Birding in E Poland (1 Viewer)

[oliwierpl]

It looks like it has started. Early spring is just around the corner. Few weeks earlier than usually…

I searched for its signs in both habitats- in the Forest and on the Marshes.

On the Marshes there was several hundreds of Greylag, White-fronted and Tundra Bean Geese. Amogst them I saw rare Pink-footed Goose (only 4th in my life). So, migration of Geese has begun.

The Forest was suprisingly loud as for this time of year. Woodpeckers start to drum, Nuthatches are very active as well as small passerines. During 10km walk I noticed many wolves droppings, some of there were really fresh. Owls were also vocal, mostly due to a fullmoon… I also had a bit of Bison safari (see the attached picture)


Possible dates for this spring tours are presented there: http://wildlifeguide.pl/early-spring-tours-2020/

Each trip has a possibility to extend it to Belarus to observe Great Grey Owl.

 

[oliwierpl]

Spring time!
Today I found female Black Woodpecker excavating the nesthole in a dead pine tree. Enjoy the 4K film there: https://youtu.be/tve72bnxwkg

A few more photos can be seen there: http://wildlifeguide.pl/…/middle-march-few-pictures-from-e…/

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I hope that the situation with Covid-19 will calm down and You will be able to come to visit Poland this spring! Fingers crossed…

 

[oliwierpl]

At this time of year you have the best opportunity to see rare sedentary species of birds. Despite there are almost no warblers and migrants yet (apart from first Chiffchaffs), the forest is very loud in the morning! Woodpeckers (all species), Pygmy, Short-eared and Eagle Owls, Hazel Grouses, Nutcrackers and many other species are very active now.
In a next few months I will anounce dates of 2021 Early Spring tours, because as you can see it is amazing time of year!

A few more photos can be seen there: http://wildlifeguide.pl/blog/late-march-the-essence-of-the-forest/

 

[oliwierpl]

When April comes, you can see a little change in Nature. Woodpeckers start to limit their spontaneous activity only to morning hours, males of Pygmy Owls are not as vocal as their partners are sitting in the hole on the eggs or Greylag Geese are already swimming together with juveniles. I always catch myself thinking how fast March has passed…

But on the other hand more and more birds are coming back from winter grounds, dawn chorus sounds more diverse and enviroments starts to turn green.

And there is also a phenomenal wonder of Nature when males of Moor Frogs turns blue for a short, mating time and give specific sounds. Shallow parts of wet alder forests looks and sounds amazing then!

A few more photos (inlcuding birds ) can be seen there: http://wildlifeguide.pl/blog/early-april-fantastic-natural-spectacle-of-blue-frogs/

 

[oliwierpl]

So much happens now in Nature, that day should last longer than 24 hours

I'm sad to not be able to share this with you...

Maany pictures there: http://wildlifeguide.pl/blog/late-april-there-is-so-much-to-see/

 

[oliwierpl]

In early May you should be there to admire the wildlife of NE Poland. But unfortunately this spring it seems to be impossible… Hopefully the reopening of the borders will come sooner than later.

In your 2021 calendar already book spring holidays for visit to NE Poland!


A few more photos can be seen there: http://wildlifeguide.pl/blog/early-may/

 

[oliwierpl]

If you are thinking of coming to Poland to see as many lifers as possible, then middle and late May is the best time of year to do it!

Almost all migrating species has already arrived, including bright Bee-eater, shy warblers (Aquatic Warbler, Europe's rarest songbird, can be seen in the picture below), elusive crakes (Corn and Little), beautiful red-coloured Rosefinch and Red-breasted Flycatcher or nightingales like Trush Nightingale and Bluethroat.

A few more photos can be seen there: http://wildlifeguide.pl/blog/middle-and-late-may-all-migrants-are-already-there/

 

[oliwierpl]

Finally, from 13th June polish borders are open for EU citizens!

If you would like to make a break from omnipresent Covid19’s infoglut then don’t hesitate and visit peaceful NE Poland with its incredible wildlife.

I present some pictures and a video below as well as in a link there: http://wildlifeguide.pl/blog/early-june-beginning-of-the-summer/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2uZ-JUMuu4

 

[oliwierpl]

After the summertime when I made a small break for butterflies (of which 150 species can be found in Poland!) it is a good time to come back to 'proper' wildlife

Autumn is already there. And so it is rutting season for elks, red deers but as well a migration time for many bird species. At this time of year some sedentary ones (owls, woodpeckers) can also have a second peak of activity and often are easy to find. Here I present pictures of two - Greater Spotted Eagle and Spotted Nutcracker. Both are quite rare yet the eagle is globally threatened!

If you want to find some more pictures I made recently- come and visit my blog: http://wildlifeguide.pl/blog/ where is also a short photo-report from the visit in Bieszczady - Poland's wildest mountain range.

