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

I found a clutch of five fresh eggs in the Óbányai valley, Eastern Mecsek, 18. July, 1952. 3. Erithacus r. rubecula L. Robin. — One of the most frequently seen bird of the Mecsek. Outside of the present habitat where I saw it the most often it occurs in every other one of the Mecsek. As it is a very common bird in the whole country I have never sought after its nest. So I have found it only by chance the 25. April, 1948 ; there was one egg in it. The nest was built into old loam along the brook in the Márévári valley of the Eastern Mecsek. A few definite data taken from my note-books will shed some light on its common occurrence. I have seen six or five specimens in places far from each other on the southern side of the Pécsi Mecsek, during a few hours 18. October 1943. I had a similar observation in other points of the Pécsi Mecsek (19. October). I have seen lone specimens in the Western Mecsek 10. March, 1946, ancl in the Eastern Mecsek (17. March). 4. Troglodytes t. troglodytes L. Wren. — Not frequent, but occurring in the whole Mecsek. It may be seen more often in the edges of the woods and the gardens of the settlements in winter. I have found it in breeding time along the streams almost without exception. I have also observed four or five specimens in various places far from any running water in some hours on the southern side of the Pécsi Mecsek, 16. October, 1943. Three days later, (19. Oct.), I saw only one in the same places and during the same time. It seems to change its place therefore more frequently in the fall. I found only one during the whole day in the Western Mecsek (5. December) ; and this also was not in the wood, but in the bordering vineyard. I saw four or five specimens in the Szuadó valley alone in the Western Mecsek 13. August, 1945 ; and one specimen in the edge of the woods an the southern side of the Pécsi Mecsek 16. February 1946. I found it nesting in the Eastern Mecsek 4. May, 1947. The nest was among dense hanging roots from a few centimeters only of the brook's coast with six fresh eggs in it, in the Pusztabánya valley. I found another nest in the Lámpás valley of the Pécsi Mecsek 26. April, 1948. This was also near the stream but under the cliff's ledge that hung over more than a meter above water, as if glued to it on the underside : there were six somewhat incubated eggs in it. I have not found any more incubating nests, but I have more frequently met with its winter or sleeping nests, and in various places, too. I found a nest in dense mosses in the Pécsi Mecsek, and another one in the Márévári valley of the Eastern Mecsek. I came upon another one amongst roots in the Nagyfonás valley of the Middle Mecsek, and two in similar circumstances in the Réka valley, Eastern Mecsek. Then I discovered a winter nest glued under a cliff ledge in the Peknyáki valley of the Pécsi Mecsek, and another one was built by padding a hole with a small opening in calcareous tufa in the Óbányai valley of the Eastern Mecsek. The material of the nests and the color of the eggs were agreeing with the description given in the various manuals. 5. Muscicapa p. parva Bechts. Red-breasted Flycatcher. — Sz. Cseresnyés found a clutch of five fresh eggs in the Lámpás valley of the Pécsi Mecsek. He informed me of his discovery, and I looked him up accordingly. We went to the Lámpás völgy where, not far from the first nest, Cseresnyés found another one with four clear eggs. We saw the bird too in the place of the first nest, so there were two pairs incubating in the vicinity of each other (some 300 meters in distance). Cseresnyés discovered still another nest with three young birds and one addled egg at the Kó'lyuk, on the northern side of the Pécsi Mecsek (4. July). Then we went to the Eastern Mecsek to have observed a male specimen in the northern vallev of the Réka, (7. July). Two of the nests (in the Lámpás valley) were in the tops of hornbeam trees, which were broken down by the wind. The nests were built into the forks of the breaks 6—8 meters high over the ground. The nest at the Kó'lyuk was made on a cliff-edge over its inner mossy surface, some 3 meters high. I have further observed an old male and two young specimens on the wing around Kanta vár in the Pécsi Mecsek, 15. July, 1952. In this year I have not met again with the Red-breasted Flycatcher. Habitat II. Forest Clearings and the Edge of Woods I have included into this class those wqody territories that are analogous to the clearings, e. g. the edges of forests, alleys, and fresh tree fellings which are essentially identical. 1. Emberiza c. citrinella L. Yellow Bunting. — A very frequent bird, commonly occurring in the whole Mecsek. I have not paid particular attention to this bird just as to the Robin, and of the same causes. I will, however, insert some óf my data. I have seen a flock of them consisting of about 30—40 specimens on the Southern side of the Pécsi Mecsek, 6. February, 1946. I have further observed single specimens and a number of pairs on the northern side of the Western Mecsek (10. March) ; and I have found it nesting in the grassy edge of an old road running along