Raptor Special, Hungary

30th August – 6th September 2008

Leader
Attila Steiner, Ecotours

Introduction
This year's holiday was really raptor special as we saw 19 species of birds of prey. There were many memorable moments and sights during the tour and we saw many good birds, butterflies, dragonflies and other wildlife.

We saw 2 adult Imperial Eagles and a Saker within 5 minutes. At another place in the Little Hortobágy we watched 3 immature White-tailed Eagles, a juvenile Imperial Eagle and 3 juvenile Montague's Harriers circling over the lake. The Zemplen Hills were productive too with 2 Golden and 3 Lesser Spotted Eagles, a white phase Booted Eagle, Goshawk, Hobby and Peregrine. The number of raptors was also amazing. We counted over 40 Marsh Harriers during a day in the Hortobágy, but Common Buzzard, Kestrel and Red-footed Falcon was also numerous.

Other interesting species included 26 Dotterels in the Hortobágy, most of them still in breeding plumage. In the Kiskunság we observed 10 Great Bustards feeding on a meadow. The 10 Long-eared Owls roosting in a tree were a nice surprise for everybody, as was the Eagle Owl discovered in a quarry at daylight. It was nice to watch a juvenile Little Crake walking on the floating vegetation of a canal picking insects. We enjoyed a similar rare sight when a Water Rail was walking on the edge of a drained fishpond disturbing a Squacco Heron.

Typically for a Raptor special holiday the last bird species we saw during the tour was Imperial Eagle and Raven at a motorway stop en route to the airport, where we watched 3 juvenile eagles landing on the field in front us and one of them feeding on its prey.

DAILY DIARY
Day 1 - Saturday, 30th August
We started in the morning from Budapest heading for Apaj in the Kiskunság National Park. Our main target was Great Bustard. After the village of Bugyi we stopped at a gravel pit to take a look at the small flock of Lapwings and Black-headed Gulls on a sandbank. There was a juvenile Common Tern with them, which turned out to be the only one for the trip.

Then we visited some nice nearby grasslands where we admired a flock of Bee-eaters hunting very close to our car. We had nice scope views of Turtle Doves and juvenile Red-backed Shrikes. Leaving the village of Bugyi we stopped several times along the road. We had good views of several Rollers, watched a juvenile Lesser Grey Shrike, many Whinchats and Corn Buntings and added Tawny Pipit to the list. A thorough scan revealed 2 Great Bustards moving slowly in the vegetation, but the views were not too satisfactory due to heat haze. Moving on further along the road we had lunch by the roadside and admired further Rollers on the wire. Raptors were represented by a Honey Buzzard, several Kestrels and a Saker attacking Common Buzzards. After lunch we climbed on top of a small hill and had good views of at least 10 Great Bustards quietly feeding in the alfalfa fields.

There was time to move on so we turned back and headed towards the Hortobágy. A short stop at a canal produced good views of a Little Bittern, a sunbathing Pond Terrapin and a Stoat swimming across the canal. We took some time to identify the numerous dragonflies. There were several eye-catching Broad Scarlets patrolling the water’s edge, a White-tailed Skimmer and Small Red-eyed Damselflies laying eggs.

After a fairly long drive we arrived to an area good for raptors and soon a roadside stop produced a Long-legged Buzzard and a male Pallid Harrier, while the next stop a Short-toed Eagle and several Red-footed Falcons. We were hoping for Imperial Eagle and stopped several times to scan the meadows and trees. We had a perched immature White-tailed Eagle instead and a nice male Montague’s Harrier plus several Rollers but not the hoped for Imperial Eagle. Times was short now so we moved on and crossed Lake Tisza and the town of Tiszafüred to reach our hotel at the edge of Hortobágy National Park. We had a filling dinner of tasty Hungarian food and went to bed tired but satisfied.

