Vig Károly: Zoological Research in Western Hungary. A history (Szombathely, 2003)
194 Phylum Vertebrata ing by the species can be found in writings by JÓZSEF BALI (1984) and LAJOS VARGA (1932a) as well. The quail (Coturnix coturnix) has also bred in the town of Sopron (MIKOLÁS 1930). The dunnock (Prunella modularis) is a rare nester in Hungary, but it is known to have bred in the region (observed by JENŐ GYŐRY at Várhely in the Sopron Hills on June 15, 1961). There are other observation records from Sopron, Sárvár and Rábagyarmat (DÉNES 1982). The wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria) is a regular winter visitor to Hungary, recorded mainly in the Bükk Hills. It has also been observed along the Western border, for instance in Sopron (BREUER 1939; KIRÁLY 1955a) and at Eisenstadt (Kismarton) by EDE AGÁRDI (1955). The Hungarian occurrence records have been summarized by ATTILA PELLINGER (1992a), in a publication that includes all the West Hungarian border region observations as well. The redpoll (Carduelis flammed) is an invasion species in Hungary in its stock form, with only occasional members of the subspecies. An example of C. flammea holboelli was observed in Sopron by IMRE PÁTKAI (1955b), although the subspecies as such is not considered a valid taxon these days. Two observations of C. flammea cabaret were made at Kőszeg, on December 12, 1893 and March 12, 1894. The Hungarian observation data for the pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum) summarized by ENDRE SÓS (1997) include two records from the vicinity of Sopron. On November 10, 1989, SÁNDOR MOGYORÓSI (1990) observed a pair of bearded tits (Panurus biarmicus) (Figure 14.5) at Harasztlejtő in the Sopron Hills. TIBOR HADARICS (1998a) observed a water rail (Rallus aquaticus) in the centre of Sopron. Occurrences of the eagle owl (Bubo bubo) have been reported several times from the Sopron Hills and along the Hungarian-Austrian border. The eagleowl population in Austria is put at 320-30 pairs. The species is spreading, mainly to new nest sites in abandoned quarries. One fledgling is known to have been raised in Lower Austria in 1965 and 74 in 1990. 54 In Burgenland, along the Hungarian border, single territories were noted in the Bernstein (Borostyánkő), Rosalia (Rozália) and Günser (Kőszeg) hills in 1975-6 (FREY and WALTER 1977). Between 1981 and 1991, the number of territories rose to 23 and the number of occupied nests to 14. Breeding has occurred in quarries and gravel pits all along the other side of the border (GRÜLL and FREY 1992). LÁSZLÓ KÁRPÁTI and the Austrian ornithologist ALFRED GRÜLL started seeking the species in the Sopron Hills in 1983. For many years, they heard its characteristic cry. Several hunters also reported hearing it, especially in the autumn. Finally, they managed to certify in May 1995 that the species was breeding, what is more, in a stick nest, which was not known in neighbouring Austria either. 54 GRÜLL, A., and H. FREY 1990. Neue Befunde zu Bestandentwicklung, Bruterfolg und Nahrungszusammensetzung des Uhus (Bubo bubo) im Burgenland. BFB-Bericht 74:137-45; BERG, H-M. 1992. Status und Verbreitung der Eulen (Stigiformes) in Österreich. Egretta 35:4-8; FREY, H. 1992. Bestandsentwicklung und Jugenproduktion des Uhus (Bubo bubo) in Niederösterreich zwischen 1969-1991. Egretta 35:9-19.
