Poland - 6 June 2009 - Lubien Kujawski

My second walk covered roughly the same area and started out pretty much as 2 days earlier with birds in the garden including Black Redstarts, House Sparrows, Fieldfares and Starlings. A Golden Oriole was again heard signing from the top of the poplar hedge at the end of the garden. Due to the breeze blowing the leaves the bird could not be located but 1 Oriole was seen flying away. Across the track were 2 Red-Backed Shrikes – a male and either a female or juvenile.

Heading down the sandy track Jackdaws, Swallows, Skylarks and a Blackbird were seen.

Skylark

As I arrived at the forest I saw Great Tits and Chaffinches. I walked around the edge of the clearing hoping to see a woodpecker but none were to be seen. I did however see Blue Tits a Golden Oriole a Hawfinch and a Willow Warbler. A Hobby was perched in a tree and flew off as I approached.

Along the edge of the dump were another Red-Backed Shrike and a Blackcap. In the fields beyond were several Rooks, a Yellowhammer and a White Wagtail.

After this I went to have a look at a small lake. Just before the lake some excavation work had been done. Here a few Sand Martins were burrowing in the sand. A Red-Backed Shrike was in the bushes. A Hooded Crow flew over.

Sand Martins

Red-Backed Shrike

On the lake were Mallards, Coots, Tufted Ducks and Pochards. The Pochards had ducklings.

Heading back to the track a Buzzard was seen flying over and another Red-Backed Shrike was seen. The number of Red-Backed Shrikes seen today is what I was expecting. I'm not sure why there were so few about a couple of days ago.

As I headed back along the lane to Nowa Wies a Hoopoe, Spotted Flycatcher and Jay were seen and a Nightingale was heard. Further on were a Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Wood Warbler and Tree Sparrow. Then 2 more Red-Backed Shrikes and a Tree Pipit.

Entering the main forest area a Coal Tit was heard and eventually seen at the top of a conifer tree.

In the clearing at the end of the forest 2 Hobbies were seen initially sitting in the trees and then flying around above the trees hunting. A Buzzard passed over and then a Honey Buzzard appeared from the same area of the forest as previously. The Honey Buzzard was mobbed by the much smaller Hobbies.

Honey Buzzard

An Ortolan Bunting was seen on top of a birch sapling and another was in a conifer at the edge of the forest calling and clearly with some food in its beak.

Ortolan Bunting

I then set off to have another look at the storks' nest. On the way 2 Buzzards flew over together another Hoopoe was seen and some Meadow Pipits were on the track.

At the nest one adult White Stork was present with 3 fairly large juveniles.

White Storks at nest

Near the storks nest was another Red-Backed Shrike, a Corn Bunting, a White Wagtail and a Tree Sparrow.

Heading back to the forest a Nightingale was heard in the distance in the same spot as the other day. 2 Buzzards were over the fields to the East. A wood Pigeon flew over.

Back at the forest 3 Ravens noisily flew out from the trees. A White Stork was soaring over the trees in the distance. It could have been the other adult from the nest.

Raven

In the forest 3 Roe Deer ran across the clearing. One of deer stopped for a while to watch me.

A Goshawk was then seen flying low across the same clearing.

Roe Deer

Back on the main track a Cuckoo was heard and frogs were seen in the small pond.

Frogs

Heading back home the final birds seen were another Buzzard then 2 more Buzzards together, yet another Red-Backed Shrike, a Collard Dove, a Pheasant and another Ortolan Bunting.

Jezioro (Lake) Rakutowskie

Lake Rakutowskie is located just South of Włocławek in Central Poland near the small town of Kowal.


http://nature.poland.pl/regions/pojezierza_pd/blota_rakutowskie/description.htm

On the way to the lake we saw a Black Kite slowly drifting over Lubien Kujawski.

Despite the size of the lake the area with the bird hide was hard to find, we headed down one road which became a sandy track and eventually a grass track ending a field just passed some houses. While Joannna went to ask for directions I managed to see a Buzzard and a Golden Oriole. In Krzewent some Black Redstarts were seen in amongst the buildings.

Eventually we found the access to the lake down a narrow unmarked sandy lane from the village of Krzewent. Here an elevated hide had a good view over the marshes, albeit rather a long way from the water.


View from the hide

As soon as we get out of the car a Hoopoe flew up from the ground where it had been feeding a and 2 Common Cranes flew over and landed in the reed beds.

Up in the hide it was rather windy but I was able to see Lapwings, Marsh Harriers, 3 Great White Egrets, 2 White Storks, Mute Swans, Gulls, Black Terns, Grey Herons and a Black-Tailed Godwit.

A walk around the edge of the reedbeds produced sightings of a Blue-Headed Wagtail, Sand Martins, House Martins, Swifts and lots of Swallows. Redshanks were seen and Sedge and Reed Warblers were heard from within the reedbeds. Cormorants and a White Stork flew over and Marsh Harriers were seen drifting over the reeds.

Around the edge of the reedbeds were grassy meadows here we saw a Whitethroat, Reed Buntings, Skylarks, a Fieldfare, Whinchats and Linnets.


Whinchat

There were also plenty of wild flowers and Butterflies.


Ragged Robin








Orchids


Painted Lady

After a brief lunch we took a walk around the marshes from the left side of the hide. Almost immediately a male Montagu's Harrier came drifting across, heading off away from the lake.

A Goshawk was seen over some distant forest and more Marsh Harriers. A Great Grey Shrike was spotted darting across the reedbed and a Wood Pigeon flew over. A group of 6 Hobbies were seen hawking for dragonflies, and a pair of Whinchats were sitting on top of small bushes at the edge of the reedbed.

