My final holiday of 2015 was in the same place as my first, a long weekend in my favourite city of Gdansk, and was a great affair. I started out when storm Desmond was just starting, luckily (for me) it was flights flying west that were affected, and I went in the opposite direction.
My flight was slightly delayed, when everyone was requested to remove their hand luggage from the overhead lockers, and a minute later asked to put them back. Still not sure why we had to do that. The temperature in Poland was quite a few degrees colder than the UK, and it was quite challenging to make my way through the old town on this Saturday evening. There were thousands packed in the square. Using a suitcase with wheels was nigh impossible on the cobbled stones. It wasn't so much one step forward two steps back, more one step forward, two steps left. I was only able to move as quickly as a Liverpool fullback. The Christmas market stalls were jam packed, with bands playing and people passing me from every possible direction. This Christmas tree in the square put lots of the weak efforts in the UK to shame. I found my excellent hotel, eventually.
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| Beaver activity |
After an early hearty breakfast, I made my way to Sobrieszswska, a man-made island by the mouth of the Vistula river. Making my way along the bank of the river, it quickly became apparent of very recent beaver activity, although I was not lucky enough to see any. On the river were plenty of Goosanders flying up and down, with goldeneye and long tailed ducks in quite large flocks. To the left in the wooded area, there were plenty of nuthatches, great spotted woodpeckers and treecreepers, with lots of the usual tit flocks, including willow tits. Blackbirds, redwings and fieldfare were also in large numbers. Further up the river looking out to see there were lots of gulls, with little gulls out at sea.
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| White tailed eagle scattered the gulls |
There were constantly flushed by a white tailed eagle by a beached island. Large numbers of herons were moved by a trickle of walkers. It was a sunny day and as it was Sunday, the quiet start was no longer.
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| Herons quickly moved by walkers |
I looked from a tower hide out to sea, and saw common and velvet scoters, with long tailed ducks and great crested grebes. I picked out a slavonian grebe, a lifer for me with goldeneye close to the shore.
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| Slavonian grebe |
It was starting to get busy as many people were out for a walk, and looking for amber on the beach. I made my way back to my hotel, this time avoiding the town square.
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| Female smew |
I started out early again and went to the other side of the island of Sobrieszewska, to a nature reserve called Ptasi Raj, which translates to “Birding paradise”. It was a Monday and thankfully much quieter (people wise). I made my way to the first tower hide and did not see much apart from a small number of male smew. The next tower hide was also quiet but small numbers of goldeneye, goosanders and tufted ducks on the large lake. About three female smew landed in front of the hide. bearded tits were flying in the reed bed in front of the hide. About a dozen swans and about 20 coots were also on the lake. A white tailed eagle flew over.
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| Snow buntings on beach |
I made my way to the coast and saw about 30+ snow buntings on the shore line, and constantly flying to and fro. Greenfinch were in the same area. Looking out at sea, there were large number of scoters, long tailed duck, great crested grebe and eiders were flying. On my way back I had fabulous views of a black woodpecker. I was able to observe this fantastic bird for quite a while before it flew off.
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| Fabulous black woodpecker |
The days in December are much shorter of course and it was now almost dark and only just past 3.30. I headed back to the bus stop for the 186 bus. It was an enjoyable couple of days and began to wish I had booked another few days.
