[Kate-D]

Dear Montgomeryshire Habitats Management Group birders

Do you want to go to Hungary with the tour company Bird’s Wildlife & Nature from 24th June to 1st July 2023
I hope to go with a friend on this trip. If we don’t get the requisite numbers, and I think only two more are needed, the trip won’t go ahead. I’ve never been to Hungary before and I’ve heard birders say that it is amazing as they didn’t have industrial and intensive agriculture like us and there’re still a lot of small farms. That may change and it’s probably changing now. I know the British guide Howard Vaughan. He is now a full-time tour leader after spending decades at the Rspb, principally at Rainham Marshes in Essex, where I first met him in 2009. He is very experienced and good fun. I have been twice with him to watch spring migrants fly over and on Lesvos as well as numerous day trips in Southeast England. He writes:
Our Hungary trip takes you to the famous flat grassland, the, puszta’ of Kiskunság and then to the Bükk hills. These two completely different areas offer very diverse habitats offer us the chance of a long list of wetland, limestone karst, woodland and steppe species along with some fantastic mammals, dragonflies, butterflies, moths and spectacular summer wildflowers. Anyone fancy Great Bustards, Rollers, Ural Owls and nearly all the European Woodpeckers?
Howard Vaughan http://www.blueeyedbirder.com Tel: 07929086865 http://www.blueeyedbirding.blogspot.com

Full details at Bird’s Wildlife & Nature page here: https://birdswildlife.com/hungary-june24th-01stjuly2023/

I am not part of this company nor benefiting in any way save that if I can get anyone else interested I’m closer to being able to go.
Thanks for reading.

[Kate-D]

Very interesting Andy. Looking forward to seeing/hearing more later in the season.
I have heard that successful blue tit nest numbers were down last year and I think the year before.
This is the fourth season of nest boxes targeted to flycatchers and redstarts. Although the latter haven’t nested in any of the purposely designed boxes whereas Great tits have, pied flycatchers have taken up 4 of the 9 boxes without blocking entrance holes. I will ask Ceri of MWT if it’s a good idea this season to block the redstart boxes until they return.

[Kate-D]

Nice job Andy. Are those snowdrops beyond?

[Kate-D]

Very helpful. Many thanks Tammy.

[Kate-D]

Thanks Paul. Thanks Andy.
Pleased to report a little of the yellow rattle I sowed last summer has sprouted 😉
Also pleased to report nuthatch nesting in a box for the first time. Third year of boxes. These were put up after a survey by two ecologists to target flycatchers and redstarts. Pied flycatcher is nesting in the same box third year running and a mystery nest: either redstart (which be first time, or pied fly with an artistic bent!).
I have photos so happy to post if that’s possible.
Kate

[Kate-D]

Thanks Paul.

[Kate-D]

Hello Paul
All sound great. Do you get flycatchers? Would like to hear more about your birds.

I just looked at Hyssington on the map and it occurs to me that it would be great if we could have a map on this website where members could put our sites so we could see who we’re close to thinking along the lines of nature corridors etc. What do you think Andy/Sue/Tammy?

Kate

[Kate-D]

Thanks Andy for these helpful comments.

[Kate-D]

Thanks Sue for starting this meadows forum.
I too was at the same talk.
I need to buy a Stihl electric strimmer to cut back the grass now on my yellow rattle sown patches. Has anyone any recommendations where to buy one? I don’t mind used or new but need to buy asap as the excellent Plantlife course woman said to cut now and not wait until March which is what I was advised to do by the person giving me the seed from his meadow.

Many thanks in advance.

[Author]

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