Do you know that: the Montagu’s harrier Circus pygargus is a vanishing species of Accipitriformes – in Poland there are 2700-4300 breeding pairs. This harrier does not build nests on the trees as the majority of Accipitriformes, but directly on the ground – in reed bed plants on a peat bog or a swampy meadow or in cereal on the field. In the Polesie National Park these birds build their nests on peat bogs, the Bubnów Marsh and Staw Marsh and hunting birds may be met in open spaces around these peat bogs.
Existing environmental protection forms: the Polesie National Park, Nature 2000 protection area of the Bubnów Marsh (PLB060001), Chełm Area of Protected Landscape.
Directions: From Urszulin we drive along the national road no. 82 towards Lublin. Having driven a few hundred meters, still in Urszulin, at the church and before the headquarters of the Polesie National Park management, we turn left in the road towards Sawin. Then, having passed about 7.7 km we reach the village of Wielkopole where we turn left in a dirt road and reach the watch tower (GPS coordinates: 51○20’31.87’’N; 23○14’56.75’’E; elevation: 194 m).
Bird watching equipment: binoculars or spotting scope.
Transport: on foot or by bike.
Difficulty level: mid difficult in terms of distance
Length of the trail: about 8 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 trail begins at the watch tower (GPS coordinates: 51○20’31.87’’N; 23○14’56.75’’E; elevation: 194 m) in Wielkopole. From the tower we come back to a dirt road, turning right, heading northwards towards Wereszczyn. This road leads through a picturesque landscape of fields, meadows and the Bubnów Marsh. Having passed about 2.7 km we reach a crossing with an asphalt road and turn right into it, heading eastwards towards Sęków. After 2.4 km from this crossing, in Sęków, we turn right southwards in a dirt road leading through the Bubnów Marsh in the Polesie National Park to Wielkopole. From this turn to the forest we may observe tooting and hunting Montagu’s harriers. Then, the road leads southwards and next – south-westwards. We reach an asphalt road where we turn right to Wielkopole. After about 200 meters we once again turn right in a dirt road and go back to the watch tower where our journey began.
The most important bird species to be seen or heard during the best season for birding: the Montagu’s harrier, the hen harrier, the crane, the common snipe, the common redshank, the black-tailed godwit, the northern lapwing, the black stork, the white stork, the lesser spotted eagle, the Eurasian woodcock, the aquatic warbler, the black-tailed godwit, the northern lapwing, the common rosefinch, the barred warbler, the crane, the greylag goose.
The best observation points: 1 – watch tower – a spot for the observation of a few hundreds of cranes coming to the Bubnów Marsh as their sleeping quarter – the best time for crane watching is September; 2 – a spot for the observation of: harriers, black-tailed godwits, northern lapwings, cranes; 3 – a spot for the observation of, i.a.: Montagu’s harriers, common snipes, common redshanks, northern lapwings, cranes as well as aquatic warblers, Savi’s warblers, common grasshopper warblers, thrush nightingales, common rosefinches, Eurasian penduline tits, at night Eurasian bitterns and even tawny owls.
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The Montagu’s harrier Sekow Wielkopole
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Observation points
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The “Montagu’s harrier” Trail.
Other attractions in the vicinity of the trail: see the “Aquatic warbler” Trail.