Trip report Early spring & 25 APRIL - 1 May 2015 7 day & watching tour in the Białowieża Forest & Biebrza Marshes Text & photographs by Łukasz Mazurek

Tour Leader: Łukasz (Lucas) Mazurek Participants: Anne, Robin, Ros, John, Alistair, Rob, Chris Wildlife: 11 mammal species and 152 bird species seen, full checklist on page 8

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Day 1, Sat 25th April - Arrival

We have picked up part of the group at the airport yet before 14:00, Ros & John from downtown 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: A Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan and a few Mallards in the ponds just outside Warsaw, several Cranes and 30+ White Storks, a Kestrel, Marsh and Montagu’s Harrier, a few Common Buzzards and Hawfinches. After a hearty Polish dinner at our guesthouse in Białowieża we had a short talk about the area and the plans for the next days over a map. Day 2, Sun 26th April - Białowieża

We started off at 5 in the morning and after a sip of teas and coffees we set off to search for Bison that come out of the forest at dawn. At the first place we stopped we have found two Bison bulls grazing and a Lesser Spotted Eagle, followed by another one that gave us really long and close views. Next place we stopped at - we saw one Bison in the distance so decided to drive as close as possible. So we did, parked the bus and had a walk that brought us good views of a Wood Lark, Tree Pipit, Common Snipe, Lapwings and a yet another Lesser Spotted Eagle. Bison have disappeared by the trees in the meantime but we waited for them to show again and finally had views of 3 Bulls walking back into the forest. On our way to the bus, we had good views of a Common Whitethroat, a few Whinchats and a Wheatear.

After breakfast we had a couple of walks in the forest. The first one brought us some good views of Three-toed Woodpeckers and Black Woodpeckers heard. The second one - Wood Warblers, Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Firecrest, a Red Squirrel, a few Grass Snakes, a Slowworm and Common Frogs.

In the afternoon, we have visited a yet another patch of the forest, this time a carr flooded by Beavers. We had good views of a Grey-headed and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers as well as Collared Flycatchers. Afterwards we have transferred to one of the Pygmy Owl territories

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where after a short while we have had some great views of this miniature owl and seen several Woodcocks. After dinner, part of the group agreed for a short walk in search of the Tree Frogs that were calling their heads off. We saw several of them really well, plus a few Edible Frogs, Diving and Raft . An amazing evening.

Day 3, Mon 27th April - Białowieża

After a hearty breakfast, we had a short stop at the village edge and had good views of a Lesser Spotted Eagle, a Marsh Harrier and a Mistle . Then we have briefly stopped at the National Park HQ and saw Great and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Redstart and also a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers on our way to meet the guide for the Strict Reserve. The weather was great and the walk in the Strict Reserve of the Białowieża National Park an amazing experience as the trees were just getting green. We have seen plenty of centuries old trees and our guide Arek has explained how it all functions and answered all our questions and knew litterally all the plants. We saw plenty of Collared Flycatchers, a pair of White-backed Woodpeckers and two Middle Spotted Woodpeckers there.

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We had lunch of sandwiches and freshly brewed coffee at the edge of the forest and arrived back at the hotel for a short break before an evening outing. Rob went for a walk into the park and had good views of a Great Reed Warbler and heard Savi’s. In the afterooon, we visited one site trying for a Black Woodpecker with no success but we briefly saw a Black Stork flying over which was a nice surprise. Later we transferred to the Kosy Most area for a short walk. It was a very atmospheric evening and we saw several fresh droppings, a Beaver in the reeds from up the viewing tower (thanks Ros!) followed by two more Beavers from the bridge, this time very close. It was a fantastic observation of wild in their natural habitat and showing undisturbed behaviour. A few Bats and Woodcocks were also around as we walked back to the bus.

Day 4, Tue 28th Apr - Siemianówka Reservoir

Early morning Alistar, Rob and Chris had a short walk in the hotel area and saw Great Reed Warbler and heard a . After a substantial breakfast we drove towards the Siemianówka Reservoir with a few stops on the way. First of all we had an amazing encounter with 1 Bison bull just next to the road. Later we have stopped at a small bridge over the Łutownia river and saw Green Sandpipers, Collared Flycatchers and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers. Finally, just before reaching the shores of the Siemianówka Reservoir we have spotted 3 Bison at the edge of the forest.

