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Sugar Plant Ponds near Kovačica

Vojvodina Province  >  Serbia

This is possibly the most-visited and the most productive shorebird site near Belgrade.

Added* by Dragan Simic
Most recent update 26 september 2024

Description

The “Jedinstvo” Sugar Plant ponds lie between Kovacica and Debeljaca villages, about 40 km northeast from Belgrade. The wastewater collectors cover an area of ​​about 100 ha. There are a total of seven smaller or larger ponds, ​​10 to 20 hectares in size. All ponds are surrounded by embankments 2-3 m high, while the entire wastewater collectors area is surrounded by a canal 2-3 m wide with a narrow belt of reeds along the edges. The plant is operational and the ponds can be quite smelly. The smaller, northern ponds are shallower and more productive. This is possibly the best visited spot around.

If the water level is right, not too deep nor dry, waders here include pobrežník krivozobý, kalužiak tmavý, pobrežník hrdzavý, kulík riečný, hvizdák malý, brehár čiernochvostý, kulík piesočný, kamenár strakatý, bojovník bahenný, brehárik ploskozobý, pobrežník sivý, pobrežník čiernozobý, pobrežník malý, močiarnica mekotavá, kalužiačik malý, kalužiak perlavý, kalužiak sivý, kalužiak štíhly, kalužiak močiarny, kalužiak červenonohý and prieložník stepný (rarity). čajka smejivá, šišila bocianovítá and šabliarka modronohá breed at the beginning of the marked route, while cibík chochlatý breed more to the right, closer to the sugar plant.

Other birds to look for include kačica chrapačka, potápka čiernokrká, chriašteľ vodný, čorík čierny, čorík bahenný, čorík bielokrídly, bučiačik močiarny, čaplička vlasatá, včelárik zlatý, krakľa belasá, strakoš obyčajný, strakoš kolesár (uncommon) and strakoš červenohlavý (rarity).

Photos (2) by Ivana Novčić and Mileta Čeković.

Details

Access

It lies just north of the Debeljaca turn off. You can park there and visit the ponds on foot (visible as the low embankment on your left-hand side), or use the next turn off for the plant itself, in which case be sure not to block the road for large lorries heading for the plant gate. For driving directions, zoom in on the map and click on the "P" (parking) sign.

Terrain and Habitat

Agriculture , Mud flats , Lake , Wetland , Plain , Reedbeds

Conditions

Flat , No shadow , Open landscape

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Yes

Good birding season

Spring , Autumn

Best time to visit

Spring migration , Autumn migration , Spring

Route

Wide path , Unpaved road

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Extra info

The best season is September to October, as well as April to May.

Links

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

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