towards the park. Here we relocated the female Collared Flycatcher and on watching her realised she was feeding two young in a bush in the park. We had some amazing views of the recently fledged youngsters being fed before heading back for breakfast.

After breakfast we said farewell to our great host and headed on our way. We had another watch for raptors but with nothing happening had more great views of the River Warbler on its favourite singing perch before heading for the airport. We had time before our flight so we stopped at a few points to scan pylons but again there was no luck here.

We arrived safely at the airport and dropped off the car after a fantastic week of spring birding. We had lots of new birds and fantastic views of some birds we had seen before but not on the breeding grounds. A thoroughly enjoyable week.

Bird list

1 Grey Partridge Perdix perdix

2 Common Quail Coturnix coturnix

3 Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

4 Greylag Goose Anser anser

5 Mute Swan Cygnus olor

6 Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

7 Gadwall Anas strepera

8 Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope

9 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

10 Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata

11 Garganey Anas querquedula

12 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca

13 Common Pochard Aythya ferina

14 Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca

15 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

16 Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena

17 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

18 Black Stork Ciconia nigra

19 White Stork Ciconia ciconia

20 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

21 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

22 Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris

23 Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus

24 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

25 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides

26 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

27 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea

28 Great White Egret Ardea alba

29 Little Egret Egretta garzetta

30 Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmeus

31 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

32 European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus

33 Black Kite Milvus migrans

34 White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla

35 Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus

36 Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus

37 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus

38 Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis

39 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo

40 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

41 Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus

42 Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo

43 Great Bustard Otis tarda

44 Water Rail Rallus aquaticus

45 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

46 Eurasian Coot Fulica atra

47 Common Crane Grus grus

48 Eurasian Stone-Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus

49 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

50 Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

51 Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

52 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

53 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

54 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

55 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

56 Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata

57 Common Redshank Tringa totanus

58 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia

59 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

60 Ruff Philomachus pugnax

61 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

62 Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus

63 Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans

64 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis

65 Common Tern Sterna hirundo

66 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida

67 Black Tern Chlidonias niger

68 Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Columba livia

69 Stock Dove Columba oenas

70 Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus

71 European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur

72 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

73 Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus

74 Tawny Owl Strix aluco

75 Ural Owl Strix uralensis

76 Little Owl Athene noctua

77 Long-eared Owl Asio otus

78 Common Swift Apus apus

79 European Roller Coracias garrulus

80 Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

81 European Bee-Eater Merops apiaster

82 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

83 Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla

84 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor

85 Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius

86 Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus

87 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major

88 Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius

89 European Green Woodpecker Picus viridis

90 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio

91 Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor

92 Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus

93 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius

94 Eurasian Magpie Pica pica

95 Western Jackdaw Coloeus monedula

96 Rook Corvus frugilegus

97 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix

98 Northern Raven Corvus corax

99 Marsh Tit Poecile palustris

100 Willow Tit Poecile montanus

101 Great Tit Parus major

102 Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus

103 Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus

104 Bearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus

105 Crested Lark Galerida cristata

106 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis

107 Sand Martin Riparia riparia

108 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

109 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum

110 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

111 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

112 Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix

113 Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus

114 Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

115 Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus

116 Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris

117 Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina

118 Common Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia

119 River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis

120 Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides

121 Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla

122 Garden Warbler Sylvia borin

123 Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria

124 Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca

125 Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea

126 Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris

127 Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla

128 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris

129 Common Blackbird Turdus merula

130 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

131 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus

132 European Robin Erithacus rubecula

133 Bluethroat Luscinia svecica

134 Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos

135 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros

136 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra

137 European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola

138 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

139 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata

140 Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis

141 House Sparrow Passer domesticus

142 Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

143 Dunnock Prunella modularis

144 Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava

145 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

146 White Wagtail Motacilla alba

147 Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris

148 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis

149 Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

150 European Serin Serinus serinus

151 European Greenfinch Chloris chloris

152 European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

153 Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina

154 Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes

155 Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra

156 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella

157 Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

158 Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida

159 Rose Coloured Starling Sturnus roseus

Other Wildlife Reptiles and Amphibians Green Lizard (juvenile) Sand Lizard Fire-bellied toad Marsh Frog Mammals Fox Roe Deer European Suslik Brown Hare Hedgehog Water Vole Mouflon Red Squirrel Mole (dead) Stone Marten (dead) Butterflies Large Copper Queen of Spain Fritillary Cardinal Knapweed or possibly Eastern Knapweed Fritillary (very worn). Meadow Brown Small Heath Silver-studded Blue Dragonflies Green-eyed Hawker (Norfolk Hawker) White-tailed Skimmer (female) Black-tailed Skimmer (Immature male) Blue-tailed Damselfly Beetles Stag Beetle