Birding in Hungary 2026 - Day 12

Birding in Hungary XII

28 July 2026

Kígyósi Nagyerdő

Today, my mum and I woke up at 5:00am to cycle down to Szabadkígyós, to look for Black Woodpecker and other birds.

Red-backed Shrike, an omnipresent bird

One of very few Hoopoes we've seen this year

When we arrived, we soon heard a woodpecker tapping on a tree near the path, but it simply refused to show itself. We kept walking seeing Syrian and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, but no Black Woodpecker.

Eventually, we reached a bit where an unofficial path went off, deep into the woods, without walking 50m, I heard the call of Black Woodpecker. I decided the best idea would be to walk straight through the thick foliage, full of upturned roots, brambles, bracken, and nettles, to reach a nearby clearing, where, after playing the call of Black Woodpecker for just 5 seconds, a large adult female landed on a tree a mere 3 metres from me.

Female Black Woodpecker

(females have a limited red patch near the nape)

Sadly though, my mum didn't get to see the bird before it flew away, but we did eventually get eyes on it again, albeit further away.

My mum's view of Black Woodpecker

As we rolled down towards the lookout tower, we started getting attacked by what we thought were flatflies, they were sort of like spiders but flat and had wings. They kept landing on us and crawling all over us! It was worth it however, since we did see my lifer Honey-Buzzard fly over. If you know what these strage insects were, you can post it in the comments, at the bottom of the page.

Honey-Buzzard

We then kept cycling, until we reached the lookout tower where we had a break. I spent some time photographing a male Red-backed Shrike, which was hunting for food for its chicks, which seemed to have just fledged.

Red-backed Shrike juvenile, from another family

Male Red-backed Shrike, on alert

We decided to go a bit further, to see what was beyond the tree line, we found another lookout tower, which seemed like it wouldn't be able to hold our weights for more that 2 minutes, as well as an Eastern Bath White.

After that, we started cycling back, but we decided to not go through the forest and instead go to look for Roller in the puszta/grassland. We saw some birds perched on some posts infront of us, which I dismissed as Red-backed Shrikes, before they flew away, revealing large white wing patches, they were Lesser Grey Shrikes! We got terrible views later of one of them, which landed not quite far away, and we also saw a female/immature Roller, on a haybale, as they always are.

Lesser Grey Shrike

(heavily cropped)

We then saw a Buzzard and, a good bird for these parts, Hooded Crow. Despite being a daily sight over in Budapest, it was the first time I had seen them here in Békéscsaba

Buzzard

Hooded Crow

Csaba-tó

We had a quick stop at the pools at Csaba-tó, where we saw a few cool birds, such as more Bee-Eaters, but the highlight was a patch tick Greenshank

Greenshank

Bee-Eater

Once back home, around midday, we saw many butterflies, including Queen of Spain Fritillary, nectaring the flowers in the garden.

Queen of Spain Fritillary

Unh spots of QoS Fritillary, reflecting the sunlight

Birding in Hungary 2026 - Day 11

Birding in Hungary XI

27 July 2026

Csaba-tó

Today, my mum and I went out cycling around the quarry ponds near Csaba-tó. We were surprised to spot as many as 6 Jays flying between some tall trees near us.

One of many Jays

We kept walking, spotting a few Red-backed Shrikes and some Tree Sparrows.

Red-backed Shrike with Tree Sparrow

Once we reached the quiet area west of Fas-tó, that's when the birding truly started. We first saw some more common species, such as Syrian Woodpecker, and a distant Golden Oriole, we then spotted a Black-crowned Night Heron and a Purple Heron, on the first pool on your right when you enter the area. Further along, we saw a large flock of Lapwings, numbering in the hundreds.

Large flock of Lapwings

As we kept going, we saw a Great White Egret, and 3 escapee Muscovy Ducks, as well as a distant Crested Lark.

Crested Lark

Chapman's Blue (lifer!)

Muscovy Duck

When the Lapwings flew off, we turned our attention to some other birds around us. We watched some Bee-Eaters that darted over our heads, and saw a few Grey Herons, before we had to turn back.

