Finding Birds in Hungary - The DVD (All Regions)

The profile of Hungary as a birding destination has perhaps dropped a bit since the 1990s, but it still provides great opportunities to see a good range of birds and with flights from the UK costing as little as £40 each way it is a very affordable destination. Those who make the effort to visit the country are richly rewarded, particularly in spring.

The areas covered in the DVD include the famous plains at Hortobágy in the north-east, and the major woodlands areas nearby at Zemplén and Bükk. In particular there are many fishponds in Hungary and these are visited too, including those at Hortobágy and Polgár, but also Szeged Fehértó, Péteri-tó and Csaj-tó in the south. Also featured are Kis-Balaton and Lake Velence in the south-west, while nearer to the city of Budapest there are the Csákvár Marshes and the tiny reserve of Osca. There is also the Kiskunság national park which provides some of the best viewing opportunities for Great Bustard Otus tarda within relatively easy reach of Budapest.

In total the DVD covers fifteen key areas. As always with Gosney’s productions the footage from his high-definition digital video camera is impressive. Apart from Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus and Long-eared Owl Asio otus using neighbouring nest boxes, specialties such as Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca, Ural Owl Strix uralensis, Saker Falcon Falco cherrug, White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos, Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus, Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus, European Roller Coracias garrulus and River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis are all featured.

Dave Gosney’s DVDs are well known for their plain-speaking no-nonsense approach to bird finding. The habitat and surroundings are shown for each site, and Dave is often in front of the camera giving his own perspective on the best way to see the most birds. The DVD has been produced in conjunction with a book of the same title so it is easy to find out all you need about every site in the film, and importantly the books gives very precise directions on where to go to see the best birds.