Heading Podlasie 04.03.2012 / Day 7

That day we spent on a meetings with "dead forest" and some mammals of Bialowieza National Park, and it passed like that:

In the morning two of our guests had a short walk to the nearby forest searching for some woodpeckers (green, and greyheaded were most wanted), and found out that they are really active that time. Presence of greater spotted woodpecker begun to irritate us - as there was plenty of them everywhere!

After earlier breakfast we traveled to the region of Masiewo village and "dead forest". During walk we could see some great oaks and lets say primeval forest. We reached the side of river Braszcza. It was the same river we spotted american mink two days earlier but in another place. We found a great area of dead forest there and we could hear many woodpeckeres there! We got the aim to find threetoed, and whitebacked woodpecker there. The most common was greater spotted once again, but from distance we could hear black woodpecker too, and we were wondering about some sounds if it was or it wasn't middle spotted woodpecker. After short walk we managed to see whitebacked woodpecker. For our guests it was first meeting with that species. During that observation we have seen some nutchatches and european crested tits too.

Walk was really nice, and we had many chances to see some signs of beavers, hazel grouses, red deers, and bison activity (mainly droppings, but also markings made by teeth on trees).

After lunch we had another walk into forest.

That time we decided to visit "Carska Tropina" trail. That track located at the bank of Narewka river was full of wolf droppings, informing about the boundary of wolfpack area. Unfortunately viewing tower which was taken down two years ago hadn't been rebuilded yet. We followed trail to the south searching for woodpeckers and pygmy owl. After a time, we reached some wooden bridges that were cloesed due to their technical conditions. We decided to make a stop for a tea and chocolate. In that moment we were able to observe herd of 11 wild boars from very close. Soon above our heads we saw golden eagle flying. When it begun to get darker as it was time about sunset we visited bison refuge one more time. We had luck that time as 8 bison was there.

Going back to hostel passed without any additional observations.