Do you know that: the little crake Porzana parva is a breeding variety of the rail Rallidae. Rails are connected with bodies of water and swampy areas where plants partly submerged in water occur. Apart from little crakes the following species belong to the breeding rails: the spotted crake, the common moorhen, the water rail, the Eurasian coot and the corn crake.

View over breeding-ground of the little crake and the ferruginous duck on Pieszowolskie Ponds.

 

Existing environmental protection forms: the Polesie National Park, Nature 2000 protection area of Polesie (PLB060019), Nature 2000 protection area of Ostoja Poleska (PLH060013).

 

Directions: From Urszulin we drive along the national road no. 82 towards Włodawa to the village of Kołacze. At the road crossing in Kołacze we turn left towards Sosnowica and drive through Stary Brus, Laski Bruskie and Wołoskowola to Pieszowola. At the beginning of the village of Pieszowola we turn southwards (GPS coordinates: 51^○29’45.97’’N; 23^○10’24.59’’E, elevation: 178 m). Driving along a dirt road we arrive at a car park near Pieszowolskie Ponds in the Polesie National Park (GPS coordinates: 51^○29’20.48’’N; 23^○10’01.64’’E; elevation: 172 m). Here the “Little crake” Trail begins and its route corresponds with the nature path “Perehod” which is marked by the Polesie National Park.

 

Bird watching equipment:  binoculars or spotting scope.

 

Transport: on foot or by bike.

 

Difficulty level: mid difficult in terms of the distance.

 

Length of the trail:  about 5 km.

 

Periods for bird watching

Month

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

VIII

IX

X

XI

XII

bird watching period

the best season for birding

 

Trail description: The route of the “Little crake” Trail corresponds with the nature path “Perehod” which is marked by the Polesie National Park and this path should be used.

 

The most important bird species to be seen or heard during the best season for birding: the little crake, the ferruginous duck, the Eurasian eagle-owl, the water rail, the Eurasian bittern, the great egret, the purple heron, the white-tailed eagle, the Eurasian penduline tit, the mute swan, the greylag goose, the garganey, the Eurasian teal, the northern shoveler, the Eurasian widgeon, the gadwall, the common goldeneye, the Northern pintail, the red-footed falcon.

 

The best observation points: 1 – watch tower and bird watching shelter, perfect for watching aquatic birds, e.g.: Eurasian bitterns, northern shovelers, Eurasian widgeons, gadwalls, garganeys, Eurasian teals, mute swans, greylag geese, great egrets, white-tailed eagles, Eurasian penduline tits. In the spring or autumn one can hear Eurasian eagle-owls; 2 – watch tower – at this points especially ferruginous ducks, little crakes, Eurasian bitterns and purple herons as well as other aquatic birds may be heard.

[Key

Observation points

Observation towers

The ferruginous duck Pieszowolskie Ponds

Great Snipe Pociagi

Main roads

Borders of the Polesie NP

Bodies of water

Local roads

Watercourses

Buildings

Forests

Open spaces]

The “Little crake” Trail (The “Perehod” Nature Path).

Other attractions in the vicinity of the trail: see the “Great snipe” Trail.