Boros István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 4. (Budapest 1952)

Horváth, L.: The ornis of the Mecsek Mountains based on oecologic and oologic researches

ability of some species they occur in other habitats, too. ín fact, there are some species of which it is almost impossible to say which habitat they like the best to live and nest in. Habitat 1. The Environment of Streams The streams of the Mecsek flow in almost their total length in dense woods followed in some cases by narrow alluvial meadows, and then also for short reaches only. Birds live here in meagre numbers and but a few species. Of the five species enumerated in the followings the Grey Wagtail lives exclusively alongside the streams ; the Wren can be found in the breeding season only here, at other times in other places too ; but then also chiefly in the vicinity of brooks. The Robin is the most frequently found in breeding season in this habitat, but one may also meet with it often around clearings and the edges of the woods ; in these terrains it may breed also in greater distances from running water. 1 Carduelis spinusL. Siskin. —• Observed only once in the Mecsek. I have seen some specimens on the alder trees of the Égervölgy in the Western Mecsek, 20. January, 1946. 2. Motacilla c. cinerea Tunst. Grey Wagtail. — One of the most characteristical birds of the Mecsek. I have tried to detect its nesting only in the spring of 1947 and 1948. Previously to this time I have only summer, fall, and winter data. It is rarely seen in the Western Mecsek. I have seen a specimen in the Égervölgy, 13. August, 1945 ; and have observed another specimen at the Vízfő spring, near Orfű, on the Northern side of the Pécsi Mecsek, 2. February, 1946. In the same year (3. March) I have met with another specimen around the Kó'lyuk in the Mélyvölgy, • also on the Northern side of the Pécsi Mecsek. In the spring of 1947 and 1948 I have very thoroughly looked after the Grey Wagtails in the whole Mecsek to clear up their nesting habits and get a possibly clear picture of their numbers and distribution. My results are the followings : I have found it nesting four times in 1947, but only in the Eastern Mecsek. There were five fresh eggs in the nest found in the valley of the Halász brook (12. April) ; then six eggs in another nest in the Óbánya valley (19. April) ; and again six eggs in still another nest in the same place (20. April) ; and finally a nest with 5 almost flying youngs in the Márévári valley (4. May). In this year I have found a pair also in the Middle Mecsek, at the brook of the quarry called Macskalyuk but I was not able to find their nest. I have searched after them in vain in breeding, season in the Pécsi and Western Mecsek in 1947. ï have, however, found them nesting,five times in all four parts of the Mecsek in 1948 : with five fresh eggs in the Nagyforrás valley in the Middle Mecsek (15. April) ; with two fresh eggs (the bird has lef c the nest) in the Óbányai valley, Eastern Mecsek (18. April) ; with six fresh eggs in the Éger valley, Western Mecsek (22. April) ; with six fresh eggs in the Pusztabánya valley,. Eastern Mecsek again (25. April) ; finally with six incubated eggs in the Mély valley, Pécsi Mecsek (26. April). In this year I have yet seen pairs of them, but without finding their nests : one pair in the Magyaregregy valley, the Síngödör, the Hidas valley, the Farkas ditçh, the Márévári valley, the Réka (Halászpatak) valley, the Büdöskúti valley, and the Óbányai valley, with two pairs (I have found the nest of one as given above). Based on these data we may say of the dispersion of the Gray Wagtail in the Mecsek that only one pair settles per valley (with the exception of the Óbányai valley where two pairs were living but these also in a three^ kilometers distance from each other : one at the Óbánya end of the valley the other at the Újbánya.end). Thes valleys are usually separated by high ridges, and I have never observed any one of them to have flied over onto the other one (in breeding season). When disturbed they fluttered up and down along the streams, but they have never left their nesting site far behind, frequently they flew up a tree. t After such investigations and exact observations I may state that thirteen pairs were nesting in the Mecsek Mountains in 1948. Every nest that I found were very near the brooks (from 20 centimetres to 2 meters), and from 20 cm to 150 cm high up above water. Of the nine found and occupied nests six were placed on the ledges of cliffs, or in their caves sheltered from above, while three were built in holes in the soil, protected by some earthen ledge horizontally. The nests were along or near the swift and roaring rapids of the streams. I have never found any along the stiller flowing reaches. Of nine cases I have caught sight of the bird on her nest in two cases only, all others flew sooner away. The eggs found in eight of the nests had the following coloration : four clutches had a greyish yellow base with such dense minute brown sprinkling that it seemed almost uniformly greyish brown ; two clutches were mottled by regularly spread larger brown spots on a well separated yellowish basic color ; finally two clutches had a very fine sprinkling on a pale green ground, the total impression being a light greenish gray.