Trip report spring BIRDS & 9–16 May 2015 7 day bird & watching tour in the Białowieża Forest & Biebrza Marshes (focus was mainly on birds as requested by all participants) Text & photographs by Łukasz Mazurek

Tour Leader: Łukasz (Lucas) Mazurek Participants: Geoff, Jeff & Kevin Wildlife: 11 mammal species and 162 bird species recorded, full checklist on page 8

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Day 1, Sat 9th May - Arrival

We have met at the airport on time and just a few minutes later and we were on our way to Białowieża. It was a sunny day and we saw lots of stuff on the way: several Marsh Harriers, Buzzards and Kestrels, White Storks, Swans, Geese and Mallards. A short stop at a petrol station produced a Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Linnets and Serins. We have also stopped on the way to check for Ortolan Buntings and had some stunning views of two birds, plus heard a few more, together with a Marsh Warbler, several Thrush Nightingales and a few Yellow Wagtails and Yellowhammers. Upon arrival we had a hearty Polish dinner at our guesthouse in Białowieża and we decided to hit it into the forest for Owls because the weather was exceptionally good for Owl activity. Firstly we have visitted one site just to check for Pygmy Owl and we had great views of one bird plus a Middle Spotted Woodpecker and a few Woodcocks. Then, we transferred further into the forest for the Tengmalm’s Owl territories. The walk through the forest was full of excitement as we heard one bird really close just over our head and walked around it and tried and tried but eventually it didn’t show and we didn’t manage to spot it.

Day 2, Sun 10th May - Białowieża

We started early and went for a walk in the Wysokie Bagno reserve near the Belarus border. This 3hrs walk goes through a variety of habitats and indeed we saw plenty. The finest birds that morning were Pied Flycatchers, Long-tailed Tits, Hazelhen, Green Sandpiper (in the forest), Middle Spotted, Grey-headed and Three-toed Woodpecker, juvenile White-backed Woodpecker, Thrush Nightingale, Tree Pipit to mention just a few. After a hearty breakfast back at the hotel we had a couple of walks visiting a few different sites. The first one brought us some good views of Wrynecks and a Barred Warbler, the next one a fantastic Red-breasted Flycatcher and at lunch time we had some real close views of Collarred Flycatchers.

It has been a hot day and it started raining in the afternoon. Nevertheless, we have visited a yet another patch of the Alder forest for woodpeckers and saw a pair of Black Woodpeckers feeding their young at a nesthole.

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Day 3, Mon 11th May - Białowieża

This early morning we went on a Bison Safari visiting a few different sites where they were likely to come out at dawn. The tension was rising as we drove from one site to another with no Bison but some footprints. Finally we found two old bulls at the edge of the woodland and everyone had great views. On our way back to the hotel for breakfast we have stopped a few times and had stunning views of an Icterine Warbler, River Warbler and a Grey-headed Woodpecker.

After breakfast we have visited a Strict Reserve, the core area of the National Park, the forest that hasn’t ever been managed by humans. Seen some good birds there, mainly woodpeckers, White-backed, Middle Spotted and some Flycatchers. After lunch of sandwiches and freshly brewed coffee we transferred to the N of the forest trying to find a Nutracker and more views of Black Woodpeckers. We had a great view of a male Hazel Grouse, Black Stork, Lesser Spotted Eagles, White-tailed Eagle, 2 Barred Warblers and a family of Black Woodpeckers at a nest hole really close. Happy, we returned for another wholesome dinner after which we decided to try and spot one of the Corncrakes that we could hear just in front of the hotel. It was dark, so equipped with a bright spotlight we carefully positioned ourselves at a good vantage point and within a few seconds of proper corncrake calling we had some stunning views of one just two or three metres away, full bird, calling for as long as a minute or two! A fantastic end to a great day.

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This early morning was free and part of the group went for a short walk before breakfast just in the hotel area and saw a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, Savi’s Warbler and a Great Reed Warbler. After breakfast we hit it towards the banks of the Siemianowka Reservoir but had several interesting stops on the way. Firstly we stopped at a road side where we hoped for a Nutcracker and found very fresh footprints with pissing and scratching marks that was a bit thrilling experience, especially that the piss was still dripping of the tree trunk! We must have missed it by not more than a few minutes! Anyway, the Nutcracker didn’t want to show but we have found a great Pygmy Owl that gave us fantastic views in the bright daylight.

