HUNGARY PHOTO TOURS > CRANE PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
A week with cranes in the HORTOBÁGY NATIONAL PARK

This fantastic week with cranes is focusing on photographing the Common Crane in their feeding, gathering, roosting habitats and on the sky during their mass-flying activity together with some other bird species in the well known Hortobágy National Park. This park is has the biggest concentration of migrating Cranes anywhere in Europe with up to 120 000 carens present at one time.

Timing:
Fixed dates but also available upon request
Recommended period between 5th September and 15th October

Dates:
2012, 5-10 October Still 6 places available

Duration:
6 days (5 nights)

Photo hides and species:
We have four full days for photography in the different „Crane Hides”. It is possible to use a different hides every day but this is all subject of discussion with the guide on the first evening. If somebody want to spend several days in the same hide it is also possible. We would normally visit mobile hides in a day time drinking and bathing habitat as well as one hide in a roosting area. We usually operate 3-4 different hides for Cranes but the number of hides we use is changing from year to year. At least one evening we visit a fly-way of the Cranes into the roosting area to photograph flying Cranes in sunset. Besides the “Crane Hides” there is possibility to use other hides. We could use the „Pygmy Cormorant Hide” located in deeper water and good for fish-eating birds as well as ducks (Pygmy Cormorant, Great Egret etc.) or the „Passerine drinking hide” which can be rewarding also in the autumn period; provided weather conditions are adequate there are many migratory species possible in addition to resident species (Lesser and Middle-Spotted Woodpeckers, thrushes, Hawfinch etc.). We will also visit one of the extensive Long-eared Owl day-roosts with up to 200 birds present in winter.

Upon request we organize one day for „stalking photography” targeting any possible species available in the area. For more information (available hides, comfort, techniques, bird species) visit our hides menu item.

Logistics:
Our daily routine is varaibale. If the daily programme is for all days hide-usage we usually start around 07:30 and finish whenever desired (usually 17:00). The photographers supplied with packed lunch. The Roosting Crane Hide requires sleeping near the hide (in a sleeping hut) not to disturb the Cranes.

Recommended equipment:
This tour will offer you very diverse photographing opportunities. Therefore, we suggest that you bring along lenses from fish-eye and wide angle to 300mm and 500mm ones.

Expected number of birds species photographed on this tour:
10-25 species

What to bring:
torch, binocular, tripod, sleeping bag

Accommodation & Road Transport:
Depending on the selection of accommodation we use hotels (standard) or local Pensions (budget). Both options have en-suite facilities. Road transport is by car (4x4 if required) and depending on weather conditions can be bumpy and rough on some tracks to some hides.

Walking:
The walking effort is mostly easy throughout the tour if the weather conditions are normal. In this case we should be able to drive close to most hides. The ‘Roosting Crane Hide’ is usually approached by walking in wellington boots.

Climate:
In October weather is variable. It can range from 10-25C and the mornings can be distinctly cool (0-10C).

Group size and prices:
The minimum group size is 2 photographers
The maximum group size is 6 photographers
Tour price is depending on accomodation quality and we have two options:
Standard accommodation: 1050 euro/person.
Budget accommodation: 950 euro/person.
This price is based on double occupancy.
Single room supplement is 85 euro/person for standard accomodation and 60 euro/person for budget accomodation.

Booking
Booking conditions

The price includes:
Budapest-to-Budapest all inclusive
The use of our unique photo-through panorama hides
All transportation throughout the tour
All meals
All accommodation
All entrance fees
Local guides

The price excludes:
International flight to Budapest
Alcoholic drinks
Services of personal nature (telephone calls, laundry etc.)
Tips to guides

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