Daniel Bastaja
@kupac1.bsky.social
The Crested Larks (Galerida cristata) are so well camouflaged against the bare, muddy ground they like to call home. If they weren't so vocal, they would be so easy to overlook. #BirdingHungary #larks
January 27, 2026 at 7:12 PM
The Crested Larks (Galerida cristata) are so well camouflaged against the bare, muddy ground they like to call home. If they weren't so vocal, they would be so easy to overlook. #BirdingHungary #larks
Rather than taking flight right away like they usually do, this Great Cormorant waddled up the side of the dyke. Once it got to level ground, then it took off. 😀 #BirdingHungary #cormorants #waterfowl
January 27, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Rather than taking flight right away like they usually do, this Great Cormorant waddled up the side of the dyke. Once it got to level ground, then it took off. 😀 #BirdingHungary #cormorants #waterfowl
Another bird grateful for the warmer weather. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). #BirdingHungary #cormorants #waterfowl
January 27, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Another bird grateful for the warmer weather. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). #BirdingHungary #cormorants #waterfowl
The Gray Herons are glad the cold snap is over and there is now some open water. That means they can find food! 🐟🐟 #BirdingHungary #herons #waders
January 27, 2026 at 6:15 PM
The Gray Herons are glad the cold snap is over and there is now some open water. That means they can find food! 🐟🐟 #BirdingHungary #herons #waders
Bunch of Greater White-fronted #Geese and Mute #Swans loafing in a field. With all the cold and snow earlier this month, many of the geese have shifted south but there is still reasonable numbers around. #BirdingHungary
January 26, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Bunch of Greater White-fronted #Geese and Mute #Swans loafing in a field. With all the cold and snow earlier this month, many of the geese have shifted south but there is still reasonable numbers around. #BirdingHungary
This Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra) wasn't too happy I didn't give it time to clean the dirt off its beak before I took its picture. "Just look at me.. I'm a mess!" 😂 #BirdingHungary #buntings
January 26, 2026 at 5:47 PM
This Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra) wasn't too happy I didn't give it time to clean the dirt off its beak before I took its picture. "Just look at me.. I'm a mess!" 😂 #BirdingHungary #buntings
Big flock of Common #Linnets (Linaria cannabina) yesterday. The genus and species name comes from its partiality to flax and hemp seeds. I get them in the yard in spring and summer, but in winter, they abandon suburbia for the farmland. Probably easier to find food. #BirdingHungary #finches
January 26, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Big flock of Common #Linnets (Linaria cannabina) yesterday. The genus and species name comes from its partiality to flax and hemp seeds. I get them in the yard in spring and summer, but in winter, they abandon suburbia for the farmland. Probably easier to find food. #BirdingHungary #finches
These two juvenile Eastern Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca) were fighting over the remains of a dead coot. #BirdingHungary #eagles #birdsofprey
January 25, 2026 at 6:21 PM
These two juvenile Eastern Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca) were fighting over the remains of a dead coot. #BirdingHungary #eagles #birdsofprey
Thousands of these moving thru the farmland and puszta right now. Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris). Strictly a winter bird in Hungary although it breeds very close by in several of the neighbouring countries. #BirdingHungary #thrushes
January 25, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Thousands of these moving thru the farmland and puszta right now. Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris). Strictly a winter bird in Hungary although it breeds very close by in several of the neighbouring countries. #BirdingHungary #thrushes
Portrait of a male Great Bustard from today. The males are much larger than the females and have a much thicker and paler neck. The north part of the Kiskunság is very reliable for this species right now. #BirdingHungary #bustards #bigbirds
January 25, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Portrait of a male Great Bustard from today. The males are much larger than the females and have a much thicker and paler neck. The north part of the Kiskunság is very reliable for this species right now. #BirdingHungary #bustards #bigbirds
Phonescope video of a few of the Great Bustards (Otis tarda) I saw this afternoon. Watching these big boys is a great way to spend a Sunday! 😀 #BirdingHungary #bustards #bigbirds
January 25, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Phonescope video of a few of the Great Bustards (Otis tarda) I saw this afternoon. Watching these big boys is a great way to spend a Sunday! 😀 #BirdingHungary #bustards #bigbirds
The male Hen Harrier saying "Arrivaderci" . Guess he was tired of the attention. 😀 #BirdingHungary #harriers #hawks #birdsofprey
January 24, 2026 at 6:40 PM
The male Hen Harrier saying "Arrivaderci" . Guess he was tired of the attention. 😀 #BirdingHungary #harriers #hawks #birdsofprey
Male Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus). This is the common winter harrier in Hungary. #BirdingHungary #harriers #birdsofprey #hawks
January 24, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Male Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus). This is the common winter harrier in Hungary. #BirdingHungary #harriers #birdsofprey #hawks
Gray #Partridges are reasonably common in Hungarian farmland but hard to see because they are always under cover. Except when it snows. For some reason, when it is very cold and lots of snow on the ground, they like to sit out in the open. Not sure why that is. #BirdingHungary
