A new member from Hungary !

[Matra Man]

Hello to all members and Administrators of this super web site !

I'm actually from Norfolk, but now living in the Mátra Mountains of Hungary. I was always interested in nature from an early age, and eventually decided to get into conservation work as a way to say thank you to all those things that had given me such pleasure.

I firstly worked at the Ted Ellis Nature Reserve at Wheatfen, Surlingham. By this time, Ted (perhaps Norfolk's greatest naturalist) had already passed away, but his incredible knowledge of the whole range of natural history was legendary. He wrote daily articles for local and national papers for most of his adult life, and was the keeper of Natural History at Norwich's Castle Museum.

Eventually I moved on to another special Norfolk place, Buxton Heath, which is a glorious mix of lowland heath, woodland and scrub, with its most important area, the valley mire. I became the voluntary warden there in 1991 and formed the Buxton Heath Wildlife Group to care for and study the site in 1992. Besides the "locals", students from all over the world (studying at Norwich's University of East Anglia) took part in our weekly visits to the Heath.
For some on environmental courses, the practical management work and species logging and study was invaluable. Others on different courses simply liked to escape the campus each week.

Following my move to Hungary, my pal Phil has taken over the reins as vol warden, so if any of you are "local" to the Norwich area, and interested in becoming a member of BHWG, please let me know and I'll act as a "go-between".

Although my life here is very different, some things never change. I still explore the countryside, studying the flora and fauna, and logging the species on databases. I write nature articles, and this year, I've started reasonably-priced wildlife tours of the species-rich local area for "grassroots" naturalists and nature-lovers from the UK. We don't usually have to go far - our garden hosts Red Squirrels, Black Woodpeckers, Wall Lizards, Golden Orioles, Scarce Swallowtails, and Ant Lions, and Wild Boar trot down our village streets !

Better close now as this is becoming a book !

Best wishes to you all, Colin.

[Ollie]

An excellent introduction Colin. A warm welcome to WAB. Sure you will find plenty to interest you on here. Sounds like a great life you are making for yourself in Hungary.
Look forward to seeing more from you
Roger

[Matra Man]

Originally Posted by Ollie

An excellent introduction Colin. A warm welcome to WAB. Sure you will find plenty to interest you on here. Sounds like a great life you are making for yourself in Hungary.
Look forward to seeing more from you
Roger

Thanks for the warm welcome Roger. Looking forward to being here !

Best wishes, Colin.

[Wolfhill]

Hi Colin and welcome to WAB.
Fergus

[nightshade]

Hi Colin what an intro,welcome to wild about britain

[Paul mabbott]

Sounds great - there are still a lot of undisturbed areas in Hungary - which is why people always use it for filming things that need an 'olde worlde' look! I'm forgetting my geography - are you anywhere near Lake Balaton - or do you visit it?

[Jon]

Originally Posted by Matra Man

Hello to all members and Administrators of this super web site !

I'm actually from Norfolk, but now living in the Mátra Mountains of Hungary. I was always interested in nature from an early age, and eventually decided to get into conservation work as a way to say thank you to all those things that had given me such pleasure.

I firstly worked at the Ted Ellis Nature Reserve at Wheatfen, Surlingham. By this time, Ted (perhaps Norfolk's greatest naturalist) had already passed away, but his incredible knowledge of the whole range of natural history was legendary. He wrote daily articles for local and national papers for most of his adult life, and was the keeper of Natural History at Norwich's Castle Museum.

Eventually I moved on to another special Norfolk place, Buxton Heath, which is a glorious mix of lowland heath, woodland and scrub, with its most important area, the valley mire. I became the voluntary warden there in 1991 and formed the Buxton Heath Wildlife Group to care for and study the site in 1992. Besides the "locals", students from all over the world (studying at Norwich's University of East Anglia) took part in our weekly visits to the Heath.
For some on environmental courses, the practical management work and species logging and study was invaluable. Others on different courses simply liked to escape the campus each week.

Following my move to Hungary, my pal Phil has taken over the reins as vol warden, so if any of you are "local" to the Norwich area, and interested in becoming a member of BHWG, please let me know and I'll act as a "go-between".