Day 2 - Sunday, 31st August
We had an early breakfast and started early to meet the local ranger at Nagyiván. The first target Stone Curlew was easily seen at the edge of the village. After good scope views we drove into primary steppe habitat stopping shortly to look at Squacco Herons and Little Egrets feeding along the canal and a Black Stork circling above. Due to high water levels the flooded grasslands were a magnet for waders. We saw Spotted Redshanks, Wood Sandpipers, Ruffs and Common Snipes while Curlews were calling from all around. We flushed a quail from the dirt road and finally arrived to the short grass steppe favoured by the Dotterels. After a short search the ranger detected a flock of Dotterels that was well camouflaged in the short grass. As the weather was hot already the birds were not too active. Finally we counted 26 specimens, most of them adults in breeding plumage and 1 juvenile bird. After spending a good half hour with these truly wonderful birds we retraced our steps to the car and had a well deserved soup in a local restaurant.

After lunch we chose another route to cross the steppe. It proved to be fruitful for raptors as we had good views of a female Montague’s Harrier, a perched Short-toed Eagle and a nice Long-legged Buzzard. We said fairwell to the ranger and headed to the canal at the end of the village. We only had to wait a couple of minutes until a juvenile Little Crake appeared at the edge of the reads and started feeding on insects walking slowly on the floating vegetation. There was a Little Grebe and a Moorhen on the canal and a Kingfisher darted above the water surface. In a Willow Tree close to the road we discovered Night Herons roosting in the thick tangles.

Before calling it a day we stopped at the Kis Jusztus area but only saw some more Marsh Harriers increasing the daily count of this species to a marvellous 43 specimens. On the way home we spotted a White-tailed Eagle from the car and after stopping had good flight views of this magnificent bird.

Day 3 - Monday, 1st September
A short stroll around the hotel before breakfast produced Spotted Flycatcher and Black Redstart and a Lesser Emperor dragonfly perched close to our rooms. After breakfast we headed to the famous Hortobágy Fishponds. En route we stopped for a harrier which turned out to be a female Montague’s Harrier. We decided to explore the ponds on foot, so we walked to the first pond where soon we had good views of several Ferruginous Ducks and Pygmy Cormorants. Gadwalls were numerous and we spotted a Common Gull. We heard the call of the Penduline Tit and soon we had good views of several juvenile birds in the willows. As we walked on we encountered many Spotted and Pied Flycatchers, a few Wood Warblers and heard the „ping ping” calls of Bearded Tits many times. Pygmy Cormorants became a common sight and we saw several flying Purple Herons too. Large Coppers were fairly common along the canal we saw many brightly coloured males. A surprise perched Wryneck was enjoyed by everybody and we had good views of Lesser and Common Whitethroat and finally of Bearded Tit including a nice adult male. It was lunch time when we reached the hide at the last pond called Kondás. While we ate our sandwiches we admired thousands of birds in the shallow pond. Little and Great Egrets, Spoonbills, Common Cranes, Greylag Geese were numerous. Going through the huge flocks of Mallards and Gadwalls we discovered Shovelers, Pintails, Wigeons and Teals. There was a flock of Avocets and a few Dunlins among the many Black-tailed Godwits, Spotted Redshanks and Curlews. Whiskered Terns were flying low above the water and our search revealed a few Black Terns with them. It was difficult to leave this spectacle.

On the way back we took a look at fishpond No. 6 and saw among others Pochards and a Tufted Duck. Later we watched 3 immature White-tailed Eagles majestically circling above the ponds. Little Bitterns were hunting along the canal and we flushed 3 birds on the way black. As we watched the grazing Water Buffalos a young Bluethroat and a Wood Warbler put in appearance. We felt fairly tired when we reached the car. On the way back to the hotel we had a brief encounter with a Little Owl.

