Old Lake (Tata)

47.63917 , 18.33006

Hungary

Öreg-tó

The Old Lake of Tata is a 250-hectare Ramsar Site and an Important Bird Area surrounded almost entirely by the Town of Tata. The site has seasonal importance for migrating and wintering wildfowl. Tens of thousands of wild geese, ducks and gulls winter at the Old Lake every year. During Summer, the lake is an important recreational and water sports site. In late Autumn the lake is drained for fishing and the water level is kept low until Spring. The main attraction of the site is the tens of thousands of roosting Greater White-fronted Geese and the regularly occurring scarce geese species like Lesser White-fronted Goose or Red-breasted Goose.

The southeast bank of the lake is the most preferred observation point of the lake (around the observation tower).

Delete exact location

The introductory text should contain general information about the site, which may include for instance:
• geographic/ biogeographic location
• habitat and vegetation
• typical bird species/bird communities
• protection status
• land use and history
• importance for birdwatching

Site name was changed by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) into "Old Lake (Tata)" (2023-05-05 16:26:21 )

Coordinates were set by Gyorgy Szimuly : 47.6392/18.3301 (2021-08-05 23:26:23 )

Site name was set by Gyorgy Szimuly as "Old Lake" (2021-08-05 23:26:23 )

Edited by Gyorgy Szimuly on 2021-08-05 23:40:21
The Old Lake of Tata is a 250-hectare Ramsar Site and an Important Bird Area surrounded almost entirely by the Town of Tata. The site has seasonal importance for migrating and wintering wildfowl. Tens of thousands of wild geese, ducks and gulls winter at the Old Lake every year. During Summer, the lake is an important recreational and water sports site. In late Autumn the lake is drained for fishing and the water level is kept low until Spring. The main attraction of the site is the tens of thousands of roosting Greater White-fronted Geese and the regularly occurring scarce geese species like Lesser White-fronted Goose or Red-breasted Goose. The southeast bank of the lake is the most preferred observation point of the lake (around the observation tower).

  • Top species

List up to ca. 25 species that:
• have a limited distribution range and/or are rare on a global level
• are most sought-after by birdwatchers at this site
• and are relatively easy to see at this site (year-round or seasonally)

Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus)
Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)
Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus)
Gray-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus)

Gray-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus) was added by Gyorgy Szimuly (2021-08-05 23:48:50)

Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus) was added by Gyorgy Szimuly (2021-08-05 23:47:56)

Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus) was added by Gyorgy Szimuly (2021-08-05 23:47:40)

Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) was added by Gyorgy Szimuly (2021-08-05 23:47:10)

Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) was added by Gyorgy Szimuly (2021-08-05 23:46:57)

Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) was added by Gyorgy Szimuly (2021-08-05 23:46:44)

Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) was added by Gyorgy Szimuly (2021-08-05 23:46:24)

  • Timing and strategy

The best time to visit is from the middle of October till the end of February. Dawn (before the roosting geese leave the site for feeding) and dusk are the best times to watch waterbirds. 

Give recommendations for making your visit as productive as possible.
This may include for instance:
• best season
• best time of the day
• how much time to spend at the site
• best means of locomotion within the site
• recommended routes / areas within the site
• guiding

Edited by Gyorgy Szimuly on 2021-08-05 23:59
The best time to visit is from the middle of October till the end of February. Dawn (before the roosting geese leave the site for feeding) and dusk are the best times to watch waterbirds. 
  • How to get there

Explain from where and how to get to this site with private and public transport.

Not available yet

Entering the lakeside walkway by car is strictly prohibited as the light beams disturb the roosting birds. Same for entering the mudflat on foot. It is not allowed. Don't get confused if you see members of the public on the mudflats. For ethical reasons, it is not acceptable. The whole area is free to enter. Apart from the southern, southwestern, and western forest paths, concrete promenades are accessible by wheelchairs.

Provide information on how to enter this site, which may include:
• entry points
• entry permits / entry tickets and fees
• opening hours / opening season
• other restrictions

Note that this section should only contain information on how to ACCESS (= enter) a site. Info on how to REACH a site should be added to "How to get there" section.

Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2025-10-19 12:03
Entering the lakeside walkway by car is strictly prohibited as the light beams disturb the roosting birds. Same for entering the mudflat on foot. It is not allowed. Don't get confused if you see the member see members of the public on the mudflat.mudflats. For ethical reasons, it is not acceptable. The whole area is free to enter. Apart from the southern, southwestern, and western forest paths, concrete promenades are accessible by wheelchairs.
Edited by Gyorgy Szimuly on 2021-08-06 22:37
Entering the lakeside walkway by car is strictly prohibited as the light beams disturb the roosting birds. The Same for entering the mudflat on foot. It is not allowed. Don't get confused if you see the member of the public on the mudflat. For ethical reasons, it is not acceptable. The whole area is free to enter. Apart from the southern, southwestern, and western forest paths, concrete promenades are accessible by wheelchairs.
Edited by Gyorgy Szimuly on 2021-08-06 00:05
Entering the lakeside walkway by car is strictly prohibited as the light beams disturb the roosting birds. The whole area is free to enter. Apart from the southern, southwestern, and western forest paths, concrete promenades are accessible by wheelchairs.
  • Other attractions

Add information about other attractions at this site, including
• wildlife (apart from birds)
• sights (natural, cultural, archaeological, etc.)
• activities (e.g. for non-birding companions)

Not available yet

Provide information about what type of facilities are available at
or near this site, including:
• information centers / information points
• catering
• accommodation
• hides and watchtowers
• restrooms / toilets

Not available yet

Are there any security issues or other annoyances at this site? For
instance, these may include:
• offenses like robbery or theft
• natural hazards
• dangerous or annoying animals or plants (mosquitoes, leaches, thorn bushes, etc.)
• noise pollution

Not available yet
All information about this site was contributed by Orniverse users. Neither Orniverse nor the contributors accept responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of the information provided.

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Old Lake (Tata) - Orniverse