May in the local patch

Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus (male) - part of a flock of 6.

Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica over the garden (above) & an active nest near Divača (below).

Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus - always difficult to get proper pics of.

Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus in the garden.

Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius - two pairs with chicks in the local patch.

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus - the quintessential sound of spring in the forest.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major - nesting in the woodland behind the house.

Beech Longhorn Beetle Morimus funereus

 

Dalmatian Algyroides Algyroides nigropunctatus

Badger Meles meles (camera-trapped) by its sett in the woodland behind our house.

Field Cricket Gryllus campestris stridulating night & day in the garden.

 

Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia

Forester Moth Adscita sp.

Queen of Spain Fritillary Issoria lathonia in the garden.

Large Wall Brown Lasiommata maera

Violet Carpenter Bee Xylocopa violacea - up to 3 using our home-made
bee nest-boxes in the garden.

Wild Peony Paeonia mascula - rare, in shady broadleaved woodlands.

Common Peony Paeonia officinalis - common in open woodlands & scrubland.

Grass-leaved Iris Iris graminea

Burnt-tip Orchid Neotinea ustulata

Military Orchid Orchis militaris

Orchid mix - on 1,2 ha of meadow we counted 502 Military and 158 Burnt-tip Orchids.

Three-toothed Neotinea tridentata x Military Orchid Orchis militaris (hybrid).

Violet Limodore Limodorum abortivum

Narrow-leaved Helleborine Cephalanthera longifolia

White Helleborine Cephalanthera damasonium

Orchard with sheep.

Cherries are just ripening in the garden.

A more concise photo-post today, because of the lack of time - with all the fieldwork it's increasingly difficult to spend time on the PC. Above are some of the pics taken recently in our garden and the local patch area, in the Karst around Sežana (up to 10 km away from home). Among the most interesting sights in the garden were 4 Red-rumped Swallows Cecropis daurica, while a pair of this very rare breeder took up residence under a bridge near Divača. At least two Common Redstarts Phoenicurus phoenicurus are holding territory around our house. The karstic hay meadows now usually host small flocks of stop-over Red-footed Falcons Falco vespertinus. Two pairs of Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius have nestlings and the activity around the nest-holes is very intense. Also quite a lot of butterflies, insects and interesting plants to keep us occupied. Hopefully more in the next blog post. Keep tuned!