Hasse Berglund, Sweden & Arnold van Kreveld, Netherlands

Going for a meeting in Eastern Slovakia in the end of May, we of course had to do some bird watching in this interesting part of Europe. The first day after arrival we spent all day in the field, and the last day, Arnold together with our group of colleagues again went out. In between we only managed to make short walks in the morning or afternoon in the Hotel surroundings.

May 25th

After a very delayed flight from Prague to Kosice on the 24th, we did not rise with the sun, but went out at nine a.m. Thanks to our friend Vlado Vancura, we were guided by a great park warden of the Slovak Karst National Park, Stefan Matis (contact details below). He knew where to find the birds, and managed to find almost everything we asked for! First we went from Kosice to Moldava Nad Bodvou, and on the trip saw Lesser Spotted Eagle, Red-backed Shrike, Serin and our first White Storks. We picked Stefan up, and went to a prominent hill, with a ruined castle on top, the Turna hill/castle. This proved to be excellent for birding, both on the north and south side. The highlights of the area were a pair of Imperial Eagles, which soared above, or sat in a pine on the slope of the hill. They were interested in the Sousliks (European Ground Squirrels) which were abundant on the grazed pastures. Another Souslik hunter was the Saker we managed to spot when passing the hill on our way back towards Kosice! Among other interesting observations were Turtle Doves, Wryneck, Marsh Harrier, Nightingale and Crested Lark.

After this, we went westwards, and entered the Zadiel gorge. This was a beautiful, beech-clad gorge, with a stream running down in the centre. Of special interest here where a pair of White-backed Woodpeckers, 2 singing males Red-breasted Flycatchers, breeding Dippers - at least one pair with more adults present -, a male Rock Bunting cleaning himself in the creek, Grey Wagtails, Hawfinches and Marsh Tits.

Still wanting to see more specialities, we were glad that Stefan took us to a quarry on the Hungarian border, where we heard and saw a male Rock Thrush singing, witnessed intense territorial disputes between at least three male Black Redstarts, and observed a Hoopoe and some Wheatears.

May 26th - 28th

As said before, we took some strolls in the vicinity of our Hotel, the Hotel Bankov, 6 km Northwest of Kosice. The hotel was situated in a nice, predominantly beech forest, with some nice trails. Apart from lots of common species, we saw Middle Spotted Woodpeckers - Arnold found three nests! - heard Black Woodpecker, Scarlet Grosbeak, saw Collared Flycatchers, two Honey Buzzards and heard a Quail just below the Hotel one evening.

May 28th       

The last day of the visit, the major part of our team went to Zadiel gorge once more, but the only species that was added to our list was a Collared Flycatcher, heard in the forest.

Species seen between 25th and 28th of May 2004 in Eastern Slovakia:

Great Crested Grebe
Seen in a reservoir near Zadiel gorge, 25th and the 28th.

Grey Heron
One flying overhead near the quarry, 25th.

White Stork
Several seen on the 25th.

Mallard
One seen in the reservoir near the quarry on the 28th.

Buzzard
Several seen on the 25th, one or two near the hotel.

Honey Buzzard
Two seen near the hotel on the 28th.

Imperial Eagle
A pair seen both flying and sitting near the Turna castle on the 25th.

Lesser Spotted Eagle
One close to the road between Kosice and Moldava Nad Bodvou on the 25th.

Marsh Harrier
One male flying near the Turna castle on the 25th.

Saker Falcon
One flying close to the main road near the Turna castle on the 25th.

Kestrel
Three observations on the 25th.

Quail
One calling in the evening of the 26th, just below the hotel.

Pheasant
One male near Moldava Nad Bodvou on the 25th.

Coot
Several in the reservoir near the quarry on the 25th and 28th.

Feral Pigeon
In towns

Woodpigeon
Several calling, one in Zadiel canyon on the 25th, more near the hotel.

Collared Dove
Many in towns and villages.

Turtle Dove
A flock of 6 near the Turna castle on the 25th, some calling in the forests around the hotel.

