Hi Gus. I have an old friend called Joshka Chytil based near Olomouc and I could ask him if he will either guide you or at least give you some pointers. Black Stork and Woodpecker should be ok but Hazel hen are almost nomadic in the big hilly forests (although another friend did very unusually find a nest last year) and to see them requires luck as well as a good location. White backed woodies are not too far away into the border hills and some good owls too. Other things like red breasted flies might be interesting for you and in May there should be waders passing through.
Best of luck Den
Hi Den, the reason that i've picked Oloomouc is that I have friends who live there and i;m going to stay with them when I visit. there is an Ornithological society with a website my friends have contacted too.Hi Gus, after the new year festivities and nearer the time I can maybe email you privately with more details. Wife (born in Prague) and I have the same dilemma as you every yéar - go in mid April for owls and woodpeckers or in May for returning summer nesters/more migrants. Depends a bit on the weather too of course. May with the blossom and buds and singing passerines can be spectacular. Not far from Olomouc there are some great wader spots too. Black Storks return after the Whites so you're risking it in April. Black Woodies should be impossible to miss - but to be sure take a CD or learn to whistle! To get a feel for what's around that area try googling 'birds cz pozorovani' and then click on 'pozorovani'. It's for the whole of Czecho but you can look at records from OL (obviously Olomouc area) and PR (Prerov) to start with. Latin names are given and the maps are usually with very accurate pointers - down to the bush if you go to the photo option. Are you going to Olomouc just for the birds because there are maybe better areas for the three you mention?
Good luck Den
Hi Gus, I will ask Joshka what he suggests but one possibility is going out with some local birders. It is certainly worth chasing up the local website (orni club) you mentioned and I will do the same. The Beskydy hills are well watched (maybe start 60 miles from you) and is the best area for what you want. By coincidence today a syrian woodpecker was reported in the trees lining the big road (Svobody) through the middle of Olomouc. Yesterday white backed woodie was reported near a crossing point into Slovakia just south of the Beskydy hills natural park area about 70 miles from Olomouc. More pairs nest in the Beskydy (usually in the hilly beech patches especially where there are old trees on the ground)along with three toeds in the spruce fir tree bits (they like the bark beetles which are causing such problems near me in sumava). Black woodies like the beech too and also nest there. Ural owls nest along the border in Beskydy again old beech wood near water in the hills is best. They hunt the wet areas. Lots of Tengmalms (Boreal) and Pigmys in those hills too. Anywhere in CZecho if you see a quarry (preferably at least partly disused) you should look for Eagle owls or listen. When I'm looking in Cz I always use a CD player. It's really effective for owls and woodies but even for orioles and warblers. I use the 4 cd set of european songs by roche it is now in re print and costs maybe £27 from wildsounds. BTW, the Hazel hens I already told you of were reported from Beskydy and cds would definitely be useful in calling them out from the woods!
Will also be in CZ mid May to early June staying in Vlcnov http://www.vlcnov.cz/english/. I'm trying to sort guide for couple of days specifically to see Tengmalm's Owl and Hazel Grouse. Obviously May is not the best time for these, but hope springs eternal. Of interest there are White-backed Woodpecker and reportedly Hazel Grouse at Holy Kopec http://mapcarta.com/18496810. Have seen former but not the latter here. Site is off E50 east of Brno.