The reservoir was full of birds as usual. We have seen Whooper Swans, plenty of Marsh Harriers and Great White Egrets, Black, White-winged and Whiskered Terns and of course a few White-tailed Eagles flying around. In a small pond just next to the dike we walked along we have found several Fire-bellied Toads and Tree Frogs and everyone had great views.

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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, we saw plenty of Common Snipe but Great Snipe were not very eager to start lekking. Finally, after the sunset we saw a few birds jumping and flashing with white on the tail. Although a bit far, we saw 4 Great Snipe in the scopes. Two Fox and a few Roe Deer were also seen today.

Day 5, Wed 29th Apr - on the way to the Biebrza Marshes

We decided to have a short walk before breakfast today but woke up to the heavy clouds. We went out anyway but it started raining heavily within a few minutes. Nevertheless we had brilliant views of a male White-backed Woodpecker and a Nuthatch very near. The rain intensified and after about half an hour we came back to the hotel for the usual solid breakfast of eggs, sausages, selection of meats, cheeses and breads.

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After breakfast we set off for our journey towards the Biebrza Marshes. Our first stop was in one of the old Ruthenian villages where colourful wooden houses lined along the road and tidy pavements reminded of an eastern influence in this part of . Next, we stopped at the Dojlidy Foshponds where among hundreds of Black-headed Gulls we have seen a few Shovelers, Great Crested, Red-necked and Black-necked Grebes, Penduline Tits, several Marsh Harriers and have heard two Great Bitterns booming. We had our sandwiches on the bank of the pond and transferred to see the ponds and lakes around Knyszyn. After a brief stop at the ponds where we saw Little Ringed Plovers, many Wood Sandpipers and Ruffs, we have transferred to the Czechowizna Lake where we saw several White-tailed Eagles, including one adult catching a Wigeon and sharing it with a mate and chasing away other immature Eagles and Cranes that showed up to join the feast. A fantastic and unforgettable observation that lasted for a good half hour. Moorhen and Common Sandpiper were also nice birds to spot there. We arrived at our guesthouse for an earlier dinner, another plentiful 3 course Polish dinner, and were off for a boat cruise for Beaver watching at dusk. On the way there we have spotted an Elk feeding just next to the road and everyone had stunning views.

Soon, we were comfortably sat at a large and stable wooden boat that took us down the stream along the river. Within a few minutes the first Beavers showed up swimming across and walking out to the shore and in the next 1.5 hrs we have seen a total of 15+ Beavers and some of them as close as a few metres and for a long time. Everyone was thrilled. Another great success. Happy, we drove back home.

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Early morning part of the group went out and spent some time in the hotel area. Black Stork and a Montagu’s Harrier were the highlights seen in just a few minutes. After a plentiful breakfast we set off for a full day journey around the Biebrza Marshes. First of all we saw three Hoopoes chasing one another just around our hotel. Later, we stopped at the main road just where the Black Stork was seen earlier today and it was still there so everyone had good views in the scope. Our next stop was the where many interesting pants were plentiful: Labrador tea, Northern bilberry, Bog rosemary, Sphagnum mosses, Harestail Cotton-grass, Sundews and Stagshorn Clubmoss. At our next stop in Osowiec we had good views of a Bluethroat, Savi’s Warbler, Penduline Tit building a nest, Great Grey Shrike and Thrush Nightingales singing. Another site was a quiet village of Mścichy at the edge of the marsh. Tadpole shrimps and Diving Beetles were a very nice find in the ditch just next to the track (thanks Chris!). When we arrived at a watching tower in the middle of the marsh we had our lunch of sandwiches and the usual cups of hot coffee, while watching dozens of Ruff feeding and displaying, Wood Sandpipers, Great White Egrets and a White-tailed Eagle. Our next stop was a village of Brzostowo, a lovely place at a river side with about a thousand of Ruffs, Lapwings, Redshanks, Black-tailed Godwits, Wood Sandpipers, Greenshanks and one Spotted Redshank. Other sightings were a few Common Terns, Black, White-winged and Whiskered Terns and a Little Tern. We had a lovely cup of coffe served by the local farmers there and moved on as there were still a few more sites to visit.

