 |
| Helleborus niger (with Galanthus nivalis in the 2nd pic) |
 |
| Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius - a pair found holding territory and building the nest on the Karst. |
 |
| Snowdrop Galanthus nivalis - symbol of spring |
 |
| Nymphalis polychloros |
 |
| Hepatica nobilis |
 |
| Vanessa atalanta |
 |
| Pulmonaria officinalis |
 |
| Corylus avellana - male flowers |
 |
| Crocus reticulatus |
 |
| Crocus vernus ssp. albiflorus |
 |
| Female Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula |
 |
| Erythronium dens-canis - early sprout |
 |
| Male Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius |
Spring is here. The woodlands are finally coming to life and the last few days have been really warm and sunny. Lots of butterflies around - especially Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni & Large Tortoiseshell Nymphalis polychloros.
Out and about on the Slovenian Karst - woodpeckers everywhere and very vocal. The highlight was finding a pair of territorial MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKERS Dendrocopos medius excavating a nesthole. Probably the first case of almost-confirmed breeding on the Karst. I'll need to re-check.
Also amazing to have a stream of +500 noisy Fieldfares Turdus pilaris & Redwings Turdus iliacus flying to roost above your head, while watching a flock of 14 CRANES Grus grus migrating above the Karst. These days are also full of migrants, especially geese, ducks and large waterbirds. From home I saw flocks of Pintails Anas acuta, Shelducks Tadorna tadorna (2nd record for the area) and Wigeon Anas penelope. And at sunset large skeins of waterbirds can be seen migrating north-eastwards to their breeding quarters. An exciting time of year really.
Yet, there are still lots of winter birds around. Yesterday I had a quick visit of Trboje and Zbilje lakes in northern Slovenia and saw the overwintering female LONG-TAILED DUCK Clangula hyemalis, as well as +10 smart Goosanders Mergus merganser, 12 Goldeneyes Bucephala clangula and large flocks of Tufted Ducks Aythya fuligula and Pochards Aythya ferina. A touch of spring was provided by the year's first Garganey Anas querquedula - a male.
