Enjoy some of Europe’s best autumn birdwatching in Hungary. Explore the steppes, lakes and marshes of the Hortobágy and the Hungarian forests, at the peak time to see the spectacular migration of cranes and geese.
The sweeping landscapes of the steppe extend across a huge swathe of temperate Eurasia, eastwards to Mongolia. In only one place does a part of this vast steppe wilderness extend into Europe: the plains of eastern Hungary. The Hortobagy is an ancient floodplain that contains steppe grasslands and a chain of wetlands of international importance for various bird species. We also visit the Zemplen Hills, close to the Slovakian border, home to an exciting range of raptors, owls and woodpeckers.
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1:
Fly to Budapest, & drive to the Hortobágy
Fly from London to Budapest and drive eastwards to the Hortobágy.
Accommodation: Bibic Nature Lodge, 4-nights
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Days 2-4
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Birdwatching in Hortobágy National Park
The Hortobagy in autumn is Europe’s main eastern flyway for cranes. At their peak there may be no fewer than 60,000 of these magnificent birds in the area. As well as the incredible spectacle of the cranes, we will watch thousands of migrating geese and other wildfowl pour through the park.
In autumn great bustards form flocks on the plains, which they share with migrant stone curlew and dotterel. The bustards can be surprisingly elusive and wary, but we usually manage to find them and get good views with the help of local experts. Raptor numbers can be impressive here too, preying upon the abundance of susliks (European ground squirrels) and other small mammals. Eastern imperial and white-tailed eagles, long-legged and rough-legged buzzards, hen and marsh harriers, goshawk and the breathtaking saker falcon are all found in this remarkable area, while great grey shrikes hawk from roadside wires.
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Days 5-7
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Drive to Debrecen Woods; continue to Zemplén Hills
Leaving the Hortobágy we drive to Debrecen Woods, some of the oldest oak woodland in the area. In the afternoon we drive to the edge of the Zemplén Hills, where a range of raptors and other specialities, including owls and woodpeckers, can be relatively easily seen at this time of year.
We spend the next two days exploring these wonderful wooded hills. On these two days we drive up into the Zemplén Hills, which rise to almost 1,000 metres above sea level and are swathed in oak and beech woodland. These are home to no fewer than 12 species of raptor and a superb collection of woodpeckers, including Syrian and the very rare white-backed woodpecker, which has given us excellent views on previous trips. Flocks of hawfinches make another fine sight here. One evening we'll head high into the hills for a chance to see Ural owl: we have previously seen both Ural and eagle owls on the same evening!
Accommodation: Solyomvar Panzio, 3-nights
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Day 8:
Drive back to Budapest & fly to the UK