Next place was a vantage point by the village of Burzyn. There we saw more Ruffs and waterfowl and a total of 6 Elks in the distance.We stopped at a WWII site briefly, another great vantage point and we were soon back at the Czar’s road. A short stop at a bridge in the bog Alder forest produced two Green Sandpipers and good views of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Very soon, we were at the Bagno Ławki, our last stop that day. It was a very atmospheric evening and we saw 4 Short-eared Owls, Curlew, Montagu’s and Marsh Harriers plus plenty of Common Snipe there. A few Aquatic Warblers were also singing about but were a bit more difficult to spot. Day 7, Fri 1st May - Biebrza Marshes to Warsaw

We decided to start our last day early once again hoping for more close views of Elks. We drove slowly along the Czar’s Road and soon saw our first two Elk. They were near but run away

WWW.WILDPOLAND.COM 7 WILDPOLAND TOUR REPORT - EARLY SPRING BIRDS & MAMMALS, APRIL 2015 quickly so we continued further. We have spent some time at the boardwalk in the middle of a vast Bagno Ławki fen and apart from the common Godwits, Snipe and Marsh Harriers we have seen one Short-eared Owl, a Rough-legged Buzzard and a few Aquatic Warblers. Chris have spotted several more Elks in the distance including one cow with a newborn calf! Happy we retreated back to our guesthouse for our last plentiful breakfast. After breakfast we started our journey back to Warsaw. We arrived at the WAW airport early afternoon on time for everyone to catch their flights.

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

017 Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis 2 2

017 Little Grebe / Dabchick Tachybaptus ruficollis 1 1

019 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 1 1 8 14 24

019 Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena 5 5

029 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 100 6 106

031 Great / Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris 2H 3H H 6

033 Great White Egret Egretta alba 3 8 30 12 30 83

035 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 6 3 12 21

035 White Stork Ciconia ciconia 30 20 6 30 30 30 146

035 Black Stork Ciconia nigra 1 1 2

039 Mute Swan Cygnus olor 1 20 20 41

039 Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus 6 1 7

043 Greylag Goose Anser anser 50 500 550

049 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 6 + + + + + 6

049 Gadwall Anas strepera 6 2 8

049 Northern Pintail Anas acuta 8 8

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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 1 20 6 27