On our way back we saw a single Common Tern and a family of Great Crested Grebes. 

Juvenile Great Crested Grebe

Birding in Hungary 2026 - Day 10

Birding in Hungary X

26 July 2026

Szabadkígyós

Today, after going to the Szabadkígyósi market, we went for a walk in the Kígyósi Nagyerdő. We started by seeing some insects, notably a few European Hornets, and a few Cardinals. As we kept walking, we saw some Long-tailed Tits, though they were sadly from the europaeus group, and lacked the white heads of the nominate ones that we love seeing when here. 

We later saw a Hoopoe, a couple Great Spotted Woodpeckers, and a Roller. We were lucky to hear several male Golden Orioles calling to each other.

I think they are one of the few beautiful birds whose songs are just as lovely. Rollers, Kingfishers, and Mandarin Ducks all have resplendant plumage, though their calls are quite simple and the latter remains mostly silent. Golden Oriole however, has a name sake saffron and black plumage with a melodic and bubbly call. 

Female Golden Oriole from 2024

Golden Oriole Song

(cilck on image to open recording)

We later heard a bird that I had been wanting to see since I started researching the avifauna of Hungary, several years ago... The Black Woodpcker. Despite only hearing it call a couple times, and not being able to see it, this was nonetheless a memorable experience.

Birding in Hungary 2026 - Day 7

Birding in Hungary VII

23 July 2026

Szabadkígyós

Today, we went cycling with our grandpa, down to the village of Szabadkígyós. We saw a few Buzzards and Marsh Harriers on the way, as well as loads of what might be the most common bird in the area: Red-backed Shirke. Our first stop was the Wenckheim-kastély, where we saw a Song Thrush fledgeling, and a family of Spotted Flycatchers.

Song Thrush

Adult and juvenile Spotted Flycatchers

We then climbed up one of the towers to see the view from the top. To the top of the castle, there were between 170 and 190 steps (both my sisters and I got completely different numbers!). We then saw a few Black Redstarts and a very tame Woodpigeon. 

Woodpigeon

We then quickly stopped at the nearby grassland, where we were looking for Roller. We soon found a male Roller perched, as it was 2 years ago, on one of the hay bales. We then had to head home, since it starting raining.

Roller

Birding in Hungary 2026 - Day 6

Birding in Hungary VI

22 July 2026

Csaba-tó

Today, we woke up at 6:00am, to have a wonder around Csaba-tó and the surroundings. We started by seeing a flock of Black-headed Gulls, which contained 3 Whiskered Terns, a patch tick for me here.

Whiskered Tern

We then also saw a Night Heron, perched on a branch near one of the pools.

Night Heron

We kept walking, spotting Marsh Harriers, Red-backed Shrikes, and a mystery falcon species.

As we continued walking, we spotted a very rare sight in Hungary, other birders. They didn't seem as social as Aberdeenshire birders however, and didn't stop for a chat.

We kept walking, spotting a couple Crested Larks, and a Great Reed Warbler.

Great Reed Warbler

Crested Lark

While walking around, we found many butterflies, which we later identified as Lesser Fiery Coppers, a lifer!

Lesser Fiery Copper

While watching the butterflies, I noticed a couple birds on a distant mound, that had very long legs - Tawny Pipits, a lifer!

Tawny Pipit

We also saw a few Bee-Eaters, and, a highlight for the day, a juvenile Little Bittern, proving they're breeding at the site.

Little Bittern

We then started walking back, hearing Golden Orioles, and seeing the falcon, which we idenitfied as a Peregrine Falcon, again.

Birding in Hungary 2026 - Day 5

Birding in Hungary V

21 July 2026

Békéscsaba

Today, we didn't do too much birding, but I did see some butterflies in and around my grandparents' garden.

There were a few Scarce Swallowtails and Mallow Skippers

Mallow Skipper

We did however also see a Holly Blue and an Eastern Bath White, the latter being a lifer for me.

