Poland, July 15th-17th: First days

We departured from Apeldoorn at 6.30 in the morning on the 15th. Our plan was to drive to Bialowieza in two days. After driving 700km through Germany, passing the German-Polish border at Frankfurt a/d Oder, we arrived at Pozradlo where we had picked our campsite, a dutch campsite called De Kroon.  In Germany we had seen quite a few Red Kites along the highway and also a Black Kite. Along the highway near the Polish border we saw an Osprey nest from the driving car with a bird sitting on the nest. We'd them at exactly the same place three years earlier as well. In the morning of the 16th we woke up with the sound of Cranes, Corn Buntings, Golden Orioles and in the mean time the Fieldfares had replaced the Blackbirds.

We packed our stuff and continued our journey to Bialowieza. After a full day drive with some breaks in between we arrived at Bialowieza around 5 in the afternoon. We camped at the campsite next to the campsite U michala. We liked this campsite more because of the space and it was less busy.

In the evening we had a short trip with our bicycles. We drove to Pogorcelze, north of Bialowieza. On the way there we had several singing Rosefinches, a singing Savi's Warbler and a calling Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. In the city of Pogorcelze we had another Rosefinch and we had fine views of our first Wryneck of the trip.

17th of July

We decided to have a bit of a sleep-in this morning. Because of the light we already woke up at 4.30 but a relaxing day would do no harm. At the campsite, during breakfast, we had Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Icterine Warbler and a welcome surprise was a Wryneck in front of the tent.

Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)

After breakfast we cycled to Teremiski. On the way we had nice views of Rosefinches. In the clearings of Pogorcelze and Teremiski we had a couple of Lesser Spotted Eagles. At Teremiski a Great Grey Shrike was perched on a wire.

Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus)

Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina)

In the afternoon back at the campsite Serins and Siskins were foraging at the campsite, offering some photo oppertunities. In the Bialowieza village we heard and saw our first Collared Flycatcher of the trip. A female type.

Serin (Serinus serinus)

The evening was spent in the eastern part of Bialowieza, in Wysokie Bagno Reserve. At the site where we had Three-toed Woodpeckers before we found them here again! Two Three-toed Woodpeckers were seen foraging in dead trees. In the dead trees we also saw some Pied Flycatchers.

 Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus), the bird dissappeared too quickly before I could take a decent picture. It disseappeared to the back of the tree and we didn't find it again!

 Evening on the eastern side of the Bialowieza village

Pierogis at noon