Northern Poland Oct 2025

More content, editing and photos to come

Place names in brackets is where I stayed the night.

Third Autumn vist to this area, spending most of my time on the spits of land to the South and North of Gdansk Bay and along the Baltic Sea coast.

All photos were taken with a Canon R7 fitted with a Canon 200-800 lens. I only purchased the lens a week before departure, so this was very much the fist time it was put to the test. Quite bulky, but a similar weight to my Sigma 100-600 lens.

Apart from the first Wednesday when it rained for most of the day, mostly sunny and cloudy with a strong westerly wind most days, except the last full day.

Encounted Polish birders/photographers most days, particuarly around Hel, compared to the UK, surprisingly a lot of lone women and young people. Seemed to be some pretty serious sea watching going on.

Monday 6 October(Mikoszewo)

Arrived at Gdansk at 1900 hrs. Long wait at the car hire, it took about 40 minutes to process the previous customer. I then had the hard sell about excess insurance,  of which I take out an annual policy. I was informed that my policy would not cover 'roadside assistance', unsure eventually caved in. Will have to check with my insurers. Arived at my apartment in Mikoszewo at 2130.

Tuesday 7 Oct (Mikoszewo)

Mikoszewo/Woodlands

In the village several large bats were still out at dawn feeding along the woodland edge. Red/Sitka Deer stag allowed close approach. Both deer species occure in the area, its posible the deer was a cross breed?

Red/Sitka Deer - Mikoszewo

Beach, scrub and Vistula River mouth

Cormorant, Bar-tailed Godwit, Goldeneye, Greylag Goose, Black-headed Gull  Herring Gull, Mute Swan, Red-breasted Merganser, Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Gadwall, Dunlin,  Grey Plover, Great Tit, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Teal, Blue Tit, Yellowhammer, Kingfisher, Great White Egret Grey Heron, Red Fox, Coot, Grey Seal, Jay.

Back at the edge of Mikoszewo village

Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Wren. Woodpigeon, House Sparrow.

Driving around

Collared Dove, Hooded Crow, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Common Buzzard, Starling, Common Gull, four White-tailed Eagles in the air together.

White-tailed Eagle

Nowa Karczma

A walk to and along the Russian (Kaliningrad) border through woodland found the first Robins, but mainly Goldcrests, Chaffinch and several Wrens. Walked back along the beach. Highlight was several small flocks of Velvet Scoters, flew over the Russian border well out to sea.

Velvet Scoters - Polish/Russian border

A Wild Boar beside the road in a village was a surprise.

Wednesday 8 October (Mikoszewo)

Mikoszewo Beach, scrub and Vistula River mouth

Very much the same birds as Monday morning plus White Wagtail, Great Black-backed Gull, Wigeon, Shelduck, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit (White-headed type), Goosander. Very fresh Beaver activity, where in one case a tree had been felled, hanging precariously over a footpath.

Treecreeper species both both species present, not photographed.

Due to heavy rain in the afternoon, went for a drive around back lanes through areas of intensive inland arable farmlands. Very little on show, other than the first Raven, Magpie and a flock of Rooks

Thursday 9 October(Mikoszewo)

Mewia Łacha Nature Reserve

Treecreeper species probably Short-toed?

Moose, Peregrine Falcon although I identified this bird as such it did seem very slim for a Peregrine and I looked for alternatives thank to Andy Deighton for sugesting the arctic sub species ,F.p.calidus/tundrius, Snipe, 4 Greenshank flew over, Moorhen, 2 Adult White-fronted Geese flew over.

Moose - Mewia Łacha Nature Reserve

Peregrine Falcon - Mewia Łacha Nature Reserve

Plasi Raj Nature Reserve

Roe Deer, Little Grebe, Melanistic Grass Snake, dead Water Shrew.

Grass Snake - Plasi Raj Nature Reserve

Mikoszewo Beach, scrub and Vistula River mouth

A small flock of Tundra Bean Geese were identified as such, later from photos.

