A walk to the Tripoint and a short stop near the Danube
In the end of July we took an opportunity to visit the Tripoint, where the borders of Slovakia, Hungary and Austria meet. It is the only time in the year to visit this place without disturbing important bird species of this area. We hoped to see Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris), but we had a bad luck, so there were left only Common Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) and Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo) flying over the fields. We had followed the tourist path to the Tripoint. The Tripoint is surrounded by several stone sculptures. As we were awaiting rain, we decided to go back. We had just a glimpse of few Partridge-looking birds, but we were not able to identify it. Five minutes later we saw two small flocks. Observing it with monoculary we were able to identify it as a Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix). There were 31 birds combined in two flocks (20+11).
Then we moved by car on Hrušovská zdrž water reservoir on the Danube River. In its upper part we observed and counted 699 Mute Swans (Cygnus olor), with other 5 specimens on the ship canal it made for us unbelievable number of Mute Swans – 704. It was the largest amount we have counted there ever. We were pleased with observation of 7 Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta) that stand on the rocky embankments as well as with approximately 200 Sand Martins (Riparia riparia) that were flying over the river surface.
List of observed bird species:
Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) 31
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 704
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)
Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Egret (Ardea alba / Egretta alba) 5
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) 7
Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus / Phalacrocorax pygmaeus) 4
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) 1
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Coot (Fulica atra)
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos / Tringa hypoleucos) 1
Black headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus / Larus ridibundus)
Yellow legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia)
Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
Common Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) 200
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
House Martin (Delichon urbicum / Delichon urbica)
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)
number of observed individuals is mentioned only if we were able to count them, or make an estimation
