Slovakia/Czechia May June 2025
- Bob Croxton
- Jun 15
- 10 min read
Updated: Jul 2
More text/editing and photos to follow soon.
Place names in brackets is where I stayed that night.
Bat identification made with an Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro using the auto I/D feature. Which is correct most of the time.
For the first time on a trip to Central Europe at this time of year, I used the Merlin Bird I/D App. Conscious that my distance hearing is not what is was and unfamiliarity with some bird songs of the area, it came in useful. Its defiantly not 100% reliable, occasionally pinging way out of place birds. It proved very reliable at finding Marsh Warbler's subsong and correctly found Common Rosefinch. It seemed to get the warblers correct, but could not identify a very close Locustella Warbler I was convinced was River.
Wednesday 28 May (Bratislava)
Just missed a bus from Leeds Station to the airport, Incredibly 50 minute wait for the next one late afternoon! Went for a pint. Wildlife entertainment while waiting to board my plane two Carrion Crows were picking open rubbish bags from the planes to feed on leftovers. Managed to pick my hire car up in the evening, meaning an earlier start.
Thursday 29 May (Radošina SK)
From my airport apartment balcony first light Woodpigeon, Hooded Crow, Blackcap singing.
Číčov
White Stork on nest. Nightingale, Red-backed Shrike, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Sparrow, Nuthatch, Hoopoe,
Číčov Oxbow NNR
Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Cuckoo, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, White Wagtail.
Číčov Fishponds
Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Coot, Mallard, Reed Warbler, Starling, Great Crested Grebe, Sedge Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Red-Crested Pochard, Golden Oriole.
Veľký Meder Area
Spent some time watching some nest boxes on pylons which are usually for Saker Falcons, a bit distant, one seemed to have a Kestrel and no sign of life at the other two. Driving around Kestrel, Buzzard, Cormorant, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Swallow, Black-headed Gull, Goldfinch, Black Redstart, Magpie, House Sparrow.
Vodná Nádrž Kráľová Resr. and Oxbow
Common Tern of which 5 huge tern rafts have been constructed, Great Tit.My new Slovak base is in the town of Radošina House Martin
Friday 30 May (Zádiel SK)
Nitrianska Blatnica to Rotunda SV. Juraja
Pre breakfast walk through a dense forest full of Chaffinchs, Blackcaps and Blackbirds to a parkland area around a church full of birds. A number of different types of drumming Woodpeckers, I put the merlin app on and one particularly woodpeckers loud drumming came out as White-backed Woodpecker? The Great Spotted worked out OK. Turtle Dove, Blue Tit, Collared Flycatcher, White-backed Woodpecker drumming? Song Thrush, Serin, Greenfinch, a Hawfinch was feeding in a cherry tree, Mistle Thrush, Jay, Green Woodpecker. Raven, Black Stork.
Zadial (Meadows to the west of the village)
Linnet, Stonechat, Brown Hares.
Saturday 21 May (Zádiel SK)Zadiel
Pre-breakfast walk to the east of the village
Nightingales and Blackcaps galore and a few other common species.
Pozorovateľňa vtáctva Hrhovské rybníky NR
Skylark, Lapwing, Tufted Duck, Grey Wagtail.
Drove over the border into Hungary for a few hours. A Corn Bunting was singing from the top of a goalpost on an abandoned football pitch which had turned into a meadow. A newly fledged Whitethroat posed very close to me. A Bee-eater colony was found in an old quarry.
Turňa Castle
Walked up to this castle, which is only accessible by vehicles for part of the way.I was unaware that the many buckets of mortar and rocks at the base was people going up to carry for restoration work by volunteers. Historically a good site for Saker Falcons and Rock Buntings. There was a heavy shower while I was at the castle and I sought cover at the restoration volunteers base. One of the volunteers spoke good English and he explained how they alone had maintained the castle in recent years, putting up scaffolding etc. All this on theoir own with the government turning a blind eye abd just letting them get on with it. Would not be allowed in the UK on health and safety ground alone. I was also informed that Rock Bunting had not been seen for some years. During restoration some holes for nesting Swifts had been put into the castle walls and I actually observed the first ones of the trip.
