This little fluffball looking over her shoulder is a female Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus). The reedlings are very active and noisy this time of year. #BirdingHungary #reedlings

European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) sporting some new bling and ready to be released. 😀 #BirdingHungary #ringing #banding

At the ringing camp. Getting caught in the mist net and being manhandled is supremely stressful for the little birdies but it's only for a very short time. Check their condition, then measured, weighed and fitted with an aluminum leg band.. then released. #BirdingHungary #ringing #banding

Short video of the Common Snipe that was kind enough to pose for me after all his buddies took off. 😄👍 #BirdingHungary #shorebirds #snipe #waders #WaderWednesday

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago). Prior to 2003, it was conspecific with North America's Wilson's Snipe. I've seen both and in the field, I can't tell the difference. To me they even sound the same. Have to rely on geography. 😄 #BirdingHungary #BirdsSeenIn2026 #WaderWednesday #shorebirds

It's another #WoodpeckerWednesday Here's a ♂️ Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)... the commonest woodpecker around here by a wide margin. This species has a huge range..found all the way from Portugal to Japan. #BirdingHungary #woodpeckers

Graylag Goose .. the goose with all the ansers (Anser anser) 😂
Soon they will be joined by hundreds of thousands of Greater White-fronted Geese. November and December will be prime goose season in the Carpathian Basin. #BirdingHungary #waterfowl #geese

Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus). For reasons that always puzzled me "pishing" just doesn't work as well in Europe compared to North America. This species is the most reliable for a reaction. They are more attracted to that sound than any other bird around here. #BirdingHungary #tits

And here's the reason for all that singing.. a lady Black Redstart. 😄 #BirdingHungary #redstarts #flycatchers

♂️ Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros). They're very amourous (or maybe just territorial) .. singing right through from early spring into late fall. #BirdingHungary #BirdsSeenIn2026 #flycatchers #redstarts

You've heard of House Sparrow, House Finch, House Wren and House Crow. Well, here's a new species... the House Egret. 😂 👍 #BirdingHungary #egrets #heron #waders

Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata). One of the hardier #shorebirds in these parts. As long as the ground is not frozen and there is no snow, you can usually find a few around even in winter. #BirdingHungary #curlews #waders

Hung around the reeds for half an hour trying to get a flight shot of the Bearded Reedlings. This is the only one I got. Mr. and Mrs. Reedling out for a jaunt. Tough to get a flight pic because they're so small and so fast and there always seems to be reeds in the way. 😀 #BirdingHungary #reedlings

Here's a female Bearded Reedling. Fairly common in Hungary anywhere there is a large, dense patch of Phragmites reeds. #BirdingHungary #reedlings

The Bearded Reedlings (Panurus biarmicus) at Lake Velence were very active today.. flying around and calling like crazy. This male stopped just long enough for me to get a nice portrait. #BirdingHungary #reedlings #BirdsSeenIn2026

One more from the archives for #BirdOfTheDay theme of #waders Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica). An uncommon passage bird in Hungary but this year there have been many more than usual. Likely due to the summer drought and the consequent low water levels. #BirdingHungary #shorebirds #godwits

Little Stint (Calidris minuta) taking a break from frantic feeding. Gotta tank up for the long journey to Africa. ⛽ #BirdingHungary #sandpipers #stints #peeps #shorebirds #waders

Ruff (Calidris pugnax). ♂️ Ruffs are one of the largest Calidrids, but the sexual dimorphism of the species is shocking. A big male can easily be double the size of a female. #BirdingHungary #shorebirds #waders #sandpipers

Buff-breasted Sandpiper & small juvenile ♀️ Ruff can look very similar in the field. Same colouration, same yellow legs, same scaly back, same short bill. Ruff always has a bold white "V" or "U" on the rump, while Buff-breasted (right) has an all-dark rump. #BirdingHungary #shorebirds #waders

European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) ... one of the tiniest flycatchers in these parts. #BirdingHungary #flycatchers #FlycatcherFriday