Daniel Bastaja
@kupac1.bsky.social
The Ivory Gull and a Black-headed Gull trying to see who has the nicest wings. 😄 Hard to get definition on the Ivory Gull's wings because the flight feathers are so absurdly white and translucent. It's like a ghost. 👻 #BirdingPoland #gulls #IvoryGulls
November 10, 2025 at 7:25 PM
The Ivory Gull and a Black-headed Gull trying to see who has the nicest wings. 😄 Hard to get definition on the Ivory Gull's wings because the flight feathers are so absurdly white and translucent. It's like a ghost. 👻 #BirdingPoland #gulls #IvoryGulls
Not much fresh material lately because preparing for my Australia trip, so here is something from the archives. This month last year.. the Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea) in Poland. Only my second ever. A couple of days after this photo, it was dead.. likely from bird flu. 😢 #BirdingPoland #gulls
November 10, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Not much fresh material lately because preparing for my Australia trip, so here is something from the archives. This month last year.. the Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea) in Poland. Only my second ever. A couple of days after this photo, it was dead.. likely from bird flu. 😢 #BirdingPoland #gulls
By far the commonest large gull in Hungary.. Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans). Note the dark eye, clean winter head, lack of gonydeal angle on the lower mandible and the white "tongues" extending into the black on the wingtips. #BirdingHungary #gulls #seegulls
November 10, 2025 at 6:44 PM
By far the commonest large gull in Hungary.. Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans). Note the dark eye, clean winter head, lack of gonydeal angle on the lower mandible and the white "tongues" extending into the black on the wingtips. #BirdingHungary #gulls #seegulls
♂️ Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) looking dapper in his fresh breeding livery. They always look so nice when they finally ditch that eclipse plumage. #BirdingHungary #waterfowl #ducks
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 PM
♂️ Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) looking dapper in his fresh breeding livery. They always look so nice when they finally ditch that eclipse plumage. #BirdingHungary #waterfowl #ducks
A few Common Cranes (Grus grus) in overflight. #BirdingHungary #FallMigration2025
November 10, 2025 at 5:59 PM
A few Common Cranes (Grus grus) in overflight. #BirdingHungary #FallMigration2025
You've heard of Sears Roebuck? Well, here's what a roebuck looks like. Their antlers never get larger than this. Typically a short two or three pointer. #WildHungary #deer #ungulates
November 5, 2025 at 4:54 PM
You've heard of Sears Roebuck? Well, here's what a roebuck looks like. Their antlers never get larger than this. Typically a short two or three pointer. #WildHungary #deer #ungulates
Bad phonescope video at sunset... trying to capture these Spotted Redshanks (Tringa erythropus) that were mucking about behind the White-fronted Geese. #BirdingHungary #WaderWednesday #sandpipers #waders #shorebirds
November 5, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Bad phonescope video at sunset... trying to capture these Spotted Redshanks (Tringa erythropus) that were mucking about behind the White-fronted Geese. #BirdingHungary #WaderWednesday #sandpipers #waders #shorebirds
Most #shorebirds have pointy wings. But not the #lapwings. This Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) shows off its big, rounded "frying-pan" wings. 😄 #BirdingHungary #WaderWednesday #plovers #waders
November 5, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Most #shorebirds have pointy wings. But not the #lapwings. This Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) shows off its big, rounded "frying-pan" wings. 😄 #BirdingHungary #WaderWednesday #plovers #waders
A pair of Greylag Geese going one way, and a pair of Northern Lapwings going the other way. 😄 #BirdingHungary #geese #wildgeese #lapwings
November 3, 2025 at 7:02 PM
A pair of Greylag Geese going one way, and a pair of Northern Lapwings going the other way. 😄 #BirdingHungary #geese #wildgeese #lapwings
A Greater White-fronted Goose going one way, and a jet going the other way. 😄 #BirdingHungary #geese #wildgeese #waterfowl #FallMigration2025
November 3, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A Greater White-fronted Goose going one way, and a jet going the other way. 😄 #BirdingHungary #geese #wildgeese #waterfowl #FallMigration2025