Zadiel Village and Gorge Bat walk
Daubenton’s Bat, Whiskered Bat, Giant Noctule, Particoloured Bat, Common Pipistrelle,
Sunday (Veľké Revištia SK)
Zadiel
Pre Breakfast walk found much the same birds as yesterday. Nightingales proliferating again.
Kosice Botanical Garden
Hoping for Thrush Nightingale, but few birds about other than the first Fieldfare of the trip. Two exotic Butterfly's flying around had presumably escaped from the butterfly house! Identified using Google as Danaid Eggfly and Julia Heliconian.
Kosice Central Park
Had a walk around in the hope of Thrush Nightingale, but no look, went for a meal in the centre of Kosice which is a very pleasant city to visit.
Blatné Remety
Intended to walk to Senianske rybníky-OP nature reserve late afternoon but with a thunderstorm seemingly heading my way did not try. In the end just a short shower, so went for a look around an area of scrub instead. Constant calls/songs of Turtle Dove, Cuckoo and Nightingales in a habitat, of which there is no shortage of back in the UK! The Merlin App again pinged Marsh Warbler, eventually I narrowed it down to a small area of Common Reed and Dog Rose. I managed a few short glimpses and it occasionally sang for short periods, but would not come out into the open. A Yellow Wagtail bathed in a pool of water in the corner of an arable field, which also held four Brown Hares. The App also pinged Penduline Tit which it did a good job of last year in Hungary, but none could be seen today.
Monday 2 June (Veľké Revištia SK)
Morské Lake and Woods
Third visit to this area of primeval woodland in the hope of flycatchers etc, only new trip species Wren and Coal Tit, plus one Collared Flycatcher.
Senne Fishponds Southeast
Walked to the hide at the SE end, but the view was mostly obscured by trees/shrubs, most of the following birds were in the adjacent canal. Little Egret, Night Heron, Purple Heron, Gadwall.
Senne Fishponds Southwest
Much better views from the tower hide here Black Kite, Ferruginous Duck, Greylag Goose, Pygmy Cormorant, Little Grebe, Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting. Walking through an area of Greater Reedmace, I could hear what I thought was a River Warbler, but the Merlin App would not pick it up!
Tuesday 3 June (Veľké Revištia SK)
Senne Fishponds North West Hide
A 30 minute walk along the lane from Blatné Remety village through a meadow.Min 2 Cranes, later c12 more Cranes arrived from the north. Hobby, two Whiskered Terns, Spoonbill, two Penduline Tits, Lesser Whitethroat, A distant adult Eastern Imperial Eagle was given a hard time by a Marsh Harrier. Meadow going back Whinchat, Skylarks Common, Yellow Wagtail.
With thunderstorms forecast in the afternoon I went for a drive up to the Ukraine border, parked up for a walk into woodlands, just as the thunderstorm arrived. Drove back to my motel by back lanes all of interest roadside Corn Bunting, Yellow Wagtail and Black Stork
The sun came out and a walk down a farm track at Blatné Revištia proved fruitful. My first Slovak breeding season Great Grey Shrike posed at course quarters, on my way back 4 in a small area! The Merlin app pinged my first Slovak Barred Warbler after listening for several minutes I convinced myself that it was, but it never came out of cover. A field where the crop was slow to grow held a small number of Lapwing. By an overgrown ditch the app pinged Thrush Nightingale, I left the area and returned 3 times and on each occasion, it pinged the same species. There was 3 Common Nightingales singing in the same area, so I was not convinced. First Slovak Bee-eater of the trip.
Wednesday 4 June (Vitanová SK)
Spisske Castle
Walked up to the castle gates from the town on the hope of seeing Marmets but the grass seemed too long to find them? On the way up flushed my first ever Slovak Partridge. Only a quick view flying away, as far as I am aware only Grey occur.