Day 4 - Tuesday, 2nd September
We planned a more relaxing day after yesterday’s long walk so started leisurly after breakfast and drove to Hortobágy village. We admired the 300 year-old Nine Arch Bridge and payed a visit to the National Park Information Center to buy postcards and some curios. Birds were also around and we saw a Syrian Woodpecker and an Icterine Warbler in the village. Then we drove eastwards and stopped at a viewing platform along the road. Here we watched some Common Buzzards when a harrier was noted. As it flew towards us we could identify it as a juvenile Montague’s Harrier.

The town of Balmazújváros was our next stop and after a few minutes we were surprised to find not less than 10 Long-eared Owls roosting in a tree. We had splendid views of these funny birds! Then we drove to the Darassa area of the national park, which is another good place for raptors. We were not disappointed as the first stop produced 2 distant White-tailed Eagles and the second a nice adult Long-legged Buzzard. Our joy was only spoiled when another group of birdwatchers parked their van close to the bird and tried to approach it. The Long-legged Buzzard soon felt disturbed enough to leave its favourite perch and flew away.

We ate our sandwiches and continued towards Tiszacsege. Here we took a short walk in the forest adjacent to the Tisza River and were rewarded with Cuckoo, Nuthatch, Long-tailed Tit, Great Spotted and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. We even heard a Black Woodpecker calling. As time was flying we left this lovely area and drove to the Csécs Fishponds. After a short walk we reached a drained pond that was full of birds. We counted 24 Black Storks at the other end of the pond joined by many Great and Little Egrets, Grey Herons and Spoonbills. There were 4 Squacco Herons around and we spent an hour with picking up new wader species from the mass of gulls and other waterbirds. Oystercatcher and Turnstone were a nice surprise and we saw handsome Temminck’s and Little Stints, Dunlins, Spotted and Common Redshanks, Greenshank and 2 Whimbrels among many Curlews. A Water Rail kept entertaining us by running in and out of the reedbed.

On the way back Ron noticed a Little Owl sitting on top of a barn and further along the road we had another one. To make it an owl day we decided to visit a chapel where Barn Owl is nesting. En route we admired two Red-footed Falcons on the wire. While waiting for the owl and fighting with the numerous mosquitoes Night Herons were leaving their roost and flying towards the lakes calling frequently. It was getting dark now and we were considering a retreat when we glimpsed the Barn Owl quickly leaving the chapel and flying away. It was another day filled with great experiences and we crowned it with an excellent dinner at our hotel.

Day 5 - Wednesday, 3rd September
After 3 days filled with fantastic birding we were reluctant to leave the Hortobágy. After breakfast we drove to Lake Tisza and stopped before the bridge crossing the lake. The first bird we noticed was a dead Great Bittern that flew into the wires and got caught. Too sad! Fortunately there were live birds on the lake as well and we added Red-necked Grebe to our list.

As Ron was desperate to see Imperial Eagle we made a small detour towards the village of Sarud. We stopped at a canal and started scanning the area. After a few minutes the scene became lively: two adult Imperial Eagles appeared in the sky. As we were following them we noticed a Saker flying close by. What a show!

Half our later we were already in the so called Little Hortobágy, a protected area with similar steppe habitats. We walked to a hide situated on the shore of a lake and watched dozens of Praying Mantis flying above the grassland. As soon as we climbed up to the hide we saw that a raptor flushed all the ducks and waders. It was an immature White-tailed Eagle, which then landed on the shore. There were three juvenile Montague’s Harriers and two Marsh Harriers patrolling the lake too. We added Curlew Sandpiper to our list and saw many other species familiar from yesterday. Suddenly we noticed 3 big birds in the sky and soon watched two White-tailed Eagles and an immature Imperial Eagle circling above us.

After lunch it was time to leave this lovely area. We drove through the countryside tasting sheep cheese on the way and finally arrived to Tokaj mid afternoon. We still had time to visit a good spot for Lesser Spotted Eagle. Although the eagle was not showing we noticed our first Yellowhammers of the trip and a Hawfinch. As mosquitos started to become a real nuisance we returned to our hotel and had a nice dinner of Wild Boar with good local white and some red wine.

