Just back from a long weekend to the Bialowieza Forest.
Highlights included 8 woodpecker species on 12th June. Hazel Grouse (finally after four countries and 30 miles of forest walking) and Citrine wagtail.
This won't be long but hopefully will help anybody planning a visit in the next few months.
Briefly for anybody going - A must is buy the map of the area with the birding locations marked on it - widely available in local hotels and shops in Bialowieza - and the best map ever in the history of birding!!! Also plan at least one trip into the restricted part of the forest with Arek Szymura or his son. +48 0 601450035. Will cost about £35 but well worth it and he will also be able to tell you about what has been seen in other areas. Also take bug repellant: 20 species of mosquitoes and I helped in keeping up the biodiversity for future generations. Spray every two hours - I'm not over estimating this. Also check yourself for ticks at the end of each day. I managed two on me.
Around Bialowieza - you cannot fail to see White Stork, Thrush Nightingale, RB Shrike, Rosefinch, Icterine Warbler and a lot more. Palacowy Park has Collared Flycatcher, Wryneck, Grey headed Woodpecker, Marsh and Grt reed Warblers, Golden Oriole.
A nice walk is in the south east corner of the village - go past the Hotel Bialowieski and park just after the small bridge. Do a circular walk through the woods around Wysokie Bagno reserve and back - Thrush Nightingale easy to see here, as is RB shrike by roadside, C, P and Spot Flycatchers, LS, GS Woodpecker, G Oriole, Rosefinch, Wood Warblers and Blackcaps everywhere, Barred and Icterine warblers. Willow and Crested tits, Serin, Hawfinch, Fieldfare - also red squirrel and wild boar (area also apparently holds Hazelgrouse). In evenings Corncrake and River warbler. For River Warbler easiest thing is to continue on road around a couple of bends until you are parallel with the old railway embankment to the right of the road. Get up on the embankment and follow a call - be patient.
On 12th june an early morning walk with Arek in the forest produced, WB, GS, MS, TT and Black woodpeckers. GH and Wryneck at north end of park Palacowy and the LS Woodpecker as noted above.
The meadows either side of the road just before Pogorzelce were very productive, especially in the evening: Honey and Common Buzzard, Montagu's Harrier, LS Eagle, LG and RB shrike, Crane, Raven, red deer.
Clearing at teremiski swamp - park in obvious space after village but before bridge and walk north for 50 metres. LS, GS and GH woodpeckers, LS eagle, Hobby, many typical woodland species.
South side Siemianowka reservoir, area around observation tower east of Siemianowka village - a bity like Grove ferry but with birds, superb area. Citrine wagtail very easy perching on green fence around waterworks building. Also Black, WWB and Whiskered terns a plenty. Garganey, Gadwall, Crane, Great White egret, Honey Buzzard, WT Eagle, Marsh harrier, Bittern
And finally, thanks to Arek's advice I walked the forest paths around Gruszki (east of Narewka). Was watching a Nutcracker on a path when suddenly a Hazelgrouse just nonchantly walked across the path right in front of me, nibbled at a seed head and dissappeared on the other side of the path (exactly where the Hazelgrouse image is printed on the aforementioned map).
Just got to get Tengmalm's Owl now!!!!
Hope these brief notes help anybody going out there. It really is a fantastic area and I would thoroughly recommend just sitting in the woods for an hour at a time - it's quite amazing what comes to you. And the meadows make you see just what intensive farming has done to the UK!
Sounds great Nick.
Could you post some info on the logistics of getting there, where to stay, car hire, how to cope without being able to speak any Polish, etc. Its always been a place I've wanted to visit.
Sounds like a fantastic trip Nick!! How near is bialowieza to biebrza (sp?) marshes?