FieldGuidesTourReport

Hungary&Romania:TheBestofEasternEurope2019

Apr27,2019toMay13,2019TerryStevenson&LajosNemeth-Boka

A highlight of the tour was seeing a group of 18 Great Bustards, including three displaying males. Participant Joshua Horner took this lovely photo of one of the males ina field near Kiskunsag, Hungary.

For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE.

Our 2019 Spring Hungary and Romania tour was our 5th to the region, and proved to be a great success finding all the main target species, and with areally good group of super people too.

As usual, we started in Bucharest where most of the group took the optional city tour, but then we were off to Tulcea - gateway to the Danube Delta,where we boarded our 'floating hotel' for a three night stay. Joined by local guide, Christian, we took the main river itself, before heading in to a series ofnarrower and shallower channels in our smaller boat. After each excursion we'd return to the floating hotel for meals, drinks, and of course our privatecabins. This is truly a great way to start the tour where just some of the highlights were: large numbers of Grey-lag geese and Mute Swans, a variety ofwaterfowl including Garganey and Ferruginous Duck, Red-necked and Great Crested grebes, 3 Pallas's Gulls, Black, White-winged and Whiskered terns(all in breeding plumage), the rather localized Pygmy Cormorant, Great White and Dalmatian pelicans, 6 species of heron and egrets, Glossy Ibis,Eurasian Spoonbill and Common Kingfisher. Landbirds included Common Cuckoo, Eurasian Marsh and Pallid harriers, at least 11 White-tailed Eagles,Grey-headed Woodpecker, Eurasian Hobby, Red-backed Shrike, Eurasian Jackdaw, Eurasian Magpie, 2 fabulous male Bearded Reedlings, Eurasian BlueTit, Eurasian Penduline-tit, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Common Redstart, and Reed Bunting. And though mammals are very few here, we did all enjoyEuropean River Otter.

After returning to Tulcea, we left our boat behind and drove through the Babadag Hills to the Cheia Dobrogea Gorge, and on to our hotel nearConstanta. Highlights this day were nesting White Storks, Booted Eagle, Levant Sparrowhawk, Common and Long-legged buzzards, Little Owl at a dayroost, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Bee-eater, a pair of Woodchat Shrikes, Greater Short-toed, Calandra, and Crested larks, good looks at the verylocalized Sombre Tit, Northern, Pied and Isabelline wheatears, Eurasian Linnet, and Ortolan Bunting. Cute European Souslik were our most notablemammal of the day.

We now had mainly a travel day as we headed north-west to the historical city of Brasov, but first we spent a few hours at the Vadu Marshes and theBlack Sea coast. The marshes provided further views of many species we'd seen in the Danube Delta, but we also added Common Shelduck, Black-

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winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, a variety of shorebirds including Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank and Curlew Sandpiper in breeding plumage, plusCollared Pratincole, and an attractive pair of Little Gulls.

After a night in Brasov (and a visit to the Black Church for those who wanted) we then went to Dracula's Castle (more correctly known as Bran Castle).Rather touristy yes, but the whole group said it was definitely worth the visit. We then had lunch at a farm in the World Heritage village of Viscri, beforemore birding at and around the San Paul Fish Ponds. Highlights today were Stock Dove, Little Ringed Plover, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Great Gray andLesser Gray shrikes, Common Raven, European Robin and Fieldfare, while mammals included Red Fox and Roe Deer.

The following day had us making a trip to the high slopes of Mt. Hargita, where sadly a huge storm had brought down hundreds of trees and we wereunable to follow our usual track. However the day still provided us with some good birds and we all enjoyed Eurasian Wryneck, Eurasian Three-toedWoodpecker, Eurasian Nutcracker, Coal and Crested tits, 2 striking male Collared Flycatchers, Ring Ousel, European Greenfinch, and European Siskin.One or two of our group also got to see the shy Western Capercaillie, first on the ground, and then as it was flushed from high in a tree.