Day 6 - Thursday, 4th September
We started our day at Boldogkőváralja where we took pictures of the scenic castle in the morning sunshine. The nearby quarry was fairly silent although we could hear the call of a Rock Bunting. A short walk produced Great Spotted Wodpecker, Marsh and Coal Tits and we noticed two Ravens and a Sparrowhawk diving down to the quarry, which pointed to the presence of an owl. So we went back and started to scan the quarry. There were droppings on the wall but no sign of the bird itself. We moved closer and Attila suddenly found the Eagle Owl well hidden behind branches. Everyone had good scope views of this magnificent bird. Before leaving some of us had short glimpses of a Lesser Spotted Eagle too.

After a short detour to the old church of Vizsoly we had lunch in a nice beech wood below another ruined castle. On the way a Black Woodpecker crossed the road and disappeared into the forest and we saw a flying Honey Buzzard. Then we moved on to the forests of Háromhuta searching for Ural Owl but to no avail. It was very hot even inside the forest and birds were very silent. We only added Wren and Grey Wagtail to our list. We stopped several times on the way back searching for Dipper but water levels were very low and they moved elsewhere. A Goshawk crossing the road in front of us was consolation for us though.

At the end of the day we stopped in Bodrogkeresztúr to take pictures of the White Stork nests placed on chimneys and we suddenly realised there is a stork standing in one of the nests. It is probably the same bird, which we saw here last October with another group. The bird managed to survive the winter and decided to stay again while the others have left Hungary 1 or 2 weeks ago.

Day 7 - Friday, 5th September
Our first stop today was very succesful as we had good views of a circling Lesser Spotted Eagle. Next we explored some oak and beech woods where Nuthatches kept us entertained. We saw a Middle Spotted Woodpecker and its greater cousin Great Spotted Woodpecker too. We spent some time identifying the numerous butterflies in a small meadow. Silver-washed Fritillary was the most common butterfly and we had Queen of Spain Fritillary, Dryad, Small Copper and Short-tailed Blue as well. Just before we boarded the car we heard a Black Woodpecker, which eventually flew past us, but we only had glimpses of the bird.

We then moved on to Baskó to search for Golden Eagle. We waited almost an hour and only had two Common Buzzards. Persistence however payed off as soon after we spotted two Golden Eagles circling above the hills joined by Buzzards. A little later a Lesser Spotted Eagle flew past fairly close to us. Satisfied we left the area.

Our next stop was at Erdőbénye where we saw a few Hawfinches and heard another Black Woodpecker. Attila picked up a raptor and it soon turned out that we are watching a white phase Booted Eagle in our telescopes. It is a rare visitor to Hungary so we were very fortunate to see this bird.

Finally we drove up to the top of Tokaj Hill to enjoy scenic views of the Great Plain of Hungary. Two Hobbies, three Kestrels and a Sparrowhawk performed an aerial show in the strong wind. It was a nice ending of a day packed with raptors. We celebrated the day with a tasty dinner and a bottle of sweet Tokaj dessert wine.

Day 8 - Saturday, 6th September
Our last day had arrived so we had to say goodbye to the Zemplen Hills and to our lovely hotel in Tokaj. As we had time until late afternoon we decided to visit the Bukk Hills on the way back to Budapest. A short stop at a reservoir produced our only Green Sandpiper of the trip. Then we arrived to the scenic Hór Valley. After a short walk in a quarry we drove further into the valley but the forest was very silent. It was our hottest day and a walk in the forest produced Song Thrush, Robin, Nuthatch and Treecreeper. Our mammal list was doubled as we saw Red Fox, Red Squirrel and Hedgehog in the valley.

Then it was time to leave for the airport. Our last stop on the motorway produced three immature Imperial Eagles in a field. One of them was feeding on a prey surrounded by Ravens. It was a great spectacle to watch these majestic raptors so close to us.

We arrived to the airport on time and the last species seen was a European Suslik in front of the airport terminal.