A cuckoo was heard calling and a bit later flew passed.

On the way back to the car the Montagu's Harrier came back.


Montagu's Harrier (male)

Along the track near the car park were 3 dead moles. I don't know what had killed them. In this picture you can clearly see its powerful front paw, ideally adapted for tunnelling.


Mole (dead unfortunately!)

On the drive home we saw a Red-Backed Shrike and a Common Tern over a small lake.

Poland - 4 June 2009 - Lubien Kujawski

Birds in the garden as I headed out included 2 Fieldfares, Blackbirds, a family of Black Redstarts, House Sparrows a Tree Sparrow and a Greenfinch. I could hear a Golden Oriole signing from the top of the poplar hedge at the end of the garden. After a short time a saw 1 Oriole flying away towards a small wood nearby and then saw a stunning male perched right at the top of a poplar tree.


A recently fledged Back Redstart

Heading down the sandy track a Buzzard was seen perched on a post and several Skylarks were heard and seen in amongst the various crops and 2 Goldfinches flew past.




The fields here are the classical narrow strips. Here a strip of potatoes was following by a strip of rye, then maize, more potatoes and again maize. The maize only just starting to grow at only a few centimetres tall, whereas the rye at well over a metre dwarfs similar barley.

As I approached the forest a White Stork was seen feeding in a Maize field.


White Stork

I also flushed a Grey Partridge from the edge of this field. The next birds seen were Starlings.

As I passed through the first wooded area to arrive at the lane to Nowa Wies the area in front of me is a new plantation (30cm high conifers) bordered by a 15m strip of mature conifers. It was here that a I saw a Black Woodpecker in March, no luck this time, however I did see a Great Spotted Woodpecker. A Tree Pipit was a delight to watch as it flew up from its perch and "parachuted" back down singing its lovely song.

Within the new plantation area is a small marshy patch bordered by small birch trees, here Yellowhammers were seen.

Beyond this plantation was an area that used to be mixed woodland, which I had previously visited, however this has now been felled. Beyond this is a small dump. Around the edge of the dump are deciduous trees (including birch, oak and elder). Blackcaps were heard (at least 1 seen) signing here as well as Chaffinches and a Jay was also seen here. Over the fields beyond were several Rooks and a White Wagtail was seen in a Maize field.


Oak Leaves

As I headed back along the lane to Nowa Wies a Willow Warbler was heard and a pair of Great Tits. In the trees at the edge of the new plantation was a Hobby and an Ortolan Bunting was perched on one of the birch trees.


Painted Lady butterfly along the lane

Swallows were seen flying high and low down skimming the tops of the crops. In a bare patch of earth was a Wood Lark. Continuing down the Lane 2 Hawfinches were seen in an oak tree. Swifts and House Martins were flying overhead. Blue Tits and Wood Pigeons were seen a Chiffchaff was heard making its familiar call. In the bushes at the edge of the lane was a Wood Warbler.

After passing a farmhouse lies a striking forest of silver birch trees, with row upon row of white barks.

Silver Birch woodland


Silver Birches and Acacia tree

After a short walk the Lane passes through the main forest of the area. I turned right along a forest glade where more Willow Warblers, Tits and Chaffinches were heard. A Treecreeper was spotted climbing a tree, before flying down to the bottom of another tree to begin the process again.



The lane heading through the forest



In a small clearing which has now been replanted with conifers another Tree Pipit was seen and a nice dragonfly (a female Broad-bodied Chaser).

Broad-Bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) - femaleIn the next clearing the new plantations are mainly deciduous and the trees here are up to 2 metres high. This area gives good views over much of the forest area. 2 Honey Buzzards were seen soaring over the forest treetops. They were clearly distinguishable from common buzzards as they were soaring on flat wings. Every now and then they would fold their wings back and dive towards the trees before rising back up again. As I was watching the Honey Buzzards a Hoopoe flew across the clearing.


Looking across the newly planted area to the forest, above which Honey Buzzards were soaring


Queen of Spain Fritillary

After this I set off towards an area that I had discovered in March in which a small stream meandered through some grassy meadows. On route I saw a Whinchat sitting on a newly planted oak sapling. I also managed to get another picture of a Painted Lady.

Painted Lady

The stream area turned out to be a little disappointing as there was not a pathway and the grass was pretty tall and damp. I did manage to see another Hoopoe, Golden Oriole and Buzzard.
Back onto the sandy track my next sighting were of a Pheasant, Song Thrush and some Meadow Pipits. In a bushy area I heard the distinctive song of a Nightingale however, as usual, the bird remained well hidden in the bushes. Whilst trying to spot the Nightingale I finally saw my first Red-Backed Shrike of the day.



Red-Backed Shrike (male)

It was now time to head back home. As I may my way to the forest a Kestrel was hovering over the large grassy area. Another Hoopoe flew passed an a Lapwing flew over.

There were many poppies growing at the side of the track.




After heading back through the forest and onto the lane, I heard some frogs croaking in a small pond.




A little further on there was another Red-Backed Shrike and an Ortolan Bunting. In a farmyard in Nowa Wies I saw a family of Tree Sparrows, with the fledglings being fed by the adults.



Just beyond the small shrine I saw another Hoopoe and then a Red-Backed Shrike on some telegraph wires.


Red-Backed Shrike
Returning home the final birds were Jackdaws on the roof. Altogether a total of 45 bird species seen.