Having arrived in Poznan on the Monday (11th Feb) afternoon, courtesy of Ryanair from Stansted (£20.35 return) I spent the whole of Tuesday birding with Irek, a local birder with whom I birded south of Poznan last February. This time we headed north of the city into an area of open fields and deciduous forests. We met at 9.00am, weather was warm for the time of year but the light quality was poor and remained so throughout the day. However, this did not disappoint. We stopped for a brief wander in a local forest that was known to hold crested tit. This was my fourth time trying to connect with this species. Last three, all unsuccessful, were in Holland (2003), Szczecin, (Poland 2006) and Poznan area (Poland, 2007) Due to the lack of sunlight little was singing or calling but soon we had observed raven, calling nuthatches (many), GSW, hooded crow and several species of the more common tits and finches. The first black woodpecker of the day was seen and heard. In all we had 5. No crested tits, though, so off we headed to Sucky Las. Here we stopped again where Irek showed me a large water filled hole in the woods. Meteorite strike from 5,500 years ago. Most spectacular. However, things got better as our attention was drawn to the canopy as a flock of 15+ hawfinches moved between 2 trees. Great views. Siskins were also registered. These were my first Polish hawfinches. Back to the car and on to Radjewo where we had a 2 hour walk planned. Crested tits, surely? En route Irek explained that a palace, left before the 2nd world war and left derelict had recently been renovated by the original owners. Laws had been passed in the 1990's that meant that previous owners of large properties could regain them. This particular palace at Wargowo had been restored to all its former glory. A wonderful sight.
Upon arrival for the long walk we were greeted by jays and not much longer, a small party of bullfinches flew by. A treecreeper called as we studied a mistle thrush singing high from the trees. We neared the River Warta, where we crossed a tributary stream not by the rotten man made structure, but on the more sure beaver dam. Evidence of both beaver and wild boar were all around, the latter having dug small pits around the roots of the trees, especially hazel. We flushed mallard and teal as we came to the banks of the large, fast flowing Warta. A common buzzard disappeared into some young conifers as we walked parallel to the river. White poplars were noted, one particularly tall specimen growing in the grounds of a monastery on the opposite bank. 2 wrens dived for troglodyte cover as a blackbird gave our presence away. Marsh tits "perchewed" but the best was to come as we returned towards the car. Another failed crested tit hunt but a middle spotted woodpecker showed superbly not 100 metres from the car. Back into the car for a final trip, this time to Obeziene fishponds. The name roughly translating as "the village by the lake". Whilst in West Pomerania I had visited fishponds but these were on a much larger scale. A quick scan over the water (100 hectares) gave up 7 goosander, 4 goldeneye and 2 greylags. A party of tundra bean geese were a pointer to what we encountered later. A trip along the banks gave up little more than a few tits, a flyover grey heron and an empty penduline nest swinging in the grey breeze. A scope view of a distant heronry gave one bird already standing on a nest. We moved to the second, drained pond and immediately flushed a green sandpiper. A lone white wagtail wandered on the mud. Back into the car with a view to track down some crested larks which Irek said could be found in the local villages. But no, anything beginning with "crested" was not on show. One stop at a farm where a flock of birds rose from straw and hay bales gave up 25+ yellowhammers. We were then intercepted by a somewhat irate farmer and his son. Having shrugged my shoulders and said I was English I left it up to Irek to explain our crested lark search. It transpired that, seeing we were with binoculars, he thought we were from the government and were checking his land before he may receive an EU grant! He shook his head when Irek inquired about crested larks. We made our excuses and left!
A sparrow hawk flew in front of us as we headed back to Poznan. As we drove through the rural scenes I noted a group of 40 bean geese in a field adjacent to the road. We stopped to check for other species and it rapidly became apparent that not 40 but more than 4000 were present. Tundra bean geese made up 90% with the rest being white fronted. A few scope scans for other species proved fruitless, but a spectacular sight. A lone common buzzard sat near the geese, but in the distance another raptor could be seen. Looking slightly larger than our buzzard, with similar stature and just visible was a white patch across its chest. Could have been a long legged buzzard, but too far away, in appalling light, so we'll never know.
So back to Poznan for 4.00pm and a meeting in town with some friends from the local university, but that's another story.
The following morning, I eventually awoke and headed into the city centre to have a look at a large lake and the River Warta. All I added were a selection of gulls and corvids. 41 species in all which is not too bad for central Poland in February. I must change my trip times and try to arrive in May. A possibility for later in the year.
However, as last year, my thanks to Irek for taking time out to show me around and tell me a little of the history and show me lots of the natural history of this great place. I shall be back.
Jono Forgham
A link here http://www.birdforum.net/showthread...ighlight=Poznan to my previous visit in 2007