Later on our way up north we had another few stops in the meadows N of the forest and had great views of two Lesser Spotted Eagles, Black Stork, Great Grey Shrike, Yellow Wagtails and Whinchats.

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The Siemianowka Reservoir was full of birds as usual and in a few hours spent there we saw a Honey Buzzard, 6 White-tailed Eagles, 2 Lesser Spotted Eagle, 2 Greater Spotted Eagles (!), 2 Sparrowhawks, 3 Hobbys, a Red-footed falcon, Red Kite and probably more than 30 Marsh Harriers. Citrine wagtails, Great Grey and Red-backed Shrikes, White-winged and Whiskered Terns as well as Great White Egrets were, as usual, quite abundant. We also had some good views of a Red Fox, Fire-bellied Toads and Tree Frogs as well as a few butterflies and dragonflies that were on the wing.

We came back to the hotel for an earlier dinner (as usual, plentiful) and were soon back on the road for a short visit at the Great Snipe lek at dusk. It was a quiet and atmospheric evening. While watching (a bit distant) 4-5 Great Snipe lekking we had a fantastic view of a Short-eared Owl as well as a mother Elk with a newborn calf right in front of us.

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Early morning we drove around the Białowieża village a bit and among the usual set of local birds we have found a Rosefinch, a new arrival that spring. After our last hearty Bialowieza breakfast, we left the hotel and started our drive towards the Biebrza Marshes but firstly we had our several birding stops on the way. The first was an old Ruthenian village with colourful, wooden houses lined up along the main road that has been a welcome addition to our wildlife adventures. Later we stopped at the Dojlidy fishponds where the usual close views of Great Reed Warblers, Penduline Tits, Little Crakes and Marsh Terns just blew us away. Finally, we stopped at some fishponds near Knyszyn and watched many waders, incl. Ruffs, Wood Sandpipers, Temmincks, Dunlins, Redshanks and Little Ringed Plovers. A White-tailed Eagle, Hobby and a Goshawk were also a nice sighting. Leter on our way we have also had good views of 3 Montagu’s Harriers at a road side and heard an Ortolan Bunting.

After checking in at our hotel, we had an earlier dinner and left for a boat trip along the river watching Beavers. The weather was not our ally with the dark clouds and wind being signs of a coming storm but nevertheless we saw a total of 8 Beavers really close. Everyone was thrilled and very happy.

Day 6, Thu 30th Apr - Biebrza Marshes

Early morning we took an hour out in the hotel area before breakfast. It has been a fantastic morning with highlights being Hoopoes, Hawfinches, Rosefinch, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Montagu’s Harriers, Golden Orioles, Cranes and Red-backed Shrikes.

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After the usual plentiful breakfast we drove for a full day out around Biebrza’s top spots. We have visited three sites before lunch and have had good views of Penduline Tits, Bluethroats, Savi’s Warblers, Thrush Nightingales, Greater Spotted Eagle, Marsh Harriers, Sedge Warblers, Great White Egrets, White-tailed Eagles, Black Storks, a Peregrine Falcon, Whiskered and White-winged Terns.

We had our lunch of a home made soup and some pancakes served by local farmers by the riverside and continued birding afterwards.

That afternoon brought us more White-tailed Eagles, Black Storks, some waders, good views of a pair of Green Sandpipers in the forest, 4 Short-eared Owls over the marsh and great views of 3 Aquatic Warblers in the scope plus more heard around. We have also seen the total of 7 Elk () at various sites. Couldn’t have had a better day.

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We decided to start our last day early once again and went for a short drive and a walk in the marsh. The first bird we saw was an adult White-tailed Eagle perched up a tree just behing our hotel. Later we saw the usual local standard plus new birds included a Spotted Flycatcher and a Bullfinch. Later we visited one more site in the middle basin of the Biebrza Marshes and saw Great Grey Shrike, Buzzards, Thrush Nightingale, Icterine Warbler, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Red-backed Shrikes. We have also stopped briefly at a small to admire Ledum palustre, Lycopodium clavatum, Bog rosemary, Vaccinium uliginosum and other rare plants. Green Hairstreak was on the wing. We had our lunch at a local bar and hit the road to Warsaw. After checking it at the hotel near the airport we made it to the old town for a walk and our farewell dinner at a small Jewish restaurant. Everyone enjoyed the hearty meal and views of the Old town of Warsaw. Back at the hotel, we said our goodbyes as the next early morning was the flight back to Britain.