Our next port of call was the spectacular Bicaz Gorge where our main target would be Wallcreeper, and it was just amazing this year as Lajos spotted 1within just a few minutes of our arrival. And then, with a little patience, we all managed to see 3 as they chased each other around and slowly made theirway down the rocks of this massive gorge. After lunch we continued on to the medieval city of Sighisoara (picking up Firecrest and Goldcrest along theway). To date we'd had nice weather, but now the rain set in, making birding the Sighisoara Forest a challenge indeed. However this group was up for it,and we slowly added Tawny Owl, Middle and Great spotted woodpeckers, Eurasian Nuthatch and Song Thrush. Luckily the rain took a bit of a breakand we all enjoyed a walk in the old part of this famous city. Then it was on to Coltesti in the heart of the Transylvanian countryside, where shortlybefore our hotel, we found a beautiful Black Stork right next to the road.

During a day around Coltesti (thankfully the rain had now passed) we added Eurasian Green Woodpecker, Wood Lark, Eurasian Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Greater Whitethroat,

Yellowhammer, and after some effort, Rock Bunting.

We now drove in to Hungary, with a birding stop at the Foldes Wetland shortly after crossing the border. We were also in the famous Hortobagy NationalPark - although just where the park actually begins and ends is hard to tell. Our main birds in this area were many more waterbirds, with EurasianWigeon, Little Grebe, and a flock of 25 Common Cranes and Dunlin being new. In the farmlands we added European Honey-buzzard, a distant ImperialEagle, 2 Saker Falcons, Sedge Warbler, a very obliging Common Nightingale, and for 3 of our group, a rare Bluethroat.

Our final destination was KIskunsag near Budapest, here given local information, or accompanied by a local guide (and warden) Miki, we found all ourmain target species: Red-crested Pochard, Common Quail, about 18 fabulous Great Bustards with some males displaying, a much closer Imperial Eagle,Eurasian Nightjar, Eurasian Thick-knee, Eurasian Curlew, Mediterranean Gull, Little Bittern, Long-eared Owl, Syrian and Black woodpeckers, Short-toed Treecreeper, and Savi's Warbler. European Brown Hare and Roe Deer were also common.

For those who wanted, there were optional one or two day city tours, while the rest of us headed home. Safe Journey!

Our next Hungary & Romania tour runs 25 April to 11 May 2020.

KEYS FOR THIS LISTOne of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a =austral migrant, b = boreal migrant

BIRDSAnatidae(Ducks,Geese,andWaterfowl)GRAYLAGGOOSE (Anseranser) –Commonatwetlandsthroughoutthetour,withatotalofabout250.MUTESWAN (Cygnusolor) –VerycommonintheDanubeDeltawherewesawabout600,andthenabout50atKiskunsag.COMMONSHELDUCK (Tadornatadorna) –FiveatVadu,1atSanPaulFishPonds,andabout45attheFoldesWetland.GARGANEY (Spatulaquerquedula) –NicelooksatmalesinbreedingplumageattheDanubeDeltaandVadu;withatotalof8.NORTHERNSHOVELER (Spatulaclypeata) –SevenattheFoldesWetland.GADWALL (Marecastrepera) –SmallnumbersintheDanubeDelta,Vadu,andFoldes;inallwesawabout40.EURASIANWIGEON (Marecapenelope) –WesawasinglemaleattheFoldesWetland.MALLARD (Anasplatyrhynchos) –Commonandwidespreadatwetlandsthroughoutthetour.RED-CRESTEDPOCHARD (Nettarufina) –Greatscopeviewsofabout30atKiskunsag.COMMONPOCHARD (Aythyaferina) –Fairlycommononopenwetlands;inallwesawabout200.FERRUGINOUSDUCK (Aythyanyroca) –CommonintheDanubeDelta,wherewesawabout130,andthen15atSanPaul,and20atKiskunsag.

Phasianidae(Pheasants,Grouse,andAllies)COMMONQUAIL (Coturnixcoturnix) –Mostofthegroupsaw1,whichwasflushedintheKiskunsaggrasslands.RING-NECKEDPHEASANT (Phasianuscolchicus) –Verycommonandwidespread.WESTERNCAPERCAILLIE (Tetraourogallus) –Someofussaw1highonMt.Hargita.

