Author: Nika

  • Bird Watching Trip to Hungary

    Bird Watching Trip to Hungary

    One of the best ways for me to take a break from busy touristy areas while traveling is to take a quick bird watching or nature photography trip. It is also a great way to get a glimpse of the countryside and interact with locals. My recent family trip to Hungary was no exception, and the birding turned out to be one of the highlights. 

    Common buzzard

    I have read that Long-Eared Owls gather in the area from November to March during their migration. A specific place I had read about is Kikinda, Serbia, which is a southern neighbor of Hungary, but I was hoping I would find one to photograph near Budapest as well. I went ahead and booked a tour with a local company, “Wings of Hungary”.

    On the morning of the trip, we met our guide, Tamás, in front of the hotel. My husband decided to join the tour too. We drove south of Hungary towards the town of Apaj and its surrounding areas. In the friendly conversation, Tamás set the expectations for what we would see at this time of the year. I told him about the Long-Eared Owl, and he said he knew exactly where to find them. A short Hungarian history lesson, and 40 minutes later, we got to the first observation tower. He set up binoculars and we started checking the surroundings with incredible sense of calm. The countryside of Hungary in early November was breathtaking. Colorful, open space everywhere you looked. A very different landscape from my home in California. 

    Great Bustards

    We saw Great Bustards, Imperial Eagle, and Common buzzard to name a few — over 35 species of birds during our half-day trip, which I’ll list at the end. Sometime in the middle of the trip, we arrived at Apaj, and there they were: two of Long-Eared Owls on a pine tree and one on a tree next to it. This was everything I wanted to see, as I am captivated by owls but hadn’t seen the Long-Eared before. 

    Long-eared owl

    Overall, it was a great trip. Incredible countryside. Extremely knowledgeable and friendly guide, and birds all around. And finally, now I have seen a Long-Eared Owl in my life (you will understand if you are a birder reading this). 

    Bird List: Great Bustards, Graylag Goose (European), Greater White-fronted Goose, Northern Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Corn Crake, Eurasian Coot, Common Crane, Black-bellied Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Graylag Goose, Common Snipe, Spotted Redshank, Common Greenshank, Dunlin, Black-headed Gull, Caspian Gull, Little Egret, Great Egret, Gray Heron, Imperial Eagle, Little Egret, Imperial Eagle, Eurasian Sparrow-hawk, Harris’s Hawk, Long-eared Owl, Common Kingfisher, Peregrine Falcon, Rook, Meadow Pipit, European Goldfinch.

  • Urban wildlife is wildlife.

    Urban wildlife is wildlife.

    When we think of wildlife, the first thing that comes to mind is the safari in Africa, Alaska’s wilderness, or the Amazon jungle and such. We forget that we are surrounded by it right where we are. In the middle of the urban spaces. I have been observing urban wildlife for a few years now and am fascinated by it. It surprises me every time I look up to see a Red-Tailed Hawk hovering above or a pack of Coyotes howling in the middle of the street outside my bedroom window at 3 a.m. Owls hoot above the busy trails of the Japanese gardens in Golden Gate Park. Not to mention the hummingbirds, sparrows, tiny Black-Eyed Juncos, and so many other creatures… 

    Early this morning, I came across one of the cutest members of the urban wildlife community, the raccoons! I only had my phone with me because I was out for a run, but the scene was so adorable that I couldn’t pass on sharing it here. So this may not be professionally photographed, but I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, watching them easing into the new day…

    Raccoons – Golden Gate Park, SF 10/2025

    And the moral of the story, or a reminder – take it as you wish – but don’t forget to pause and look around when you go about your day; you never know what cute moment of life you might miss.

  • Margins

    Margins

     

    Margins

    I find this photo to be beautiful and sad at the same time. The young elk standing eye level, staring into the camera. It takes up almost the entire space of the frame and feels to me as if it’s stuck, a bit awkward. I tried to represent that they have such a little space left as the human population grows around them. 

    If you haven’t heard the stories about Tomales Point Elk Reserve, here is a summarized version.

    Tule Elk Face Shrinking Habitat at Tomales Point

    POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE, CA — The tule elk, an iconic species native to California, is facing increasing challenges within the Tomales Point Tule Elk Reserve. Despite the scenic beauty of the reserve, with elk grazing against coastal cliffs and open grasslands, concerns are growing about the sustainability of their habitat.

    Originally established to protect this once-endangered species, the reserve has unintentionally created a confined environment. Fences designed to keep elk from encroaching on cattle grazing lands have limited their access to essential resources, such as food and water, particularly during dry seasons. This has forced federal wildlife managers to make difficult decisions, including culling the herd to prevent overpopulation and resource depletion—a practice that has sparked heated debates on wildlife management and conservation ethics.

    Conservationists and local community members are advocating for alternative solutions. Proposals include expanding the elk’s habitat and removing some barriers to allow for natural migration. The future of the tule elk at Tomales Point hinges on achieving a balance between ecological preservation and human land use.

  • This is the first Post

    This is the first Post

    I have been searching for an outlet for my photography, and I hope this is the good way for me to share the world as I experience it. I am just experimenting with this post to see how it works, so I promise the future posts will be more insightful.