HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It has been a great year for Probirder! Many thanks to everyone who helped make that happen. Here is a Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius in Budapest, Hungary, to finish the year. Gerard Gorman. 

Black-shanked Douc - Vietnam

Just returned from Vietnam. Besides the birds, which were our main targets, we were fortunate to observe several rare primates, too. Here is one, a Black-shanked Douc Langur in the Cat Tien NP, in the south of Vietnam.

Cranes at dusk

So we have just finished our final tour of this year that focused on the wonderful Common Cranes (Grus grus) in Hungary. It is hard to say how many we actually saw, but over 100,000 were estimated to be in the region! Certainly, we watched and heard many 1000s at dusk each evening. Join us next autumn perhaps to witness this birding highlight?

Long-eared Owls again

We have been checking Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) roosts recently here in Hungary. Looks like they have done well this year as most roosts have birds in double figures. Here is a bird from a roost in a village south of Budapest. This was a very cooperative individual that stared straight at us.

Long-eared Owls

A highlight every autumn and winter in Hungary is seeing Long-eared Owls (Asio otus) at their roosts. Not unusual to find a dozen or so in one tree and they are usually easy to photograph. Here is one from a recent tour.

Cranes, cranes, and more cranes!

Yes, it is that time of year again ! Eastern Hungary is now full of Common Cranes (Grus grus). Over 100,000 are estimated there right now. It is a great spectacle, and I have already taken birders there to see them! Off again soon, too.

Griffon Vultures galore!

Just back from Spain, the Western Pyrenees in Navarra to be precise. We saw many great birds including daily groups of Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus). Here is one that came in low!