Podicipedidae(Grebes)LITTLEGREBE (Tachybaptusruficollis) –TwoatFoldes,and5atKiskunsag.RED-NECKEDGREBE (Podicepsgrisegena) –Wehadnicelooksatabout30ofthesebeautifulgrebesintheDanubeDelta.GREATCRESTEDGREBE (Podicepscristatus) –Anothergorgeousgrebe;wesawabout140intheDanubeDelta,1atFoldes,and3atKiskunsag.EAREDGREBE (Podicepsnigricollisnigricollis) –TenintheDanubeDelta.

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Columbidae(PigeonsandDoves)ROCKPIGEON (Columbalivia) –Verycommonandwidespread.STOCKDOVE (Columbaoenas) –FivetogethernearSanPaul.COMMONWOOD-PIGEON (Columbapalumbus) –Commonandwidespread.EUROPEANTURTLE-DOVE (Streptopeliaturtur) –OneintheHortobagyarea,andthen9atKiskunsag.EURASIANCOLLARED-DOVE (Streptopeliadecaocto) –Verycommonandwidespreadintownsandvillagesthroughoutthetour.

Otididae(Bustards)GREATBUSTARD (Otistarda) –GoodlooksatthisstarattractionoftheHungarianplains;wesawatotalofabout18including3displayingmales.

Cuculidae(Cuckoos)COMMONCUCKOO (Cuculuscanorus) –Commonandwidespreadwithatotalofabout60.

Caprimulgidae(NightjarsandAllies)EURASIANNIGHTJAR (Caprimulguseuropaeus) –OneatKiskunsag.

Apodidae(Swifts)ALPINESWIFT (Apusmelba) –EightattheBicazGorge.COMMONSWIFT (Apusapus) –Widespreadinsmallnumbers;inallwesawabout30.

Rallidae(Rails,Gallinules,andCoots)CORNCRAKE (Crexcrex) –HeardatKiskunsag. [*]EURASIANMOORHEN (Gallinulachloropus) –FiveintheDanubeDelta,and6atSanPaulFishPonds.EURASIANCOOT (Fulicaatra) –Commonatavarietyofscatteredwetlands;inallwesawabout550.

Gruidae(Cranes)COMMONCRANE (Grusgrus) –Wewereextremelyluckythistourandsawacloseflockof25,presumablyontheirwaytothenorthernbreeding

grounds.

Burhinidae(Thick-knees)EURASIANTHICK-KNEE (Burhinusoedicnemus) –TwopairsatKiskunsag.

Recurvirostridae(StiltsandAvocets)BLACK-WINGEDSTILT (Himantopushimantopus) –About80atVadu,70atFoldes,and2atKiskunsag.PIEDAVOCET (Recurvirostraavosetta) –FiftyatVaduMarshes,and20atFoldes.

Charadriidae(PloversandLapwings)NORTHERNLAPWING (Vanellusvanellus) –About50atHortobagyandKiskunsag,andafewothersatwidespreadsiteselsewhere.COMMONRINGEDPLOVER (Charadriushiaticula) –ThreeatVaduandtheBlackSeacoast.LITTLERINGEDPLOVER (Charadriusdubius) –OneatSanPaulFishPonds.

Scolopacidae(SandpipersandAllies)EURASIANCURLEW (Numeniusarquata) –FiveatKiskunsag.BLACK-TAILEDGODWIT (Limosalimosa) –TwointheDanubeDelta,15atVadu,and20atFoldesincludedmanyinbreedingplumage.CURLEWSANDPIPER (Calidrisferruginea) –TwelveatVaduincludedseveralinbreedingplumage.TEMMINCK'SSTINT (Calidristemminckii) –OneatVaduMarshes.SANDERLING (Calidrisalba) –NineontheBlackSeacoast.DUNLIN (Calidrisalpina) –Wesawaflockofabout40attheFoldesWetland.LITTLESTINT (Calidrisminuta) –OneatVadu,andabout20atSanPaul.COMMONSNIPE (Gallinagogallinago) –OneatVadu.COMMONSANDPIPER (Actitishypoleucos) –OneintheDanubeDelta,1atFoldes,and2atKiskunsag.SPOTTEDREDSHANK (Tringaerythropus) –TwointheDanubeDelta,2atVadu,and1atKiskunsag.WOODSANDPIPER (Tringaglareola) –About150intheDanubeDelta,and250atVadu.COMMONREDSHANK (Tringatotanus) –FiveatVadu,and2atFoldes.