Not a good mushroom season because of dry conditions, but one species doesn't seem to mind the drought. So many Destructive Pholiota (Hemipholiota populnea) were bursting out of the log ends at this site. As the specific epithet indicates, it is partial to poplar. #WildHungary #mushrooms #fungi
November 3, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Not a good mushroom season because of dry conditions, but one species doesn't seem to mind the drought. So many Destructive Pholiota (Hemipholiota populnea) were bursting out of the log ends at this site. As the specific epithet indicates, it is partial to poplar. #WildHungary #mushrooms #fungi
The Danube beavers have been as busy as.. well, beavers. 😄
They are tackling some big trees. Interesting that on every tree, the gnawing was on the upslope side, proving them #beavers ain't stupid. They can gnaw away knowing the tree isn't going to fall on them. #WildHungary #rodents
They are tackling some big trees. Interesting that on every tree, the gnawing was on the upslope side, proving them #beavers ain't stupid. They can gnaw away knowing the tree isn't going to fall on them. #WildHungary #rodents
November 3, 2025 at 6:20 PM
The Danube beavers have been as busy as.. well, beavers. 😄
They are tackling some big trees. Interesting that on every tree, the gnawing was on the upslope side, proving them #beavers ain't stupid. They can gnaw away knowing the tree isn't going to fall on them. #WildHungary #rodents
They are tackling some big trees. Interesting that on every tree, the gnawing was on the upslope side, proving them #beavers ain't stupid. They can gnaw away knowing the tree isn't going to fall on them. #WildHungary #rodents
A Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) came by yesterday to ask me what I was doing. "Why are you looking at all those geese and cranes? You should be looking at ME!!" 😂 #BirdingHungary #tits #bushtits #ittybittyburbs
November 2, 2025 at 5:09 PM
A Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) came by yesterday to ask me what I was doing. "Why are you looking at all those geese and cranes? You should be looking at ME!!" 😂 #BirdingHungary #tits #bushtits #ittybittyburbs
#Cranes weren't the only thing over my head yesterday. Hundreds of thousands of Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) will continue to arrive thru Nov. Used to be a stopover, but now, with much milder winters, many will stay until early April. #BirdingHungary #waterfowl #wildgeese
November 2, 2025 at 4:56 PM
#Cranes weren't the only thing over my head yesterday. Hundreds of thousands of Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) will continue to arrive thru Nov. Used to be a stopover, but now, with much milder winters, many will stay until early April. #BirdingHungary #waterfowl #wildgeese
A closer look at some of the Common Cranes (Grus grus) that were pouring through Kiskunság National Park yesterday, on their way south. #BirdingHungary #cranes #bigbirds #FallMigration2025
November 2, 2025 at 12:15 PM
A closer look at some of the Common Cranes (Grus grus) that were pouring through Kiskunság National Park yesterday, on their way south. #BirdingHungary #cranes #bigbirds #FallMigration2025
Another flock of #cranes in flight, but these ones are harder to hear because the White-fronted Geese in front of me were making so much noise. 😀 #BirdingHungary #FallMigration2025
November 2, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Another flock of #cranes in flight, but these ones are harder to hear because the White-fronted Geese in front of me were making so much noise. 😀 #BirdingHungary #FallMigration2025
Sound on to hear the unmistakable, iconic flight call of the Common Crane (Grus grus). Flocks were passing over my head all day long today. #BirdingHungary #cranes #FallMigration2025
November 1, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Sound on to hear the unmistakable, iconic flight call of the Common Crane (Grus grus). Flocks were passing over my head all day long today. #BirdingHungary #cranes #FallMigration2025
One more portrait of Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis). It kind of disappears into the background. #BirdingHungary #pipits #FallMigration2025
October 31, 2025 at 6:04 PM
One more portrait of Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis). It kind of disappears into the background. #BirdingHungary #pipits #FallMigration2025
