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Message: <blockquote data-quote="brianfm" data-source="post: 1229146" data-attributes="member: 11997">Day ThreeToday was to be spent at the Little Hortobagy, an area which was perhaps a little less than an hour away.  This area is more easily accessible than the Hortobagy proper and proved to have good numbers of birds.  Skylark and Corn Bunting song was with us all day and we found our first Crested Lark of the trip.  As we drove into the area we soon picked up Little Egret, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron and I reckon six Rollers and of course Marsh Harriers and 1 Black Kite, the first Roller being some distance away, but the rest close to us on the wires.  A good number of Quail were heard and I suspect almost trodden on, but not seen!  After a short exploration by car we travelled to the road end where we were to begin our walk and yes we were met by more dogs at the isolated farm.  They seemed to know their territory however and soon settled down and were clearly put off by the sight of my tripod!  As you walk past the farm a viewing platform comes into sight out on the puszta, and this over looks a lake.  There is no identified path to the platform so you just make you way across the putzsa.  The walk was well worth the effort.  A highlight of the trip was to watch 50+ Spoonbills fly in and land on the lake.  Other birds on /near the water included Greylag Geese, Mallard, Shoveller, Gadwall, Teal, Avocet, Redshank and Black Winged Stilt, and of course Hooded Crows were around the area.  I heard some buzzing and as I react badly to insect bites I took a minute or two out to get my repellent on.  It probably wasn’t required and I’m happy to say we were never troubled by Mossies at any time during the week.  I realise that at times they can be a real problem. We had picked up several Kestrels during the morning, but now flying overhead as we crossed the putzsa were 2 Saker Falcons (lifer).   Once back to the narrow track we walked further into the Little Hortobagy.  The sun was shining now and it was not hard to imagine just how hot it could get out here as there is little to no shelter.  We also found just how difficult it is to walk on the muddy track.  The mud sticks like thick rolls of rubber to your boots until you feel as though you’re doing a moon walk in heavy boots.  The damn stuff is almost impossible to shift.  Anyway the sun did bring out butterflies and my star of the day was the Yellow Legged Tortoiseshell which I was later told was a notable sighting.  Perhaps wasted somewhat, on a mere butterfly novice like myself.We saw our first Sedge Warbler of the week and both Reed and Great Reed Warbler were around in numbers, as were Lesser Grey and Red Backed Shrikes.  Yellow Wagtails were a bird you just could not avoid.  It was a good walk with more interesting wild flowers and more Golden Orioles which we still failed to sight. Whiskered Terns flew up and down the channel near the pathway and a Common Buzzard seemed to call over the treetops throughout our walk.  We appeared to be the only people in this vast area.We had planned to buy ourselves lunch earlier in a local shop.  There was only one, which was closed, so Graham’s supply of biscuits came in handy again.  By this time I was wondering how much of his hold luggage had been in the form of biscuits.As we left the Little Hortobagy we picked up Grey Partridge and Sparrowhawk.  Over dinner Graham explained to Rob that we had seen loads of Rollers.  Rob I think had imagined dozens.  Six didn’t sound so good, but we explained that this had been loads for us!  Dinner was eventful as a Stag Beetle was found behind us and then everyone made a rush to see a Southern Festoon.  As it happened it turned out to be the caterpillar which seemed to be going no where.  I’m not quite into caterpillars at the moment!  There were some who were. Day FourToday Rob was to lead a small group of us in the Bukk Hills on what was to be largely a butterfly day.  I have to say that I was more than pleased when he told us that the first stop was to be made in the hope of finding Ural Owl.  This had been a target bird for me, but Rob had said that they had probably moved on.  It seemed that they had been spotted again, not too far away.We were soon into the forest and listening for calls which were quickly picked up.  We got our eyes on an owl flying across the forest which was the female Ural Owl (lifer).  This had been only a quick glimpse before we were then rewarded with excellent views of the juvenile bird with vole.  It sat and watched us watching it for sometime before scrambling higher into the tree.  As it went higher and behind the trunk the male adult swooped in.  We then saw the male adult with the vole which it had taken from the youngster as it appeared to be struggling with it and the adult was about to break it up.  This has to have been the highlight of the trip.  To see a family of Ural Owls so well and to see such behaviour is one for the book.  In the event I wasn’t too dismayed that we had failed to I D a woodpecker!Then we were off to butterfly.  I shan’t go into detail (list will be given) about the butterflies seen, but must mention the Lesser Purple Emperor.  What a beauty as its wings changed to varying shades of blue/purple in the sunlight.  Another highlight of the trip for an English northerner starved of butterflies.  Our day was then spent in meadows and on a rather steep ascent of the Bukk Hills.  An excellent day was had which also included Hungarian Glider, but we had to work for that one as it was right at the top of our climb! The day was not without some other decent birds too including Short Toed Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Syrian Woodpecker, Blackcap and Golden Orioles (on this occasion seen!)  Yellowhammers were everywhere.  I became a wet birder again.  No it didn’t rain, the bottle of water in my bag burst half way during our climb.  The bag had barely dried out following my earlier drenching.The meadows and wild flowers were magical.  I have lots to I D!Butterfly shots are I belive Lesser Purple Emperor, Blue Spot Hairstreak and Scarce Copper.</blockquote>

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