Hungary in Autumn

Our main focus on this three-centre holiday is the spectacular migration of Common Cranes through the Hortobágy National Park in eastern Hungary, one of Europe’s great birding experiences. Each autumn up to 100,000 of these elegant birds from Fenno-Scandia, the Baltic States, Poland and elsewhere in northern Europe congregate here. We will see cranes flying to roost at dusk in large skeins and feeding by day in crop fields. There are also special resident birds including Great Bustard, Saker Falcon, White-tailed and Eastern Imperial Eagle, eight species of woodpecker including White-backed, Middle-spotted, Grey-headed, Syrian and Black, and the first winter visitors such as Rough-legged Buzzard and Great Grey Shrike. The numerous wildfowl present should include fresh arrivals of Greater White-front and possibly Tundra and Taiga Bean Geese. Other birds should include Hawfinch, Black Redstart, Short-toed Treecreeper, Marsh Harrier, Penduline Tit and Stone Curlew. A tremendous autumn feast of birds!

Enjoy your complimentary pre-flight overnight hotel before your holiday begins. Full details from our office! Read more about our Pre-flight Service here!

Day 1 & 2:   Arrival and Transfer to the Kiskunság National Park
After relaxing in our complimentary VIP Airport Lounge, we fly from London to Budapest. On arrival we transfer to the Kiskunság National Park. The park extends across the most important nature areas between the Danube and Tisza rivers, including the Danube Plain, Homokhátság and the Tisza Valley. The Kiskunság National Park is very similar to Hortabágy in terms of landscapes, habitats and birds, but Kiskunság is becoming THE area for Great Bustards, Saker and geese. We spend two nights in the area with Great Bustards and Saker our main targets. Other birds should include a variety of waders in the grasslands and marshes. Overnight for two nights in the Kiskunság area.

Day 3: The Bükk Hills
Today we drive to the Bükk Hills (2-3 hours) for a 2 night stay in our well-located family-run small hotel. En route to the hills we will break our journey with targeted birding stops for Eastern Imperial Eagle and Saker Falcon. If time allows we will visit a reservoir where we can hope to record some new wetland species too. We aim to arrive in good time to allow for a gentle exploration of the hotel and surrounding village. Birds in the garden here include Hawfinch, Black Redstart and both Lesser & Middle Spotted Woodpeckers. Overnight for two nights in Noszvaj.

Day 4:  Bükk National Park Birding
Bird watching in the Bükk National Park. In particular we’ll look for Black, Grey-headed, Middle Spotted and White-backed Woodpecker in the area’s deciduous woods, all in the company of Gerard Gorman, author of "Woodpeckers of Europe". Syrian Woodpecker is usually found in and around villages in orchards and gardens. Other birds in these scenic hills with their rich autumn colours include Eastern Imperial Eagle, Goshawk, Common and Short-toed Treecreeper and Rock Bunting. As we will be in one of Hungary’s best wine regions we may visit a 100-year-old family-run wine-cellar on one evening.

Day 5: The Great Plain
Today we leave the hills and forests and head onto the Great Plain. First we’ll stop in the Heves grasslands and see some of our first lowland birds of the tour. A highlight of the trip may well be a Long-eared Owl roost in a village on our route. Finches and buntings are beginning to arrive with the last of the Serins still present. Great Grey Shrike can be seen on roadside wires as we drive through the open country. Later we’ll scan the vast waters of Lake Tisza for gulls, grebes and wildfowl, including Pygmy Cormorant. Overnight for three nights in Tiszafüred.