Tundra Bean Geese - Mikoszewo

Friday 10 October (Jastarnia)

Mikoszewo Beach, scrub and Vistula River mouth

Strong NW wind resulted in very few birds along the coast early morning.

On the drive to Jastarnia with stops, picked up the first Kestrels, two small groups of Cranes flying over and the first Goldfinches.

Common Buzzard - Kaczyniec

Kuźnica

The only Black Redstart of the trip, a male

Jastarnia

A two hour walk on the Gdansk Bay side, very little on the water due to the shear amount of wind surfers. The first Dunnock a species I always find hard to come by in Europe. Managed to pick out a few Brambling in a large flock of Chaffinch.

Saturday 11 October(Jastarnia)

Hel beach and woodlands

Eider Duck, Redpol, Fieldfare, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Little Gull, Sparrowhawk,

Male Goosander - Hel

Immature Little Gull - Hel Beach

Jastarnia Tip/Reedbed

Linnet, Reed Bunting, Hen Harrier m & f

Sunday 12 October(Jastarnia)

Jastarnia Woods Baltic Sea

Off to a flying start this morning with my first Polish Black Woodpecker, Crested Tit, finally identified from a photo a Common Treecreeper. Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Crested Tit - Jastarnia Baltic Sea side Woodlands

Jastarnia Tip/reedbed

Reed Bunting, Rough-legged Buzzard,

Rough-legged Buzzard - Jastarnia

Hel

Late afternoon visit found little on the sea other than many Little Gulls close inshore. There was still plenty of new paserines arriving,  particularly, Chaffinch, Goldcrest and Brambling allowing close approach.

Monday 13 October(Jastarnia)

Hel

Off to a good start again with a Purple Sandpiper. New trip birds in Skylark and Grey Wagtail. Otherwise as previous visits lots of Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Redpol, Brambling etc. A Black Woodpecker was constantly flying over. Mistle Thrush.

Male Brambling - Hel

Jastarnia Bay side

Great Grey Shrike, Goshawk, Song Thrush, Small party of Fieldfare feeding on Rowan berries. Meadow Pipit.

Great Grey Shrike - Jastarnia

Goshawk - Jastarnia

Tuesday 14 October(Jastarnia)

The first Red Squirrel of the trip ran across the road on this morning's drive to Hel.

Hel

What was probably yesterday's Purple Sandpiper showed well by the harbour wall. From the boardwalk typical migrants being Redpol, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Brambling, Chaffinch and joined today by Meadow Pipits. In the woods many Blackbirds and Robins. Struggling to find any new trip species, so I went for a long walk along the beach. Quickly added Sanderling, Sandwich and Arctic Terns and then all but stood on a very tame male Snow Bunting feeding along the tide line. Later in the woods the first and only Siskin. A flock of about 30 White-fronted Geese flew over south.

Arctic Tern - Hel Beach

Snow Bunting - Hel Beach

Jastarnia Gdansk Bay side

A lack of wind today meant no wind surfers and the wildfowl had recovered a bit with large flocks of Mute Swan, Mallard and Wigeon along the edge of the bay.

Redwing.

The last creature of the trip was a large Hedgehog on the way home from my evening meal.

Wednesday 15 October

Flew into Leeds Bradford early at 10 am, quickly off the plane for a change and then through the new immigration hall fairly quickly. Just managed to find a seat on the bus to Leeds, many having to stand for the duration, as usual. They are still working on the entrance to Leeds Station, train and bus home all on time.

Butterflies

Peacock, Large White, Small Copper, Painted Lady.

Dragonflies

Common Darter and some Aeshna Hawker species that were all very flighty and would not settle. There are a handful of possible species in the region!

Mammals

Moose, Red/Sitka Deer, Roe Deer, Red Fox, Red Squirrel, Wild Boar, Evidence of Beavers, Hedgehog, Water Shrew (Dead).