| Month |
Info |
| January |
Generally cold and snowy. Good period to taste real
eastern winter with deep snow cover. Numerous invasion species as Waxwings/Redpolls/Snow Buntings occur in countryside. Wandering Eagles - White-tailed and Golden possible, Rough-legged Buzzard usually common. |
| February |
Passage
of Shore Larks and first spring migrants - Lapwings, Sky Larks. Start
of Eagle
Owl and other owls activity. |
| March |
Good
month for Woodpeckers, including White-backed and Three-toed
(Bialowieza Forest). Waterfowl migration is on the move in Biebrza and
Narew Valleys. Thousands of geese and swans stop here for feeding
during migration. Some late winter birds still remain here:
Rough-legged Buzzard, Waxwing, Redpoll. |
| April |
Migration
month with still thousands of Geese and first Ruff arriving.
Woodpeckers and Owls active in forests. |
| May |
Most
popular month for visiting. The weather may be surprisingly hot, but
also sometimes rainy. Thousands of passing Ruffs, Terns in river
Valleys. In forests young woodpeckers, Warblers and Eagles. |
| June |
Good
month for Warblers: Barred, Greenish, Blyth's Reed and more
common ones: Aquatic, Savi's, River and Grasshopper. |
| July |
Quite
hot (20-30 C) and sometimes rainy month, though with numerous breeding
birds active while feeding youngs. Warblers still singing, Terns
feeding chicks. |
| August |
In
the middle of the month groups of Storks and Cranes start moving
southwards. Flocks reaching hundreds of birds start early morning from
roosts and search for strong currents taking them further on the
migration route. Shorebirds also show up in wet places eg muddy edges
of fish-ponds or riversides (Biebrza/Narew) or lakes (Siemianowka
Reservoir). In forests in the second
half of the month owls start their autumnal activity (Pygmy,
Tengmalms). |
| September |
Raptor
migration - Eagles (Lesser Spotted) and other raptors (Osprey, Honey
Buzzard) start flying south. They pass over river valleys and
reservoirs and may be easily observed, sometimes in small groups.
Siemianowka Lake hosts various waders including rarities like Marsh
Sandpiper or Broad-billed Sandpiper. On cold nights first Red Deer
start hooting, accompanied by dawn whistling of Pygmy Owls. Big flocks
of Cranes may gather in Biebrza Marshes at their stopovers. |
| October |
First
frosts come in this month and trees become yellow-red. Still rather
sunny, without rainy weeks. Tundra migrants arrive - Rough-legged
Buzzards, Waxwings, Shore Larks. Raptors passing - Buzzards,
Merlin, Hen Harrier. |
| November |
Most
of the trees already without leaves, flocks of Waxwings numerous in
towns and villages. Wintering raptors roam in Biebrza and
Siemianowka - White-tailed Eagles, Rough-legged Buzzards, Hen
Harriers. |
| December |
Usually
snowy and quite cold. Temperatures below zero, sometimes down to -20
C. Most of the lakes and rivers covered with ice. Numerous winter
visitors include Rough-legged Buzzard (common), Waxwing (common),
Golden Eagle (singles, increasing). Northern rarities possible: Snowy
Owl (large marshes ans meadows), Hawk Owl |