 

[Carpathian Ed]

Hi Oliwier
a couple of months ago I was up near Gdansk on Sobieszewo Island and got the chance to visit Mewia Lacha. Apart from millions of jellyfish and a few sandpipers and ducks there was nothing there. I wanted to visit the main reserve at Ptasi Raj but there were constant storms.
I'm most annoyed I didn't get chance to see the moose or seals.
If you're ever in the SE of your country in the area the Łemkowie call home then head down into Pieniny National Park in Poland/Slovakia/Ukraine. I don't know if you've seen the film Wolf Mountains but you should check it out. Absolutely stunning. I live about 40 kilometres from there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxOqQ1mCvIs

 

[oliwierpl]

Hi Oliwier
a couple of months ago I was up near Gdansk on Sobieszewo Island and got the chance to visit Mewia Lacha. Apart from millions of jellyfish and a few sandpipers and ducks there was nothing there. I wanted to visit the main reserve at Ptasi Raj but there were constant storms.
I'm most annoyed I didn't get chance to see the moose or seals.
If you're ever in the SE of your country in the area the Łemkowie call home then head down into Pieniny National Park in Poland/Slovakia/Ukraine. I don't know if you've seen the film Wolf Mountains but you should check it out. Absolutely stunning. I live about 40 kilometres from there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxOqQ1mCvIs

It's interesting, Mewia Lacha reserve is usually full of birds at anytime of the year. In which month did you visit the Coast?

If you search rarities on Baltic, it depends on wind. Whenever in autumn wind gains in strength and changes its direction to N or NE you can expect some siberian birds to be blown to the Baltic Coast.

And it happened last weekend on Hel Peninsula, one of the best wildlife spots during bird migration in Poland.

Several dozen birdwatchers were in the field looking for rarities on that days and it brought some spectacular observations for polish avifauna. There were record-breaking numbers of Dusky Warbler, Little Buntings, Palla’s Leaf Warblers, Parrot Crossbill, Siberian Chiffchaffs, Purple Sandpipers, Lapland Buntings and much more… Many of these species I was also able to observe- during the weekend I saw my five lifers :t:

I also attache a picture of the wolf I saw on a very foggy day in Białowieża Forest recently.

 

[oliwierpl]

So far January is quite snowy (compared to what we got used to...) which is promising for upcoming breeding season!
After two years of draught on Biebrza Marshes current winter may improve hydrological conditions, which is beneficial for all waders and waterbirds breeding or resting in the valley. We realy keep our fingers crossed; just need this one-feet-deep snow to last for a few more weeks and to not thaw until mid February. For the primeval forest it will also be a momentary respite, especially for wetter habitats, like alder forest or generally decidous forest stands, transitive by foot in last springs...

A relatively short "Beast from the East" with almost -30 degrees Celcius on thermometers was a challenge for birds. They were gathering in feeding places - I counted 16 species in my bird feeder. It was visited by e.g. Redpolls, Tree Sparrows, Marsh Tits, Goldfinches or even Brambling!

A few more pictures can be found in my 2021 photoblog: https://wildlifeguide.pl/photoblog-2021/

 

[oliwierpl]

Woodpeckers are active now, and so are the owls. Especially for Pygmy Owl March is a month with the highest vocal acitivity throughout the year. In Białowieża Forest you can still find the spots where in early spring hearing two or sometimes even three males calling simultaneously is possible!

 

[oliwierpl]

A peak season for birdwatchers has just started.
Almost all migrating species are already in the Białowieza Forest and Biebrza Marshes, including bright Citrine Wagtail, shy warblers (Aquatic, River, Icterine, Barred, Marsh and many more), elusive crakes (Corn and Little), beautiful red-coloured Rosefinch and Red-breasted Flycatcher or nightingales like Trush Nightingale and Bluethroat.

COVID restrictions in Poland are light now - hotels and restaurants are open, there is also no need of wearing masks outdoor.
If you are thinking of having a holidays, then come birding to NE Poland !

 

[oliwierpl]

It is a time of hatching for young Pygmy Owls. The parents will be very active for the next 3 weeks collecting prey for juveniles.

 

[oliwierpl]

June is usually a month with calm and sunny weather. And indeed it is this year. Marshes are full of water after wet spring but also full of birds - crakes, rails and warblers play noisy nightshows.

 

[oliwierpl]

Summertime is a good time to observe birds of prey like this Honey Buzzard or Lesser Spotted Eagle. A breeding season for most of the songbirds have finished and everything is slowing down now...
Autumn can be felt in the air, especially in the morning. But when it arrives, an amazing time for wildlife watching will start again. No crowds, autumnal vibes and pristine nature. Wonderful time of year. If you are a group of at least two then don’t hesitate and book a private 4-days-tour in Aug-Oct 2021: Autumn tour – WILDLIFE GUIDE Oliwier Myka - birdwatching & wildlife guiding in Poland

 

[oliwierpl]

At the end of the year I had the opportunity to observe this beautiful Hawk Owl among equally impressive buckthorn bushes.
The bird probably arrived from Scandinavia and may try to overwinter in Knyszyn Forest region.