Winter Woodpecker

I photographed this leucistic woodpecker in Hungary a few days ago. There is not much snow about but it does seem that this bird decided to get into the festive season spirit!
Best Wishes to Everyone! 
Gerard Gorman

Long-eared Owl in the open

It was sub zero today in Hungary, but out we went. We checked some likely spots for roosting Long-eared Owls to the south of Budapest, and found a few. This chap here was incredible, despite having a choice of trees, including some very cosy looking conifers, he was sat out, exposed in a bare tree, above a garden gate and a barking dog.

Tata Wild Goose Festival

We attended the Wild Goose Festival at Tata in Hungary at the weekend. It was a great event, very well organised, there was something for everyone, and it was great fun. Several 1000 people visited, from keen birders, to nature-lovers, to the curious general public. There were lots of children, too, and many of them seemed to particularly like the birding ringing session. This Great Spotted Woodpecker was very popular! 

Hide-and-Seek woodpecker

One of our local Syrian Woodpeckers likes to try to hide...  

New Header and Logo!

Hi Everybody... I hope you like the new Probirder header and logo, as above. 

Yet another trip done!

How many is that now? I have been guiding birding and wildlife tours in Hungary and the rest of Central and Eastern Europe for 30 years, and I tried to count up how many I have done. It is well over 500! But don't be misled by this photo, I am NOT on my knees just yet!

Back from Peru

Well Peru, that was a grest trip! Many, many, highlights, and here is one. We saw over 20 male Andean Cock-of-the-Rock at a lek by the Manu Road. Fantastic.

Hungary, now Peru

After some highly successful trips in Hungary, next up is something completely different... Peru! Here is one of the birds we should see, up in the Andes, the Andean Flicker. This woodpecker is highly terrrestrial and rarely seen in trees. Photographed on a previous trip by Gerard Gorman.

Another Great Tour Done!

Just back from a trip around Hungary with a group of nature lovers. We saw a great range of birds, bugs, butterflies and mammal. Now I am off to the UK, to the Birdfair, at Rutland Water. I am giving a talk on Friday, see here WOODPECKERS and see you there?

My Zeiss binoculars, past and present

I remember my first pair of birding binoculars, over 30 years ago, a pair of so-called "East German" Zeiss! They were great, I saw many good birds, often "lifers", with them, but very different from the ones I use now... the state-of-the-art Victory SF 10 x 42. Still Zeiss glass, of course, but the technology has moved on a little! I flirted with two other binocular brands for a year or two (another German make and a Japanese one) but soon returned to Zeiss, using various models over the years. Here is the past and present, before and after, my first and my current pair.

Back from Malaysia

Just back from Peninsula Malaysia... another great Asian destination! The many highlights included a troop of Siamang, the largest gibbon species, at Fraser's Hill. Here is the male, who was the last to swing off when they spotted me peering up at them.

Malaysia again!

After a very busy and successful spring in Central and Eastern Europe, it is time for another long-haul trip, this time to Peninsula Malaysia. A few rainforest woodpeckers will be high on the agenda, and I hope to return wth observations, images and sound recordings... Here is a shot from my last visit!

Spring trips done!

Well, it has been a very busy spring here in C & E Europe! Just finished a trip where butterflies as well as birds were the focus. Here is a Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell, one of the rare butterflies we found. A big thanks to all, clients and local guides, who were involved this successful season. 

Very Busy Spring

We have had a very busy spring here in Central and Eastern Europe, organising and guiding tours in Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary. Too many great birds to mention! But here is one here from last week in the Kiskunság region in Hungary... a Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) which posed nicely. 

Velika Paklenica Gorge

View of the Velika Paklenica Gorge in the Paklenica NP, Croatia. The home of Eagle Owl, Rock Nuthatch and Rock Partridge, all seen, along with other birds, on our recent trip. Gerard Gorman.

The birds are pouring back...

After some travels overseas, it is now back to "work". The birds are pouring back, spring is here to stay. Here is one, a Black-winged Stilt from the Kiskunság, Hungary.

Smallest Bird in the World

Probirder is back from sunny Cuba! One of our main targets was the smallest bird in the world... the Bee Hummingbird Mellisuga helenae and here is a photo of a male.

Now Probirder goes west... again

Up next, Probirder goes to Cuba. A wonderful Caribbean birding destination with over 25 endemics and many other fantastic birds. Here is one of the birds only found on the island, Zapata Sparrow. After this trip, it will be back to Central and Eastern Europe and the beginning of the spring season here. Hasta la vista!

Probirder goes east... again

When it is winter in Europe, exotic destinations are often tempting. I have just returned from the Philippines where, despite some rainy days and airline issues, a nice selection of birds, many of them endemics, warmed me up. Here is one, the Coleto (Sarcops calvus), a member of the starling family.

First trip out this year

Managed to get out for a day around the Kiskunság, south of Budapest. It was cold, sub-zero, snowy, but some great birds were around. Saker, Hen Harrier, Eastern Imperial and White-tailed Eagles, Rough-legged Buzzard, Great Grey Shrike, lots of Greater White-fronted Geese, Syrian Woodpecker, and 5 Long-eared Owls. It is always worth going out.