Holly Blue

Eastern Bath White

Birding in Hungary 2026 - Day 4 - BÜKK HILLS PART 2

Birding in Hungary IV

20 July 2026

Hor-völgy

Today, we packed our bags to check out of the hotel before 10:00am. We decided to visit one of the best birding sites in the Bükki Nemzeti Park, the Hor-völgy (Hor valley). 

Bogacs sunset from the night before

Hor Valley entry

We arrived at a rock face, where I had been hoping to see Rock Bunting, a bird that is very rare in Hungary, but does breed in the Hor Valley. Sadly, we only saw a Hawfinch, a Buzzard, and a couple of Ravens. We later stumbled into a tit flock, where we got nice views of Marsh Tit.

Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit

We then kept walking spotted a few Nuthatches and other fairly common birds on the way. Before long, we reached the Suba-lyuk barlang, a cave that is a famous archeological site since it was once home to a tribe of Neanderthals. Nowadays, a small group of Brown Long-Eared Bats inhabited the cave. On the way up the mountain to the cave, which was at an altitude of about 400m, I saw some Chequered Blues, a lifer.

Brown Long-Eared Bat hanging upside down

Nice view from the cave entrance

Male Chequered Blue

Eventually, my mum and I, who had fallen behind a little, took a turn and found a pocket of flowers that was absolutely teaming with butterflies. Everything from Scarce Swallowtails, Large Whites, Common Blues and almost everything in between!

Here is a list of the butterflies we saw some photos and my eButterfly checklist for this location:

• Scarce Swallowtail
• Large White
• Cryptic Wood White (lifer!)
• Pale Clouded Yellow (lifer!)
• Common Blue
• Meleager's Blue (lifer!)
• Chalkhill Blue
• Silver-studded Blue
• Grizzled Skipper (lifer!)
• Mallow Skipper (lifer!)
• Large Skipper (lifer!)
• Red Admiral
• Spotted Fritillary (lifer!)
• High Brown Fritillary (lifer!)
• Chequered Blue
• Jersey Tiger (moth)

Scarce Swallowtail

Large White

Cryptic Wood White (identified based on location)

Pale Clouded Yellow (lifer!)

Meleager's Blue (front)

Chalkhill Blue (back)

Chalkhill Blue

Grizzled Skipper (above)

Scarce Swallowtail (below)

Mallow Skipper

Large Skipper

Spotted Fritillary

High Brown Fritillary

Female Chequered Blue

Jersey Tiger

After the others joined us, I switched my interest back to birds, I played the call of Rock Bunting, and within a few seconds, a bird responded. After a bit of searching, I saw it, a male Rock Bunting, sat preening on a rock on the cliff face. I watched it for a bit before it joined a female and they both flew away.

Male Rock Bunting 

Male Rock Bunting having a scratch

Butterfly Hotspot and Rock Bunting Cliff

After these amazing sightings, we moved on, seeing what other birds we could see. There were some Nuthatches, Marsh Tits, some Silver-washed Fritillaries. Eventually, we heard and then saw a woodpecker, which, upon further inspection, turned out to be my lifer White-backed Woodpecker!

Female White-backed Woodpecker

We watched it for a while and continued only a bit further, seeing many of the same birds, as well as a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, and a Comma. When we were just about to turn back, I saw a black and white butterfly dart past us, I shouted out "Hungarian Glider!" but when we saw some more flying past, they ended up being simply Common Gliders (aka Pallas' Sailer), which was still a lifer and a very cool butterfly, though seeing one that is named after the country would have been even nicer.

Common Glider

We were back near the car park, at the first cliff face, when I was photographing a fritillary. I noticed it looked different from the others, so I crouched down and, just as I had suspected, it was my favourite butterfly of all time, and a lifer: the Queen of Spain Fritillary.

QoS Fritillary

QoS Fritillary displaying its

charateristic white Unh spots.

Common Glider underside

After some time, several more Queen of Spain Fritillaries and a Common Glider landed near us to drink from a muddy puddle on the road. Just before leaving, I also saw a Wall Brown, our 18th species of butterfly for the outing!

Wall Brown

Violet Carpenter Bee, the largest bee in Europe