SPECIES LISTS
Birds
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis – Several seen on days 2 and 5
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena – 1 juv. seen on Day 5 on Lake Tisza
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus – Many seen on days 3-5
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo – Seen on most days in the lowlands
Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmaeus – many on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds and a few on day 5 at Lake Tisza
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea – Seen on most days
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea – Many in the Hortobágy on days 2 and 3
Great Egret Ardea alba – Seen on most days
Little Egret Egretta garzetta – seen on days 2-4 in the Hortobágy
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides – 3 specimens on day 2 and 4 on day 4
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax – More than 30 on day 2 and 4 at Nagyiván
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus – 1 on day 1 at Ürbő and 3 on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds
Black Stork Ciconia nigra – 2 on day 2, 24 on day 4 at Csécs Fishponds and 2 on day 5
European White Stork Ciconia ciconia – 1 bird probably staying for the winter in Bodrogkeresztúr on day 6
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia – 1 on day 2, many on days 3 and 4 in the Hortobágy
Mute Swan Cygnus olor – 1 on day 2 at Hortobágy Fishponds and 12 seen from Tokaj Hill on day 7
Greylag Goose Anser anser – Common in the Hortobágy and on Lake Tisza
Eurasian Wigeon Anaspenelope – Up to 10 on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds
Gadwall Anas strepera – Many on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds
Eurasian Teal Anascrecca – Commonly seen on days 2-5
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos – Common, seen on most days
Northern Pintail Anasacuta – A few on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds
Northern Shoveler Anasclypeata – Many seen on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds and on day 5 at Tiszabábolna
Common Pochard Aythya ferina – A few on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca – Several seen on day 3 and 4 at the fishponds
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula – 1 seen on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds
European Honey-Buzzard Pernis apivorus – 1 on day 1 at Apaj and 1 on day 6 at Regéc
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla – 1 immature on day 1 at Kisköre, 1 adult on day 2 close to Patkós Inn, 3 immatures on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds, 2 on day 4 at Darassa and 3 on day 5 at Tiszabábolna
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus – 1 on day 1 at Hevesvezekény, 3 on day 2 in the area of Nagyiván
Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus – The most common raptor, seen every da, up to 43 counted on day 2
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus – 1 adult male on day 1 at Hevesvezekény
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus – 1 male on day 1 at Kisköre, 1 female on day 2 at Nagyiván, 1 female on day 3 close to Hortobágy Fishponds, 1 juvenile on day 4 close to Hortobágy village, 3 juveniles on day 5 at Tiszabábolna
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus – Seen on 4 days
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis – 1 on day 6 at Újhuta, 1 on day 7 at Baskó
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo – Common, seen every day
Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus – 1 juvenile on day 1 at Hevesvezekény, 1 adult on day 2 close to Nagyiván, 1 adult on day 4 at Darassa
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina – 1 on day 6 at Szegilong, 1 at Bodrogkőváralja and 1 at Baskó on day 7
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca – 2 adults at Sarud and 1 immature at Tiszabábolna on day 5, 3 immatures along the motorway M3 on day 8
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos – 2 adults on day 7 at Baskó
Booted Eagle Aquila pennata - 1 white phase at Erdőbénye on day 7
Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus – Common, seen every day
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus – Frequently seen on day 1 and 2, 2 seen on day 4 and 2 on day 5
Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo – 1 at Erdőbénye and 2 on Tokaj Hill on day 7
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug – 1 on day 1 at Apaj and 1 on day 5 at Sarud
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus – 1 on day 7 at Baskó is the only record
Common Quail Coturnix coturnix – 1 on day 2 close to Nagyiván
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus – Common, seen or heard every day
Common Crane Grus grus – 3 on day 2 at Angyalháza, many on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds, 4 on day 4 at Tiszabábolna
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus – Several heard on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds, 1 seen on day 4 at Csécs Fishponds
Little Crake Porzana parva – 2 seen on the canal at Nagyiván on day 2
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus – 1 on the canal at Nagyiván on day 2, several on days 4 and 5
