Gdansk: Poland
- Nicholas Turner
- Jul 12
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 16
5th - 10th July 2025
A brief trip to the Baltic coast of Poland to visit the beautiful hanseatic city of Gdansk. Much of the city was destroyed during the 2nd World War but has been rebuilt in a very attractive manner to provide a modern city with many canals and waterways and even some green space for birds.
Sunday 6th July: We arrived the previous evening on a flight from Zurich and made our way to the hotel. On the Sunday we explored the city noting a number of Hooded Crows and Common Redstarts in one of the cemeteries. Close to the hotel were some reed beds with Reed Warbler, Barn Swallow and several Tree Sparrows.
Monday 7th July: We decided to take an Uber to the nearby Ptasi Raj Nature Reserve. However, the whole reserve was somewhat infested with mosquitoes which somewhat limited our activities. Highlights were Willow Warbler, several Wood Warblers singing, a Common Rosefinch as well as Common Gull, Yellow-legged Gull and Black-headed Gull.
Approximately 30 minutes walk from the hotel was a man-made canal line with reed-beds that looked like an excellent place to explore for birds. Upon arrival several Great Reed Warblers were heard singing as well as Reed Warblers. Interestingly a Marsh Warbler was heard singing, but not seen, allowing careful appreciation of the difference compared to the Reed Warbler. Another highlight were the Common Redstarts, both adults and young.
Tuesday 8th July: A second visit to the local birding hotspot was rewarded with two new lifer birds in the form of Penduline Tit and Little Bittern as well as a single Common Tern.
Thursday 10th July: After a brief but enjoyable trip we flew back from Gdansk to Manchester via Munich.
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