Our special 2020 - year review

These cold, short and wildlife-poor winter days are perfect for looking back at the glories of the past year that is just coming to an end. Despite all the ups and downs of this crazy Anthropocene, surprisingly, even in 2020 we managed to fully enjoy our time spent in Nature and live many memorable moments in the company of some memorable wildlife! We consider ourselves very lucky to live in an extraordinary area (SW Slovenia) that supports one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the whole of Europe. The fantastic nature around our home in the Karst of Sežana proved invaluable, especially during the lockdowns. Although in recent years we use to spend a lot of time locally, this year we did so even more, discovering amazing places and wildlife right on our doorsteps. Some of it is featured also in this post. As every year, we've been contributing our observations to the Slovenian Bird Atlas database. This year however, among all the birders in Slovenia, Domen has managed to record and submit the highest number of species for the country - that is 247 species. It is not a very high count if we compare it with some nearby countries, but almost no twitching was involved (and we went through two lockdowns). Most of the species were seen during low to mid-intensity routine birding in our usual circuits around western Slovenia, with a few exceptions of trips to the Alps in the north of the country. Of course working at Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve helped considerably in achieving this result. The number gives an overall idea of the bird diversity that one can encounter in the area throughout a calendar year, without putting much effort into finding rarities, vagrants or difficult species. We guess that with a bit of dedication, an additional 10-15 species could be added, especially by birding in eastern Slovenia more often.

If we'd need to pick one of the many field highlights of 2020, the prize would probably go to the Alpine grouse adventure, when we visited a Black Grouse lek in the Julian Alps, enjoying also Capercaillie, Pygmy & Tengmalm's Owl, Lesser Redpolls, Golden Eagle and an amazing display of alpine flora. Worth of mention is also the second Alpine grouse adventure (summer episode) when we went looking for Ptarmigans, while the close encounter with this Brown Bear in autumn also delivered an absurd dose of excitement! Of course we shouldn't forget also our amazing find of the first leucistic wild Ural Owl for science. 

The many other memorable moments of 2020 are arranged below in a chronological selection. As this will take some time, make yourself comfortable and start scrolling!

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis, Mt. Slavnik, January.

Descend from Slavnik with Mt. Snežnik in the distance, January.

Bittern Botaurus stellaris, Škocjanski zatok, January.

Smew Mergellus albellus, Cerkniško jezero, March.

Crane Grus grus, Cerkniško jezero, March.

Stoat Mustela erminea, Cerkniško jezero, March. Video.

Little Crake Zapornia parva, Škocjanski zatok, March.

Spotted Crake Porzana porzana, Škocjanski zatok, March.

Italian Crested Newt Triturus carnifex & Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris, Škocjanski zatok, March.

Dipper Cinclus cinclus nest-building on the river Reka (Škocjanske jame), March.

Ural Owl Strix uralensis, Krakovski gozd, March. We discovered the first case of leucism for this species in the wild (blog). Scientific paper to be published soon.

Snake's-head Fritillary Fritillaria meleagris, Krakovski gozd, March.

Broad-leaved Anemone Anemone hortensis, Dragonja valley, March.

Nettle-tree Butterfly Libythea celtis, Karst, March.

Middle Spotted Woodpecker Leiopicus medius, Karst, March. More territorial pairs were discovered during our yearly spring census across new areas of the Karst.

Dog's-tooth Violet Erythronium dens-canis, Karst, March.

Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes in the garden, March. Video.

Dotterel Charadrius morinellus, Divača's airfield, March.

Southern Festoon Zerynthia polyxena, Karst, April.

Henbane Bell Scopolia carniolica, Planinsko polje, April.

Black Stork Ciconia nigra, Karst (above) & Cerkniško jezero (below), April. In spring and summer we continued to follow the two breeding pairs we know to be nesting in western Slovenia (blog).

Crane Grus grus, Škocjanski zatok, April.

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia, Škocjanski zatok, April.

Bird monitoring (with Black-winged Stilt) at Škocjanski zatok, April.

Birding the oak-beech forests of the Karst.

Ural Owl Strix uralensis, Karst, April. In spring we carried out an acoustic census and found 3-4 birds in the wooded hills on the eastern part of the Karst (blog).

Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis, Karst, April.

Fire Salamander Salamandra salamandra, Karst, April.

Hidden corners of the wild Karst, April.

Lockdown birding in the Sežana municipality - watching Short-toed Eagles, April.

Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus, Karst, April. Throughout spring we were witnessing regular interactions between our two local pairs.

Our favourite dolina during the April leafing.

Slender-leaved Fritillary Fritillaria orientalis, Karst, April.

Rock Bunting Emberiza cia, Karst, April.

Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica, Karst, April. A rarity we came across during our regular farmland bird monitorings (blog).