Stola
Caught up with a few species not confirmed so far Robin, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. At a Beaver dam, what is best described as a mill race had been constructed around the dam, which also had a drainage pipe to stop its collapse in times of flood.
Podbanské
Dipper as usual by the footbridge over the River Belá. A walk up the valley found some good butterflies, including Camberwell Beauty.
Vitanová
A drive around the huge upland meadows found my first Marsh Harrier in this environment. Lots of Whinchat and a few Skylark.
Chochołów, Poland
Early evening crossed the border into Poland and went for a walk through some old traditional meadows. Just typical birds with Tree Pipit the only new species. Had hoped for Quail and Corncrake. Found the second Beaver dam of the day with the Lodge built on dry land next to the dam.
Vitanová Village and River Bat walk
Northern Bat, Brown Long-eared Bat.
Thursday 5 June (Vitanová SK)
Sucha Hora
Pre-breakfast the Merlin App went mad, never known so many species ping in such a short time. All the typical common species plus Marsh and Icterine Warbler and Common Rosefinch. After a while I managed to tie down a Rosefinch to a single tree with its distinctive song, after several minutes I finally found the bird in question, only for it to fly off! Then found a Marsh Warbler in full song and to my surprise it's showed well. I had Icterine Warbler at this location last year.
Oravice
Three hour walk up and down the valley found few birds over than the first Siskin of the trip. Good for butterflies.
Sucha Hora
Returned late afternoon for a try to photograph Rosefinch but none were singing. A Marsh Warbler was in full song in an isolated Willow tree and another was following it around. On the peat bog/heathland several White-faced Darter's were very photogenic and a mystry dragonfly which is proving a headache to identyfy was constantly flying up and down a ditch. possibly a juvenile of one of the Emerald Dragonfly species.
Friday 6 June (Radošina SK)
Raksa
First Black Woodpecker of the trip flew across as I left my car for a walk, but a disappointing walk up and down a valley
Turčianske Teplice Fishponds
Caspian Gulls here as usual, and a lone Yelow-legged Gull caught a fish.
Skalka Ski Resort
A very approachable male Ring Ouzel was feeding under trees. The cliff area was still closed, this is one of the main Slovak areas for rock climbing, but is closed during the bird breeding season.
Radošina garden bats
Liesler’s Bat, Noctule Bat, Daubenton’s Bat, Parti-coloured Bat,
Saturday 7 June (Radošina SK)
Sokolovce River, reservoir, oxbow
Blackbird, Starling, Golden Oriole, Great Tit, Nightingale, Nuthatch, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit, Turtle Dove, Pheasant, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer, Hooded Crow, Black-headed Gull, White Wagtail, Song Thrush, Grey Heron, Red-backed Shrike, Night Heron, Common Tern, Mute Swan, Mallard, Tree Sparrow, Swallow, Cormorant, Kingfisher, Marsh Warbler, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Bee-eater, Little Ringed Plover, Goldfinch, Hobby, Jay. A Squacco Heron flew quickly past a gap in the trees on one of the oxbows, I understand this is still a rare species in Slovakia.
Sunday 8 June (Radošina SK)
Orestany Airstrip
The Crested Larks took some finding, more Skylarks about than in the past. A single Buzzard was the only raptor. Several Brown Hares.
Voda Krtovce
Very lethargic Grass Snake was laid stretched out across the path.
Monday 9 June (Luzice u Hodonína CZ)
Koplotovce
Grey-headed Woodpecker heard, but much quieter than usual.
Tuesday 10 June (Luzice u Hodonína CZ)
Pisecny Fishponds CZ
Finally some Sedge Warblers the narrow reedbeds around the Ponds was packed with them.
Castle Pohansko Zámek Pohansko
Red Kite
Pisecny Fishponds CZ
Returned early evening to quickly find the first trip White-tailed Eagle an adult, but distant. Caspian Gulls around in good numbers. Several Night Herons.
