ON THE WAY TO BIEBRZA MARSH

I can say that we have not wasted a minute of our time with Wild Poland. All of it has been extremely well planned and our guide Andrzej has moved us from location to location to ensure that we see the maximum possible. We have now moved from Wejmutka (our excellent accommodation) in Bialowieza and we are now in the area of Biebrza Marsh and staying at Dwor Dobraz The journey which did take all day was 160 kilometers with stops on the way.

This morning before leaving we again visited Palace Park. This time it was dry and fairly warm. One of my 'bogey' birds has been Tree Sparrow and today I had a clear uninterrupted view of one and then later in the day we saw more of them. A Song Thrush was singing in full view and there was a Tufted Duck on the lake. (See yesterday's list for other birds). Woodpeckers were drumming and calling and we were surrounded by birdsong. A Dunnock was seen by two of our party.

ON ROUTE
Collared Doves
Rooks and a Rookery in Balystok
Wood Pigeon
Jackdaws
Hooded Crows
Roe Deer
Cranes in pairs - on several,occasions.

Our first stop was at Dojlidy Fish Ponds near Balystok and this is a fantastic area of water with large reedbeds. We saw:
American Mink ran across the track.
Greylag Geese
Wigeon
Golden Eye
Black Headed Gulls - this is a breeding area and they were in large numbers.
Bittern - heard several times
Common Gull X 2. Possible a first year and a second year
Raven
Coot
Geese flying over - one skein one way and three the other way! Several hundred. From their calls White Fronted although it there could have been other species flying too. They were high in the sky.

We had terrific views of Bearded Reedlings as they called, darted through the reeds and called. They were within a few feet of us and were photographed. A memorable few minutes.

Lunch was at Waniewo in the Narew River Park. This is another amazing area with a vast expanse of water. The food was wonderful with cottage cheese pancakes and blackcurrent jam and various hams and cheese. Afterwards we saw:

Buzzard
White Tailed Eagle - in distance only
Osprey - a possible juvenile
Linnet
Mallard
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Yellow Hammer
Sky Larks - several singing
Great Crested Grebes
Pintail male - I missed this one

After reaching Dwor Dobraz our hotel accommodation we again went out to nearby Gugny and a viewing platform and we saw:

Elk in the distance @ 7
Roe Deer - on route and seen near our destination several times.
Woodcock feeding on the side of the road.
Common Toads again.

Geese X 30- thought to be Bean as they flew over.

Sounds of Greylag geese from the marsh at dusk. They are the only geese that breed here.

This was another full day with 160 k journey broken up with excellent places to see birds and wildlife. This area is vast and there is so much to hear, see and do. We are having a wildlife ball!
I am enjoying every minute of it and so well done to Wild Poland.