Moth and butterfly tour in Western Hungary
Hungary, 7 days

We planned our moth and butterfly tour according to the best seasons of moths and also with the aim to see many rare butterfly species at the same time. Sopron lies in the north-west of Hungary close to Vienna. Its vicinity is an ideal location for a moth and butterfly watching tour since we can find several different habitat types from sub-mountainous areas to the saline steppes of Lake Fertő. The total number of locally recorded Lepidoptera is high above 1000 species.
Please note, that we usually do not use automatic light traps. We use moth sheets, which require us to stay on the field during the night, though portable light traps can be placed around the lamping area. The minibus will accompany us, so sleeping in the van or returning to the accommodation is possible. Collecting or taking living specimens of any stage is strictly prohibited by the Hungarian law, and as we will do our activity mostly in protected areas with the kind permission of the Fertő-Hanság National Park, local rangers may check us anytime!
All significant literature about Hungarian and Central-European Macrolepidoptera fauna will be provided by Ecotours as well as few special books on Micro moths, although most of them are written in German or Hungarian.

Day 1
Upon arrival to Vienna Airport we are met by our English speaking specialist guide. We cross the border and drive directly to the Sopron Hills where we spend the whole afternoon looking for moths and butterflies. We visit the northern foothills with mezophilous meadows, scrub and wood edges (with a chance for clearwing pheromone trapping) where fresh specimens of Woodland Ringlet and Pearl-bordered Fritillary are on the wing as well as Chestnut Heath. In the afternoon we also have a chance to see Clouded Apollo. In the early evening we occupy our accommodation and get ready for moth trapping in a humid valley of the Sopron Hills. Willowherb Hawk Moth, Lesser Swallow Prominent, White Prominent and the nominate ssp. of Cream Spot Tiger are among the expected species.
Accommodation: Sopron Hills

Day 2
We visit the Szárhalmi Forest (with a chance for clearwing pheromone trapping), a mezo-xerophilous woodland that is home to the day-flying Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth at the same locality where the biggest European orchid, Cypripedium chalceolus can be found. Ilex and Black Hairstreaks are also present here. Moth trapping is also organised in the forest, where we usually see over a hundred moth species during a good night. The giant Oak Hawk-moth might occur here, but we have to be up till 2 am.
Accommodation: Sopron Hills

Day 3
We have a day trip around Fertőrákos, at Lake Fertő (Lake Neusiedl), where we visit both reedy marshlands and dry meadows and forests. Pearly Heath is common here, but if we are lucky, we can see Queen-of-Spain Fritillary, Scarce Fritillary or even Common Glider. During the night we light our lamp in an old quarry in Fertőrákos, where moths are expected also from the reeds of Lake Fertő. The quarry has the only population of Bat Hawk-moth, but other hawk-moths are present here as well: Elephant Hawk-moth, Small Elephant Hawk-moth, Privet Hawk-moth, Spurge Hawk-moth. Pannonian Arches Apamea syriaca tallosi, a Pannon endemism also occurs in the area.
Accommodation: Sopron Hills

Day 4
We visit the region of Hanság, which once was a marshy lowland area. It is now mostly afforested with hybrid poplar, but some good wetlands can still be found here providing habitat for Large Copper. Dusky Clearwing and Hornet Moth can be relatively abundant due to large poplar plantations so we will try to trap them with specific pheromones. During the night we take a rest, otherwise we will be blown out during the second part of the trip.
Accommodation: Sopron Hills

Day 5
We have a whole day excursion to Lake Fertő (Lake Neusiedl), visiting the westernmost part of the zonal saline steppe area in Europe. This is a special mixture of habitats, where beside the moths we can see European Souslik and the rich birdlife of the lake. Narraga fasciolaria and Narraga tessularia - which don’t occur in Britain - are special saline steppe dwelling small Geometrids. During the night we light our lamps at a strictly protected bog in Szárhalmi Forest.
Accommodation: Sopron Hills

Day 6
We visit the Sopron Hills again, especially the most humid parts, where we search for birch, alder and aspen feeding moths, and also for moths on coniferous trees. Lots of carpets can be flushed from the vegetation during the day, including Drab Looper. We might see many butterflies as well hoping for a Chequered Skipper. Tonight we have moth trapping in the Sopron Hills, where the number of species can reach over a hundred on a good night. Many Fan-foots inhabit the area, amongst them the rare Clay Fan-foot and Dotted Fan-foot.
Accommodation: Sopron Hills

Day 7
It is worth to take another visit to the Sopron Hills to look for the first Poplar Admirals, which usually emerge on the very beginning of June. In the same habitat old specimens of Camberwell Beauty could still be on the wing. After lunch we travel to Vienna Airport, where the tour ends.