This is a fantastic tour focusing on photographing the white-tailed eagles of the well-known Hortobagy National Park. Around 200 of these magnificent birds spend the winter in this region. They are sometimes joined in front of the hides by imperial eagle, common buzzard and saker. Raven, hooded crow, rook and jackdaw are also regular visitors each offering many photographic opportunities. These birds have become used to the daily feeding routine and are unfazed by the hides allowing for some of the best eagle photography in Europe. There are 3 eagle hides, a buzzard hide and a woodland bird hide. Depending on which are working best you may be transported to a different hide each day and therefore experience a good variety of species and backdrops. The woodland hide varies in activity each year due to temperature and therefore could be great or may not be considered worth visiting. Woodland species could include 5 woodpecker species, hawfinch and hawks. On my previous visit only the commoner species were showing so most of the participants chose to spend another day in the eagle hides instead of the woodland hide.
The eagle hides had up to 100 eagles visiting, most of the activity was at each end of the day with a midday lull for a few hours although I experienced around 9 hours of eagle activity on one day and I struggled to find time for lunch…….. one of the best wildlife experiences of my life with birds flying, fighting, calling, ice skating, running and posing, at times less than 10 meters from the hide.
Hen harriers are fairly common in the area and were seen from all raptor hides and at times would fly within camera range. Kestrel, merlin, long-legged and rough-legged buzzards were also observed.
The morning of the departure day will be spent at a nearby long-eared owl roost which should have around 50 owls within camera range.
The hides are heated to around 10-15°c and are fully enclosed so shooting is done through special photo glass windows.

This trip will run 21st to 26th January 2022 offering 4 full days in the hides for a maximum of 7 photographers, all spread out in different hides so it will be max of 3 in any one hide. Estimated cost 1280 Euros (£1075) based on room share. Single room supplement 115 Euros (£95). It covers all transport from Budapest to Budapest, accommodation, all meals, use of hides. Not covered: return flights (approx £150), alcohol, tips to guides and services of personal nature (laundry, phone calls etc.) .

Equipment: The birds can be very close, often just a few meters away so lenses of between 300mm and 400mm should achieve great results for most of the hides especially when coupled with a body with a crop factor eg. APS-C sensor. A smaller lens eg. 70-200mm could be useful in case the birds are close. Larger lenses can be used and I switched between my 100-400mm and 600mm on a full frame body on my previous visit with the smaller lens being primarily used for the action shots on my busiest day, the birds were simply too close for the 600mm.