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra – Many on days 3-5
Great Bustard Otistarda – 2 shortly after Bugyi and 10 on the way to Kunpeszér on day 1
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus – 1 adult at Csécs Fishponds on day 4
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta – A flock of about 30 birds at Hortobágy Fishponds on day 3
Eurasian Stone-Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus – 1 on day 2 at Nagyiván
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus – Common, seen on most days
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula – Several on day 4 at Csécs Fishponds
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius – Many on days 4 and 5 and a few on day 8
Eurasian Dotterel Charadrius morinellus – 26 on day 2 at Angyalháza
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago – Many seen on days 2-5 and 8
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa – Many on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus – 2 on day 4 at Csécs Fishponds
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata – Common on days 2-5
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus – Seen every day in the Hortobágy and on day 8
Common Redshank Tringa totanus – Just 1 on day 4 at Csécs Fishponds
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia – 1 on days 4 and 5 and several on day 8
Green Sandpiper Tringaochropus – Just 1 on day 8 at Mezőkövesd Reservoir
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola – Many seen on days 2, 4, 5 and 8
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos – 2 on day 4, 1 on day 5 and 2 on day 8
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres – 1 juv. on day 4 at Csécs Fishponds
Little Stint Calidris minuta – Many on day 4 at Csécs Fishponds, 2 on day 5 at Tiszabábolna
Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii – 3 at Cécs Fishponds on day 4
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea – 5 at Tiszabábolna on day 5, 3 at Mezőkövesd Reservoir on day 8
Dunlin Calidris alpina – Flocks on days 3-5 and 8
Ruff Philomachus pugnax – Several seen on days 2-5 and 8
Mew Gull Larus canus – 1 on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds
Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans – Common in the Hortobágy
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis – Several seen at gravel pit on day 1 at Bugyi
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus – Commonly seen on most days
Common Tern Sterna hirundo – Just 1 at gravel pit on day 1 at Bugyi
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida – Common on days 3-5 at fishponds, Lake Tisza and Tiszabábolna
Black Tern Chlidonias niger – 1 on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds, 2 on day 4 at Csécs Fishponds
Feral Pigeon Columba livia – Common, seen every day
Stock-Pigeon Columba oenas – 3 on day 1 close to Kunpeszér, 3 on day 5 at Tiszabábolna
Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus – Seen on mst days
European Turtle-Dove Streptopelia turtur – Seen on day 1 at Bugyi, day 2 in the Hortobágy and day 8 at Mezőkövesd Reservoir
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto – Common, seen every day
Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus – 1 seen at Tiszacsege on day 4
Barn Owl Tyto alba – 1 seen at Nagyiván at day 4
Eurasian Eagle-Owl Bubo bubo – 1 seen in the quarry of Boldogkőváralja on day 6
Little Owl Athene noctua – 1 seen at Hortobágy Fishponds on day 3, 2 in Árkus on day 4
Northern Long-eared Owl Asio otus – 10 in a tree in Balmazújváros on day 4
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis – 1 on day 2 close to Nagyiván, 1 at Hortobágy Fishponds on day 3 and 1 at Csécs Fishponds on day 4
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster – Migrating flocks seen on most days
European Roller Coracias garrulus – 6 seen between Bugyi and Kunpeszér, 2 at Kisköre on day 2, 2 at Nagyiván on day 2
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops – 1 at Kócsújfalu on day 2
Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla – 1 at Hortobágy Fishponds on day 3
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor – 1 at Tiszacsege on day 4
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius – 1 at Erdőbénye on day 7
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major – Several on days 4-7
Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus – 1 in Hortobágy village on day 4
Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius – 1 heard at Tiszacsege on day 4, 1 seen at Regéc on day 6, 2 heard at Erdőbénye on day 7
Eurasian Green Woodpecker Picus viridis – 1 heard at Erdőbénye on day 7
Crested Lark Galerida cristata – 3 along the road to Hortobágy Fishponds on day 3, 4 at Árkus on day 4, 1 at Boldogkőváralja on day 7
Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis – Heard or seen on most days
Sand Martin Riparia riparia – Seen on most days
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica – Common, seen every day
Common House Martin Delichon urbicum - Common, seen every day
White Wagtail Motacilla alba – Seen every day
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava – Seen on most days in the lowlands
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea – 1 on day 6 at Újhuta, 1 heard on day 7 in the Zemplén Hills
