Hoopoe Wildlife Tours, Słońsk, Poland

Ujście Warty (the Warta Mouth) and surroundings

Location

Ujście Warty - The Warta Mouth is an area on the lower Warta and the middle Odra, in Lubuskie region, adjacent to the Polish-German border, in sulęciński, słubicki and gorzowski districts. Słońsk (formerly Sonnenburg) is a village (c. 3000 inhabitants) situated in sulęciński district. It is located only 16 km from the border crossing-point in w Kostrzyn nad Odrą, less than 100 km from Berlin, 120 km from Szczecin and Zielona Góra and 160 km from Poznań. Słońsk is located in a district, with the lowest of population density in Lubuskie region - only 32 persons/km² (average for Poland - 123 persons/km²). It is appreciated especially by our guests from Warszawa, Małopolska i Śląsk and from Germany and the Netherlands.

View from the observation tower in Chyrzyno(© Przemysław Szymoński)

Been- and White-fronted geese (© Przemysław Szymoński)

The name itself Ujście Warty - the Warta Mouth already indicates the location of this place. Tthe place, where the Warta ends and flows into the Odra river, a wide valley spreads out, which is part of Toruńsko-Eberswaldzka proglacial stream valley. Over 250 back, the part of the Warta behind Gorzów was divided into many meandering arms, which formed an inland delta, flowing into the Odra south of Kostrzyn. The Warta wetland (Warthe Bruch)was flooded by both rivers and o riparian forest grew in the area. Nowadays the lower Warta valley is drained and deforestated. Extensive farming system does not disturb existence of extremely attractive habitats vital for Poland and Europe.

In April behind first bridge in Przyborów

In January behind first bridge in Przyborów

The vicinity of Słońsk is dominated by open areas distinct from the rest of Lubuskie region, where about 50% of the land is covered with woodland. Periodically flooded meadows and pastures partly covered by willow trees and bushes cut overgrown old drainage canals. Dozens of kilometers of embankments make nature observation easy during walking and biking. The wide and flat valley is surrounded in the north and south by morainal hills and lakes creating a beautiful postglacial landscape. Among dominant coniferous forests in Lubuskie Lake District, you can also find pieces of interesting old deciduous woods - beech-, dry-ground-woods and alder carrs.

Why is it worth coming to the "Ujście Warty" region?

On the 1st of July 2001 the 23rd national park in Poland was established.
There are many attractive places for biking in Ujście Warty
The flodplain and old riverbeds are excellent for canoenig.
It is possible to do sighseeing of the the ruins of the fortress and the old town in Kostrzyn.
Xerothermic grasses on the escarpment of the Warta and Odra valleys resemble Ukrainian steppe vegetation.
The tourist product "Rzeczpospolita Ptasia w Ujściu Warty" (The Bird Republic in the Warta Mouth) is recognized as the best in Poland as announced by European Comission competition EDEN, which promotes sustainable tourism.

When is it worth to come to the Ujście Warty?

Short information about the four seasons help you to choose the best time to visit "Ujście Warty"

Spring

Spring is certainly the most beautiful. In March revival in nature begins. Bean- and White-fronted Geese gather in the Warta floodplains before migrations, whereas Greylags start their breeding season.During April and the first days of May, the park becomes a waterfowl paradise. You can observe migrating birds such as Ruffs, Spotted Redshanks, Greenshanks, and Wood Sandpipers. Thousands of ducks (inc. Garganey, Widgeon and Pintail) and the calls of Cranes on the wet meadows create a fascinating atmosphere. In late May more bird species appear in the park- including Corncrake, grebes, various terns, Scarlet Rosefinch, Aquatic Warbler, Black Stork, Black-tailed Godwit, Hoopoe, Black Woodpecker, Bluethroat. Many thousands of amphibians and singing inhabitans of meadows and reeds make unique atmosphere of the mating season from dawn to dusk.

Summer

In June and July the atmosphere becomes quite calm. Birds have their youngs or repeat clutches. Thousands of Greylags, Teals and Mallards gather for moulting in the Park. Flocks of Cranes - 200-300 individuals - feed on the fields. Grey and White Herons as well Cormorants hunt for fish. Black Storks and waders feed on flooded meadows. The water level is usually lower, making the area easily accessible.