Cuckoo
Several calling, both near Turna castle, in the quarry, and around the hotel.

Tawny Owl
One seen by our Finnish friend Harry Karjalainen near the hotel on the 27th.

Swift
Several seen

Hoopoe
One (or two) seen in the quarry on the 25th.

Black Woodpecker
One heard in the forests near the hotel on the 26th.

Great Spotted Woodpecker
Several seen and heard.

Middle Spotted Woodpecker
One nest found, with two adults and several young ones in the nest on the 27th, then Arnold found two more nests near the hotel on the 28th.

White-backed Woodpecker
One pair seen in the Zadiel canyon on the 25th.

Wryneck
One male calling on the southern slope of Turna hill on the 25th.

Skylark
Several singing in open areas.

Crested Lark
One seen near the Turna hill on the 25th.

Barn Swallow
Common

Sand Martin
A flock seen in the quarry on the 25th.

House Martin
Common

Tree Pipit
Heard near the hotel on the 27th.

White Wagtail
Common

Grey Wagtail
Several, both adults and young seen in the Zadiel canyon on the 25th and 28th.

Red-backed Shrike

One female seen in Moldava Nad Bodvou on the 25th.

Hedge Sparrow
One seen near the hotel on the 26th.

Lesser Whitethroat
Singing near the hotel on the 26th.

Garden Warbler
Seen and heard singing near the hotel on the 27th.

Blackcap
Common

Willow warbler
Only heard singing in the quarry on the 25th.

Chiffchaff
Common

Wood Warbler
Heard singing near the hotel on the 27th.

Goldcrest
One - two heard near the hotel 27th.

Spotted Flycatcher
Several seen and heard near the hotel.

Collared Flycatcher
One heard by Stefan and Arnold in Zadiel canyon on the 28th, and two males and one female near the hotel the same day.

Red-breasted Flycatcher
Two males singing in the Zadiel canyon on the 25th.

Stonechat
One female near the hotel on the 27th.

Rock Thrush
One beautiful male singing in the quarry on the 25th.

Wheatear
Several in the quarry on the 25th.

Black Redstart
Rather common

Robin
Rather common

Nightingale
One singing near the Turna castle on the 25th.

Blackbird
Common

Fieldfare
Some near and around the hotel.

Song Thrush
Common

Long-tailed Tit
Some seen by Arnold near the hotel on the 26th.

Coal Tit
Some sang near the hotel on the 26th.

Great Tit
Common

Blue Tit
Rather common

Marsh Tit
Seen in Zadiel canyon on the 25th.

Nuthatch
Common

Treecreeper
Several heard around the hotel, and around the hotel.

Wren
Both in the Zadiel canyon and near the hotel.

Dipper
Several in the creek in Zadiel canyon, at least one pair breeding.

Corn Bunting
One male sang near Turna hill on the 25th.

Rock Bunting
One male took a bath in the creek in Zadiel canyon on the 25th.

Yellowhammer
Heard singing near Turna castle on the 25th, and near the hotel on the 27th.

Chaffinch
Common

Goldfinch
Common

Greenfinch
Rather common

Hawfinch
Rather common

Linnet
Several seen and heard in the quarry on the 25th.

Serin
In Moldava Nad Bodrou on the 25th, and in Kosice on the 26th, singing in parks.

Scarlet Grosbeak
One male singing close to the hotel on the 26th.

Tree Sparrow
Common

House Sparrow
Common

Starling
Common

Jay
In Zadiel canyon and near the hotel.

Magpie
Common

Raven
Seen near Turna castle on the 25th, and near the hotel.

Rook
Some between Kosice and Moldava Nad Bodvou on the 25th.

Jackdaw
Common in Kosice

We can really recommend the assistance of Stefan Matis, without his help we would not have been able to see many of the species we did see!

Stefan Matis, tel: +421-907-168093, e-mail: matis@max.euroweb.sk

Arnold van Kreveld

Hasse Berglund
Alsnögatan 20, 5tr.
S-116 41 Stockholm
Sweden
+46-73-6635560
hans.berglund@wwf.se