[rdspalm]

Where would members recommend to visit in early October? Anywhere in Europe, not the UK or Ireland.

Want to see species not common in UK.

Any ideas?

Richard

[rokermartin]

Hungary is good in October you can Sakers,Eastern Imperial Eagles,WT Eagles,RL Buzzards,LL Buzzards,Great Bustards,7 species of Woodpecker, LWF Geese,Bean Geese,Dotterels and huge numbers of Common Cranes.

[Cheshire Birder]

Any of the Balearics, Gibraltar, Cyprus, etc. Somewhere outside the eurozone is likely to give you better value for money at the moment.

The choice is yours key factors will no doubt be a) the cost and b) what species do you want to see?

[Stephen C]

Richard

Of course I would recommend Spain and in particular Catalonia (Barcelona). There's a good raptor, wader and passerine passage and it's a great chance - and in many cases the only place - to catch up on some of Europe's more localised species such as Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Lammergeier, Southern Grey Shrike, Black Wheatear, Dupont's Lark, Audouin's Gull, Slender-billed Gull, etc. and you can add in Bluethroat, Stone-curlew, Penduline Tit, Citril Finch, Calandra Lark...

Take a look at my website and blog (links/addresses below) for more details on possible species, best locations, etc. and feel free to contact me for further info even if you intend to go it alone. I'm always happy to help (on condition that I receive details of certain sightings).

If you want a guide, I can also pass on contact details for professional operators in other parts of Spain.

Good luck and I hope you'll post a report here when you get back (people rarely do and it's so useful for travelers).

[Marmot]

How about Mallorca, we normally go at the end of Sept and begin of Oct.

Here is the trip report from 2005 and saw about the same last year but the Audie Gull figures were up to about 20. And Buzzards almost every day as well.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread....ight=cala+bona

All the above was just done either by walking or using the local buses. We would have got a lot more if we had hired a car and gone to S'Albufera reserve which is near Alcudia. If you want any other info just send a PM to either myself or IanF [Husband]

[albatross02]

Hello,

in October is main migration time from Scandinavia to south and from East Europe to Westeurope via Central Europe.
Near berlin are different places very close.
Around 80 km from Berlin are different possibilities
- national parc Unteres Odertal ( Geese, Ducks, lots of cranes, very high chance of White Tailed Eagle ).
in this area breat also Aquatic Warbler, but no idea when they migrate
- lake Guelper See is called petrel station of migration birds of Central Europe
( until 200.000 geese, many ducks, over 10.000 cranes, almost 100 % chance of White-tailed Eagle )
- Bustard area of Buckow
- floodplains of river Elbe ( ducks, geese, cranes, White-tailed Eagle )
- Linumer Bruch ( second biggest crane rest place of Europe, can be over 50.000 )
- national parc Wartha River Mouth in Poland is also only 80 km away from Berlin ( lots of ducks, geese, cranes, small assemblies of White-tailed Eagle )

In spring 100 different kind of birds can be defined on one day, but in autumn it will be less.

Peak of migration of cranes and geese is about 3. week of October.

Swan like Whooper Swan will come rather later ( end of October/ begin of November ).


Other good places for migration birds are also in the north east near Baltic Sea like penisula Darss, island Poel and small bird island Langenwerder nearby.



Best regards
Dieter

[Cristian Mihai]

Try Danube Delta, the mountain area nearby (Macin) and the costal area south from the delta. You'll never regret this trip!

[NicoleB]

I'm looking forward to a birding autumn in Hungary.
:)
If your decision falls for Hungary, let me know, if you need any help for the Southern regions (Croatian border).

[daniel_st]

Why not Falsterbo, Sweden? Lots and lots and lots of migrating passerines and birds of prey. Quite easy to reach from Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup) with car (about an hour).

// Daniel

[Jack Daw]

If you have not been before why not try Portugal especially the Algarve region. Great raptor passage at Sagres in the south west also very good for pelagic trips at this time of year. Other great sites include Lagoa dos Salgados, Alvor estuary Ria Formosa and Castro Marim plus the Baixo Alentejo. Another key feature about the area is that many sites are under watched so there is a good chance a lot of the birds you would find would be your own!!!
Regards Jack

[Tero]

...in October is main migration time from Scandinavia to south and from East Europe to Westeurope via Central Europe.

Take a rain coat along.

[jurek]

Med coast of Turkey - if it counts as Europe.

[Jos Stratford]

12 posts and almost the entire continent has been suggested

I'd go for southern Spain.

Or, as one of your requirements was 'Want to see species not common in UK', forget the passport and just go to the Scillies instead

[rdspalm]

Thanks for all these very interesting ideas. This year we have finally made our choice. It's Hungary, from 30th September until 5th October. We are planning to visit the Hortobagy and Bukk Hills or Zemplen areas. Got cheap flights from Dublin to Budapest and have hired cars. Beyond that we're not firmed up yet, but I can't wait, it seems a great area for birds. Certainly a little different from anywhere in the UK or Ireland.

Keep the ideas coming, it's great to learn about so many places in Europe that one would have never thought of. That's the great thing about Birdforum.

Richard

[NicoleB]

Yeah for Hungary *insert big fat grin*

Do you stick more with the Northern region or will you head further south too?
(As it is right now, you will be almost 6 hours from where I am, one hell of driving on Hungarian roads :) )

Not sure, if you know about this site:
http://ddnp.nemzetipark.gov.hu/index.php?lang=en
They tried to translate the page into English, but there's still a lot of information missing (sadly, tourists are wanted, but nothing much is done in Hungary).

Like I said, let me know, if I can be of any help.

[steve west]

The Outer Hebrides? Apparently they're still underwatched and have good vagrant potential.

Steve
http://www.BirdingInSpain.com

[Oregonian]

My wife and I have tickets to fly into Catania for that week, last of September, first bit of October. There are friends to visit in Serradifalco. My wife and our friends are not actually birders, but they are naturalists, so I guess we'll have good field trips. Any hints would be welcome.
Cheers,
Jeff

[BobCesme]

And of course the Aegean coastline of SW Turkey(nearly Europe)

[steve west]

Try Mallorca and guide yourself using these birding itineraries with accompanying photos, maps and recommended accommodation.

Steve
http://www.BirdingInSpain.com