Red-breasted Flycatcher ... always a winner!

Next up for Probirder ? Austria and the Czech Republic. Here is one of the birds we hope to see, Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) snapped on a previous trip in the foothills of the Alps.

Hot off the press... Penduline Tit

Another birding trip successfully completed, a week in Hungary, mainly in the Kiskunság lowlands and the Zemplén Hills. Here is one of the last birds we saw, this morning before heading for Budapest Airport, a Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus). This little gem is always very popular.

Bee-eaters nesting in the ground

Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) are very popular with birders, but yesterday in the Kiskunság region south of Budapest, we came across a particularly interesting sight. Around 100 of these these colourful birds were nesting in the sandy ground rather than in banks and sand-pits as they usually do. I have seen a few pairs doing this before but never so many.  

Ruff in breeding plumage

There are 1000s and 1000s of waders moving through Hungary right now on passage. Here is one, a dark breeding plumage Ruff from a trip to the Kiskunság yesterday.