051 Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope 15 20 35

053 Garganey Anas querquedula 5 4 9

055 Common Pochard Aythya ferina 1 1

057 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula 2 2

067 Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula 1 1

075 White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla 1 5 10 2 18

079 Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina 3 2 3 8

085 Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus 1 1 1 20 12 12 47

087 Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus 1 1

087 Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus 1 4 5

091 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo 3 2 5 3 3 7 23

093 Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 1 2 3

093 Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis 1 1

095 Common / Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 1 2 3

097 Northern / Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo 1 1

105 Hazel Grouse / Hazelhen Bonasa bonasia H H 2

111 Corncrake Crex crex H 1

113 Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus H 1

115 Water Rail Rallus aquaticus H 1

115 Spotted Crake Porzana porzana 2H H 3

115 Little Crake Porzana parva H H 2

117 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus H 1 2

117 Common / Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 20 30 20 70

119 Common Crane Grus grus 7 3 2 4 10 130 156

129 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius 2 2

129 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 2 2

137 Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus 6 12 2 12 12 20 64

145 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 20 12 50 82

145 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 2 1 2 2 7

145 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 4 2 6

147 Common Redshank Tringa totanus 4 6 10

147 Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus 1 1

147 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia H 5 6

149 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa H 12 13

149 Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 1 1

151 Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola 2 2 H 1 6

151 Great Snipe Gallinago media 4 4

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

151 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago H 6 1 12 H 6 27

157 Ruff Philomachus pugnax 50 25 500 575

171 Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 200 1500 30 1730

173 Common / Mew Gull Larus canus 1 1

177 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 1 1

185 Little Tern Sternula albifrons 1 1

187 Common Tern Sterna hirundo 4 5 9

193 Black Tern Chlidonias niger 30 4 10 44

193 White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus 30 100 130

193 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 20 5 40 65

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

201 Stock Dove Columba oenas 1 1

201 Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus 1 3 + + + + + ++

203 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto + + + + ++

205 Cuckoo Cuculus canorus 1 H H H H 5

207 Tawny Owl Strix aluco H 1

211 Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium passerinum 1 1

213 Long-eared Owl Asio otus H 1

213 Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus 4 4

221 Hoopoe Upupa epops 1 4 5

225 Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius 1 1 2

225 Green Woodpecker Picus viridis H H 2

225 Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus 2 H 3

227 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major 2 + 12 2 1 17

227 Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius 4 4 1 9

229 White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos 2 1 3

229 Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus 2 2

229 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor H 2 1 4

229 Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla H 2 H 3 7

231 Skylark Alauda arvensis 4 + H + + + ++

233 Woodlark Lullula arborea 1 1

241 Sand Martin / Bank Swallow Riparia riparia + 4 4

243 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 12 + + 20 + + ++

243 Northern House-Martin Delichon urbicum 2 1 + + ++

249 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis H 1

249 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis 2 1 1 1 5

251 White Wagtail Motacilla alba 1 3 + 10 + + 14+

253 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava H 3 6 10

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

255 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes 12H 2 H 15

255 Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus 100 200 H 300+

257 Hedge Accentor / Dunnock Prunella modularis H 1

259 Erithacus rubecula 2 2 H 5

259 Thrush Nightingale luscinia 2H 2H 8 3 15

261 Bluethroat Luscinia svecica 2 2

263 Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus H H H 3

263 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros H 1 1 H 4 8

265 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe 1 1 2

273 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra 3 2 2 7

275 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos H + + + + + + ++

275 Redwing Turdus iliacus H 1

275 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus 1 1 H 3

275 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris + + + + + 5

277 Blackbird Turdus merula + + + + + ++

283 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 2 6 H H + H ++

283 Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca H H 2H H 1 2 8

287 Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis 1 1

291 Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus 1 H 1 6 9

291 Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola 6 6

293 Grasshopper-Warbler Locustella naevia H 2H 3

295 Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides 2H 4H 4 6 10

297 Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus H 1

299 Great Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus 1 2 6 9

305 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus 1 + + + 10 ++

305 Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix 6 + + + 5 ++

307 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita + H + + + ++

311 Goldcrest Regulus regulus 1 H 1 3

311 Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla 1 2H H 4

313 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata 1 1

315 Pied-Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca 1 1 2

315 Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis 2 12 2 16

317 Great Tit Parus major + + + 1 ++

317 Coal Tit Periparus ater 3H 3

317 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus + + + + 2 ++

319 Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus 1 1 2

319 Marsh Tit Poecile palustris 1 1 2

321 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus 6 1 7

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

321 Bearded Tit / Reedling Panurus biarmicus 2 2

321 Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus 2H 2 3 7

323 Nuthatch Sitta europaea 3 1 1 5

329 Northern / Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor 1 2 3

331 Magpie Pica pica + 1 6 12 + ++

333 Jay Garrulus glandarius + + 12 6 + ++

335 Jackdaw Corvus monedula + + + + + + ++

337 Rook Corvus frugilegus + + + + + ++

337 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix + 1 + + ++

337 Raven Corvus corax 1 2 3 10 7 6 29

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

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

343 Tree-Sparrow Passer montanus 6 + + + ++

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

349 Linnet Carduelis cannabina 2 H 3

351 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 6 1 2 4 2 15

351 Greenfinch Carduelis chloris H 1 4 1 1 7

355 Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula 1 1 2

355 Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes 6 12 + 10 4 32+

367 Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus 1 6 12 12 31

373 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella + + + + + + + ++

377 Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra 1H 1

Number of species: 42 74 70 90 75 99 9 152

Mammals

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

European Bison Bison bonasus 5 4 9

Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus 4 3 10 2 19

Wild Boar Sus scrofa S 1 1

Elk Alces Alces 1 1 9 11

Wolf Canis lupus S 0

Red Fox Vulpes vulpes 1 2 2 5

Badger Meles meles F 0

Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra F F 0

Pine Marten Martes martes S 0

Stoat Mustela erminea S 1 1

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

European Beaver Castor fiber S 2 15 lodge 17

Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgarus 1 3 2 6

Bank Vole Clethrionomys glareolus 1 1

Bat sp. 1 4 5

Shrew sp. 1 1

Number of species: 3 7 9 4 4 5 0 11

OTHER

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

Grass snake 3 1 4

Slowworm 1 1

Sand Lizard 1 1 2

Common Lizard 2 2

0

Common Frog 1 2 3

Tree Frog 11 5 8 1 25

Edible Frog 20 30 50

Fire-bellied Toad 10 10

0

Great Silver Water Hydrophilus piceus 1 1

Tadpole shrimp Lepidurus apus 10 10

Diving Beetle Dytiscus sp. (marginalis?) 3 1 4

Raft 2 2

0

Orange Tip 1 1 + 2

Brimstone 1 4 + 5

Peacock butterfly 2 3 + 5

Large tortoiseshell 1 1

Number of species: 0 6 9 7 2 6 0 16

Common and interesting plants: Toothwort, May lily, Solomon seal, Herb paris, Labrador tea, Northern bilberry, Bog rosemary, Sphagnum mosses, Harestail Cotton-grass, Sundews and Stagshorn Clubmoss.

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