We had been in Prague since the 5th of the month. Our reason for visiting the country was to attend the Battle of the Nations event (full contact Medieval combat) as our son was in the UK team. There wasn't a great deal of time for birding although we did hear several Black Redstarts singing from the rooftops of Prague City, even seeing a couple. There were also Short-toed Treecreeper and Wood Warbler on Petrin Hill, along with several other species that we regularly see in the UK - but our main purpose, once the event had ended, was to try for some more interesting species in the south.
We set off, full of anticipation on the 9th, stopping off at Sadslavice where Marsh Tit, Spotted Flycatcher, Robin and Grey Wagtail (the first of many, every day) were seen by the river. We also saw a Dipper at Vimperk. On arriving at Ceske Zleby there was a Common Buzzard overhead. We were out looking for owls until dusk but with no success.
The next day we were out before breakfast scouring the area around the hotel, turning up new for the trip, Yellowhammer, Siskin, Willow Warbler, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Whitethroat, Fieldfare and a couple of Raven passing over. After breakfast we drove to Boubinsky Prales, a site where Three-toed and Black Woodpeckers have been recorded.
The lake at the bottom of Boubin
We walked all the way to the top of, 1328m high, Boubin.
View from the top of the tower
We had a fly by of Black Woodpecker, Ring Ouzel, Firecrest and Crested Tit among what seemed like hundreds of Chaffinch, coming to the conclusion that there are a lot of birds here with many being of the same species.
There were excellent views of Crossbill at the top of Boubin - but no sign of the elusive three-toed Woodpecker. After a long waalk down, we drove back via Stozec and heard Tree Pipit.
We travelled a litle further afield the next day, seeing Cuckoo before we left the hotel and Bullfinch in the grounds of a disused building in Stozec. At Borova Lada we picked up Carrion Crow and Whinchat at Filipova Hut.
Borova Lada - a broad glacial valley
It was quite slow going. We heard Corn Bunting at Srni Mechov, also seeing a Honey Buzzard and Linnet and photographing an Orange Tip butterfly.
Orange Tip
The last location was Srni, with excellent views of Serin and Greenfinch heard but not seen.
We left that hotel on the morning of the 12th, disappointed not to have seen almost any of the speciality species that he'd hoped for. We stopped off at a last few locations in hopes of seeing woodpeckers other than Great Spotted. At Sournarsky Most the habitat was promising, but the only new trip species was Garden Warbler.
Rivers with beds of aluvial silt are common throughout the region
At Volary we added House Sparrow - so many birds that might have reflected a few days birding in the UK! We made a detour to Pekna where things improved a bit. On a walk up to the railway line we initially heard and then saw an Icterine Warbler and a Grasshopper Warbler.
Red-backed Shrike female
This location also turned up Red-backed Shrike, Long-tailed Tit, Dunnock, Reed Bunting, Greenshank, Sparrowhawk, Skylark and White-tailed Eagle.
As we continued north, Black-headed Gulls were at Horka.
Ceske Krumlov
Around midday, we stopped off at Ceske Krumlov, the site of a castle (with gardens) in the middle of the town. Again none of the sought after woodpeckers but some nice views of White Stork, Collared Flycatcher, Redstart, Hawfinch as well as Collared Dove and Coot.
We got to the first of the fishponds at Vrebenske Rybnisky in the afternoon. On the islands, we saw Spoonbill, Night Heron and Caspian Gull. On the water were Pochard. Red-crested Pochard, Greylag, Gadwall, Egyptian Goose, Golden, Black-necked Grebe and Great Crested Grebe.
Red-crested Pochards
Along the margins, around the reeds and bushes were Redshank,Nightingale, Reed Warbler, Moorhen and Tree Sparrow.
There was heavy rain forecast for the following day but the morning at least, remained dry. There were Great White Egret in the fields as we drove through Trebon and a walk at Stara Reka gave us Wood Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Golden Oriole. The rain started not long after we reached Rozmberk. We had views of Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Black Tern and Hobby from the car but were limited to watching from one area as the tracks around the ponds were for cycling and walking only - a fact not apparent from the map! While driving past Luznice a few Lapwing were spotted in a field. The rain was heavy and persistent so after seeing Great Cormorant at Koclirov and hearing Great Reed Warbler with two Kingfishers seen at Velky a Maly Tisy we drove on to our hotel in the out lying area of Prague. As we arrived the rain was just about stopping.
Divorka Sarka
We had a few hours before our flight next morning so gave Divoka Sarka one last try for woodpeckers - we did get one new trip species but it was, sadly, just a Green Woodpecker. The park became busy very quickly but we did see Honey Buzzard, Willow Tit and Pheasant and heard Lesser Whitethroat.
Honey Buzzard
Green-veined White
On reflection the specialities are clearly very difficult to see and you have to be lucky. Various trip reports frequently have brief views seen by only one or a few people - and this may be why the tour groups haven't visited in a couple of years. It's a nice place (although the weather can be changeable even in May) but if we were to return it would be to spend more time at Sumovo in the south with a lesser degree of expectation that there is a real chance of goodies such as Ural, Tengmalm's or Pigmy Owl, or Three-toed, White-backed, Lesser or Grey-headed Woodpecker.
