Do you know that: the white-backed woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos (phot. Robert Dróżdż) is one of the rarest woodpeckers in Poland. There are 1000-1300 pairs, whereas in the Lublin Region scarcely 30-50 pairs. In the spring these woodpeckers “drum”, i.e. peck rapidly on an empty branch with their bills – the accompanying sound is referred to as drumming.
A dying alder forest is an exquisite habitat for the white-backed woodpecker.
Existing environmental protection forms: the Polesie National Park, the Polesie Landscape 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. Having driven about 6.2 km we turn left at the church in Wytyczno. Then, having driven about 0.9 km we turn right in a dirt road to the Monument of the Soldiers of the Border Protection Corps in Łowiszów (GPS coordinates: 51○26’27.25’’N; 23○14’34.29’’E; elevation: 168 m). The “White-backed woodpecker” Trail begins at this Monument.
Bird watching equipment: binoculars or spotting scope.
Transport: on foot or by bike.
Difficulty level: difficult in terms of distance.
Length of the trail: about 9.3 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 Monument of the Soldiers of the Border Protection Corps in Łowiszów (GPS coordinates: 51○26’27.25’’N; 23○14’34.29’’E; elevation: 168 m) and leads north-westwards along a dirt road towards Nowiny encompassing cycling educational trail “The Mietiułka Trail”. In Nowiny we turn right and go towards the ponds in the Polesie National Park. At the barrier we turn right and after a few hundred meters reach the river Mietiułka. Then, we go eastwards on the dyke along this small river – going along the river Mietiułka we find a swampy and withering alder forest. Next, using the same trail, we come back to the Monument of the Soldiers of the Border Protection Corps in Łowiszów.
The most important bird species to be seen or heard during the best season for birding: the white-backed woodpecker, the grey-headed woodpecker, the lesser spotted woodpecker, the great grey owl, the little crake, the Eurasian coot, the Eurasian penduline tit, the common goldeneye, the ferruginous duck, the greylag goose, the great egret, the black stork, the white-tailed eagle, the lesser spotted eagle.
The best observation points: 1 – a spot for the observation of European wrynecks, though it is also possible to see white-backed woodpeckers as well as woodland birds and grassland birds; 2 – habitat of woodland birds – along the whole path through the forest we can observe the great grey owl; 3 – breeding habitat of the white-backed woodpecker. On Bruskie Ponds we can see white-tailed eagles, common goldeneyes, little crakes, Eurasian bitterns, little bitterns, great egrets, purple herons, greylag geese, ferruginous ducks.
Przebieg trasy „Dzięcioł białogrzbiety”.