Short phonescope vid of Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis). Bright, pinkish legs, bold striping on the top of the head and back and a supercilium that doesn't extend back of the eye. These are some of the field marks, but I still struggle with pipit ID. 🤔 #BirdingHungary #pipits #FallMigration2025
October 31, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Short phonescope vid of Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis). Bright, pinkish legs, bold striping on the top of the head and back and a supercilium that doesn't extend back of the eye. These are some of the field marks, but I still struggle with pipit ID. 🤔 #BirdingHungary #pipits #FallMigration2025
Today I posted Coot, Cattle Egret and Cranes.. so I may as well add one more "C" bird. A very handsome Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix). I think it was waiting for me to throw it some tidbit. 😀 #BirdingHungary #crows #corvids
October 30, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Today I posted Coot, Cattle Egret and Cranes.. so I may as well add one more "C" bird. A very handsome Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix). I think it was waiting for me to throw it some tidbit. 😀 #BirdingHungary #crows #corvids
Quick snippet of a Common Crane (Grus grus) flypast. Most seem to have already gone through. The numbers will be declining through November just as the geese numbers are building. By the end of November, the Carpathian Basin will be alive with #wildgeese 😀 #BirdingHungary #cranes #FallMigration2025
October 30, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Quick snippet of a Common Crane (Grus grus) flypast. Most seem to have already gone through. The numbers will be declining through November just as the geese numbers are building. By the end of November, the Carpathian Basin will be alive with #wildgeese 😀 #BirdingHungary #cranes #FallMigration2025
Western Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis). Mild weather so still quite a few around. Still can't get used to this bird being in the Ardea genus, although that was the original classification from the 18th century. Has been in Bulbulcus genus for only 168 years. 😄 #BirdingHungary #egrets #waders #herons
October 30, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Western Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis). Mild weather so still quite a few around. Still can't get used to this bird being in the Ardea genus, although that was the original classification from the 18th century. Has been in Bulbulcus genus for only 168 years. 😄 #BirdingHungary #egrets #waders #herons
EurasianCoopt (Fulica atra). Looks a bit different than American Coot. Has a larger frontal shield & the entire shield & bill is a pure chalky white. I was surprised to see fully dressed birds for sale at a market in Azerbaijan. Thought it was chicken untiI saw the feet. 😲 #BirdingHungary #coots
October 30, 2025 at 5:23 PM
EurasianCoopt (Fulica atra). Looks a bit different than American Coot. Has a larger frontal shield & the entire shield & bill is a pure chalky white. I was surprised to see fully dressed birds for sale at a market in Azerbaijan. Thought it was chicken untiI saw the feet. 😲 #BirdingHungary #coots
There are smoothies & Smooth Criminals, but have you heard of a Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca)? 😀 This one just wasn't going to show its head for the camera. Late October, so should be heading to brumation (ie: hibernation) very soon. See you in April. 👋 #WildHungary #snakes #reptiles
October 29, 2025 at 5:11 PM
There are smoothies & Smooth Criminals, but have you heard of a Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca)? 😀 This one just wasn't going to show its head for the camera. Late October, so should be heading to brumation (ie: hibernation) very soon. See you in April. 👋 #WildHungary #snakes #reptiles
Phonescope vid of a distant Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata). Common on the Hungarian plains most of the year, except in mid-winter. A hardy bird, there are still lots around when most other #shorebirds have left for the south. #BirdingHungary #curlews #WaderWednesday #waders
October 29, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Phonescope vid of a distant Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata). Common on the Hungarian plains most of the year, except in mid-winter. A hardy bird, there are still lots around when most other #shorebirds have left for the south. #BirdingHungary #curlews #WaderWednesday #waders