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris – Several the Apaj area and on day 2 in the Hortobágy
Eurasian Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis – Several on days 6-7 in the Zemplen Hills
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis – A few on day 1 in the Apaj area and on day 2 in the Hortobágy
Northern Wren Troglodytes troglodytes – Heard on days 6-7 in the Zemplén Hills and 1 seen on day 8 in the Hor Valley
Common Blackbird Turdus merula – Seen at the Hortobagy Fishponds and in the Zemplén Hills
Common Song Thrush Turdus philomelos – A few in the hills on days 6-8
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus – Several seen on days 1-4
Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus - Several seen on days 2-4
Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina – 1 seen in Hortobágy village and 1 at Tiszacsege on day 4
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus – A few seen on days 6 and 8 in the hills
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita – A few heard or seen on most days
Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix – The most frequently seen warbler in the Hortobágy on days 3-4
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla – Just one male on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds, and heard on day 6 in the Zemplén Hills
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin – 1 seen on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds
Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis – 1 on day 2 at Nagyiván and 1 on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca – 3 seen on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds and 1 on day 7 in the Zemplén Hills
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata – Seen on most days
European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca – Several on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds and 1 on day 4 at Tiszacsege
European Robin Erithacus rubecula – Heard on days 6-7 in the Zemplén Hills and seen on day 8 in Hór Valley
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica - 1 juvenile seen on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros – Seen on most days
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra – Common in the lowlands and in the Zemplén Hills
Common Stonechat Saxicola rubicola – Seen on most days
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe – 1 on day 1 at Apaj and several on day 2 in the Hortobágy
Bearded Parrotbill Panurus biarmicus – Heard on day 2 and 4 in the Hortobágy, frequently seen on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds
Eurasian Long-tailed-Tit Aegithalos caudatus – Seen at Tiszacsege and heard in the Zemplén Hills
Marsh Tit Poecile palustris – Common in the Zemplén Hills and Hór Valley
Coal Tit Periparus ater – Seen on day 6 in the Zemplén Hills
Great Tit Parus major – Seen on most days
Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus – Seen on most days
European Nuthatch Sitta europaea – 1 on day 4 at Tiszacsege and common in the Zemplén Hills and Hór Valley
Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris – Heard on day 4 at Tiszacsege and seen on day 8 in the Hór Valley
Eurasian Penduline-Tit Remiz pendulinus – Commonly seen on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds and on day 4 at Csécs Fishponds
Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus – A few seen on days 1-4 in the Kiskunság and Hortobágy
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio – Juveniles seen on most days and 1 adult male on day 3 at Hortobágy Fishponds
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor – 1 juvenile seen on day 1 at Ürbő
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius – Heard at Tiszacsege on day 4 and seen on days 6-7 in the Zemplén Hills
Common Magpie Pica pica – Seen on most days
Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula – 3 seen at Angyalháza on day 2
Eurasian Rook Corvus frugilegus – Seen on most days
Hooded Crow Corvus cornix – Seen every day
Common Raven Corvus corax – Seen on days 6-7 in the Zemplén Hills and 12 at the motorway M3
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris – Seen every day
House Sparrow Passer domesticus – Seen every day
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus – Seen on most days
European Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs – Seen on days 4-8
European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris – Only seen in the Zemplén Hills
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis – Seen every day
Eurasian Linnet Carduelis cannabina – Seen on day 3 at Tiszafüred and on days 7-8 in the hills
European Serin Serinus serinus – 1 seen on day 5 at Szegilong and 1 on day 6 at Bodrogkeresztúr
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes – 1 on day 5 at Szegilong and several on day 7 at Erdőbénye
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella – Seen on days 5-7 in the Zemplén Hills
Rock Bunting Emberiza cia – 1 heard at Boldogkőváralja on day 6
Common Reed-Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus – Seen on days 1-4
Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra – Flocks in the Apaj area and Hortobágy on days 1-4