Checklists + - recorded, common H - heard F - footprints S - signs BIRDS

Species name Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 SUM

019 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 8 10 18

019 Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena 9 9

029 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 100 1 101

031 Great / Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris 2H 2 2

033 Great White Egret Egretta alba 100 50 150

035 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 1 1 50 1 30 83

035 White Stork Ciconia ciconia + 5 5 30 + 60 + 100

035 Black Stork Ciconia nigra 1 2 5 8

039 Mute Swan Cygnus olor 2 4 1 12 19

039 Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus 5 1 6

043 Greylag Goose Anser anser 2 300 60 362

049 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 4 3 4 + + 20 31

049 Gadwall Anas strepera + 6 6

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Species name Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 SUM

051 Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata 5 2 7

051 Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope 2 2

053 Common Teal Anas crecca 6 6

053 Garganey Anas querquedula 1 4 5

057 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula 15 15

075 White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla 1 6 1 3 1 12

079 Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina 1 2 3 1 7

079 Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga 2 1 3

085 Red Kite Milvus milvus 1 1

085 Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus 2 1 30 3 30 6 72

087 Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus 3 10 2 15

091 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo 5 1 6 10 3 12 6 43

091 European Honey-Buzzard Pernis apivorus 1 1 2

093 Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 1 2 1 4

093 Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis H 1 2

095 Common / Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 2 1 1 4

095 Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus 1 1

097 Northern / Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo 3 1 1 5

099 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1 1

105 Hazel Grouse / Hazelhen Bonasa bonasia 2 1 3

111 Grey Partridge Perdix perdix 1 1

111 Corncrake Crex crex H 1 2H1S 2H H 8

115 Water Rail Rallus aquaticus H 1

115 Spotted Crake Porzana porzana H 1

115 Little Crake Porzana parva 2S3H 5

117 Common / Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 5 12 10 27

119 Common Crane Grus grus H 2 10 30 6 48

125 Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 1 1

129 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius 1 1

129 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 3 3

137 Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus 1 2 30 50 30 2 115

141 Dunlin Calidris alpina 5 5

143 Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii 2 2

145 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 30 60 15 1 106

145 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 2 1 1 1 5

145 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 4 4

147 Common Redshank Tringa totanus 3 10 13

147 Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus 5 5

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Species name Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 SUM

149 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 1 15 16

149 Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 1 1 2

151 Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola 2 2

151 Great Snipe Gallinago media 5 5

151 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago 1 2 2 15 1 20 10 51

157 Ruff Philomachus pugnax 50 68 30 148

171 Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 1 + + + + ++

173 Common / Mew Gull Larus canus 2 2

175 Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans 4 4

185 Little Tern Sternula albifrons 2 2

187 Common Tern Sterna hirundo 4 1 5 1 11

193 Black Tern Chlidonias niger 25 10 2 37

193 White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus 80 100 350 530

193 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 20 10 30 60

201 Feral Pigeon Columba livia feral + + + + + ++

201 Stock Dove Columba oenas 1 2 1 8 12

201 Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus 1 1 4 6 2 10 + 24

203 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto + 6 6 3 15

205 Cuckoo Cuculus canorus 2 5 3 8 H 12 30

211 Boreal / Tengmalm's Owl Aegolius funereus 1H 1

211 Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium passerinum 1 1 2

213 Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus 1 4 5

219 Swift Apus apus 2 2 20 1 + 25

221 Hoopoe Upupa epops H 2 2 5

225 Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius 3 3 H 7

225 Green Woodpecker Picus viridis H 1

225 Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus 1 1 1 3

227 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major + 6 6 2 1 15

227 Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius 1 1 4 1 1 1 9

229 White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos 1 3 4

229 Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus 1 1 2

229 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor H 2 1 1 5

229 Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla H 3 3 2 2 H 12

231 Skylark Alauda arvensis + 1 20 3 20 + 44

233 Woodlark Lullula arborea 1 1 1 1 4

241 Sand Martin / Bank Swallow Riparia riparia 100 5 105

243 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica + + + + + + + ++

243 Northern House-Martin Delichon urbicum + + + 10 20 20 50

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Species name Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 SUM