Autumn

During autumn migration, many Cranes, Black Storks, and waders temporarily gather there. From October the park can hold a colossal numbers of Bean- and White-fronted Geese. White-tailed Eagles are quite easy to observe then. Birds on the gossamer-enveloped meadows or in the thick fog evoke a mysterious atmosphere. Autumn is also the time of rutting of deer. The sounds are indescribable and the only way to hear them is to experience autumn in the park.

Winter

This season is mild in the western part of Poland. Bean- and White-fronted Geese usually spend their winter in the Mounth of the Warta River area, whenever water in the river does not freeze. Single of Red-breasted-, Barnacle-, Canada-, Brent Geese can be observed in flocks of grey geese. We can often meet White-tailed Eagles close to waterfowl. Even several individuals may be seen on one day. In January and February you can see and listen to Whopper Swans.

Nature

Ujście Warty - the Warta Mouth is the name of a few protected areas: national and landscape parks, Important Bird Area of European Union importance (IBA) and Natura 2000 site PLC 080001.

Cows - ecological lawn mower in the national park"Ujście Warty"

Several Black Storks - frequent view in Ujście Warty

On such frosty day (-20°C) it is warmest to be in water

Special Area of Conservation protects 14 habitat types of UE importance among others: natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition - type vegetation, Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae), rivers with muddy banks with Chenopodion rubri p.p. and Bidention p.p. vegetation and Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia). 9 fish species listed in Annex to habitat directive e.g. weatherfish, miller's-thumb, bitterling and lampreys are worthy of notice. Special Protection Areas - SPA protects birds and their habitats. Even during a short visit to the Słońsk area you may observe many rare species such as:

Corncrake, Scarlet Rosefinch, Crane
Black-Tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Ruff
Kingfisher, Hoopoe
White-tailed Eagle, Black Stork,
Shelduck, Red-necked and Black-necked Grebes
Black- Little and Whiskered Terns

Warta floodplain, as one of the most important european wetlands of international importance, has been on the Ramsar List since 1984. About 270 bird species have been registered there, over 170 of them have bred in the area recently. In spring the Ujście Warty National Park is very important due to the breeding area of many rare and endangered bird species and the high density of some Polish bird populations. It concerns e.g. Shelduck, Gadwall, Oystercatcher, Shoveler, Greylag Goose, Red-necked and Black-necked Grebes, Black Tern and Little Gull.

The park is also a very important habitat for moulting, migrating and wintering birds. Flocks of 10-20 (sometimes over 100) Black Storks are very common in July/August. Outside the breeding season the park can hold Tundra Bean and White-fronted Geese (even up to 200 000), Cranes (around 20 000), ducks (78 000) and Whooper Swans (2 500).
White-tailed Eagles, which can be observed all year round, are most numerous in winter (50 is the maximum number observed).

Nearbay forests are breeding areas of birds of prey such as White-tailed Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Black and Red Kites as also Black Stork. Other birds such as Black Woodpecker, Wryneck, Red-backed Shrike, Hoopoe and Owls as well as mammals such as Beaver, Wild Boar, Roe- and Red Deer. American mink are not rare in this part of our counrty.

History

Besides unusual nature, the history of the region is very interesting. In the years past, this land belonged to the Templar and St. Johan Knighs. Remnants of the former German rule from 13th C. are visible in many places and worth seeing.

The ruins of St Johan Kniths castle in Słońsk

In Słońsk: the Gothic church from 14th/15th C., ruins of St. Johan Kniths castle, Regional Exhibition, Museum of Martyrdom in the site of a Nazi concentration camp Sonnenburg and old mill, constructed before WWII.

In Kostrzyn we can see very interesting remains of bastion fortress from 16th C and the ruins of the old town, named Kostrzyńskie Pompeje. You must visit Museum of Fortress located in well-preserved Filip bastion.

Vinicity

If visiting aforementioned sights is too little in Słońsk and Kostrzyn area, it is enough to set out farther and visit:

Within 20 kilometres:

Ośno Lubuskie - 1300m well preserved medieval town walls, Gothic church and beautiful lakes enclosed by forest,
Owczary - the reserve of xerothermical grasses and the only Museum of Meadow in Poland,
Nowa Ameryka (New America) - remains of colonisation of King of Prussia Frederic the Great in 18th and 19th C.,
Ownice - fishing ground, lake.