This is the second trip report from the Bee-eater Bonanza 2015

Four new sessions have now been made during the Bee-eater Bonanza. One of the highlights for me is when we go out on Lake Tisza and this time the weather gods where angry. We had rain and a thunderstorm out on the lake which forced us to turn back after being drenched by the heavy rain. We therefore decided that we will go back on a better evening to really have a go at the lake. Still the bad weather gave us a different type of picture, which is great for a portfolio.

Our third morning session was spent with the Golden Oriole, a huge bonus on this trip and a bird that is rarely seen even if it is bright yellow. We used two cars and camouflage netting and put our four-wheel hides in position at a couple of mulberry trees that the Golden Oriole harvests. All of us got pictures of this elusive species that might have become a new favorite for us.

During the afternoon the third day we split the group to be able to use two different hides. We got a real treat even if we could photo many species from the woodland hide, a fairly new built hide, as we had a Sparrowhawk visiting the reflection pool having a bath. This was a real bonus for me as I had missed the Sparrowhawk during the winter trip. The other spent their time in the Hawfinch hide and got to see and photo many different species for instance Common Nightingale, Syrian Woodpecker and Hawfinch. Many smaller birds also visit the hide and the Goldfinch is probably the prettiest in my eyes.

The fourth day meant next session with the European Bee-eater. We changed location for this, not something we do normally, but as this is a Bee-eater Bonanza we needed better activity than our primary location gave us on our first outing.

We ended up in the Debrecen area where we tried a photo hide for three. It was at the normal sand bank and it seemed promising as the Bee-eater colony greeted us when we arrived. While the guest spent a couple of hours there I went with Zoltán to a Souslik colony trying to capture some pictures of this small mammal. It turned out to be hard as we had strong winds and a great deal of short grass that made life difficult. Still we managed to get a decent result and when the guests felt satisfied at the Bee-eater colony I also gave it a try, while one guest stayed with me and the other two went to the Souslik colony with Zoltán, as we had a good overcast keeping the harshest light away.

Everyone was really happy with the morning session.

The afternoon was spent doing a safari. Sadly the wind was still hard which made all birds skittish. Still we found plenty of birds and some even cooperated. The rice fields where full of birds, but I think we will give it another try as these safaris can be really productive if the weather just permits it.

Please enjoy the gallery.

Photo Gallery: Bee-eater Bonanza part two