Day 6 and 7: Hortobágy National Park
During these days we will spend most of our time birdwatching in the famous Hortobágy National Park. Habitats here include fish-pond systems where geese, ducks and Common Crane roost and Marsh Harrier and White-tailed Eagle hunt. Drained ponds host passage waders and the reedbeds Penduline and Bearded Tit. The HNP’s grasslands are hunting grounds for raptors such as Saker, Merlin and Long-legged, Rough-legged and Common Buzzard. Flocks of Great Bustard and Stone Curlew also reside here. Little Owl are quite common and Long-eared Owl are often beginning to roost in numbers in this season. Dotterel spend their autumn here, with over 100 together not unusual in traditional places on the drier Hortobágy steppe, though they are notoriously difficult to pin down! These same areas often host parties of Lapland Bunting and Twite if the wind is from the north, with Red-throated Pipit likely too. But arguably the main event of our stay will be the cranes. One evening we’ll wait just before dusk at a key spot to see the arrival of noisy flocks of these birds which come in from feeding fields to roost. This event is without doubt one of Europe’s great bird spectacles. We can expect to see and hear thousands both in the air in family parties of three and in lines of many hundreds, and in trumpeting groups in surrounding fields.

Day 8: Departure
After breakfast we head for Budapest. If flight times allow we will take a sightseeing tour of Budapest or offer more birding before heading for the airport.

Please note: all itineraries are given as a guide only. Actual holiday content may vary according to the judgement of your guide, and elements beyond our control (eg weather).

What's included in your holiday price:

• scheduled return flights between London and Budapest, airport taxes,
• ground transportation as outlined including all transportation in Hungary in a modern and spacious air-conditioned vehicle,
• accommodation and all meals, including breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• the services of your leaders.
• entrance fees to parks and reserves, and tips to hotels and restaurants.
• The Heatherlea Pre-Flight Service offers everything you need at the airport, including hotels, car parking, airport lounges, regional flights, and upgrades. Let Heatherlea take the strain! Pre-flight airport hotel and lounge included free of charge subject to terms and conditions. Read more...

What's not included in your holiday price:

• personal insurance, drinks and other personal expenses, optional tips to the driver and local guide, and any other costs not specified as 'included'.

More holiday information:

Accommodation is in comfortable hotels or guest houses with all rooms en suite.
Food Breakfast is continental style. Fruit juice and tea or coffee is usually available. Picnic lunches will be provided by your guide, and will include a variety of local produce plus soft drinks.
The country's unique cuisine has influences from the Central Asian Magyar founders of the nation, Turks, Germans, French, Austrians, Czechs, Slovaks, Serbians, and Croatians. The simple agrarian and shepherd lifestyles of the Hungarian Plain and mountains have also helped shape the country's unique dishes. Sauces rich in sour cream, delicacies such as goose liver and an emphasis on meats, including game such as boar and venison, are often on the menu. Fish stew or a thick and sometimes peppery fish soup - is also quite popular. Other traditional favourites include veal paprika stew and roast chicken with cottage cheese noodles. Gulyás (a hot dish that usually consists of beef, onions, capsicum and paprika), Halászlé (a Hungarian fish made with extra hot paprikas), Töltött káposzta (cabbage stuffed with meat and other vegetables and spices) and Pörkölt (a hot dish which is almost always made of meat, onion capsicum and paprika powder. Any kind of meat can be used, such as beef, lamb, pork, chicken, liver, offal and sometimes even fish).
Fabulous desserts, served with strong espresso, include strudels, tortes and the legendary Gundel pancakes with chocolate rum sauce.
Walking is generally light/moderate. There may be some uphill track and road walking, though generally an average level of fitness is required.
Weather Hungary has a temperate climate, with cold, cloudy, humid winters and warm summers. The weather will most likely be quite mild but chilly mornings and nights are possible. Rain is quite likely at this time of year.
Insects Biting insects may be encountered near wetlands, a good mosquito repellent is recommended.
Group size is restricted to 12 clients maximum.
Flights are by scheduled airline, from London.

YOUR GUIDE

GERARD GORMAN: Author of several well-informed birding books, Lancastrian Gerard is the Heatherlea organiser for Eastern Europe. A very experienced leader, we are delighted to have Gerard leading our holiday.

JS says of her 2018 Hungary holiday: ".....thank you for a brilliant trip, the birds were fantastic and your guide Gerard was excellent."