Do you know that: the black stork Ciconia nigra is a very rare species in Poland. Its population amounts to barely 1400-1600 pairs. Some of the pairs regularly breed in Polesie.
Do you know that: a species which is less numerous than the black stork is the white-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla – the population of this “non-eagle” amounts to scarcely 1000-1400 pairs.
Trail description: The trail leads through picturesque places in the Urszulin Commune and the Polesie National Park.
Existing environmental protection forms: the Polesie Landscape Park, Nature 2000 protection area of Polesie (PLB060019), Nature 2000 protection area of Ostoja Poleska (PLH060013).
Directions: The trail starts in Urszulin – we drive along the national road no. 82 towards Lublin. At the first road crossing before the petrol station we turn right. Having driven 3.5 km we reach the village of Sumin. On the right at the shelter we can park our car (GPS 51.37124, 23.1510). From a small beach and jetties we can observe and listen to, e.g. Eurasian bitterns or great-crested grebes. Further south-west we pass the village of Garbatówka and turn right towards the village of Grabniak at the first road crossing (51.359, 23.1091). After 0.5 km on the right there is the ecological site “Ciesacin” – here aquatic warblers sing. Driving further we reach Lake Rotcze in Grabniak. We can park our car near the beach (GPS 51.3775, 23.1184). The next interesting point on our list is the Museum of the Polesie National Park in Załucze Stare (GPS 51.39536,23.1129). Having visited the Museum we go back to Urszulin and after 5 km turn left into the national road no. 82 towards Włodawa. Having driven 5 km we turn left to the village of Kochanowskie and reach the observation tower localized at the southern shore of Lake Wytyckie (GPS 51.42321,23.2104). From the tower in Kochanowskie we go back to Urszulin. 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 driven about 2 km we turn left to the village of Zastawie. In Zastawie we head towards the Lake (GPS coordinates: 51○22’05.19’’N; 23○13’48.28’’E; elevation: 169 m). Then, we head to the watch tower near the flood plain on the Bubnów Marsh in the Polesie National Park (GPS coordinates: 51○22’33.30’’N; 23○15’06.36’’E; elevation: 170 m).
Difficulty level: easy.
Length of the trail: about 23 km.
Bird watching equipment: binoculars, spotting scope.
Transport: by car or by bike.
The most important bird species to be seen or heard during the best season for birding: the aquatic warbler, the common redshank, the Montagu’s harrier, the hen harrier, the western marsh harrier, the Eurasian bittern, the great egret, the crane, the common snipe, the common redshank, the black-tailed godwit, the northern lapwing, the ferruginous duck, the Caspian gull, the common goldeneye, the greylag goose, the great-crested grebe, the red-necked grebe, the black-necked grebe, the Eurasian penduline tit, the great reed warbler, the Savi’s warbler, the white-winged tern, the whiskered tern, the black tern, the common tern, the mute swan.
The best observation points: 1 – observation tower at Lake Sumin; 2 – jetty at Lake Rotcze; 3 – the Museum of the Polesie National Park; 4 – observation tower at Lake Wytyckie; 5 – observation tower on Bubnów Marsh in the Polesie National Park.
[Key
Observation towers
The Car Birding Trip Trail
Main roads
Local roads
Bodies of water
Watercourse
Border of the Polesie NP
Buildings
Border of the Urszulin Commune
Forest
Open spaces]
The “Car birding trip” Trail.