Although my life here is very different, some things never change. I still explore the countryside, studying the flora and fauna, and logging the species on databases. I write nature articles, and this year, I've started reasonably-priced wildlife tours of the species-rich local area for "grassroots" naturalists and nature-lovers from the UK. We don't usually have to go far - our garden hosts Red Squirrels, Black Woodpeckers, Wall Lizards, Golden Orioles, Scarce Swallowtails, and Ant Lions, and Wild Boar trot down our village streets !

Better close now as this is becoming a book !

Best wishes to you all, Colin.

Hello Colin and welcome, I am sure you will have fun submitting shots to WAB. Once you have your tours sorted I would be interrested to hear more, Jon

[cherrybee]

Hi Colin and a very warm welcome to WAB

[Matra Man]

Thanks for the latest batch of "welcomes", dear folks ! As for your comment Jon, we're already up & running - perhaps you'd care to send me a private message.

Best wishes, Colin.

[rlchew]

A warm welcome to WAB Colin.

A very interesting introduction reflecting on your time in Norfolk and now your experiences in Hungary. I look forward to hearing more from you .... plus a few photos of Wild Boar trotting down the village street!

Richard

[Matra Man]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Sounds great - there are still a lot of undisturbed areas in Hungary - which is why people always use it for filming things that need an 'olde worlde' look! I'm forgetting my geography - are you anywhere near Lake Balaton - or do you visit it?

Hello Paul !

We're actually about 70 kms east of Budapest, whereas Lake Balaton is about the same distance west of Budapest.

Balaton is bit too touristy for my liking - as Hungary lost it's sea coast in the "great rip-off" of 1920 (when the country lost 2/3 of its territory and population), Hungarians tend to use this area as their frollicking place.

To the south-west of the big lake is Kis Balaton (Little Balaton), and this is a prime area for birds. But......there's more than enough to see in our "neck of the forests".

Take care, Colin.

[honeybee]

Hi Colin,

Did an environmental project in Hungary for a couple of weeks with uni based in Pecs. loved it there (did ashamedly spend most of the time drunk..wine tasting and cheap beer). When I asked if there were any wolves or bears in the forests the locals just laughed at me. Lake Balaton was amazing, so big but so shallow, full of carp and tons of BIG insects about..was touristy though. Would like to go back.

[tracey777]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum. I found it by accident when researching "wolves in Hungary".

I'm led to believe that there is a family of 4 wolves down in the south and also a family somewhere close to Aggtelek in the north.

I relocated to Hunagry about 5 years ago and I really enjoy it. The landscape really is stunning. Breath taking in fact. I live near the BÜkk hills and I organise walking and riding tours.

Colin how are you getting on with the language? And your tours?

Tracey

[Meles meles]

Hi and welcome from me too.

[buzfuz8149]

Hi Colin,

A warm welcome to WAB, looking forward to more posts and photos.

Carol.

[Matra Man]

Colin how are you getting on with the language? And your tours?

Tracey[/quote]


Hi Tracey !

It was nice to hear from you - even if it was via the "back door". If you contact me on info@matrawildlife.com we can have a bigger "conversation", and swap stories about our respective ventures !

Best wishes, Colin.

[Matra Man]

Thanks also to Meles meles and Buzfuz8149 (Carol) for your warm welcomes (although it was actually October 2006 when I joined this great forum !!). It's about time I submitted some photos of Hungarian wildlife, Carol, but I guess they'd be more appropriate on the Wild About the World "sister site". Have you signed-up for that one too ??
Bye for now, Colin.

[naturelover]

hello to you matra man,love your intro glad you found wab you will love it have fun.

[jdurbo]

Hi Colin
Hello and welcome to WAB from me

jen xxx

[Ian Gray]

Isten hozott colin.

Ian.

[John]

Hi Colin

A very warm welcome to WAB from me. That was an excellent intro, full of very interesting detail. It's good to see someone who revels in putting something back into the hobby they love.

Hungary is a place I haven't really thought about regarding Birdwatching visits. What is the birding like out there, price of accommodation etc.

I suppose it would be best to do that through your e-mail address.

Don't forget if you have some really good photos of birds that can be seen in Britain then there should be no problem in placing them into their relevant galleries.

John