Wednesday 11 June (Lednice CZ)
Pisecny Fishponds
Pre breakfast very quiet a couple of Black Kites all of interest.
Mutěnice, Fishponds Czechia
Superb site, seems to have open access, good for dragonflies and a large Grass Snake seen as well. New trip species Shelduck, Sparrowhawk, Black-necked Stilt.
Lednice Castle Grounds & Lake
Early evening walk.New trip species Sand Martin, Jackdaw, Egyptian Goose pr with 4 young! Caspian Gulls and Night Herons seem to be doing well, not noted here before. Several Collared Flycatchers. As usual at this time of day Woodpeckers scarce, just one Green.
Lednice Castle Grounds & Lake Bat walk
Soprano Pipistrelle, Noctule Bat, Common Pipistrelle, Nathusius Pipistrelle, Daubenton’s Bat, Natterer’s Bat, Liesler’s Bat, Savi’s Pipistrelle,
Thursday 12 June (Lednice CZ)
Lednice Castle Grounds & Lake
Usual
Lednicke rybníky Nature Reserve
Caught the bus from Lednice to the village of Hlohovec cost 42p and walked back through wetland reserves and forest. On the lakes a flock of around a hundred Shelduck seemed strange. Since entering Czechia I had wondered why Pygmy Cormorants had not colonised yet. Needn't have, they had taken over most of the perches on all the islands. Rest of the walk back to Lednice fairly quiet.
Lednice Castle Grounds & Lake
Evening bat walk turned up a new trip species when a distant Tawny Owl called. Noctule, Soprano Pipistelle, Liesler’s Bat, Common Pipistrelle, Whiskered Bat, Giant Noctule, Brown Long-eared Bat, Daubenton’s Bat, Nathusius Bat.
Friday 13 June (Bratislava SK)
Lednice Castle Grounds & Lake
Pre Breakfast walk found a confiding Marsh Tit, woodpeckers Scarce again, just Green and Great Spotted.
Bernhardsthal Austria
Ten plus Red Kites over a recently cut field, as usual flying around more than doing any feeding.
Marchegg Austria
An adult White-tailed Eagle gave prolonged views circling high overhead with Red Kites occasionally bombing it. At one of the White Stork nests an opportunist Red Kite kept trying to steal food being regurgitated from adult to Juvenile Storks.
Spent the night in Bratislava, went into the centre on a tram which were running every 5 minutes, not sure I succeeded in paying at the machine by the door either way.
Saturday 14 June
Bratislava Airport
A Golden Oriole was singing in the car hire part of the car park at 5 am.
Arrived back at the ‘third world’ Leeds Bradford Airport at 0750. No busses available to go the c100 metres to arrivals for nearly 30 minutes. No stairs could be found to exit by the rear door, so all had to leave by the front door. Escalator up to immigration out of order. Large area of immigration fenced off, with a bucket for a leaking roof! The, every 30 minutes bus service back to Leeds was again full, I just managed a seat, but several passengers had to stand for the 40 minutes journey. They are still working on improving the entrance to Leeds station, (They built the Pyramids of Giza quicker!) meaning a diversion, with a run in the end to catch a train back to Sheffield.
Butterflies
Red Admiral, Common Blue, Orange Tip, Painted Lady, Peacock, Small Heath, Lesser Purple Emperor, Comma, Brimstone, Large Copper, Camberwell Beauty, Small Tortoiseshell, Grizzled Skipper, Map, Speckled Wood, Heath Fritillary, Chestnut Heath, Black-veined White, Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary, Dingy Skipper, Small White, Pearly Heath, Marbled White, Queen of Spain Fritillary, Small Peal-borded Fritillary, Small Skipper. More to identify from photos.
Dragonflies
Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer, Banded Demoiselle. Lesser Emperor, Common Darter, Large Red Damselfly, White-tailed Skimmer, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, White Faced Darter, White-legged Damselfly, Ruddy Darter, Vagrant Darter, Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Broad Scarlet, Southern Skimmer.
More to identify from photos.
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