Torockó: Székelykő (Rock of the Székelys)

During our excursion to Transylvania this year we spent a few days at Torockó (Rimetea). One morning everything was covered by thick fog which stayed there for hours. One of the sights of the village, the Székelykő ("Rock of the Székelys") was hidden behind the clouds. On this photo only a cliff is visible:

Székelykő 

Later the sun slowly managed to bring some light to the countryside:

After a few hours however we could enjoy the landscape in beautyful sunshine:

Székelykő 

Székelykő 

Mikepércs: White Wagtails

At what a rate has the water shrunk at the pond this week? Am I still able to make acceptable photos there? Now I am prepared for this case when I'm unable to take decent shots of the birds moving on the ground: I've taken a landing branch, I'm sure the wagtails are willing to use it with pleasure. 

As soon as it got light the young white wagtails appeared:

Young White Wagtail

One of them is rushing up the branch to try quickly the feeling of perching there:

Young White Wagtail

Meanwhile a wood sandpiper is coming closer while feeding:

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

What a difference is preening on a branch then on the ground:

Young White Wagtail

Young White Wagtail

Tense attention ("should I stay or should I get away?"):

Young White Wagtail

"I'd rather stay":

Young White Wagtail

A ruff is getting closer as well:

Ruff (female)

Hunting in the mud:

Young White Wagtail

"Oh, something has stuck onto my toes":

Young White Wagtail

"I shold get rid of it":

Young White Wagtail

Stretching:

Young White Wagtail

One has to use ones wings to stay up in this sinking mud:

Wood Sandpiper

Young White Wagtail

Anyway, it's been worth coming today!

Mikepércs: Birds In The Mud

I was looking forward to an exciting morning, for the pond has got covered by some fog at dawn. At the left side of my hide the soil is solid, at the right side there is still some water. Between them there's a thick mud which attracts the shore birds. The vegetation at the opposite side is not visible because of the fog. But I can see the stilts at 20-30 meters from me. A young little ringed plover is searching for food nearby. It's very funny to see it patting the ground with one leg in front of it, ...:

Young Little Ringed Plover

Young Little Ringed Plover

... before digging its beak in the mud or making another attempt a few steps further.

Then I have a look at the stilts in the fog:

Black-winged Stilt

Then other small birds appear: Two Temminck's stints! I have seen them previously on this place but from a bigger distance. Now they're coming quite close:

Temminck's Stint

Lovely "ball":

Temminck's Stint

When they get out of my view angle I'm focusing on the stilts again:

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Young Black-winged Stilt

Young Black-winged Stilt

Young Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

In some distance I discover two unusual shore birds. There are two of them! I know at once they are new for me. Looking into the viewfinder I can say they are most likely broad-billed sandpipers. Great! If only they came closer! And soon they do:

Broad-billed Sandpiper

Then they turn back, but a common sandpiper is closing:

Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

It's coming really close:

Common Sandpiper

A little ringed plover is starting preening itself:

Young Little Ringed Plover

(It had better be a little closer)

Young Little Ringed Plover

A wood sandpiper is landing nearby, but the sludge is so soft that it has to use its wings not to get stuck:

Wood Sandpiper

It spends some time searching for food this way:

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

A little further a young stilt is flapping its wings:

Young Black-winged Stilt

One of the broad-billed sandpipers is approaching again:

Broad-billed Sandpiper

Then it's getting really close:

Broad-billed Sandpiper

Broad-billed Sandpiper

Broad-billed Sandpiper

There are a few dunlins on the pond as well, one of them has a look around near my hide:

Dunlin

Then the Temminck's stints appear again:

Temminck's Stint

Temminck's Stint

Temminck's Stint

Meanwhile the sun is starting to shine, the lights are getting strong, but I can't resist to photograph this wood sandpiper before I leave:

Wood Sandpiper