Serbia Day 1: Rusanda and Kikindu

After a leisurely breakfast, it took us nearly an hour to get out of the hotel grounds.  Every time we attempted to get on the bus, someone spotted or heard something of interest - binoculars to the ready to scan the bushes, tree tops, church tower for another tick.

We'd already seen a few during the post-breakfast walk out in the hotel ground - including a pair of kestrels up on the church tower.

In and out of the bus for a Sylvian woodpecker - the first of the trip and a Red-footed falcon flying overhead.

Our first site of the trip was an alkaline wetland area - Lake Rusanda where we quickly notched up several waders including black-winged stilt, avocet and spotted redshank, along with a large flock of Ruff and distant views of Marsh Harriers.  Although, no sightings of flamingoes - which had allegedly been seen there a few years ago.

Taking David's philosophy of 'look up' meant that while there was a lot going on on the ground and along the water's edge, we also managed to tick off a Goshawk (my first), Osprey, White tailed eagle, a flock of cranes and one that caused much discussion and speculation for the rest of the trip - a Pallid Harrier.

There was a mixed herd of cattle, goat and sheep, grazing on the meadows, accompanied by a shepherd and one or more dogs, which made sure you didn't come too close and rounded up stray animals.

Hundreds of frogs were croaking away in the water and smaller ones like the fire-bellied toad in puddles around the wetlands.  There were also occasional sightings of the European ground squirrel - the Souslik, which is a resident of the pastures.

Having ticked off a few in this area, we stopped off for lunch and then moved around to Park Rusanda which is an established long-eared owl roost and soon to be nature reserve, on the other side of the wetlands.  Our first sighting of a great egret flying past in the car park, a roosting long-eared owl.  There were a few more birds to add to the list before heading North to Kikindu where the serious long-eared owl winter roosts are - over 100 birds in one tree!

First stop was a local park yielded up a few woodland birds and a Serin in amongst the joggers and cyclists - wondering what this group of foreigners was doing, binoculars in hand peering up into the trees.

As we couldn't make it in to the town centre due to a local election rally, we headed out to the Old Brick factory, now an art colony where as well as looking at the outdoor clay sculptures, we had good views of a pair of black redstart and several night heron and spent several minutes trying to catch sight of an elusive (as ever) nightingale singing in the bushes.


Highlights:
Sylvian woodpecker, Osprey, Red-footed falcon, Black-winged stilt, Black redstart, Marsh Harrier, Goshawk, Hoopoe, Pallid Harrier, White-tailed sea eagle, Marsh sandpiper, Black-necked grebe, Serin.

Photo credits - Phil Aylen www.philaylen.com