Zemplen Hills

Overview

Famous as one of the best sites for raptors in Hungary, the Zemplen Hills are situated in the far north-east of Hungary close to the Slovakian border. These rugged hills are bounded to the west and south by the floodplains of the Bodrog and Hernad Rivers and the lower slopes and valleys have vineyards and orchards. Further up the slopes there are woodlands of Ash, Hornbeam, Oak and Beech with pure beechwoods and conifers at higher levels.

Birds

Notable Species

Breeding raptors are the main ornithological interest with species such as Eastern Imperial Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle and Booted Eagle, Black Kite, Western Honey-Buzzard and Saker Falcon. Eurasian Eagle Owl breeds and Ural Owl is present in years of high rodent populations. White Stork is a common breeder in many local villages but Black Stork can be very elusive and found only in the most remote parts of the hills as is Hazel Grouse. Woodpeckers are much in evidence and include Black Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker and White-backed Woodpecker, Syrian Woodpecker and Middle Spotted Woodpecker. Hawfinch is common and the orchards and more open woodlands have Wryneck, Woodlark, Tree Pipit and Lesser Grey Shrike. Breeding warblers include Marsh Warbler, River Warbler and Barred Warbler. Wetland areas have Great White Egret, Purple Heron and Black-crowned Night Heron and Marsh Harrier in summer. Boldogkovar in the Zemplen Hills is a regular site for Wallcreeper.

Checklist

Birds you can see here include:

Black-crowned Night Heron, Great White Egret, Purple Heron, Black Stork, White Stork, Western Honey-Buzzard, Black Kite, Short-toed Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Northern Goshawk, European Sparrowhawk, Rough-legged Buzzard, Common Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Golden Eagle, Booted Eagle, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Northern Hobby, Saker Falcon, Hazel Grouse, Common Quail, Corn Crake, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Turtle Dove, Common Cuckoo, Barn Owl, Eurasian Scops Owl, Great Eagle Owl, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Ural Owl, Long-eared Owl, European Nightjar, Common Swift, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Wryneck, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Syrian Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Lark, Barn Swallow, Tree Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Bohemian Waxwing, Common Wren, Eurasian Robin, Nightingale, Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Rock Thrush, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Grasshopper Warbler, River Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Barred Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Wood Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Willow Tit, Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Wallcreeper, Common Treecreeper, Short-toed Treecreeper, Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Great Grey Shrike, Common Jay, Common Magpie, Nutcracker, Hooded Crow, Common Starling, Rose-coloured Starling, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, European Serin, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Common Crossbill, Common Bullfinch, Hawfinch, Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting

Site Information

Access and Facilities

The Zemplen Hills lie to the north of the town of Szerencs which is about 35km from Miskolc on Road 37. From Szerencs stay on Road 37 to Satoraljaujhely or take the minor roads northwards into the hills. Some of the area is protected as a Landscape Protection Area but most is of free and easy access and there is a good network of footpaths.

Contact Details

To do

External Links

Content and images originally posted by Steve