Mount Nanos with its 1242 metres above sea level is the most distinctive mountain of the Primorska region. Nanos is actually a karstic plateau, extending between Razdrto and Vipava and acting as a biogeographical border between the sub-Mediterranean Primorska and the continental Notranjska regions. Although the highest part of the plateau is the forested summit called Suhi vrh (1313 m), the most well-known and popular hiking destination is the grassy Pleša (1242 m). We like to visit Nanos throughout the year, but the traditional late-spring hike to Pleša is actually the most rewarding in terms of wildlife and scenery. Last weekend we ascended the mountain from Razdrto by taking the most scenic path through the different vegetational belts: from lowland hay meadows, oak & thermophilous woodland, rocky slopes with screes and mountain pastures on the top.
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| The village of Razdrto at the foothills of Nanos. |
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| Rampion Bellflower Campanula rapunculus |
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| The aptly-named Grass-leaved Iris Iris graminea |
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| Beech Longhorn Beetle Morimus funereus |
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| Laburnum Laburnum anagyroides |
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| Orange Lily Lilium bulbiferum |
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| Horned Rampion Phyteuma scheuchzeri |
Passing through the initial thermophilous woodland and reaching the first limestone scree we immediately spotted a young
Alpine Chamois Rupicapra rupicapra on top of a rock. Nanos holds a good population of these ungulates that can be observed relatively easily when scanning the large screes and rocky slopes, especially early in the morning. Circling in the sky above the Chamois was also a
Peregrine Falco peregrinus, a species we frequently observe in this area and which probably breeds on the cliffs.
Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris is another bird of this habitat, although mostly breeding down in the valley around Razdrto.
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| Limestone scree - habitat of Chamois & Horn-nosed Viper Vipera ammodytes. |
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| Alpine Chamois Rupicapra rupicapra |
Continuing our way through the upper tree limit, the view over the higher part of the Vipava valley opened. As soon as we looked down towards Razdrto, a large black silhouette gliding in the sky beneath us caught our attention: it was a Black Stork Ciconia nigra! As it was heading straight down towards the Vipava valley, we were quite sure to assume that it was our well-known Black Stork nesting somewhere in the valley.
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| Black Stork Ciconia nigra |
The dry limestone meadows above the tree line are a paradise for the botanist. Rocks are covered with cushions of Silvery Broom Genista sericea, while Alpine Mezereon Daphne alpina grows out of crevices. Other interesting plants such as Illyrian Iris Iris pallida ssp. illyrica, Jacquin's Kidney Vetch Anthyllis montana ssp. jacquinii, Encrusted Saxifrage Saxifraga crustata and the localised Figwort Scrophularia laciniata also grow nearby. The steep grassy slopes were adorned by the first blooming Carniolan
Lilies Lilium carniolicum.
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| At the upper tree limit. |
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| The rockiest part of the trail with beautiful cushions of Silvery Broom Genista sericea. |
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| Bloody Cranesbill Geranium sanguineum |
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| Illyrian Iris Iris pallida ssp. illyrica |
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| Jacquin's Kidney Vetch Anthyllis montana ssp. jacquinii |
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| Encrusted Saxifrage Saxifraga crustata |
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| Alpine Mezereon Daphne alpina |
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| Figwort Scrophularia laciniata |
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| Carniolan Lily Lilium carniolicum |
Our favourite animal living in the rocky world above the tree line is the
Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis. Despite the quite strong westerly wind blowing right into the rocky slope, we managed to find a singing male in a sheltered spot, not far from the place we used to observe it in the past years. On Nanos there's plenty of habitat for this shy mountain species, however breeding pairs are scattered around quite scarcely. Lower down on thermophilous cliffs the odd
Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius also shares a similar habitat and sometimes "interacts" with its more colourful cousin. Among other birds of the rocky slopes were also several
Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis and a family of
Rock Buntings Emberiza cia.
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| Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis |
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| Rock Thrush habitat. |
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| Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis |
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| A look eastwards on the Nanoščica river basin (Postojna in the distance). |
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| Suhi vrh (1313 m) rising above the Nanoščica river basin. |
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| The grassy summit on Nanos (Pleša). |
Upon reaching the grassy summit we were greeted by the endemic
Kojnik's Iris Iris sibirica ssp.
erirrhiza (growing only on mountain pastures of the High Karst of Slovenia and Croatia), as well as blooming
White False Helleborine Veratrum album and several other species of mountain pastures and forest. The northern part of Nanos' summit is dominated by Dinaric beech forests, where amazingly,
Ramsons Allium ursinum was still in bloom. In the shadier meadows on the edge of the forest several
Clouded Apollos Parnassius mnemosyne were putting on a good show. Among other butterflies a special mention goes to the rare
Geranium Argus Aricia eumedon, (LFP=
Geranium sanguineum) which can be observed relatively easily on Nanos.
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| Kojnik's Iris Iris sibirica ssp. erirrhiza & White False Helleborine Veratrum album |
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| Kojnik's Iris Iris sibirica ssp. erirrhiza |
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| Whorled Solomon's-seal Polygonatum verticillatum |
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| Ramsons Allium ursinum |
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| Clouded Apollo Parnassius mnemosyne |
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| Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
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| Geranium Argus Aricia eumedon |
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| Pearly Heath Coenonympha arcania |
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| Woodland Ringlet Erebia medusa |
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| Chequered Skipper Carterocephalus palaemon |
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| Chafer Hoplia farinosa |
The sloping mountain meadows to the north and west of Nanos' summit are the favoured hunting area of a pair of
Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos. While slowly descending towards Sv. Hieronim it's always worth checking the sky for any larger raptors, as also Griffon Vultures
Gyps fulvus occur regularly. With a bit of patience and scanning we were able to spot the pair of eagles circling the sky.
The extensive meadows were also a botanical spectacle with late-spring orchids, Asphodels, irises, lilies and several other interesting species of plants like the
Carniolan Vetch Astragalus carniolicus, an Illyrian endemic with its locus classicus on Nanos. Several other
Carniolan Lilies Lilium carniolicum were in flower, although most will do so at the end of June. It was interesting to note that almost every lily had a
Scarlet Lily Beetle Lilioceris lilii munching its flowers. Among invertebrates the distinctive jumping spider
Philaeus chrysops was common on the limestone rocks.
