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| Leptodirus hochenwartii, cave in Notranjska region, 20th April 2016. An endemic and unique beetle species, inhabiting only some karstic caves in the Notranjska region (central Slovenia). It was firstly discovered in the famous cave of Postojna in 1831 and is actually considered the first cave (troglobite) beetle known to science. More about this species can be found in this paper, written by Slavko Polak (the foremost expert on this subject), who gave me directions to find this amazing animal. The two most distinctive characters of L. hochenwartii are the long "neck" and swollen abdomen. It measures only 7mm. |
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| Leptodirus hochenwartii in its natural habitat on a wet wall, cave in Notranjska region, 20th April 2016. |
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| Troglophilus neglectus, cave in Notranjska region, 20th April 2016. |
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| Troglophilus cavicola, cave in Notranjska region, 20th April 2016. These two grasshoppers aren't true cave animals (troglobionts), but use caves mostly in the winter period (animals known as troglophiles). |
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| Two bat species (still in the process of ID) hibernating in the cave, Notranjska region, 20th April 2016. |
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| Stalagmites and stalactites in the cave, Notranjska region, 20th April 2016. |
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| Paeonia officinalis, Slovenian Karst, 18th April 2016. This beautiful flower is now in bloom in warm Karstic woodlands and shrubs. Can be quite numerous in some areas, but the flowering time is quite short though. |
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| Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans, Slovenian Karst, 18th April 2016. A migrant in the bushes - otherwise a scarce breeder along the coast of Trieste and parts of SW Slovenia. It is far commoner in Istria and downwards throughout coastal Croatia. |
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| Fritillaria orientalis, Slovenian Karst, 18th April 2016. The flower in the first pic is being eaten by a grasshopper, while the second pic shows the variation in the flower colour of this species. Where I took these pics, F. orientalis was very common. Some dry karstic grasslands can be full of them. |
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| Pulsatilla montana, Slovenian Karst, 18th April 2016. A photo showing both the flowers and "fruits" of this interesting dry grassland's plant. |
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| Globularia cordifolia, Slovenian Karst, 18th April 2016. Quite similar to G. punctata, but a bit scarcer. |
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| Amelanchier ovalis, Slovenian Karst, 18th April 2016. |
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| Zerynthia polyxena, Slovenian Karst, 17th April 2016. A quite common butterfly in Slovenia this year. |
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| Morimus funereus Slovenian Karst, 20th April 2016. A protected (Natura 2000) species of the Cerambycidae family. Still quite common in Slovenia, inhabiting mostly beech and oak forests. Found this one and a second individual on a pile of recently cut logs in an oak woodland, where they use to lay their eggs. |
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| Cephalanthera longifolia, Slovenian Karst, 20th April 2016. A quite common orchid in light woodlands. Emerging in good numbers in the warmer parts of the Karst. |
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| Neotinea tridentata, Slovenian Karst, 20th April 2016. The second commonest orchid on karstic meadows after Orchis morio. |
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| Slovenian Karst, 16th April 2016. The beech trees (Fagus sylvatica) have already sprouted their green leaves, while oaks (Quercus) will do so later. |
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| Mt. Nanos, Slovenian Karst, 16th April 2016. |
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| Part of the village of Sežana with mount Nanos rising in the back, 18th April 2016. |
