Abstract. Our research examined the time of conception of fallow deer in the DALERD South Plains Forestry Private Limited Company's Gyulai Forestry Area. We collected data from pregnant females who had been shot in the hunting season. At the time of evisceration the uterus was removed and dissected; and sex and body weight of embryos were recorded. We were able to collect and analyze 149 samples for our study. Based on the sex and body weight of embryos, we calculated the fertilization date for each animal within our sample group. There were no significant statistical differences found between mean fertilization dates of adult does and yearlings (t = -0.72, p = 0.47). The mean fertilization date of does (with a gestation period of 231.5 days) was October 25 th (SD = 13.82, n = 120); whereas, for yearlings this date was October 24 th (SD = 12.97; n = 29). Based on embryonic development, results showed that in the population we examined, 2 % of females were impregnated in December, 1.3 % in September (at the end of September), 24.2 % in November and the majority, 72.5 % were fertilized in October.

In this study, we summarized and evaluated nesting data of 300 Woodcocks in both historic and present Hungary recorded from the 19th century until now that appeared in 108 ornithological and hunting literature including the results of Vönöczky Schenk’s study (1908–1917). We acquired a comprehensive picture of Woodcock nestings in the Carpathian Basin as we drew nesting maps based on previously collected data analysis. We classified those significant regions where nesting data of this sparsely nesting species were registered. It is ascertainable that the distribution of Woodcock nestings concentrated in certain regions of the country both before and after the First World War. Nesting data collected before 1921 concentrated to higher areas especially the well forested regions of the Carpathian Mountains where 3 main nesting regions can be distinguished with 72% of all nesting data. The most significant nesting area is the region of the North Carpathian Mountains (36%) (Pest-Pilis-Solt-Kiskun, Esztergom, Hont, Nógrád, Borsod, Gömör and Kis-Hont, Abaúj-Torna, Zólyom, Liptó, Sáros, Zemplén and Ung counties). The second main nesting region is situated on the ranges of the East and South Carpathian Mountains (26%) (Máramaros, Beszterce-Naszód, Maros-Torda, Udvarhely, Kisküküllő, Nagyküküllő, Brassó, Fogaras, Szeben, Alsó-Fehér, Torda-Aranyos counties). The third important nesting region can be found in the west part of Historic Hungary (10%) (Moson, Győr, Sopron, Vas, Zala counties). The distribution of nesting observations – based on data collected between 1921–2019 – can be connected well to mountainous nesting regions in the Kingdom of Hungary where nesting conditions were more favourable. Many of these regions are abroad now. Apart from sparse nestings on the Great Hungarian Plain, breeding grounds concentrate in well forested areas such as in North Hungarian counties (63%) (Pest, Nógrád and Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén) and in some Transdanubian counties (31%) mainly in Győr-Moson Sopron, Vas, Veszprém and Baranya counties.In the dominant nesting regions this species typically do not join to higher altitudes, however, in the south margin of their nesting region in the Carpathian Basin – based on 170 years nesting data (n=704) – it can be stated that they rather nest in woodlands of higher altitudes due to their more favourable (cool and rainy) climatic features.

We investigated the spatial and temporal patterns of migration of Eurasian Woodcock (n=23,539 specimens) collected in Hungary during spring sampling (2010–2019) in the framework of the Woodcock Bag Monitoring. There were differences in the temporal course of the spring migration of the species between the western and eastern regions of Hungary. In the western Hungarian counties, migration started earlier in all cases, while in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county the main migration period – i.e. the period between the 25% and 75% cumulative sampling thresholds – started on average one week later than in Somogy county. We investigated the influence of weather factors on the spatial and temporal pattern of migration, in addition to geographical causes, based on the distribution of Péczely’s macrosynoptic situations recorded the week before and after the migration peak. In years free of weather extremes, the migration period was characterised by neutral (80.0%) macrosynoptic situations, with unfavourable (9.5%) and favourable (10.5%) conditions occurring less frequently. In the years with weather anomalies (2013, 2016, 2018), unfavourable macrosynoptic situations (81.3%) determined the spring migration characteristics. Weather anomalies (macrosynoptic conditions with gale-force winds and heavy snowfall) affected the timing of spring migration, but regional differences were observed in all years regardless of weather conditions, suggesting that spring migration of Woodcock is phase-delayed in the southern Transdanubian and north-eastern regions of Hungary.

Based on the results of dietary surveys of the Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola L.) in 11 countries (Great Britain, Scotland, France, Italy, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, and Romania), 63 taxa (42 animal and 21 plant) were detected in Woodcock gizzard contents, of which the predominant dietary components were of animal origin. The composition of the dietary components varies only within a narrow spectrum, adapting to seasonal changes in the insect fauna and the supply of the area. Earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) represent the dominant proportion, also with larvae of Dermaptera, Myriapoda, Coleoptera taxa, and Diplopoda and Araneidae species being present in significant numbers. The mass fraction of plant components (mainly weed seeds) is low, with occasional occurrence of vegetative plant parts. The narrow species range of animal taxa recorded and the low proportion of plant dietary components clearly indicate that the Woodcock is a specialist species, and the availability of a few major dietary component taxa groups are a limiting factor in case of the Woodcock. Therefore, it is a major determinant of the diurnal, seasonal and annual movement patterns.

Based on 356 observations of Woodcock nestings published in the Hungarian hunting and ornithological literature between 1846 and 2019, which also includes published and unpublished personal observations, it can be stated that the nesting dates of Woodcock in Hungary are scattered over a large interval. 47.3% of all nestings registered with exact dates (n=93) happen in April. The second peak of breeding in June does not stand out significantly. Based on the data of the clutches (n=65) reported with known number of eggs, as well as the clutches (n=14) – probably with full number of eggs – found in the Hungarian egg collections, the average number of eggs per clutch was 3.8. Based on the observational data of the Woodcock families (n=36) observed during the study period, the number of chicks per hen was 3.6, of which the hens were able to raise an average of 2.8 chicks up to a flying age.