Poland: an unusual report in unusual times (1 Viewer)

We made two trips to the mainland. The first was just a half-day in the Beka reserve near Puck, based on a recommendation of birders we met in Hel - which was really spot on! In a part of the reserve, a flooded meadow, easily watched from the official walking path, resembled a scene from the Northern Sea coast. Several Broad-billed Sandpipers were feeding right in front of us, joined by a larger flock of Dunlins, some Common Ringed Plovers and then even Red-necked Phalaropes. A more distant flock of Greylag Geese hid a lone Brant Goose. Again, Common Rosefinch was common, but this time we got some really nice views and pictures. Grasshopper Warbler was heard, but not seen, so was Golden Oriole.

Walking towards the bay, we employed are recently acquired knowledge and located a Penduline Tit by song. Shortly afterwards, a flock of Bearded Tits came to visit a reed just in front of us - those species simple belong together.

The second trip took two days and the destination was Slowinski National Park, a landscape of two large lakes separated from the Baltic sea with a ridge of large dunes, in many places bare or with sparse vegetation. On the remote wild coast behind the dunes, we have met Little Terns and the forests around the dunes satisfied our need to improve the trip lists with species such as Coal Tit, Crested Tit, European Robin and Common Redstart, while the lakes brought the expected White-tailed Eagles. The biggest surprise was a singular Bee-eater near the Gardno lake, a rare species in the northern part of Poland. Overall, the area in and around the park is quite pleasant and wild and would be probably worth a visit a bit earlier in the season, perhaps in a year with less drought.

Finally, on the way home at the end, we stopped in the small village of Szkarpava in the Wisla delta - it was right next to the highway home and a Black-winged Kite was recently reported there, which we eventually found. The area was overall good for raptors, with Marsh and Montagu's Harriers and Red Kite on top of the ubiquitous Buzzards. It was also where we finally found Stock Dove for the 3-trip list.

What a great read, some superb birding done.

Ta for the Hazel Grouse info Jan, will certainly try to get back to Poland.

wolfbirder said:

What a great read, some superb birding done.

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Seconded. Superb mammaling too!

Great stuff Jan, particularly envious of your Rosefinches and the Barred Warbler! Fantastic shot of the Bearded Reedling/Tit!

Look what we found on photos from the first Souslik reserve of the middle trip - 2cy Long-legged Buzzard! The tally increases to 167 And it's quite rare in May in Poland, I have been told there is around 20 records from May for the whole country.

A nice report - Thank you.

Your Wild Boar have hairier ears than ours.

Cheers
Mike

Thanks a lot Jan for the report! Brings back my memories of visiting these places.

MKinHK said:

A nice report - Thank you.

Your Wild Boar have hairier ears than ours.

Cheers
Mike

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Yes Boars are the same species all around Eurasia, but they are quite varied, sometimes I wonder if there isn't a split coming