The Magical Mosquito Forest

Jul 22, 2024

1 min read

Updated: Oct 30, 2025

July 18th, 2024, Birding @ Burqin Magic Forest

I reached the Burqin Magic Forest (commonly known as “the Mosquito Forest”) to begin yet another day of birding. I knew of its reputation beforehand, but I clearly underestimated it. The insect repellent, which has always been effective elsewhere, became impotent here, and thank GOD I brought a net.

At first, the forest was quiet — hardly any bird calls and large clouds of mosquitoes swirling around us. Then, as we walked, we started to find a small flock of Common Chaffinches. One male stood for quite a while on a bare branch of a tree and sang.

Then I spotted the Spotted Flycatcher and Common Whitethroat. Moreover, I noticed an Azure Tit, but it was high and against the light, so I couldn't take a good photo of it.

We saw male and female Eurasian Golden Orioles flying low in the forest. The nearest male was perched on a dead tree stump near us; he seemed to be preparing to go down to the ground for a drink. We also saw a lot of woodpeckers; however, we didn't see the Black Woodpecker, though some of my birding friends told me they saw it a few days ago.

Then, I saw the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and White‑backed Woodpecker. I really liked the Lesser-Spotted one, such a cute little bird pecking on the wood! I saw five Grey-headed Woodpeckers, who seemed like a family, crawling up a tree.

The Common Nightingale was concealed in a shady bush; after a long wait, it finally showed up with an insect in its beak.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker👇