January 24, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Gray #Partridges are reasonably common in Hungarian farmland but hard to see because they are always under cover. Except when it snows. For some reason, when it is very cold and lots of snow on the ground, they like to sit out in the open. Not sure why that is. #BirdingHungary
Another short phonescope video from yesterday.. the Great Grey Shrike. 😀 #BirdingHungary #shrikes
January 23, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Another short phonescope video from yesterday.. the Great Grey Shrike. 😀 #BirdingHungary #shrikes
One of yesterday's Saker #Falcons . Crappy video bcuz thru my scope & there was so much moisture in the air.. ice crystals and fog.. that my phone had trouble focusing properly. You can see the dark underwing coverts contrasting with paler flight feathers. #BirdingHungary #birdsofprey #sakers
January 23, 2026 at 9:00 PM
One of yesterday's Saker #Falcons . Crappy video bcuz thru my scope & there was so much moisture in the air.. ice crystals and fog.. that my phone had trouble focusing properly. You can see the dark underwing coverts contrasting with paler flight feathers. #BirdingHungary #birdsofprey #sakers
Standing like a sentinel over a cold, snowy, windswept plain, watching intently for any movement... the butcher bird... a Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor). No bugs in the grip of winter so its diet at this time of year is mice, voles and other small songbirds. #BirdingHungary #shrikes
January 22, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Standing like a sentinel over a cold, snowy, windswept plain, watching intently for any movement... the butcher bird... a Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor). No bugs in the grip of winter so its diet at this time of year is mice, voles and other small songbirds. #BirdingHungary #shrikes
This shot show you just how close the two Sakers were sitting to one another. Maybe a mated pair. It won't be too long now before they are getting the nest ready and starting to raise a family. #Sakers breed reasonably early in the spring. #BirdingHungary #falcons #birdsofprey
January 22, 2026 at 5:46 PM
This shot show you just how close the two Sakers were sitting to one another. Maybe a mated pair. It won't be too long now before they are getting the nest ready and starting to raise a family. #Sakers breed reasonably early in the spring. #BirdingHungary #falcons #birdsofprey
Here's the second Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug). This one a bit darker. #BirdingHungary #falcons #birdsofprey #sakers
January 22, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Here's the second Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug). This one a bit darker. #BirdingHungary #falcons #birdsofprey #sakers
Lucky today to run into a pair of endangered Saker Falcons (Falco cherrug) sitting on the ground. Uncommon resident and breeder in Hungary. This is the paler of the two individuals. #BirdingHungary #falcons #BirdsOfPrey #sakers
January 22, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Lucky today to run into a pair of endangered Saker Falcons (Falco cherrug) sitting on the ground. Uncommon resident and breeder in Hungary. This is the paler of the two individuals. #BirdingHungary #falcons #BirdsOfPrey #sakers
1 out of every 4 birds I saw during my Australia trip was not a lifer, and this is one of them.... Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus). Lots down under, but also one of the commoner summer marsh #terns in Hungary. #BirdingAustralia
January 20, 2026 at 5:27 PM
1 out of every 4 birds I saw during my Australia trip was not a lifer, and this is one of them.... Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus). Lots down under, but also one of the commoner summer marsh #terns in Hungary. #BirdingAustralia
Another "great" bird that gets around.. Great Egret (Ardea alba). Found on every continent except Antarctica. Didn't see very many in south Australia though. This was the only one I saw in Tasmania. #BirdingAustralia #BirdingTasmania #herons #egrets
January 20, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Another "great" bird that gets around.. Great Egret (Ardea alba). Found on every continent except Antarctica. Didn't see very many in south Australia though. This was the only one I saw in Tasmania. #BirdingAustralia #BirdingTasmania #herons #egrets
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). The widest range of any cormorant, this species can be found from Greenland to Tasmania and just about everywhere in between. #BirdingTasmania #BirdingAustralia #cormorants #waterfowl
January 20, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). The widest range of any cormorant, this species can be found from Greenland to Tasmania and just about everywhere in between. #BirdingTasmania #BirdingAustralia #cormorants #waterfowl
From Linnaeus to Lizard 😄 Saw this little guy running around the ecalyptus forest but haven't had a chance yet to check the ID. #WildAustralia #lizards #reptiles
January 20, 2026 at 5:13 PM
From Linnaeus to Lizard 😄 Saw this little guy running around the ecalyptus forest but haven't had a chance yet to check the ID. #WildAustralia #lizards #reptiles
Bust in Hobart's Botanical Garden of 18th century Swedish biologist Carl von Linné (Linnaeus). Inscription says "Father of systematic botany" but of course he was much more than that. His system of binomial nomeclature revolutionized the scientific study of all life on the planet. #Linnaeus
January 20, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Bust in Hobart's Botanical Garden of 18th century Swedish biologist Carl von Linné (Linnaeus). Inscription says "Father of systematic botany" but of course he was much more than that. His system of binomial nomeclature revolutionized the scientific study of all life on the planet. #Linnaeus