Glareolidae(PratincolesandCoursers)COLLAREDPRATINCOLE (Glareolapratincola) –TenintheDanubeDeltaweredistantandflying,butwethenhadgoodscopeviewsofabout75

attheVaduMarshes.

Laridae(Gulls,Terns,andSkimmers)BLACK-HEADEDGULL (Chroicocephalusridibundus) –Verycommonatallwetlandsthroughoutthetour;inallwesawabout1400.LITTLEGULL (Hydrocoloeusminutus) –Oneofourgroupsaw1onthewaytotheDanubeDelta,andthenweallhadsuperscopelooksat2birdsin

theVaduMarshes.MEDITERRANEANGULL (Ichthyaetusmelanocephalus) –FiveatKiskunsag.PALLAS'SGULL (Ichthyaetusichthyaetus) –Three(alladultsinbreedingplumage)intheDanubeDelta.YELLOW-LEGGEDGULL (Larusmichahellis) –SeveralattheFoldesWetland.CASPIANGULL (Laruscachinnans) –About120intheDanubeDelta,and60atVadu.CASPIANTERN (Hydroprognecaspia) –OneintheDanubeDelta.BLACKTERN (Chlidoniasniger) –Fabulouslooks,togetherwiththeothermarshternsintheDanubeDelta,andthenothersatVadu,andKiskunsag;

inallwesawabout280.

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WHITE-WINGEDTERN (Chlidoniasleucopterus) –AnotherstrikingmarshternwesawintheDanubeDeltaandatVadu.WHISKEREDTERN (Chlidoniashybrida) –Morewidespreadthantheothermarshterns;wesawtheseintheDanubeDelta,atVadu,Foldes,and

Kiskunsag.COMMONTERN (Sternahirundo) –About60intheDanubeDelta,150attheVaducolony,and6atFoldes.

Ciconiidae(Storks)BLACKSTORK (Ciconianigra) –Greatcloselooksat1inariverbednearColtesti.WHITESTORK (Ciconiaciconia) –Commonandwidespread,especiallyinvillageswheretheywerebreeding;inallwesawabout140.

Phalacrocoracidae(CormorantsandShags)PYGMYCORMORANT (Microcarbopygmeus) –Formerlyconsideredendangered,butnowincreasingandwesawabout450intheDanubeDelta.GREATCORMORANT (Phalacrocoraxcarbo) –ThreehundredintheDanubeDelta,and2atFoldes.

Pelecanidae(Pelicans)GREATWHITEPELICAN (Pelecanusonocrotalus) –About120intheDanubeDelta,and4atVaduMarshes.DALMATIANPELICAN (Pelecanuscrispus) –Thirty-treeintheDanubeDelta,and2nearVadu.

Ardeidae(Herons,Egrets,andBitterns)GREATBITTERN (Botaurusstellaris) –HeardatVaduandFoldes. [*]LITTLEBITTERN (Ixobrychusminutus) –FouralongacoupleofchannelsintheKiskunsagarea.GRAYHERON (Ardeacinerea) –Verycommonandwidespread.PURPLEHERON (Ardeapurpurea) –Widespreadinwetlandswithreedbeds;inallwesawabout50.GREATEGRET (Ardeaalba) –MostcommonintheHortobagyandKiskunsagareas,butwealsosawafewintheDanubeDelta,VaduandFoldes.LITTLEEGRET (Egrettagarzetta) –Atleast100intheDanubeDelta,andafewothersatscatteredwetlandselsewhere.SQUACCOHERON (Ardeolaralloides) –About220intheDanubeDelta,and5atHortobagy.BLACK-CROWNEDNIGHT-HERON (Nycticoraxnycticorax) –SeventyintheDanubeDelta,and5atHortobagy.

Threskiornithidae(IbisesandSpoonbills)GLOSSYIBIS (Plegadisfalcinellus) –About120intheDanubeDelta,and50atVadu.EURASIANSPOONBILL (Platalealeucorodia) –FourintheDanubeDelta,20atFoldes,and3atKiskunsag.

