Early botany

Helleborus niger - a common (and protected) species in Slovenia, found especially in mountain forests of beech, spruce and fir. Now in full bloom throughout the forests of the Notranjska region (pics from mt. Slivnica and Cerkniško jezero).

Helleborus odorus - a much plainer (and commoner) version of the previous. Also protected in Slovenia, like all the other Helleborus species. This one is usually found in more open habitats, like woodland margins and meadow. Pic from Cerkniško jezero.

Erythronium dens-canis (Dog's-tooth-violet) - a quite common flower found in woodland and forest throughout Slovenia. Found the first flowering specimens of the season today (Slov. Karst).

Hacquetia epipactis (Astrantia epipactis) - a quintessential spring presence in the forests of Slovenia. Named after Balthasar Hacquet (1735-1815) who lived and botanised in Carniola (part of today's Slovenia) and collected this interesting species. Pic taken on the Slovenian Karst, where it is locally common.

Hepatica nobilis - very common early-spring woodland flower.

Ilex aquifolium (Holly) - an uncommon (but well-known) forest species with evergreen leaves and beautiful red berries in winter. Photographed on mt. Slivnica (Notranjska region).

Daphne laureola - one of the six species of this genus in Slovenia. In comparison to the others, it is the only one with small greenish flowers that can go easily unnoticed. It is very poisonous like all other Daphne species.

Tussilago farfara - common early-spring flower, especially on roadside banks, wasteland and gravelly places.

Cardamine enneaphyllos on the bottom of a karstic doline - Orleška draga near Sežana (Slovenian Karst).

Mercurialis perennis in flower (Orleška draga, Sežana).

Pulmonaria officinalis - another very common spring species.

Not only hazels have catkins! These are alder's Alnus glutinosa. Last year's female "cones" are on the same twigs as well.

Looks like I can't wander around the Karst without stumbling on a Middle Spotted Woodepcker Dendrocopos medius. I'm currently co-organizing a systematic census of the species in W Slovenia, to carry on in March.

The Karst in late winter

Recently I've been out just around the Karst (mostly in Slovenia), because of the poor weather. Still, I managed to catch a couple of sunny days. Today I found the above Fox Vulpes vulpes basking in the sun at the woodland edge by a local road. Apparently this individual isn't bothered by the presence of humans. It showed well while sitting, stretching and rolling on the grass, before deciding to walk across a small glade and across the main road.

Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius. The pair on the Karst I'm visiting regularly is again quite territorial after the winter break. Today lots of spontaneous calling and "mewing", but the birds were only showing briefly. A Green Woodpecker Picus viridis with its "yaffle" was also announcing that spring is on the way.

Loranthus europaeus - a tree-parasite adorning oaks in winter. The yellow fruits are the only touch of colour in the woodland's canopies at this time of year. This plant grows on the branches of trees and steals nutrients and water to the host. The seeds are dispersed by birds, mostly Mistle Thrushes Turdus viscivorus, which are common in the forests where I took these photos.

Crocus reticulatus. A common species on the Karst, especially on dry, stony grasslands. It is the first flower to appear in late winter on such dry meadows. The very rare Crocus weldenii is also out at the same time. Note the dark striping on the outer side of the petals - the character from where the species got its name.

Helleborus multifidus ssp. istriacus - the commonest flower on the woodland floor at the moment. I saw the first already in December, but now the spring newcomers are popping out literally everywhere.

Galanthus nivalis - snowdrops also out in good numbers.

Flock of Bullfinches Pyrrhula pyrrhula. This year, among the flocks seen on the Slovenian Karst, I have frequently heard the "trumpeting" calls associated with the northern (nominate) subspecies pyrrhula. Other observers have noticed these birds as well.

Corylus avellana - hazel's catkins (male flowers).

Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus (male).

A small stream in the forest - full of water due to the recent rainfalls.

Meanwhile on the bird table - Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes is (in my opinion) the smartest visitor to the garden. This winter there's also a good influx of Siskins Carduelis spinus (behind the Hawfinch in the pic) - a flock of +20 birds is present on a daily basis.

Asio flammeus - Ljubljansko barje

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus by Mitja Denac (from here).

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus is an amazing bird. Although a regular migrant through Slovenia and north-east Italy, seeing one on migration is a matter of pure luck. Much easier is to see one in winter, when small numbers decide to spend the cold season here in Slovenia. Overwintering birds have become increasingly regular in the last years and can be observed hunting in the evenings above their favoured grassland areas. The last time I saw Short-eared Owls in winter was in February 2013 when a group of 6 wintered at the Medvedce reservoir (NE Slovenia). Last Friday (29th Jan) I was in Ljubljana, so I couldn't skip a visit to Ljubljansko barje, where up to 5 birds were observed recently. In the late afternoon, Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus (+10) started to descend to their roost. Shortly after the last harrier had dropped into the tall vegetation (just after sunset), two unmistakable silhouettes appeared some 30 metres away from me - Short-eared Owls! They hunted for a while, low above the grass, giving excellent views and even landing on the ground for some seconds, before finally disappearing when the light was fading.
The next day, 5 Short-eared Owls were observed nearby - see this blog (thanks to Mitja Denac for the above pics). One or two overwintering SEOs were also reported by other friends in the Grado-Marano lagoon in north-east Italy. Looks like a good winter to catch up with this beautiful owl!

