Crane Spectacular
Hortobágy and Bükk Hills, 8 days

Autumn is a very special season on the Great Hungarian Plains, the famous Hortobágy ‘Puszta’. Enjoy fantastic views of tens of thousands of trumpeting Common Cranes flying low overhead! The grasslands offer superb species: Dotterels and Stone-Curlews are still around, Great Bustards can be found in small flocks. Raptors hunt everywhere, among them we might find Long-legged and Rough-legged Buzzard, Imperial Eagle and Saker. There are always many interesting birds at the fishponds such as Ferruginous Duck, Pygmy Cormorant and vast numbers of waders, herons, egrets and ducks.
Most of the Bükk Hills is characterized by vast beech woods and open limestone meadows with different karst forms produced by erosion. It is a perfect area for birding, where raptors soar above the valleys and dense deciduous woodlands provide home for woodland species including Hawfinch, Ural Owl, Black, White-backed, Grey-headed, Middle Spotted and Syrian Woodpecker.

Day1
After landing at Budapest Airport we will be met by our English-speaking guide and head northeast to reach our delightful hotel, close to Hortobágy National Park.
Accommodation: small hotel close to Hortobágy National Park

Days 2-4
We spend a day at the fishpond system of Hortobágy Halastó. The vast reedbeds hold Bearded and Penduline Tits. White-tailed Eagles and Marsh Harriers frequent the lakes. Among the flocks of Greylag and Greater White-fronted Geese we check for Lesser White-fronted.  Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck are not too difficult to locate. Drained fishponds are ideal for waders and Water Pipit. In the evenings we will wait in the hide for the spectacle of thousands of trumpeting Common Cranes coming in to roost.
We also explore the Northern Steppes to look for Saker, Long-legged and Rough-legged Buzzard. Hen Harrier and Great Grey Shrike are widespread here by this time of the year. In Hortobágy village and Balmazújváros town we check out winter roost of Long-eared Owls.
We visit the Southern Steppes of the park that Dotterels use as their traditional migration stopover, often in the company of Golden Plover. Lapland Bunting can sometimes also be found here. We will also look for Stone-Curlews and Great Bustards.
Accommodation: small hotel close to Hortobágy National Park

Day 5
We might spend the morning at Lake Tisza and then visit the so called Little Hortobágy, a place with a nice population of Imperial Eagle and Saker. Then we head towards the Bükk Hills to reach our countryside inn located at the foothills.
Accommodation: Hotel Nomád at Noszvaj

Days 6-7
We spend 2 full days in the Bükk National Park visiting beech woods, scenic valleys, old quarries and limestone meadows for raptors, woodpeckers, owls and woodland passerines.
Pre-breakfast walks around our hotel are always productive. 6 species of woodpecker, Treecreper, Hawfinch were all found in this area of orchards and oak forests.
We spend some time in the scenic Hór Valley searching for Rock Bunting, Grey-headed and Black Woodpecker, Common Crossbill and raptors such as Imperial Eagle and Goshawk. We might also visit Lillafüred, a popular place with tourists where sometimes Wallcreeper can be found on the walls of the palace.
One day we drive up to the Bükk Plateau to explore extensive oak and beech woods, an excellent area for Hawfinch, Treecreeper and woodpeckers, including the elusive White-backed. Even Ural Owl has been seen here.
Accommodation: Hotel Nomád at Noszvaj

Day 8
Early afternoon we start our way back to Budapest Airport, birding en route.