Dalmatian Wall Lizard Podarcis melisellensis, Karst, April.

Dalmatian Algyroides Algyroides nigropunctatus, Karst, April.

European Green Lizard Lacerta viridis, Karst, April.

Wryneck Jynx torquilla, Karst, April.

Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Karst, April. This year we were extremely happy to have at least two different singing males around our home.

Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis, Karst edge, May. A rare breeding bird along the Karst edge and an unexpected find (blog).

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius, Karst edge, May.

Ophrys sulcata, Karst edge, May.

Lady Orchid Orchis purpurea, Karst edge, May.

Tommasini's Sandwort Moeringhia tommasinii, Karst edge, May. Endemic species of the Karst around the Northern Adriatic.

Ortolan Bunting census at the Karst edge in May.

Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus, Karst edge, May.

Carniolan Primrose Primula carniolica, Mt. Slivnica, May. Slovenian endemic species found in the Dinaric mountains.

Trumpet Gentian Gentiana clusii, Trnovski gozd, May.

Bear's-ear Primula auricula, Trnovski gozd, May.

Birding the southern edge of Trnovski gozd in May.

Relaxing above the Vipava valley, May (blog).

Wild Peony Paeonia mascula, Karst, May.

Military Orchis militaris & Burnt-tip Orchid Neotinea ustulata, Karst, May.

Limodorum Limodorum abortivum, Karst, May.

Field Cricket Gryllus campestris in the garden, May. Video.

Badger Meles meles behind our house, May.

Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica, Karst, May. This year a pair nested near Divača which represents the northernmost breeding site of this very rare breeder in Slovenia.

Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius, Karst, May.

Beech Longhorn Beetle Morimus funereus, Karst, May.

Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix, Julian Alps, May. A fantastic two-day trip to a Black Grouse lek, with singing Capercaillie, Pygmy and Tengmalm's Owl along the way during the night-time ascent (blog).

Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret, Julian Alps, May.

Alpine Newt Ichthyosaura alpestris, Julian Alps, May.

Spring birding in Redpoll heaven (blog).

Idyllic alpine pastures in the Triglav National Park, May.

Traditional hay meadow in the Karst, June.

Dittany Dictamnus albus, Karst, June.

Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria, Karst, June.

Giant Peacock Moth Saturnia pyri, Karst, June.

Peregrine Falco peregrinus, Karst edge, May.

Catching & satellite-tagging a pair of Peregrines (same individual as in the previous pic) on the Karst edge, May (blog).

Lesser Grey Shrike census in the Vipava valley, May.

Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor, Vipava valley, June. Probably the last breeding pair in this area and a near-extinct species in Slovenia (blog).

Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus, Karst, May.

Bee-eater Merops apiaster, Landscape Park Strunjan, June. First confirmed breeding of the species in the park.

Rose-coloured Starling Pastor roseus, Škocjanski zatok, June. 2020 has seen another big invasion of the species to Slovenia and much of Europe. At least 14 birds were roosting regularly at Škocjanski zatok within a large flock of Common Starlings Sturnus vulgaris.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo chick, Škocjanski zatok, June.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta, Škocjanski zatok, June. Three pairs nested in the lagoon this year, but only one fledged juveniles.

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus, Škocjanski zatok, June. A new breeding bird at the site, after an absence of 12 years; 2-3 pairs nested this year.

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus, Škocjanski zatok, June.

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur, Škocjanski zatok, June.

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius nesting on gravel by a railway track near Škocjanski zatok, June.

European Pond Terrapin Emys orbicularis, Škocjanski zatok, June. One of the 55 specimen recorded at the reserve.

Ortolan Bunting habitat on the Karst edge, June.

Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana, Karst edge, June. This year we counted 7 birds (sadly the total for the whole of Slovenia), among which a pair was bringing food to the nest. The species is on the brink of extinction in Slovenia (blog).

Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris, Karst edge, June.

Black-veined White Aporia crataegi, Karst edge, June.

Geranium Argus Aricia eumedon, Mt. Nanos, June.

Clouded Apollo Parnassius mnemosyne, Mt. Nanos, June.

Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis, Mt. Nanos, June. A regular, yearly appointment with this colourful species on our favourite mountain (blog).

Carniolan Lily Lilium carniolicum, Mt. Nanos, June.

Grass-leaved Iris Iris graminea, Mt. Nanos, June.

South-western slopes of Mt. Nanos, June.

False Ringlet Coenonympha oedippus, Karst, June.

Owlfly Libelloides macaronius, Karst, June.

Favourite summer pastime, Karst, June.

Marsh Helleborine Epipactis helleborine, Vipava valley, June.

