May is considered to be the best month for birdphotography in our hides, which is probably true for diversity but certain subjects can be really good in June and suprisigly into July!
After the displaying and mating period in May, June and early July is the time when there is the best chance to photograph (almost) all our special birds as they are feeding their youngs. Also the chance for action such as adult birds are passing prey is great this time of the year! So June and July is fun indeed in the hides. It is also a challange to capture the special moments!
The Roller is one of those who are – especially in the first days after the chicks hatched – passing food for each other, as the youngs are exclusively fed by the female bird at the beginning. The second half of June and July is great for these majestic birds and a variety of prey items possible.
This year Rollers were photographable from 4 of our hides, of course the best opportunities and captures were from the dedicated ‘Roller Hides’.
Moreover these special moments, there are some species which have greater chance to catch in June and July – one of these is the colourful Bee-eater which are arriving late in the year and a morning spent with them is always a truly memorable one.
All our Shrike species are late arriving ones, however they are here in May the best time to capture them from our hides are in June. Both Red-backed and Lesser Gray Shrike were present this year at the hides dedicated to them.
Red-footed Falcons are also raising their young ones. Usually Kestrels are starting earlier but are still around and possible to photograph from the tower hides in June.
There were a few special guests at the Red-footed Falcon towers this year. The most lucky and keen photographers had chance to capture even Golden Oriole from behind the glass and as a pair of Roller were nesting in one of the nest boxes attached on the hide they were also hanging around most of the time.
If one would like to have the most diverse list of photogrpahed species then the hide to chose was definitely the Pygmy Cormorant / Reedbed Hide Complex. As going further in time more and more Reedwarblers and other songbirds were getting regular in front of the Reedbed Hide. Even Moustached Warbler was regular besides the more common Sedge and Reed Warbler. However Bearded Reedlings were hanging around always in Spring, the time they were coming out into the open is after they fledged their youngs from June. July was excellent for Bearded Tits with often 10-15 around the hide!
Besides the songbirds a few more species – which are usually very hard to photograph – were visiting the hide every day. Water Rail was common since April and Little Crake became almost a daily visitor to June.
The main hide was aslo productive beside its smaller cousin (the reedbed hide). Pygmy Cormorants were usually visting in the afternoon hours, but Common Moorhen, Mute Swan, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe and even Little Bittern could turn up any time of the day in front of the hide.
Sakertours Team
Bird Photography & Birdwatching in the Hortobágy 