To add to our list from yesterday I will add both Blue Tit and Great Tit which we had seen before. Importantly we watched two Long Tailed Tits which are the Northern European ones (Caudatus) that had white heads and clearly different to the Europaeus in Britain and the Irbril in south and central Iberia.
Around the hotel are trees, shrubs, and ditches. Bullfinches are numerous here together with European Starlings. When I went outside I could hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and I then saw two Reed Buntings. I thought that it was a good way to start the day.
On Monday morning we left at 9am to spend six guided hours in Bialowieza Park Narodowy which is a primeval forest where strict rules need to be observed. We only had a short ride to the edge of the park where we de-bussed with our equipment and packed lunches.
Walking through the meadows towards the park entrance we saw two Bison, a Skylark and Yellow Hammer sang. Once inside the habitat was so different with very tall trees, straight trunks and a small canopy at their tops at about 30 metres from the ground.
Thankfully there was no rain and reasonable light and we saw and or only heard the following:
Black Woodpecker which we heard in both a stationary call and also the flight call. We had amazing views in particular when one flew in to a hole in a tree. We waited and watched and it re-appeared twice looking skywards and listening to BW calls. Then it flew away. We later had other views and heard many calls.
Lesser-Spotted then obliged calling and giving us some very good views
Middle Spotted was heard and seen frequently.
The same can also be said of Great Spotted.
White Backed was heard and we had some great views.
Being a fully protected area with no felling of trees allowed except for safety reasons. Consequently there were dead trees still standing, broken stumps and much fallen timber.
As a result there were nesting holes and there was evidence to show how they had been feeding.
You could say that this was a Woodpecker day and it was, but in this forest there is so much to see and appreciate. However our list is only short of two and that is the Three Toed Woodpecker and the Green Woodpecker as the Wryneck has still to arrive.
Siskin were high in the trees
Waxwings on their migration perched high up too and two groups were seen.
Hawfinch
Chaffinch
Crossbill - High up in the canopy and heard only
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Crested Tit was called by Andy, but I could not get on it
Marsh Tit singing in the forest. ID'd by Andy
Dunnock was called by Andy
Nuthatches were calling and flying
Mistle Thrush
Tree Creeper
Goldcrests were calling continuously, but again high up
Buzzards flew over and seen twice.
Raven also flew over with nesting material in its beak
Wood Pigeons heard in the distance.
Common Crane - heard only
It is a very pleasant and peaceful feeling walking along the tracks. The trees are straight and tall and seeing some birds is strenuous and hard on the neck!
Flora and Fauna in the National Park.
There were numerous animal signs. Wolf scat on several occasions and paw prints too and also signs of scent marking against tree trunks. Signs of Badger too. Pine Martin not seen, but one faeces seen on the track
Red Squirrels seen with two running and one kindly perched while it ate a pine cone.
Bank Voles were numerous, but scurried around quickly. A food for Owls and Buzzards we were told.
We came to a river where there was a very clear Wolf paw print. On the opposite bank was a Beaver lodge.
On the way out there were a group of three Bison Bulls and with another bull in the distance.
The old Bialowieźa site was where we went just before dusk which is a spot where Pygmy Owl were known to frequent. We did hear one and also a Tawny called in the distance. We had to give up when it was too dark to identify our target bird.
On our return we saw a good photo of one Wolf that was on the track that we had walked along in the National Park . The photograph was taken by a ranger
It is great to meet you here in Białowieża!
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