POLAND MAY 2007 HIGHLIGHTS

AFTER an absence of two years, we returned to Poland from 15th – 24th May 2007 and whilst there were undoubtedly one or two teething problems with a slightly over ambitious itinerary, the group did exceptionally well to record 169 species. The main problem came in the Tatra Mountains, where the walks had been designed to suit individual birders rather than a group, but despite this and the presence of many school parties, we still managed to see a good selection of birds. Back on more familiar territory in the north, the tour really began to gather momentum and we were fortunate enough to see almost all of the speciality species including Wallcreeper, Ural and Pygmy Owls, Spotted Nutcracker, Aquatic, River, Marsh, Icterine and Barred Warblers, Great Snipe, Collared and Red-breasted Flycatchers, Caspian Gull, Lesser Spotted and White-tailed Eagles, Scarlet Rosefinch, Hazel Grouse, European Roller, Citrine Wagtail, several species of woodpecker, all three marsh terns and a whole host of herons and shorebirds. For future tours, we have removed the Tatras from the itinerary and will instead be offering an eight day tour from 17th – 24th May 2008 covering the Biebrza Marshes, Bialowieza Forest and Narew Valley.