Birdwatching in Hungary and Eastern Europe

This week brought us bad weather with rain and cold from the west, but no vagrants from overseas. Maybe next week.

There was a steady influx of Broad-billed Sandpipers observed. Ones or twos were detected at four different locations. Other interesting shorebirds included Turnstone, Red-necked Phalarope and Sanderling.

Dotterels were seen outside their regular gathering sites on the Great Plain of Hungary. Their numbers are slowly building up now.

Interesting raptors reported were a Red Kite, a Long-legged Buzzard and a Lesser-spotted Eagle. These birds are breeding in Hungary in small numbers and the young birds are dispersing at this time of the year.

Small rodents produced a population increase this year that reflected in the number of Short-eared Owls, too. There was a bird observed this week as well.

Thrush Nightingales and Red-breasted Flycatchers are passing through Hungary these days. Several records were reported of these scarce migrants.