Kiskunság National Park
Photography trip to a national park in Hungary with Heinz Hudelist - Naturfotowerkstatt. Starting from the 1st of May, it was a wonderful trip! After a long drive to Tiszaalpar and the Oriole Lodge, our home for the coming week, we started the late afternoon in a hide along with the chance to get some images of a Hoopoe.
Early morning on the 2nd of May, start at 4:50 to visit a colony of Bee-Eaters and hopefully also to get a chance to photograph Blue Rollers.
Nest stop was a hide in front of a pool in the woods, where birds came to drink and bathe. Not only birds came, but also some lizards and even a snake!
Early morning start again to the "high tower", to observe a colony of Red-Footed Falcons.
In the late afternoon, we were hiding in a tent on a swampy lakeshore, where Penduline Tits were building their nest. They are so unbelievably fast, it needs a cable release and many tries over several hours to get some decent shots. The challenge is all part of the fun in capturing these agile birds in their natural habitat.
On the 4th of May, we really had to get up early - 3:50! This time our location was a swimming hide on a salty lake in the middle of the Pusta. We hoped to get the chance to observe some unique bird species in their natural habitat: red footed sand piper, ruff, little egret, purple heron, just to name a few.
In the afternoon in a hide on the shore of a lake next to the lodge, I get my first chance to see and photograph a kingfisher! I was also lucky enough to see an Oriole. The vibrant colors of these birds are truly breathtaking and make for an unforgettable experience.
On the 5th of May the weather was rainy, but that was not really a problem. We did not have to get up so early! Sitting in a tent in front of a tree with a black woodpecker's breeding burrow in front of my camera lens was an exciting experience. A few times of feeding and cleaning out the nest was all I needed for some cool images. A blue roller inspected the nest too, but thank goodness the chicks were safe in the tree.
As a next exciting location, I visited a hide in front of the old ruin of a farmhouse in the afternoon, where little owls were to be expected.
On the 6th of May, I again went to a small lake in the middle of the Pusta. I needed waders to reach the swimming platform. I did not get very much action - nature is sometimes not as cooperative as one would like. In the afternoon I had much more luck in another hide in front of a pool, where even a common buzzard came for a bath!
7th of May, last morning session in a hide at a pool, then a long drive home - this week was an incredible experience!