249 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis 1 1 3 5

251 White Wagtail Motacilla alba 2 3 4 6 10 3 3 31

253 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava 4 15 12 4 35

253 Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola 3 3

255 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes 6 12 6 1 1 26

255 Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus 2 2

257 Hedge Accentor / Dunnock Prunella modularis 1 3 4

259 European Robin Erithacus rubecula 2 3 2 1 8

259 Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia 2 5 6 20 12 10 6 61

261 Bluethroat Luscinia svecica 3 3

263 Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus 1 1 H 2 5

263 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros 1 3 2 1 7

265 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe 2 2

273 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra 4 1 3 6 3 1 18

275 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos + + + + + 3 + ++

275 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus 1 1 1 3

275 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris 4 2 2 6 3 2 19

277 Blackbird Turdus merula + + + + + + ++

281 Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria 1 2 3

281 Garden Warbler Sylvia borin 1 5 3 H 3 4 16

283 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla + + + 1 4 12 6 23

283 Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca 2 3 1 2 1 3 2 14

287 Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis 1 1 2 12 3 6 25

291 Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus 1 3 6 30 40

291 Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola 5 5

293 Grasshopper-Warbler Locustella naevia H 2H H H 5

295 River-Warbler Locustella fluviatilis H 2 7H 10

295 Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides H 1 3 8 12

297 Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus 1 2 1 4

297 Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris H 1 H 7 2 4 14

299 Great Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus H 4 17 1 22

301 Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina 2 2 1 5

305 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus H + 1 1 6 8

305 Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix 20 + 20 1 2 43

307 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita + + + 2 1 6 2 11

311 Goldcrest Regulus regulus 1 1

311 Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla 3 3

313 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata 1 2 3

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Species name Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 SUM

313 Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva 1 H 2

315 Pied-Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca 1 3 1 5

315 Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis 3 20 3 3 29

317 Great Tit Parus major + + + 4 2 2 8

317 Coal Tit Periparus ater 2 2

317 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus 2 4 1 1 1 9

319 Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus 2 2 4

319 Marsh Tit Poecile palustris 3 3 1 1 8

321 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus 4 4

321 Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus H 3 2 6

323 Nuthatch Sitta europaea 3 2 1 6

325 Treecreeper Certhia familiaris 4 2 1 7

327 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio 3 5 3 3 4 4 22

329 Northern / Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor 2 1 2 5

331 Magpie Pica pica + 2 1 10 10 23

333 Jay Garrulus glandarius + 6 3 6 4 4 2 25

335 Jackdaw Corvus monedula + + + + ++

337 Rook Corvus frugilegus + + + ++

337 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix + H H 1 6 + ++

337 Raven Corvus corax 1 1 2 3 5 2 14

341 Starling Sturnus vulgaris + + + + + + + +++

341 Eurasian Golden-Oriole Oriolus oriolus H 3 7 4 10 10 4 38

343 House Sparrow Passer domesticus + + + + + + + ++

343 Tree-Sparrow Passer montanus 1 1 3 6 11

347 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs + + + + + 6 + 6

349 Linnet Carduelis cannabina 4 5 9

351 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 2 4 4 2 4 4 4 24

351 Greenfinch Carduelis chloris 4 4 2 4 2 16

353 Serin Serinus serinus 2 2 1 2 2 9

355 Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula 1 1

355 Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes 6 12 6 6 1 2 33

359 Common/Scarlet Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus 1 1 2

367 Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus 1 5 10 30 46

371 Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana 4 1 5

373 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella 2 6 6 12 6 12 2 46

Number of species: 60 71 74 111 99 97 57 162

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Mammals

Species name Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 SUM

European Bison Bison bonasus F 2 2

Red Deer Cervus elaphus F 0

Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus 2 2 2 6

Wild Boar Sus scrofa S 1 1

Elk Alces Alces 2 7 9

Wolf Canis lupus FS 0

Red Fox Vulpes vulpes 1 1 2

Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra pooh 0

European Beaver Castor fiber F 8 8

Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgarus 2 1 3

European Hare Lepus europaeus 2 2

Number of species: 0 3 4 6 2 2 2 11

OTHER

Species name Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 SUM

Brimstone + + 1 + 1

Small White + + + + 0

Large White 1 1

Comma + 0

Map + 0

Orange Tip + 6 2 2 2 12

Peacock 1 + + 1

Speckled Wood 1 1 2

Small Copper 4 4

Small Tortoiseshell 2 2

Small Heath 2 2

Edible Frog H H 0

Pool/Edible Frog 1 1

Marsh Frog H 0

Common Toad H 0

Green Toad H 0

Common/Moor Frog 10 3 13

Tree Frog H 2 H 2

Fire-bellied Toad 5 H H 5

Common Clubtail 2 1 3

Field Cricket 1 1

Number of species: 2 9 7 12 7 4 0 14

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