Accipitridae(Hawks,Eagles,andKites)EUROPEANHONEY-BUZZARD (Pernisapivorus) –OneatHortobagy.LESSERSPOTTEDEAGLE (Clangapomarina) –SinglesonthewaytoTulcea,andatOdorheiuSecuesc.BOOTEDEAGLE (Hieraaetuspennatus) –OneattheBabadagHills.IMPERIALEAGLE (Aquilaheliaca) –TwoverydistantbirdsatKiskunsag,andthenathirdmuchclosescopedbirdinthesamearea.EURASIANMARSH-HARRIER (Circusaeruginosus) –Commonandwidespreadwithatotalofabout70.PALLIDHARRIER (Circusmacrourus) –SinglesintheDanubeDelta,theBabadagHills,andatKiskunsag.MONTAGU'SHARRIER (Circuspygargus) –WesawamalenearBabadag,andthen2femalesintheHortobagy-Kiskunsagarea.LEVANTSPARROWHAWK (Accipiterbrevipes) –OneinflightovertheBabadagHills.EURASIANSPARROWHAWK (Accipiternisus) –OneatKiskunsag.WHITE-TAILEDEAGLE (Haliaeetusalbicilla) –FabulouslooksintheDanubeDelta,wherewesawatleast11,plus1atHortobagy,and1at

Kiskunsag.COMMONBUZZARD (Buteobuteo) –Commonandwidespread;inallwesawabout60.LONG-LEGGEDBUZZARD (Buteorufinus) –Nicelooksat1onthewaytotheCheiaDobrogeaGorge.

Strigidae(Owls)EURASIANSCOPS-OWL (Otusscops) –Verydifficultthisyear,with4heardintheOdorheiuSecuescCityPark,andthen1atColtesti,but

unfortunatelynonewereseen. [*]LITTLEOWL (Athenenoctua) –OneinaquarrynearTulcea,andthen1atColtesti,andawaydistantbirdatHortobagy.TAWNYOWL (Strixaluco) –Ourbestsightingsever,with1atSighisoaraForest,andthen2rightbyourroomsatKiskunsag.LONG-EAREDOWL (Asiootus) –Wesawanadultand2juvenilesatKiskunsag.

Upupidae(Hoopoes)EURASIANHOOPOE (Upupaepops) –Widespreadinsmallnumbers;inallwesawabout40.

Alcedinidae(Kingfishers)COMMONKINGFISHER (Alcedoatthis) –About40intheDanubeDelta.

Meropidae(Bee-eaters)EUROPEANBEE-EATER (Meropsapiaster) –ThirtyintheBabadagarea,15atHortobagy,and50atKiskunsag.

Coraciidae(Rollers)EUROPEANROLLER (Coraciasgarrulus) –OnenearCheiaDobrogeaGorge,1atHortobagy,and9atKiskunsag.

Picidae(Woodpeckers)EURASIANWRYNECK (Jynxtorquilla) –OnewasseennicelyatOdorheiuSecuesc,andthen3othersheardatColtesti,HortobagyandKiskunsag.EURASIANTHREE-TOEDWOODPECKER (Picoidestridactylus) –Greatlooksat2onMt.Hargita.MIDDLESPOTTEDWOODPECKER (Dendrocoptesmedius) –Oneonourhotelbird-feederatSighisoara.GREATSPOTTEDWOODPECKER (Dendrocoposmajor) –SinglesatSighisoara,Hortobagy,andKiskunsag.

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SYRIANWOODPECKER (Dendrocopossyriacus) –TwoatKiskunsag.GRAY-HEADEDWOODPECKER (Picuscanus) –TwointheDanubeDelta,and1atOdorheiuSecuesc.EURASIANGREENWOODPECKER (Picusviridis) –SinglesatColtestiandHortobagy.BLACKWOODPECKER (Dryocopusmartius) –Greatlooksatamale,andajuvenileinanestholeatKiskunsag.

Falconidae(FalconsandCaracaras)EURASIANKESTREL (Falcotinnunculus) –Commonandwidespread;intotalwesawabout80.RED-FOOTEDFALCON (Falcovespertinus) –Widespreadinsmallnumbers,withgreatlooksatKiskunsag;inallwesawabout40.EURASIANHOBBY (Falcosubbuteo) –About20intheDanubeDelta,and1atKiskunsag.SAKERFALCON (Falcocherrug) –TwointheHortobagyarea.PEREGRINEFALCON (Falcoperegrinus) –SinglesintheDanubeDelta,Sighisoara,andColtesti.

