Middle of February. Looking out for early signs of spring.

The weather has changed. As the rain came down, the snow started to melt.

When I heard that the first flocks of Geese and Ducks arrived to Biebrza Marshes I decided to visit the area. On an overcast Sunday it was a perfect time to scan the valley for birds. And indeed, there were some signs of the spring. Few thousands of Greylags, Bean and White-fronted Geese, first Pintails, Wigeons and Lapwings, Skylarks migrating above, at the end of the day even 3 Cranes flew past the hill I was standing on! But rather cold wind, a lack of sun and frozen riverbed gave rather „the winter is not over” scenery. Wintering birds such as Merlin or a pair of Hen Harriers (both quite rare in the region) even strenghten the feeling…

But then Tuesday came. With a sun shining in the morning and temperature at about 7°C I headed north-east, to the Knyszyn Forest. I chose the place with different types of habitats from fertile oak-hornbeam forest through wet alder forest to fresh coniferous forest. There weren’t many birds, just Crested and Willow Tits singing around, Black Woodpecker drumming and two Middle-spotted Woodpeckers establishing their territories. But in this part of the year you can experience the change in nature by an overall impression of it. And while I was looking at the awakened forest I felt like the spring is about to come…