Hungary Hide Photography

The Eagle Hides can often offer unrivalled opportunities to photograph impressive White-tailed Eagles; this is a young bird (Mike Watson)

 

Our friend and colleague János Oláh has been instrumental in setting up a series of superb bird-photography hides in Eastern Hungary, in and around the Hortobágy National Park. These allow some superb opportunities to photograph a number of otherwise difficult to approach species, as well as many commoner species.

The variety and nature of the hides makes this a wonderful venue for between one and six photographers, taking customized arrangements to suit your particular requirements. We are also offering a special Wild Images group tour for up to six photographers every May.

 

Hide Development

The most critical issue in bird photography is how to get close enough to your subject and a hide is often necessary in order to achieve this with shy bird species. Recently, hide technology has improved greatly, and natural hides may represent a revolutionary innovation in the field of nature conservation, since not only do they hide the photographer, but also appear as a natural part of the landscape. They integrate into the natural setting and are quickly accepted by the birds. They create new feeding, roosting and even nesting habitats for birds, and comply with the principles and practices of habitat restoration, bird protection and bird photography. Our natural hide network has been developed and constructed in various bird habitats in and around the Hortobágy National Park and has been developed to blend in with the landscape allowing you, the photographer, to feel part of the natural environment.

• The hides are designed to allow you to get close to the birds and be able to photograph them in relative comfort.
• The hides are built from natural substances in perfect harmony with their natural surroundings.
• The unique glass window is covered with a special layer that is not a one-way glass but it does reflect the photon spectrum of natural colours of the environment.
• The large glass panoramic windows make photography an unforgettable experience as you are integrated into nature and in the centre the bird action. Movements behind the glass generally does not disturb the birds.
• The special glass layering does not interfere with the contrast and sharpness of you pictures so you can get perfect results (though you do lose around 1.3 stops in light).
• Most of the hides in the network are located in the world famous Hortobágy National Park, and the special atmosphere of this World Heritage Site can be experienced in a very different way from the hides.

 

Hide Comfort

The hides have wide photo-through panorama windows looking in one, two, three or four directions. The panoramic hides are divided inside into mobile and flexible compartments by curtains, so that the photo-through glasses can operate properly and effectively. The hides are spacious and comfortable enough to be used by up to three photographers. Winter hides are heated. Padded chairs with a back support are provided for some of the hides, while other hides have mattresses.

 

THE HIDES

 

Aquatic Hides

These hides operate from mid March to mid November, though the Little Bittern hide only operates from May to August.

 

Pygmy Cormorant Hide

This hide is located in a fishpond system in the western part of the Hortobágy National Park and was installed in March 2008. The fishpond is used as a bird feeding pond and there is no fishery activity for most of the year. In summer most of the pond is covered with floating Yellow Floating Heart which serves as a lovely yellow background for photography. The hide is located at the edge of the reedbed and has a circular island in front of it which is used by birds for resting, preening, feeding etc. There are also several branches around the hide for birds to perch on. It is about 100m walk through reeds to reach the hide with about 50cm deep water in the last section (rubber boots are provided). The bottom of the hide is about 5cm above water level so it is possible to take pictures from a very low angle. The hide is on pillars and is comfortable for two photographers.

 

Little Bittern Hide

This hide is located in the eastern edge of the Hortobágy National Park and it was installed in June 2008. It was built in the reedbed of an old oxbow lake. The Little Bitterns are fed fish. It is about 20m walk through reed to get to the hide in about 20 cm deep water. The bottom of the hide is about 15 cm above water level so it is possible to take pictures from low angle. The hide is on pillars and is comfortable for two or three photographers.

 

Reedbed Hide

This hide is situated in one of the fishponds in the Hortobágy National Park and was completed in March 2009. It is accessed via a boardwalk. The bottom of the hide is about 5cm above water level so it is possible to take pictures from a very low angle. The hide is on pillars and is comfortable for two or three photographers.

 

Some of the more interesting species one may be able to photograph from these aquatic hides include Red-necked Grebe, Pygmy Cormorant, Little Bittern, Black-crowned Night, and Squacco Herons, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Garganey, Ferruginous Duck, Smew, Marsh Harrier, Little Crake, Water Rail, Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull, Whiskered Tern, Black Tern, Common Kingfisher, Yellow Wagtail, Bluethroat, Savi’s Warbler, Great Reed Warbler and Bearded and Penduline Tits.

 

Eagle Hides

These hides only operate from mid-November through to mid-March.

 

White-tailed Eagle Hide 1

This hide is located in the northern part of the Hortobágy National Park close to a wood which is regularly used by the eagles for roosting. It was installed in an open steppe habitat in September 2007. It is possible to drive to the hide. Most of the hide is in the ground, with only 50cm of it emerging above the surface so it blends perfectly into the flat treeless landscape. It is comfortable for three photographers.

 

White-tailed Eagle Hide 2

This hide is located in the eastern part of the Hortobágy National Park close to a fishpond system which is regularly used by the eagles for hunting. It was installed in open steppe habitat in September 2008. It is possible to drive to the hide. Most of the hide is in the ground, just 60cm emerge above the surface so it blends perfectly into the flat treeless landscape. It is comfortable for three photographers.