Mammals
Southern White-breasted Hedgehog Erinaceus concolor – 1 on day 8 in the Hór Valley
Brown Hare Lepus europaeus – Several seen on days 1, 2 and 4
Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris – 1 on day 8 in the Hór Valley
European Suslik Spermophilus citellus – 1 on day 8 at Budapest Airport
Fox Vulpes vulpes – 1 on day 8 in the Hór Valley
Stoat Mustela erminea – 1 on day 1 at Ürbő
Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus – Several on days 1-2 and 5

Reptiles
European Pond Terrapin Emys orbicularis - 2 on day 1 at Ürbő

Amphibians
Common Toad Bufo bufo – 1 seen on day 7
Green Toad Pseudepidalea viridis Hills – 1 seen at Hortobágy Fishponds
Common Tree Frog Hyla arborea – Many heard in the Hortobágy and Zemplén
Agile Frog Rana dalmatina – Seen on day 8 in the Hór Valley
Edible Frog Pelophylax kl. Esculentus – Many at the fishponds
Marsh Frog Pelophylax ridibundus – Many at the fishponds

Butterflies
Large White Pieris brassicae – Common
Small White Pieris rapae – Common
Eastern Bath White Pontia edusa – Common in the Hortobágy
Pale Clouded Yellow Colias hyale – Seen in the Hortobágy
Clouded Yellow Colias crocea – Common
Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni – Just 1 on day 8
Wood White Leptidea sinapis – 1 on day 7 at Erdőbénye
Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas – 1 on day 7 at Erdőbénye
Large Copper Lycaena dispar – Many at Hortobágy Fishponds
Short-tailed Blue Everes argiades – 1 on day 7 at Erdőbénye
Idas Blue Plebeius idas – Seen at the Hortobágy Fishponds
Common Blue Polyommatus icarus – Seen several days
Camberwell Beauty Nymphalis antiopa – 1 on day 7 at Erdőbénye
Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta – Common
Comma Polygonia c-album – Seen on days 3-4 and 8
Map Butterfly Araschnia levana – 1 on day 6 at Boldogkőváralja
Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia – Common in the Zemplén Hills and in Hór Valley
Queen of Spain Fritillary Issoria lathonia – 1 on day 7 at Erdőbénye
Woodland Grayling Hipparchia fagi – 1 on day 6 at Újhuta
Grayling Hipparchia semele – Several on day 7 at Erdőbénye
Dryad Minois dryas – Seen in the Zemplén Hills and in Hór Valley
Great Banded Grayling Brintesia circe  – 1 at Regéc on day 6
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina – Seen on most days in the hills
Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus – Seen on day 1
Large Heath Coenonympha tullia – Common in the Hortobágy
Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus – Common in the Hortobágy
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria – Seen on most days in the hills

Dragonflies
Small Redeye Erythromma viridulum – Several on day 1 at Ürbő
Blue-eyed Hawker Aeshna affinis – 1 on day 4 at Hortobágy
Blue Hawker Aeshna cyanea – Common in the hills
Lesser Emperor Anax parthenope – 1 on day 3 at Patkós Inn
White-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum albistylum – Recorded on day 1 and 4
Southern Darter Sympetrum meridionale – Recorded on day 5 at Tiszabábolna
Broad Scarlet Crocothemis erythraea – Several on day 1 at Ürbő