Boat trip to the lagoon of Grado

A solitary Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus. Increasingly common in the last years, with flocks of up to 900 birds in the Grado-Marano lagoon.

Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus - up to 60-70 were present. A scarce species in winter in Friuli Venezia Giulia (NE Italy), confined to the sandy beaches of the Grado-Marano lagoon. 

Flock of about 20 Sanderlings Calidris alba. A species found in the same areas as the previous, but is only a scarce winter and passage visitor; usually in small numbers. I've seen them in Friuli Venezia Giulia just a couple of times.

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna - part of a large flock of +100 birds.

Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus - we scored all European grebe species, including a Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena.

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis - one of the many (+30) observed on the sea and lagoon.

Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - very common. On the gull front also a nice adult Herring Gull Larus argentatus; another species not seen so often.

Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus (observed all three cormorant species together).

Grey Plovers Pluvialis squatarola and Dunlins Calidris alpina on a dam. These two species along with Redshanks Tringa totanus and Curlews Numenius arquata were very numerous.

Birders at sea.

A Little Owl Athene noctua resting in the evening on the wall of a power station. Nearby was also a roost of 3 Long-eared Owls Asio otus.

On Sunday a friend invited me to take part in a boat trip around the lagoon of Grado (north-east Italy), some 60 km away from Trieste. The most interesting birding spots of the lagoons, extending between Grado and Marano, are only accessible by boat, so this was a perfect occasion to see some less common species and to be in the field with my birding friends. Above are some of the birds we had, including the highlights.

Trail camera - mammals of the Karst

Fox Vulpes vulpes

Beech Marten Martes foina

Wild Boar Sus scrofa

Red Deer Cervus elaphus

Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus

Recently I've been playing a bit with a trail camera in the woodlands of the Slovenian Karst. Above are the results of a few days recording. Not bad for a start - the spot I chose seems excellent for wildlife. Around were also a Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius, a Peregrine Falco peregrinus, a female Goshawk Accipiter gentilis and a flock of 16 Fieldfares Turdus pilaris (the first I see this winter on the Karst). Other woodpeckers in the forest are also starting to be more active (drumming, singing): Great D. major & Lesser Spotted D. minor, Black Dryocopus martius and Grey-headed Picus canus.

Yesterday I also made an interesting observation of a Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria at the coastal cliffs near Duino/Devin (Trieste). The interesting fact of this area is that the cliffs rise up from the sea, so overwintering Wallcreepers can be observed at sea level. Similarly it can happen with Alpine Accentors Prunella collaris, which are more difficult to spot. The sea area is important for breeding Common Eider Somateria mollissima - one of the 2 (?) populations in the Mediterranean sea (saw about 10 yesterday). Other birds of note like Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius and Peregrine Falco peregrinus breed on the cliffs, but weren't seen yesterday.

Cerkniško jezero in January

Smew Mergellus albellus with Goldeneye Bucephala clangula (pics by S. Cernich).

Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius

A distant White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla sitting in the middle of Cerknica lake. The white tail is just visible, together with the light colour of the head, contrasting with the darker body.

Cerknica lake - now full of water (by S. Cernich).

Today was the year's most productive day in terms of birding. The weather was sunny and not too cold, so I headed to Cerkniško jezero (Cerknica lake) where I inspected the lake area and surrounding forest. After some heavy rains during the last week the lake was full of water and the snow has been washed away, even from the highest nearby mountains. As expected, the turn to the new year brought a welcome winter guest: a drake SMEW Mergellus albellus. It was swimming along 11 Goldeneyes Bucephala clangula on the north-western part of the lake, close to shore. Smews often appear in Slovenia in late December or January and reach the western part of the country around new year. They are regular but still scarce on Cerknica lake, with just small numbers every winter.
Also expected (but never guaranteed!) was a WHITE-TAILED EAGLE Haliaeetus albicilla, an adult, sitting on a pole by the lake. After sitting there for some minutes it took off and headed eastwards into the forested hills. Meanwhile, a small patch of woodland (hornbeam, hazel & oak) by the lake produced once again a smart Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius, more or less on the same site as last time I was here, in November 2015. Although very mobile, it showed well and allowed a single, "clean shot" (short video here). Nearby was also a Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus. Of the other birds present on the lake, the most notable included: Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica (1; first time I see a diver on the lake), Greylag Goose Anser anser (flock on migration), Water Rail Rallus aquaticus (1), Gadwall Anas strepera (5), Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor (2), Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus (2 f) and Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus (1 f).

Worth reporting is also a WOODCOCK Scolopax rusticola that I saw yesterday afternoon on the Karst near Lipica. I was driving in a wooded area, when the bird took off from the roadside and flew across the road. I was pleased to have such a nice daylight encounter with this secretive species, which is quite difficult to see during the day.
Another interesting observation worth sharing concerns 2 Slavonian Grebes Podiceps auritus on the sea by the Sečovlje saltpans (SW Slovenia) on Saturday 9th. A regular, but rare winter species in Slovenia, with most of the records coming from the coast or the large reservoir lakes in the north-east. This seems to be a good winter as 7 individuals were reported at this location and exceptional high numbers (up to 15) are also present on the Italian side of the Gulf of Trieste.