 

Eastern Imperial Eagle Hide

This hide is located near Jászberény in an agricultural and steppe mosaic habitat. It was installed in October 2008. It is possible to drive to the hide. Most of the hide is in a depression so it blends perfectly into the flat landscape. It is comfortable for three photographers.

 

Obviously the eagles will be the main target species at these hides, but other species we may be able to photograph include Golden Eagle, Common Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Northern Goshawk, Caspian Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Grey Shrike, Hooded Crow and Raven.

 

Passerine Drinking Hide

This hide operates throughout the year. The hide was installed in the Debrecen Great Wood reserve, which is a superb old oak forest, in October 2008. There is a drinking pool in front of the hide and woodpeckers and seedeating birds are fed throughout the winter. It is a 300m gentle walk to the hide which is comfortable for three photographers.

Some of the more interesting species one may be able to photograph from this hide include Common Buzzard, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Northern Goshawk, Turtle Dove, Black, Green, Grey-headed, Great Spotted, Middle Spotted and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, Wryneck, Common Nightingale, Common Redstart, Redwing, Lesser Whitethroat, Wood Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher, Marsh Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Golden Oriole, Brambling, Eurasian Siskin, European Serin and Hawfinch.

 

Red-footed Falcon Tower Hide

This hide operates from late April to mid July. The hide is located in the eastern part of the Hortobágy National Park in a wood which is a regular breeding area for the falcons. It was installed in March 2008. Nest boxes are placed around the hide and there are several strategically-placed branches (with good backgrounds) for the falcons to perch on in front of the hide. It is possible to drive to the hide which is 5m above ground level and has windows either side of the hide. It is comfortable for four photographers. Some of the more interesting species one may be able to photograph from this hide include Common Crane, Marsh Harrier, Red-footed Falcon, Common Kestrel, Saker, Turtle Dove, Common Cuckoo, European Roller, Common Hoopoe, Black Redstart, Marsh Warbler, Lesser and Common Whitethroats and Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrikes.

 

Mobile Hides

 

Panorama Hide

This hide operates in April and May, and September and October, and is used for several bird species. Usually it is located in shallow water in a temporary grazed wetland in the northern part of the Hortobágy National Park. It is usually enclosed by water so birds can go around, and usually requires a walk of 100-150m in knee-deep water. All the walls are made of special photo-through glass to make it possible to photograph in every direction. It is comfortable for two photographers but can easily take three. Obviously the species likely to be photographed depend upon the positioning of the hide, but include a variety of ducks, waders and other wetland species.

 

Crane Hides

These hides operate from mid-September to early November. The locations of the mobile hides used for Common Crane photography varies from year to year but are always in the northern part of the Hortobágy National Park. Usually they are located in shallow water in a temporary grazed wetland or close to a dyke where cranes drink and bathe. Usually a short walk is required to reach the hide, but when it is located in a roosting area, it may be through water. The hides are comfortable for three photographers, with the sole focus being on the cranes.

 

 

WILD IMAGES GROUP DEPARTURES

 

Sunday 15th May – Saturday 21st May 2011 (7 days)

Leader: János Oláh

Group Size Limit: 6

 

Itinerary

Day 1 The tour begins this afternoon at Budapest, from where we will transfer to the Hortabágy for a six nights stay.

Days 2 - 6 We will have five full days of photography allowing us to enjoy a variety of the hides on offer. The exact programme will be determined by the available subjects and the desires of the photographers, though everyone will have ample opportunity to enjoy each of the active hides.

Day 7 After some final time in the Hortabágy we will return to Budapest, where the tour ends this afternoon.

 

Accommodation & Road Transport: The hotel is of a good standard. Road transport is by minibus and roads are good.

Walking: The walking effort is easy throughout.

Climate: Many days are warm, dry and sunny, but cool, overcast weather with some rain is not unusual.

Tour Price: £1150, €1357, $1668. Budapest/Budapest. Price includes all transportation, all accommodations, all meals, all excursions, all entrance fees, leader services. Tips at hotels/guesthouses are not included.

Single Room Supplement: £102, €120, $148.

Deposit: £300, €360, $440. If you are booking more than 12 months before departure the interim deposit is only £150, €180, $220.

International Airfares: Return fares from London cost about £160, €189, $232. We can also arrange international air travel from many other departure points. Please contact us about your air travel requirements.

 

CUSTOM DEPARTURES AT ANY TIME

These superb hides lend themselves to customized tours at any time of year and of any duration, and you will always be looked after by János or a member of his team. Please contact us if you would like us to put together a customized itinerary for you.

 

During these visits, we have access to a fantastic array of photographic hides which give splendid access to some of Europe's most highly-sought species such as these Red-footed Falcons (Jack Clark )

The Red-footed Falcon Hide (image courtesy of Sakertours)

This beautiful portrait of a Middle Spotted Woodpecker was taken from the woodland hide (Jack Clark)

Another magnificent White-tailed Eagle (Mike Watson)

A photographer's dream, a magnificent male Great Bustard. Hungary may just offer that chance!? Plans are in place for a new Great Bustard hide, and we will keep you posted. (Jack Clark)