I was really looking forward to this day as we were spending the day in a hide at one of the drinking pools in the Debrecen forest. The last time was in the drinking pool hide, there were so many visitors that it was impossible to keep up. We were in a newer hide this time, not as mature an area but still set up well, as one would expect from Sakertours.

we had single visitors of common birds, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Great Tit, all coming in to bathe and a female Blackcap.

but nothing that I could not have photographed in my back garden at home.

A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers visited separately with the male putting on a show

and getting a really good soaking.

and finally a species of interest - male Hawfinch

Also, an unusual visitor but, never-the-less, very welcome was a Song Thrush. In my neck of the woods at home, they are becoming very scarce so to get the opportunity for close shots was a bonus.

And finally, a rare bird for the UK  but not here - a Collared Flycatcher - in fact more thane one bird visited but never at the same time.

The first one to visit took a while to bathe but with it's back to us so not really good for a shot until it had finished

but then excelled itself by having a fly-round in front of the hide.

So a much slower day that expected, in fact rather disappointing - but that is wildlife.