Daniel Bastaja
@kupac1.bsky.social
A Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) against the snow. After penguins, #swans have the most feathers of any type of bird, and most of that is on the neck. All those tiny, densely packed feathers insulate the neck when they plunge their heads into the icy water. #BirdingHungary #waterfowl
January 29, 2026 at 6:04 PM
A Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) against the snow. After penguins, #swans have the most feathers of any type of bird, and most of that is on the neck. All those tiny, densely packed feathers insulate the neck when they plunge their heads into the icy water. #BirdingHungary #waterfowl
Another thrush for #ThrushRushThursday Male Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) in front of my window. #BirdingHungary #thrushes #blackbirds
January 29, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Another thrush for #ThrushRushThursday Male Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) in front of my window. #BirdingHungary #thrushes #blackbirds
January 29, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopus syriacus). In Hungary, it tends to be found near human settlement. Relatively open spaces in parks and gardens. #BirdingHungary #woodpeckers #WoodpeckerWednesday
January 28, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopus syriacus). In Hungary, it tends to be found near human settlement. Relatively open spaces in parks and gardens. #BirdingHungary #woodpeckers #WoodpeckerWednesday
No Spotted Redshanks around right now, but here is one from last fall. With sound, you can hear its familiar "chuwit" call. #BirdingHungary #WaderWednesday #shorebirds #waders #sandpipers
January 28, 2026 at 5:20 PM
No Spotted Redshanks around right now, but here is one from last fall. With sound, you can hear its familiar "chuwit" call. #BirdingHungary #WaderWednesday #shorebirds #waders #sandpipers
A quick snippet of Red-capped Plover at Bald Hill Beach, north of Adelaide. #BirdingAustralia #plovers #shorebirds #waders #WaderWednesday
January 28, 2026 at 5:17 PM
A quick snippet of Red-capped Plover at Bald Hill Beach, north of Adelaide. #BirdingAustralia #plovers #shorebirds #waders #WaderWednesday
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