This morning it was clear and sunny. It was a welcome change from the storm of yesterday. We met at 6 a.m. to look for bison again before breakfast. And we found two bulls not far out of town.
We returned to have breakfast, which was the usual breads, cheese, meats, plus crepes. We left soon after breakfast for a drive to a lake, Siemianowa, surrounded by levees that was very close to the Belarus border. From a viewing platform on one side of the lake, we saw many birds. Two of them were eagles, including the White-tailed Eagle, which is featured in the Polish coat of arms. It looks somewhat similar to the Bald Eagle except without a white head. We walked along the levee in the sunshine to see more birds and some mushrooms. Then we returned to a picnic table near the viewing platform to eat our lunches packed by the pension’s staff.
After lunch, we drove around the lake to the side that’s right near the border. It’s actively patrolled by the Polish border guard because it’s the line between the EU and the rest of Eastern Europe. Poland isn’t letting in any refugees that the rest of Europe is handling. A patrol car stopped near our van and we all had to show passports. They asked the Australian women and then me, “Where is your visa?” I said I didn’t have one. They thumbed through the pages to find the entrance stamp and were satisfied. Later, Vanessa, one of the British people on our group said, “I thought we were going to lose you.” In the relief of the moment, it was rather funny.
We drove nearby to some farmed fish ponds to look for additional birds and saw a red fox there. Then we returned to the pension for a break before leaving again to find the elusive Pygmy-owl. Andrej had arranged to meet another guide who was going to a place where one had been seen recently. The second guide was whistling in imitation of the owl’s call on a forest road when we arrived. Soon an owl called back in response and we were able to see it sitting high up in a tree. It’s the size of a starling and catches other small birds to eat. We got a great view through the spotting scope. After seeing that, hearing the rutting bellows of red deer through the woods, and seeing a pretty sunset, we returned to the pension for dinner and the end of the day.
Lori's Travels 