“That indescribable aroma of March, a balsamic mixture of decomposing autumn leaves, the harshness of the winter past and the blossoming springtime. A unique blend of scents that implies as a whole, as well as in its individual elements, the lookout for woodcock”
Zsigmond Széchenyi
One does not have to be a professional ornithologist to find pleasure in watching birds and the huge variations in their attractive plumage. Just the inclination to appreciate the beauties of nature is enough to get you on your way.
It is never too early if you want to listen to birds singing. As soon as the spring buzz arrives, birds start calling at the first light of dawn and carry on calling for hours. This alone makes all the effort worthwhile.
The Basics of Birdwatching
Binoculars are the basic instrument for birding – and it is not always possible to rent one on site.
At first, try to spot the birds with your bare eyes and only then use the binoculars. (It is much more difficult to spot birds through the narrow viewing area of binoculars.)
The first step to identifying birds is recognising their colour.
The size of the bird may also be an important factor, but it may prove misleading under certain circumstances. It is always a good idea to compare a bird’s size to that of nearby objects, such as branches, walls or wooden poles.
The shape or profile of a bird can also help identifying it, so can the shape and size of beaks, feet and feathers.
The bird’s habitat is also an informative factor, whether it is woodland, lakeside, sea shore, marshland or a city park.
The bird’s behaviour can provide further guidance to identification, whether it flutters, dives in water, circles high up in the air or paddles.
Also keep your ears open: singing, warbling, trilling or croaking, they are all helpful signs.
Beginners are best off joining experienced birdwatchers.
It can also be useful and instructive to travel with an experienced driver on the terrain.
Hungary
Observation of migrating birds has a long tradition in Hungary. The ringing of birds was introduced as early as in 1908, Hungary being the third country in the world that adopted this practice.
The Danube-Drava National Park includes one of Europe’s largest uninterrupted floodplain woodlands, providing habitat for numerous rare animals and plants. It is also a nesting area for the protected black stork and a great variety of other birds can be found here, such as the grey heron, the saker falcon, the white-tailed eagle and the marsh harrier.
The Small-Balaton offers a large uninterrupted wetland habitat. It has been famous for its large bird population for centuries. In addition to nearly 250 species of birds observed here, there are much other rare flora and fauna in this protected area.
Lake Fertõ is the westernmost saline steppe lake in Eurasia, straddling the Hungarian-Austrian border, with its Hungarian part almost fully covered by reeds. The lake offers habitat for an incredible diversity flora and fauna. Famous inhabitants are the great egret, the common spoonbill and the Eurasian bittern.
The reedland on the lake’s eastern part is surrounded by wetlands and small saline ponds, a nesting area for highly protected birds, such as the little ringed plover and the pied avocet. This is also is also an important resting place in the autumn and spring for migrating birds.
East of Lake Fertõ is the Hanság, which used to be the largest uninterrupted marshland in Hungary, with several hundred species of nesting water birds living here. In Osli, at the exhibition areas, visitors can study the exceptionally rich variety of birds and insects that live here.
Great Britain
Many thousands of people are devoted to birdwatching in Britain. For instance, during the national survey of garden birds in 2007, as many as 400,000 people participated and counted nearly 8 million birds in 236,000 gardens and parks. Considering the unending possibilities for birdwatching in Britain, no matter which part of the country you travel, there will surely be some place for observing birds.
Fetlar, Shetland: In summer, this is the best place in Britain to get close views of the Red-necked Phalarope. Other breeding waders put on a good show too, as do skuas and a range of other seabirds.
Isles of Scilly (Cornwall) An excellent place to get good views of some of the scarcer visitors to British shores, such as the Yellowbrowed Warbler and the Red-breasted Flycatcher, and there is the chance to enjoy attractive species like the Firecrest. The American Golden Plover is one of the more regular visitors, as are the Little and Rustic Buntings.
St Margaret's at Cliffe (Kent) Glorious cross-Channel views and the white cliffs are a wonderful setting for migrant hunting. In addition there is a good range of butterflies and orchids.
Thetford Forest (Norfolk) Spring in north Norfolk is enough to set even the most relaxed birder’s heart racing. The unpredictability of the birding and the sheer beauty of the area cannot be overstated.
Teesside (Teesmouth) is one of the national hot-spots for wader passage, and July is a good month for a visit, with a chance of rarities. The Cleveland List includes 53 species of wader!
Lake District (Cumbria) Haweswater offers the only regular opportunity for viewing the Golden Eagle in England. Situated on the eastern fringe of the Lake District, this area is also home to some of England’s most spectacular scenery and wildlife.
Farlington Marshes and Langstone Harbour (Hampshire) The area holds large numbers of waders and wildfowl, with a good chance of seeing rarer species. This is the nearest point on the coast for birders in much of south-east England to the west of London.