Laniidae(Shrikes)RED-BACKEDSHRIKE (Laniuscollurio) –Wesawatotalofaboutadozeninavarietyofwidespreadopenwoodlands.GREATGRAYSHRIKE (Laniusexcubitor) –OnenearViscri,and2nearColtesti.LESSERGRAYSHRIKE (Laniusminor) –OnenearViscri.WOODCHATSHRIKE (Laniussenator) –Totalunexpected,butwewereluckyandallhadgreatviewsofapairnearCheiaDobrogeaGorge.

Oriolidae(OldWorldOrioles)EURASIANGOLDENORIOLE (Oriolusoriolus) –HeardinatleastsixareasandseentwiceflightintheDanubeDeltaandatHortobagy.

Corvidae(Crows,Jays,andMagpies)EURASIANJAY (Garrulusglandarius) –SeenbrieflybysomeofthegroupateitherBabadagHills,oratSighisoara.EURASIANMAGPIE (Picapica) –Verycommonandwidespread.EURASIANNUTCRACKER (Nucifragacaryocatactes) –TwosinglesatMt.Hargita.EURASIANJACKDAW (Corvusmonedula) –Verycommonandwidespread.ROOK (Corvusfrugilegus) –Anotherverycommonandwidespreadcorvid.HOODEDCROW (Corvuscornix) –MostcommonintheDanubeDelta,butalsowidespreadinsmallnumberselsewhere;inallwesawabout300.COMMONRAVEN (Corvuscorax) –WidespreadinsmallnumbersfromBran(Dracula's)Castleonwards;intotalwesawabout30.

Panuridae(BeardedReedling)BEARDEDREEDLING (Panurusbiarmicus) –Afavoriteformostofthegroup;wesaw2malesandafemaleintheDanubeDelta.

Alaudidae(Larks)GREATERSHORT-TOEDLARK (Calandrellabrachydactyla) –SixonthegrassyplainsnearCheiaDobrogeaGorge.CALANDRALARK (Melanocoryphacalandra) –ThreeinthefarmlandsnearCheiaDobrogeaGorge.WOODLARK (Lullulaarborea) –Greatclosescopeviewsof1atColtesti.EURASIANSKYLARK (Alaudaarvensis) –SmallnumbersnearCheiaDobrogeaGorge,Hortobagy,andKiskunsag.CRESTEDLARK (Galeridacristata) –TwoonthegrassyplainsnearCheiaDobrogeaGorge,2atVadu,andsinglesatHortobagyandKiskunsag.

Hirundinidae(Swallows)BANKSWALLOW (Ripariariparia) –Widespread(andmainlynearwater);intotalwesawabout90.EURASIANCRAG-MARTIN (Ptyonoprognerupestris) –About10alongthegorgenearColtesti.BARNSWALLOW (Hirundorustica) –Verycommonandwidespread.RED-RUMPEDSWALLOW (Cecropisdaurica) –SixalongthegorgenearColtesti.COMMONHOUSE-MARTIN (Delichonurbicum) –Widespreadaroundtownsandvillages.

Paridae(Tits,Chickadees,andTitmice)COALTIT (Periparusater) –ThreeintheMt.Hargitaarea.CRESTEDTIT (Lophophanescristatus) –OneinthehighpineforestonMt.Hargita.SOMBRETIT (Poecilelugubris) –GreatlooksatthislocalizedspeciesinthewoodlandsonBabadagHills.EURASIANBLUETIT (Cyanistescaeruleus) –About15intheDanubeDelta.GREATTIT (Parusmajor) –Commonandwidespread;inallwesawabout60.

Remizidae(Penduline-Tits)EURASIANPENDULINE-TIT (Remizpendulinus) –GreatlooksatamaleintheDanubeDelta.

Aegithalidae(Long-tailedTits)LONG-TAILEDTIT (Aegithaloscaudatus) –FiveintheDanubeDelta.

Sittidae(Nuthatches)EURASIANNUTHATCH (Sittaeuropaea) –OneatOdorheiuSecuesc,4atSighisoara,and1atKiskunsag.

Tichodromidae(Wallcreeper)WALLCREEPER (Tichodromamuraria) –Justfantasticthisyear,withgreatviewsofatleast3atBicazGorge.

Certhiidae(Treecreepers)SHORT-TOEDTREECREEPER (Certhiabrachydactyla) –Nicelooksat1atourhotelnearBudapest.

Cinclidae(Dippers)WHITE-THROATEDDIPPER (Cincluscinclus) –WesawapairalongthestreamatBicazGorge.

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Regulidae(Kinglets)GOLDCREST (Regulusregulus) –WesawsinglesatMt.HargitaandLibenForest.COMMONFIRECREST (Regulusignicapilla) –Fantasticcloselooksat1atLibenForest.

Phylloscopidae(LeafWarblers)WOODWARBLER (Phylloscopussibilatrix) –OneheardintheDanubeDelta.[*]WILLOWWARBLER (Phylloscopustrochilus) –OneheardintheDanubeDelta.[*]COMMONCHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopuscollybita) –Manyheard,andseenintheDanubeDeltaandatKiskunsag.

Acrocephalidae(ReedWarblersandAllies)SEDGEWARBLER (Acrocephalusschoenobaenus) –OneintheDanubeDelta,aboutadozenatHortobagy,and6atKiskunsag.EURASIANREEDWARBLER (Acrocephalusscirpaceus) –ThreeintheDanubeDelta,3atVadu,and2atKiskunsag.GREATREEDWARBLER (Acrocephalusarundinaceus) –About50atKiskunsag,andafewothersinreedbedselsewhere.

Locustellidae(GrassbirdsandAllies)SAVI'SWARBLER (Locustellaluscinioides) –Fantasticlooksat1atKiskunsag,andamoredistantbirdintheDanubeDelta.

Sylviidae(SylviidWarblers)EURASIANBLACKCAP (Sylviaatricapilla) –SinglesintheDanubeDelta,BabadagHills,OdorheiuSecuesc,andKiskunsag.LESSERWHITETHROAT (Sylviacurruca) –HeardintheDanubeDelta. [*]GREATERWHITETHROAT (Sylviacommunis) –NicelooksintheopenwoodlandatColtesti.

Muscicapidae(OldWorldFlycatchers)SPOTTEDFLYCATCHER (Muscicapastriata) –Smallnumbersinavarietyofwoodlands;inallwesawabout15.EUROPEANROBIN (Erithacusrubecula) –SinglesatBranCastle,Mt.Hargita,andSighisoara.COMMONNIGHTINGALE (Lusciniamegarhynchos) –SuperlooksatasingingbirdrightintheopenatHortobagy.BLUETHROAT (Lusciniasvecica) –Someofthegroupsaw1atHortobagy.EUROPEANPIEDFLYCATCHER (Ficedulahypoleuca) –OneintheDanubeDelta.COLLAREDFLYCATCHER (Ficedulaalbicollis) –Nicelooksat2malesintheOdorheiuSecuescCityPark.COMMONREDSTART (Phoenicurusphoenicurus) –ThreemalesintheDanubeDelta.BLACKREDSTART (Phoenicurusochruros) –Widespread,withatotalofabout20.WHINCHAT (Saxicolarubetra) –TwointheBabadagHills,and3atKiskunsag.EUROPEANSTONECHAT (Saxicolarubicola) –Smallnumbersinavarietyofopenfarmland.NORTHERNWHEATEAR (Oenantheoenanthe) –About10intheBabadagandVaduarea.PIEDWHEATEAR (Oenanthepleschanka) –WesawamaleandthenafemaleintheCheiaDobrogeaGorge.ISABELLINEWHEATEAR (Oenantheisabellina) –SixonthewaytotheCheiaDobrogeaGorge.

Turdidae(ThrushesandAllies)MISTLETHRUSH (Turdusviscivorus) –TwointheLibenForestarea.SONGTHRUSH (Turdusphilomelos) –SmallnumbersfromSighisoaratoColtesti,andKiskunsag.EURASIANBLACKBIRD (Turdusmerula) –FairlycommonawayfromtheDanubeDelta;inallwesawabout35.FIELDFARE (Turduspilaris) –ThirtyintheMt.Hargitaareawerebyfarthemost,butwealsosawsinglesatBranCastle,andHortobagy.RINGOUZEL (Turdustorquatus) –Nicelooksat4onthehighslopesofMt.Hargita.

