Proposed Polish trip next May (1 Viewer)

[HH75]

Hi all,
A few friends and I are planning on heading to Poland for around 9 days next May (dates to be finallised), and we plan on visiting Bialowieza and Biezrba. Now, I gather that it is necessary to be accompanied by a guide when visiting Bialowieza: in any case, we would be looking to find a guide, from what I've read, if we are to stand any reasonable chance of seeing such potentially difficult birds as Pygmy and Tengmalm's Owls and many of the woodpeckers?
I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has either visited the area, or any potential guides living nearby. Also appreciated would be gen on other difficult/ specialised/ local species in the general area (are Marsh Sandpipers reliable? Where do we go for Aquatic Warbler, Great Snipe etc?).
We will be having a meeting on the trip next week, I would appreciate having some information before this if possible.
Regards,
Harry

 

[StuartReeves]

Hi Harry,

I had an excellent trip to that area about ten years ago. I guess things will have changed with regard to gen, stakeouts etc, but to give a quick summary we did a 'two centre' trip splitting our time between the Bialoweiza and Biezrba areas. You have to have a guide to enter the protected forest in Bialoweiza, which is highly recommended, although it didn't give us any new birds, and there are plenty of other good areas around. We arranged the guide just be talking to other birders that we met. We didn't get any owls and missed Black and Three-toed Woodpeckers - the guide did give us sites for these but we didn't really have time to work them properly.

In Biezbra we got Great Snipe at the lek site at Budy, though I'm not sure this has been reliable in recent years. We also got Aquatic warbler at a stakeout at the village of Waniewo. We bumped into Marsh Sandpiper on the Narew marshes, and Citrine Wagtail a little further north at Semianowka reservoir. We had a site for Spotted Eagle, but we dipped.

The whole area stands as one of the most unspoilt and 'birdy' places I have ever been to. I still have all the maps & gen from our trip so let me know if you need any more info.

Cheers,

Stuart

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Hi Harry,

You only need a guide for the reserve part of Bialowieza. Most of the forest you can visit unaccompanied. I was there in late June last year and saw most of the woodpeckers (except Three-toed) without the help of guides. I went out one morning with a guide and didn't actually see all that much. I think they would be more helpful earlier in the season though, because the know nest sites. It was also more difficult because I didn't have a car, which made it impossible to get Pygmy Owl, at least when I was there (all sites were apparently very distant from Bialowieza village). Pygmy should be quite doable with a guide and a car though. I think other owls are likely to be harder.

A good site for Woodpeckers is Teremiski swamp, a mile or so west of the village of the same name. There's an area of dead trees, just as you re-enter the woodland and these attract quite a few woodies (including White-backed and Grey-headed when I was there). I also saw Hazel Grouse, Crane and Lesser-spotted Eagle round there.

Siemianowka Reservoir is a well known area, although I found it a bit disappointing when I went there. Lots of Black Terns though, and Citrine Wagtails around the water works.

Otherwise you should see lots of 'Eastern' stuff like Barred, River, Savi's, Icterine Warbler, Rosefinches etc. Birds like RB Fly and Greenish Warbler are a bit harder - I didn't see them but maybe an earlier visit would be more productive.

I found Biebrza quite hard work without a car (and in July). I stayed in Goniadz, which is pretty central, but it's a massive area. There's a good observation tower near the village where I saw Black Stork, WW Black Terns and both Bitterns. I didn't manage either Great Snipe or Aquatic Warbler but I reckon that if you've got a car then you should have a much better chance of both in May. Spotted Eagle also eluded me but I saw a lot of White-tailed. Various other bits and pieces, and it's a marvellous area, but quite hard work!

 

[jforgham]

Hi Harry,
check out www.clanga.com This is not specifically where you want to go but always has details of all birds seen in Poland. Also, by contacting the clanga team (Zybszek Kajzer) he'll put you in touch with someone from the area you're after. Hawk owls in the forest around Biezrba at present.
Also, slightly outdated now I suspect, but Dave Gosney at birdguides has printed a then pamphlet to the Biezrba area and the marshes. Still worth checking out. Am also off to Poland again for more birding, this time flying to Poznan in February.
Jono

 

[jurek]

Hi,

In Bialowieza you can see all woodpeckers and pygmy owl in several days wandering west and around Bialowieza. It is however best to take a guide which usually know nests. Guided tour is needed to visit Strict Reserve.

In Biebrza you have Great Snipe at Barwik, Aquatic Warbler at Gonczarowska Grobla, and many birds at Brzostowo, Wizna, Kapice etc.

Siemianowka lake near Cisowka is good for Citrine Wagtail, sometimes Aquatic Warbler, too. Marsh Sandpiper is not reliable (it may also be seen on Biebrza) but the place is extremely rich in birds.

 

[Strandman]

I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has either visited the area, or any potential guides living nearby.

Regards,
Harry[/QUOTE]


Marek Borkowski ([email protected]) has been guiding in Biebrza for over twenty years and is highly recommended- but busy of course. He's just been over lecturing and was galled to drive straight past the murrelet without realising it was there..

Bear in mind that in setting your dates it is worth working out your priorities. Things like River Warbler can be difficult before week 3 May, but water levels are higher and things like Ruff are more spectacular early May and finding your own woodpeckers is easier before the leaves are out.

 

[Touty]

I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has either visited the area, or any potential guides living nearby.

Harry[/QUOTE]

We used Tomek Kulakowski from Bialystok ([email protected]) in 2000:

http://www.avestom.com/eng/en_about.htm

He was absolutely first rate.... I'd say a guide is pretty essential for Biebrza as the site is huge. I think it's the best site I've ever birded in in Europe.

Bielowieza was less impressive IMHO.

 

[buzzard12]

Hi Harry,

Also there 6 or 7 years ago, superb place. Wandered around the forest without a guide for three full days birding. Managed all the peckers,collared and rb fly, Short toed Eagle was a surprise, lots of great stuff to see. Dipped on Hazel Grouse and Pygmy Owl. Suggest if you want the owl you will need local help.
Cisowka marshes/Semianowka Res. a must do, had Less Spot Eagle, Citrine Wag, White Tailed Eagle and a host of other birds here.
Fish Ponds at Bialystock good too with Great Reed Warbler, Penduline Tit, Little Bittern, Wiskered and Black Terns, Red Necked and Black Throated Grebe. Compact site, can be covered in 3 or 4 hours.
Brought by guide to Geat Snipe Lek, views ok, though darkness fell quickly. Got Aquatic same way... Not Sure where we were exactly!!

Go do it, fantastic birding experience, like stepping back 50 years...

 

[Jos Stratford]

Go do it, fantastic birding experience, like stepping back 50 years...

Unless coming from the rural areas of eastern Lithuania ...then like a visit tothe future

Seriously though, brilliant birding at all the sites mentioned - ah, they are under four hours from my door, good stuff