Boros István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 2. (Budapest 1952)

Horváth, L.: Ornithologic observations in the alder woods of the Hanság

same clearing, deep in the wood. There were five unfeathered nestlings in one of them and two in the other one. The nests were on young trees. The chaffinch is a not very frequent bird of the Alder Woods ; there are scarcely more than 10—15 pairs in the whole territory. 5. Tree Sparrow. (Passer m. montanus L.) I found two pairs in a deserted black kite nest on a tree at the wood's edge, 22nd May. Another pair nested in a haystack near the forester's house, 29th May. On 4th June there was another breeding pair in a booted eagle's nest on the outernmost tree of the wood: there were 5 fresh eggs in it. 1 have observed also in other localities that the tree sparrow will readily nest in the sides of predatory birds'or storks'nests'but always on the edge of the wood, it will not go deeper in. 6. Yellowhammer. (Emberiza c. citrinella L.J I observed it in flocks, 26—27th February J and I found its nest containing 4 fresh eggs in the eastern margin of the wood, 28th May. The number of breeding pairs must be very small, 10 pairs at the most may be nesting in the examined territory. 7. Tree Pipit. (Anthus t. triviális L.) I was unable to find its nest. I saw them constantly in May and June in the southern part of the woods, then near its edge, and the clearings. Five pairs (to say the least) must have bred there. 8. Northern Nuthatch. ( S itta europaea caesia W о 1 f.J One pair was constantly visible in the old wood near the house. Surely this also bred, though 1 was unable to find its nest. 9. Great Titmouse. (Parus m. maior L.J 1 met with it frequently, 26—27th February. Also later, during breeding time, one or two pairs were always to be seen. I did not succeed to find their nests, but I take their breeding for granted. 10. Penduline Titmouse. (Aegithalos caudatus europaeus H e r m

.) I did not find its nest, but I met with it before (26th, 27th February) and after breeding time in a dense and expansive alder thicket. Assuredly it bred. 11. Red-backed Shrike. (Lanius c. collurio L.J This bird is the most numéros one. I collected fresh clutches of 5 (twice) and 6 eggs (22nd May), 6 eggs (27th May), thrice 5 and once 6 eggs (29th May), and 6 eggs (4th June). Besides these 1 found seven incomplete clutches on the last two dates. This gives a total of 16 nests. 1 estimate the number of breeding pairs twice as many as that. The nests were all without exception in the edge of the Woods and the border of the clearings. 12. Spotted Flycatcher. (Muscicapa s. striata P a 1 1 .J I observed a few pairs only. A pair was staying near the house in the older, high, rare woods. There had been surely some breeding pairs. 13. River Warbler. (Locustella fluviatilis W о 1 f f.J A very characteristic bird of the Alder Woods. Judged by the frequency of their song 1 estimate 14 15 nesting pairs in the examined territory. They were constantly warbling from 21st May till 4th June. Afterwards, during my visit on the 11th June, 1 did not hear a single bird, though I have looked up their whole haunt. I found its nest after an extensive search on 22nd May, it was on the ground in a dense blackberry vine and nettle undergrowth, containing 2 eggs. The bird itself was constantly singing during my search, some 50 meters away from me. Hoping that- the female will lay more eggs, I left the two older ones in the nest ; but the next time, the 28th May, when 1 looked it up again, I found only the same clutch. 14. Icterine Warbler. (Hypolais i. icterina V e i 1 1 .) I met with a specimen, the 25th April. Up till the 11th June I never found it again in the same or in any other place, but 1 observed a very agitated bird on the margin of a small clearing on this day. Their breeding I take for granted, though I could not find its nest even after the most strenuous search. The icterine warbler is therefore surprisingly rare in this territory, though most suitable for its needs. 15. Barred Warbler. (Sylvia n. nisoria В e с h s t.) I found 4 considerably incubated eggs in a nest, 1,5 meters high in an alder shrub on the eastern edges of the woods, the 11th June. 1 did not meet again with it in the woods ; but 1 found five deserted eggs one meter high in the reedy dense weeds of the Királyrét on the same day. This last haunt corresponds much more with its nature. The nest in the woods was also in the vicinity of the Kisrába canal, in a place where its eastern shore gives onto an adjacent big meadow. 16. Blackcap. (Sylvia a. atricapilla L.J 1 found its nest 2 feet high up, in high nettle, in the margin of a young, sparse, thicket, 21st May ; there was only one egg in it on this day. Judging from older nests and the birds themselves, it must be rather frequent here. There were probably 8—10 pairs breeding in this locality. 17. Song Thrush. (Turdus ericetorum philomelos Brehm,) I found it breeding near the southern edges of the wood, 4th June. The nest was in the forked trunk of a very old poplar, 3 meters high from the ground. There are not many of this bird, some pairs live in the younger alder coppices. There can be no more than 10 breeding pairs in this territory. 18. Nightingale. (Luscinia luscinia L.) It is not frequent. 1 chanced on a very agitated bird, the 25th May ; but I have not found its nest. No more than 4—5 pairs would nest here. 171