White-backed Woodpeckers

After about a month of unfavourable weather conditions (either strong wind or long-lasting snow cover), today we finally managed to carry out our census trasect for the White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos in the Javorniki mountains. The census is coordinated by DOPPS-BirdLife Slovenia and is one of the many yearly monitorings that targets important bird species within the Natura 2000 areas. White-backed ranks among one of the rarest woodpeckers, both in Slovenia and Europe. There are just about 150 breeding pairs in our country and the species is heavily threatened by intensive commercial logging. White-backed is a specialist woodpecker of old broadleaved forests, relying on large amounts of dead wood. A high biomass of dead and decaying broadleaved timber (mostly beech Fagus sylvatica) is essential in its habitat. Here it can find its main food - wood-boring beetle's larvae. Old beech forests that can support this woodpecker are rare and hence, the woodpecker itself is rare too.

Despite some bitter results from previous similar censuses earlier this year, today our transect was an enormous success. We were expecting perhaps a White-backed or two along our 15-points transect, but instead we were surprised by a staggering 7-8 individuals! Two were the already-formed pairs, while the rest were territorial males, coming to inspect us as we blasted their drummings with a playback (a scientific census is the only occasion when the use of a lure is justified). The lonely males showed all pretty well, even drumming back in front of us, while the pairs apparently had other matters on their minds and quickly vanished, after checking us first. We had plenty of opportunities for taking photos and record videos, although the light was terrible most of the time:

White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos - all males except for the last pic.

White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos - collage of drumming males.

Dead beech Fagus sylvatica trees in the White-backs habitat.

The forest was otherwise rather quiet, apart from a pair of Ural Owls Strix uralensis that we found by accident (as it frequently happens), a Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus calling and a probable Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus only heard drumming in the distance. The woodland floor in the beech forest was covered by wonderful and smelly leaves of Ramsons (or Wild Garlic) Allium ursinum, as well as the first flowers of Blue-eyed Mary Omphalodes verna. The latter is a typical spring flower of the Dinaric forests (forming the association Omphalodo-Fagetum).

Ramsons Allium ursinum, not grass!

Blue-eyed Mary Omphalodes verna

Mount Nanos in the distance.

Karstic fantastic

Spring is now advancing fast and the changes in nature become increasingly visible. Trees are turning to beautiful light green colours, especially in areas close to the coast, where some oak woodlands already sport their full canopies. Meanwhile meadows and grasslands offer the season's first flowers to enjoy. As the post's title tells, we've been mostly around the Karst in recent days (as well as Škocjanski zatok NR), both for work and leisure. Last week we carried out the last transects of our census of Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius and found an additional 14 territorial birds (about 10 pairs) - mostly in new areas of the Karst and Brkini. This year we had some amazing results and a rather steep increase in woodpecker numbers, compared to a few years ago. The species in western Slovenia isn't rare anymore, as it used to be until recently. Moreover Middle Spotted Woodpeckers have also been confirmed in the Trieste Karst by Italian ornithologists, with several territories occupied and nesting & copulation observed. These represent the first breeding records for the species in northern Italy.

Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius

Typical Middle Spotted Woodpecker's habitat in the Karst.

Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius

During a census we were once again caught completely by surprise by a stunning Ural Owl Strix uralensis, this time perched a few meters away from a forest road we were driving on. Given the increase in sightings in recent times, we should start to consider the species as a new potential breeding bird in large forest complexes in western Slovenia (Brkini hills, some parts of the Karst). Further investigation is certainly needed.

Ural Owl Strix uralensis

Last week the first Short-toed Eagles Circaetus gallicus have also returned from Africa. This rare eagle is mostly found in the western part of Slovenia, where it usually breeds on black pines Pinus nigra and hunts for reptiles over dry stony grasslands. Yesterday we observed a male returning to its last year's nesting site, not far from Sežana. About 10 days ago we also observed year's first Black Stork Ciconia nigra, not far from the village of Razdrto, where repeated observations in the last summers might suggest a possible breeding nearby.

Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus

During the weekend we also visited the limestone cliffs along the Karst edge and had some interesting wildlife there as well. A beautiful male Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria in breeding plumage was the highlight (if we exclude this). However the species doesn't breed in the Karst, but only overwinters and will soon head back to its Alpine breeding grounds. The cliffs were full of life as flocks of House Martins Delichon urbicum and Crag Martins Ptyonoprogne rupestris wheeled overhead, checking last year's nests in the overhangs. Also Alpine Swifts Apus melba have returned in numbers, while the cliff's chorus was produced by two singing Blue Rock Thrushes Monticola solitarius, several Rock Buntings Emberiza cia and Black Redstarts Phoenicurus ochruros. A nice pair of Peregrines Falco peregrinus was observed on the cliffs as well, where it probably nests. There were already many butterfly species around, but two in particular were of note: Nettle-tree Butterfly Libythea celtis, a very common sight around Nettle-trees Celtis australis and Southern Comma Polygonia egea, a rare species in Slovenia, restricted to the extreme south-west of the country. Among plants we cannot skip mentioning the endangered and endemic Tommasini's Sandwort Moehringia tommasinii (see here), in full bloom on the limestone cliffs.

Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria

Nettle-tree Butterfly Libythea celtis

Southern Comma Polygonia egea

Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum

Scorpion Senna Coronilla emerus subsp. emeroides (also Emerus major)

Tommasini's Sandwort Moehringia tommasinii

Dry karstic grasslands are also coming alive with the first flowers of the season, including the rather common, but always beautiful Mountain Pasqueflowers Pulsatilla montana, as well as the yellow cushions of Tommasini's Cinquefoil Potentilla tommasiniana. Certainly rarer is the Trieste Gentian Gentiana verna subsp. tergestina, an Illyrian endemic that got its name from the city of Trieste, where it was first discovered. Meanwhile the typical karstic dolines (depressions in the ground, with cooler climate) are hosting the greatest spectacle of early spring flowers. Apart from colourful carpets of common forest species in such places one can observe the odd Toothwort Lathraea squamaria. The shady cliffs at the edges of some dolines are also home to Bear's Ears or Auriculas Primula auricula, which live as ice age relicts, out of their normal range of distribution in the Alps. The most interesting butterfly on dry karstic meadows at this time of year is certainly the beautiful Southern Festoon Zerynthia polyxena. Yesterday we were lucky to add this species to our garden butterfly list!

Mountain Pasqueflower Pulsatilla montana

Trieste Gentian Gentiana verna subsp. tergestina

Tommasini's Cinquefoil Potentilla tommasiniana

Common Globularia Globularia punctata

Toothwort Lathraea squamaria

Dog's-tooth Violet Erythronium dens-canis & Hacquetia Hacquetia epipactis

Bulbous Corydalis Corydalis cava

Bear's Ear Primula auricula

Southern Festoon Zerynthia polyxena

During the last few days Škocjanski zatok NR also hosted some welcome spring arrivals, including: Common Swift Apus apus, Sand Martin Riparia riparia, Wryneck Jynx torquilla, Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca, Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe and Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon. More to come in the next days. Keep checking the reserve's page for regular updates.

Pallas's Leaf Warbler - 2nd for Slovenia!

Just a short post dedicated to a little rarity we found yesterday. While checking a site for Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria along the Karst edge, we stumbled across what is possibly one of the biggest rarities we've ever found in our lives: a stunning Pallas's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus! If accepted this would be only the 2nd record for Slovenia - it is indeed a mega for the country!! The tiny warbler was feeding in a thermophilous woodland, where it has probably overwintered in the company of many Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla, Robins Erithacus rubecula and Chiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybita. Due to its restless behaviour and the dense vegetation, it was rather difficut to obtain good views of the bird. Hovewer the warbler was in full spring mood and was singing almost constantly, whereas it rarely delivered its calls. This helped in locating the bird and obtaining a few photos for documentation. In the above video you can hear its distinctive song, which is unlike any of the similar Phylloscopus warblers (Yellow-browed & Hume's). It sounds like a prolonged and enriched song of a Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus. The bird was visiting more or less the same patch of bushes and trees for most of the afternoon, so it's probable it will remain there. We guess it overwintered there, as the location is quite suitable and moreover March is a rather odd time for a migrant Pallas's Leaf Warbler.

Greater Pasque Flower

The Greater Pasque Flower Pulsatilla grandis is one of Slovenia's rarest plants and certainly one of the most endangered. It inhabits dry steppe-like grassland in parts of central, east and southeastern Europe. In Slovenia it reaches its natural southwestern limit of distribution. But its range in Slovenia is very restricted. The plant used to be more widespread in the past, but several sites were lost due to habitat degradation. Nowadays it can only be found at two sites, both in the north-east, in the Štajerska region. The relatively small patches of grassland on which these flowers grow are fenced to prevent damage from incautious walkers, but sadly theft is also a major threat. Therefore one of the two sites, the one with the larger number of plants, is guarded by volunteers, during the flowering season. Last weekend we finally decided to pay a tribute to this plant and to combine the botanical trip with some birding. First we visited the "guarded site" in the hilly region east of Celje, where most of the plants were already in seed, except for 2 or 3 nice flowers. Later we ascended on mount Boč (978 m) which represents the classical site of the Greater Pasque Flower in Slovenia. Here we found several specimen in good flower, although we were quite saddened by the very low number of plants present on site. Mount Boč is a popular hiking destination and hundreds of people visit it every weekend. Here, illegal picking and digging of plants is still a major problem, although there are some fences, info boards and "warning" signs.
 

Greater Pasque Flower Pulsatilla grandis

Greater Pasque Flower Pulsatilla grandis - seed heads.

Some rather sad scenes from the very few remaining Pasque Flowers on mount Boč.

Mount Boč is mostly covered by beech forest and during our descend we enjoyed in a variety of early spring ground flora. Certainly we were very excited to find a shaded valley, covered by hundreds of Henbane Bells Scopolia carniolica. This unique species is surely one of Slovenia's most interesting plants. It was first discovered in the mountains of Idrija in the 18th century by G.A. Scopoli - the "Linnaeus of the Austrian Empire". Linnaeus himself described the plant as Hyoscyamus scopolia, in honour of his friend Scopoli. Later the plant was re-classified into a new genus, Scopolia, and was given the species name carniolica = of Carniola. The whole plant is very poisonous (atropine) and it is said that even its impollinators, which are mostly bumblebees, get intoxicated when drinking its nectar.
 

Henbane Bell Scopolia carniolica

Dog's-tooth Violet Erythronium dens-canis

After leaving Boč we headed to one of Štajerska's best birding spots - the Medvedce reservoir. Here we observed several waterbirds among which the most interesting were: Goosander Mergus merganser, Garganey Anas querquedula, Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, Ruff Philomachus pugnax, Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, Goldeneye Bucephala clangula and Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava, while in the sky there were about 30 Swallows Hirundo rustica. A flock of 4 Golden Plovers Pluvialis apricaria in the fields by the reservoir was rather interesting as was the appearence of an adult White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla that landed in the reservoir, spreading panic among the waterbirds. Finally we also observed two Muskrats Ondatra zibethicus which are said to be rather common in the waters of Štajerska.

White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca

Garganey Anas querquedula

Ruff Philomachus pugnax with Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus hiding in the background.

Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus