Bird photo tour Hungary

11 - 17 May 2024





Hungary has become known as one of the leading countries in Europe for bird photography from hides (thanks to the pioneer Bence Mate). On this tour you get the opportunity to photograph birds like Rollers, Bee-eaters, Red-footed Falcon, Hoopoe, Kingfisher and many waterbirds. All of them from very close distance. The pace of this trip is generally slow with a lot of flexibility built in to offer the best circumstance for both ambitious photographers and those who want to take it a bit more easy. We stay in a countryside guesthouse within close vicinity to hides and birds. Each hide is designed and placed to optimize the chances to get the best pictures of the birds regarding habitat, background and light.

The ”tower-hides” are built only 10 km from the village. Designed for 2-3 persons they are good for Red-legged Falcon, Kestrel and European Roller. Several hides have a set up with nest boxes, perches and platforms for the birds and will be used accordingly regarding season. Other species we have the chance to get pictures of here are Lesser Grey Shrike, White Stork and with some luck Little Owl.

The Water-hides are low hides used by small ponds and wetlands. To get a good angle you lie down and you can get close to all sorts of waterbirds, like Ferruginous Duck, Garganey, Spoonbill, Great White Egret, Purple Heron, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Water Rail, Black-necked Grebe, Little Grebe and Spotted Crake. The species varies a bit with the season.

”Pool-hides” where birds are attracted to a pool of water to drink and or bath in, can be real magnets in a hot dry habitat. In a forest hide we have the chance to photograph birds like Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Turtle Dove, Hawfinch, Nightingale och another 20 or so birds. Yet another hide is designed to get you close to passerines like Red-backed Shrike, Tree Pipit, Corn Bunting and Barred Warbler. In a garden habitat the targets are Hoopoe, Syrian Woodpecker, Wryneck, Black Redstart and different Thrushes, Warblers and Finches.

Mobile and temporary (pop-up) hides are used for Bee-eater, Scops owl, Roller, Hoopoe and others according to season and requirements. For ”floating hide” a covered boat is used to get close to wetland birds like Night Heron, Squacco Heron and Whiskered Tern. All hides are comfortable and our host supply us with bean bags, cushions to sit on and other equipment we could need. Just bring your own camera equipment and tripod.

Accommodation:
We will stay at the rural and cozy Oriole Lodge by the beautiful floodplains, only some minutes away from the 10-15 photohides we will spend the best hours of the days in. One of the pool-hides – designed for Kingfisher photography – is positioned in the actual garden. The lodge is equipped with a kitchen service and wifi, however we have dinner at a restaurant within walking distance. We will also taste local, organic wines especially during a proper wine-tasting session one of the nights.

Where:
We will be near to Tiszaalpár at the outskirts of Kiskunság nationalpark in central Hungary. Tisza is one of the major rivers in the country, its floodplains constitutes a very important part of the diversity and ecology of the nation. Alkaline lakes and sandy steppes, small copses, roadbeds and wetlands make the area a paradise for breeding birds as well as birds on migration.

Day 1
Flight to Budapest where we will be picked up by our local host/ guide István Bártol. Tiszaalpár is about an hour and a half away from the airport and depending on when on the day we arrive, we get our first opportunities to get acquainted with the surroundings, birds and hides.


Day 2 - 6
During these days we will try to get as many excellent bird pictures as possible permitted by bird presence and weather of course. We sit 2-3 persons in each hide and swap between every session. Usually there´s a morning session (early) when we will get taken to the hides before sunrise. (ca 05.30) We spend the best light hours till about 09.30 am. Then we get collected back to the the lodge for some rest, lunch and time to go through and work with your pictures. For the evening session we leave the lodge at 15:30 p.m. and stay till dusk (ca 19:30-20:00). If there´s interest those who like can also swap a hide-session for some regular bird watching, whether at night or in the morning.
Kiskunság nationalpark have a fantastic choice of habitats to visit and good chances to see birds like Imperial Eagle, Saker Falcon, Collared pratincole, Montague´s Harrier, Stone Curlew and Great Bustard.


Day 7
Depending on the departure time for our flight we might have time for a last morning session in some of the hides, before we leave for Budapest and the airport.


The journey is a collaboration between BirdSafarisweden and Karlmark Travel. (Karlmark Travels holds the travel warranty insurance that covers this trip)


When: 11 - 17 May 2024

Price: 24.500 SEK per person in doubleroom (flight not included)

Single room supplement: 2.000 SEK


Nr of participants: Min 6, max 8 persons

What's included:
Full board accomodation in doubleroom all nights at Oriole Lodge (a rural, accommodation with en-suite facilities, close to hides and birds), local guide all the time, access to all hides according to agreed schedule decided together on the site.

Not included:
Air-ticket to Budapest (estimated price 3.500 SEK), alcohol, souvenirs and other expenses of personal character, tips to drivers or local guides outside the regular arrangement. Normally we collect about 10 €/ person in tips for the driver and guide.

Other: This is a "mixed group" trip where Swedish- and English-speaking travelers are welcome.

Once you have registered you will receive an invoice of
3.500 SEK. The payment of that bill guarantees you a place on the trip.