Birding in Budapest Parks. (1 Viewer)

[KenM]

Having just returned from a four day trip to Budapest, I was somewhat surprised to find on two consecutive days (early am birding) up to c 8 migrant passerines of up to seven species present in Deak Ferenc square/park (circa 200x150m.) which sits almost centre to downtown Budapest.

If that wasn’t enough, the footfall with the children’s playground and almost adjacent skate boarding park noise levels, not to mention the police car sirens on and off around the square, would have on paper been a “birding no no!”

I can’t seem to find any reference to “birding” the said park, would anybody have any birding experience at Deak Ferenc park and if so, it would be good to exchange information.

Cheers

 

[Jos Stratford]

Can't speak for Budapest, but speaking from an Eastern Europe perspective doesn't seem very unusual - little parks in the city centre, even those totally surrounded by roads and busy with people, often have breeding Pied Flycatchers and Redstarts etc and frequency attract other species. At this time of year, almost any passerines can and do appear in isolated patches of habitat, in city and otherwise.

 

[KenM]

Can't speak for Budapest, but speaking from an Eastern Europe perspective doesn't seem very unusual - little parks in the city centre, even those totally surrounded by roads and busy with people, often have breeding Pied Flycatchers and Redstarts etc and frequency attract other species. At this time of year, almost any passerines can and do appear in isolated patches of habitat, in city and otherwise.

Cheers, that’s what I was trying to establish, being normal or otherwise.
On one occasion I had an immature Golden Oriole (for less than a second) “surfing” high up (c70’) in the shadowy canopy of a mature Horse Chestnut Tree outside a Bank, with a giant red crane functioning directly over the canopy which was playing host to the aforesaid and a Wood Warbler!

In the “subject park” on one occasion, 4 Red-backed Shrikes an accompanying Barred Warbler, Icterine, Wood Warbler, two Spotfly, Collared Flycatcher and Common Redstart, bearing in mind that there may well have been more birds present, that were just not seen by myself.

Just seems to me (based on UK standards) a high incidence of migrant diversity in such a small “noisy park”.
I might draw a parallel with my Canary Wharf Migrant Watch Project some twenty years ago.
The biggest area of white light atop an 840’ tower.
Probably a coincidence, but every little bit of light helps, especially 10k white bulbs…..