Day 6 - Bükk Hills

After breakfast we start our first day in the Bukk Hills, which is the largest continuous woodland in Hungary. The forests are dominated by oak and beech and the older they get the more holes appear on them carved by a multitude of woodpeckers, including White-backed, Black, Middle Spotted and Grey-headed Woodpeckers. When they abandon their holes, songbirds like Red-breasted Flycatchers or Marsh Tits occupy them. The biggest cavity-dweller is the Ural Owl, which also occurs here and - with a little luck - we won't leave without spotting one. The old stone mines in the fringes of the hills are inhabited by Rock Buntings. After visiting them we head to the open lands at the foot of the Bükk Hills. These are the favourite feeding areas of Black Storks and large raptors, like Lesser Spotted, Imperial and Short-toed Eagles and Honey Buzzards. After dinner we have one more task left: the observation of Eagle Owls in a nearby mine.

Overnight: Hotel Síkfõkút, Noszvaj

Day 7 - Bükk Hills 2

Today we visit the northern part of the Bükk Hills. Here, in the Valley of Szalajka, we are supposed to find Collared Flycatchers and Grey Wagtails. It should also be mentioned that during searching for birds we will walk by the Voile Falls (Fátyol Vízesésés), one of Hungary´s most beautiful cataracts. Our next stop is the Bükk Plateau, where we take a few kilometers of light walk in search for Mistle Thrush, Willow Tit, Crossbill and we try again the Ural Owl if we failed to find it the previous day. On the way back to the hotel we stop at the bushes and wetlands of Bükkallja in hope of Marsh and Barred Warblers, Green Woodpecker, Hawfinch and Wryneck. Several raptors may also appear here. Today´s after-dinner owl watching aims at the Scops Owls of a nearby valley.

Overnight: Hotel Síkfõkút, Noszvaj.