Sturnidae(Starlings)EUROPEANSTARLING (Sturnusvulgaris) –Verycommonandwidespread.

Motacillidae(WagtailsandPipits)GRAYWAGTAIL (Motacillacinerea) –ThreeatMt.Hargita,and2atBicazGorge.WESTERNYELLOWWAGTAIL (Motacillaflava) –Smallnumberswerewidespreadespeciallyaroundwetlands;inallwesawabout90.WESTERNYELLOWWAGTAIL(FELDEGG) (Motacillaflavafeldegg) –SevenintheDanubeDeltaandVaduMarshes.WHITEWAGTAIL (Motacillaalba) –Commonandwidespread.TAWNYPIPIT (Anthuscampestris) –OneonthegrassyplainsnearCheiaDobrogeaGorge.MEADOWPIPIT (Anthuspratensis) –OneonthegrassyplainsnearCheiaDobrogeaGorge.TREEPIPIT (Anthustrivialis) –OneneartheLibenForest.

Fringillidae(Finches,Euphonias,andAllies)COMMONCHAFFINCH (Fringillacoelebs) –Commonandwidespread.EUROPEANGREENFINCH (Chlorischloris) –TenintheOdorheiuSecuescCityPark,and2atKiskunsag.EURASIANLINNET (Linariacannabina) –TwoatCheiaDobrogeaGorge,1atSanPaul,and8atColtesti.EUROPEANGOLDFINCH (Cardueliscarduelis) –Widespreadinsmallnumbers;intotalwesawabout70.EUROPEANSERIN (Serinusserinus) –ThreeintheOdorheiuSecuescCityPark.

Emberizidae(OldWorldBuntings)CORNBUNTING (Emberizacalandra) –Commonandwidespreadinfarmlandsthroughoutthetour.ROCKBUNTING (Emberizacia) –Difficultthisyear,buteventuallyweallgotgoodlooksinthegorgenearColtesti.YELLOWHAMMER (Emberizacitrinella) –FouratColtesti,and1atKiskunsag.ORTOLANBUNTING (Emberizahortulana) –Nicescopeviewsof2intheBabadagHills.REEDBUNTING (Emberizaschoeniclus) –TwofemalesintheDanubeDelta,andthenamaleatHortobagy,and2morefemalesatKiskunsag.

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Passeridae(OldWorldSparrows)HOUSESPARROW (Passerdomesticus) –Verycommonandwidespread.SPANISHSPARROW (Passerhispaniolensis) –AboutadozenbathinginaroadsidepoolnearCheiaDobrogeaGorge.EURASIANTREESPARROW (Passermontanus) –Widespreadinsmallnumbers;withatotalofabout100.

MAMMALSEUROPEANBROWNHARE (Lepuseuropaeus) –About40intheHortobagytoKiskunsagarea.EUROPEANSOUSLIK (Spermophiluscitellus) –SixonthegrassyplainsnearCheiaDobrogeaGorge.EUROPEANREDSQUIRREL (Sciurusvulgaris) –TwosinglesatSighisoara.REDFOX (Vulpesvulpes) –SinglesintheSanPaulandMt.Hargitaareas.EUROPEANRIVEROTTER (Lutralutra) –OneintheDanubeDelta.ROEDEER (Capreoluscapreolus) –OnenearSanPaul,andthenabout50intheHortobagytoKiskunsagarea.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Other notable creatures seen on the tour included;

Edible Frog; hundreds heard and a few seen in the Danube Delta.

Pond Frog; 1 in the Danube Delta.

Yellow-bellied Toad; 1 near Sighisoara.

Alpine Newt; about 10 at Bicaz Gorge.

European Pond Terrapin; 6 at Kiskunsag.

Green Lizard; 1 at our hotel at Kiskunsag.

Grass Snake; 1 in the Danube Delta.

European Adder; some of our group saw a fox kill 1 at Mt. Hargita.

Totals for the tour: 196 bird taxa and 6 mammal taxa

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