Breeding habitat of Baillon's Crake Zapornia pusilla at Cerkniško jezero, June. We heard two singing birds, while up to 15 were censused this year on the lake. The species remains one of the rarest and most mysterious breeding birds in Slovenia.

Martuljek group, Julian Alps, June.

Lower Martuljek waterfall, June.

Joining the initiative Za naravo ob Savo on the river Sava, June.

Rock Soapwort Saponaria ocymoides, Julian Alps, June.

Rhaetian Poppy Papaver alpinum ssp. rhaeticum, Julian Alps, June.

Rusty-leaved Alpenrose Rhododendron ferrugineum, Julian Alps, June.

Agarikon Laricifomes officinalis, Julian Alps, June.

Alpine Heath Coenonympha gardetta, Julian Alps, June.

Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus, Iška river, July.

Large Chequered Skipper Heteropterus morpheus in the garden, July.

Goat Moth Cossus cossus in the garden (moth trap), July.

Oak Hawk-moth Marumba quercus in the garden (moth trap), July. This species was a regular catch in the moth trap, with up to 3 together in one night.

 Bombus haematurus in the garden, July.

On a botanical trip to Mt. Snežnik, July (blog).

Sub-alpine meadow with Edraianthus graminifolius, Mt. Snežnik, July.

Red Vanilla Orchid Nigritella miniata, Mt. Snežnik, July.

Carniolan Lily Lilium carniolicum ("classic" & yellow variants), Mt. Snežnik, July.

Mouse Garlic Allium angulosum, Petelinjsko jezero, July.

Solitary Clematis Clematis integrifolia, Petelinjsko jezero, July.

Dry meadows in the Karst & Mt. Nanos, July.

Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus, Škocjanski zatok, July.

Queen of the Alps Eryngium alpinum, Mt. Porezen, July (blog).

Danube Gentian Gentiana pannonica, Mt. Porezen, July.

Scarce Copper Lycaena virgaureae, Mt. Porezen, July.

Cinnabar Moth Tyria jacobaeae, Škocjanski zatok, July.

Mediterranean Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis ssp. desmarestii, Landscape Park Strunjan, July.

Bee-eater Merops apiaster, Landscape Park Strunjan, August. One of several juveniles fledged this year from at least two different pairs; a new breeding site for the species (blog).

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus, Landscape Park Strunjan, July.

Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus, Landscape Park Strunjan, July.

Osprey Pandion haliaetus, Škocjanski zatok, August.

A rare and natural view of Mt. Triglav, where the clouds have obscured human presence (the mountain hut, the tower on the top and all the people walking on the crest).

Hike to Veliki Draški Vrh (2243 m) in the Julian Alps, August.

Ptarmigan Lagopus muta, Julian Alps, August. Stumbled into this family party during a highly enjoyable 2-day hiking trip in the heart of Triglav National Park (blog).

Zois' (Crimped) Bellflower Campanula zoysii, Julian Alps, August. Endemic of the Southeastern Limestone Alps and a quintessential presence in the Julian Alps.

False Orchid Chamorchis alpina, Julian Alps, August.

Canoeing & wild swimming in lake Cerknica, August (blog).

Brown Bear Ursus arctos, Javorniki Mts., August. A female with two cubs came out of the forest to feed on a glade in the evening (blog).

Brown Bear Ursus arctos, Mt. Snežnik, August. Close encounter with a young along a forest road.

Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus, Mt. Snežnik, August.

Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus on Mt. Vremščica with Mt. Triglav in the distance, September.

Hoopoe Upupa epops, Landscape Park Strunjan, September.

Sara at work...

... & Domen at work.

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra, Cerkniško jezero, September.

Testing the new hide at Cerkniško jezero with Touty, September.

Beech Fagus sylvatica, Mt. Snežnik, September. 2020 brought an abundant crop of beech mast to the Slovenian forests, supporting the diet of a wide variety of animals.

Red Deer Cervus elaphus, Mt. Snežnik, September.

Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus, Mt. Snežnik, September.

Cep Boletus edulis, Pokljuka plateau, September.

Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris, Pokljuka plateau, September.

Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus, Pokljuka plateau, September.

Watching a Ural Owl Strix uralensis in the Dinaric forests, September (blog).

Common Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius, Javorniki Mts., September.

Šumik waterfall on the Pohorje plateau, September.

Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria, Pohorje plateau, September.

Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus in the garden, October. A self-found rarity is always exciting, especially if it's only the second non-mist-netted YBW in Slovenia (blog).

Fir Coral Tooth Fungus Hericium alpestre, Kočevski rog, October.

Birding with friends in the primeval forest of Kočevski rog, October.

Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan, Gulf of Trieste, October.

Gannet Morus bassanus, Gulf of Trieste, October (blog).

Birding in the Dinaric forests of Mt. Snežnik, during the Global Bird Weekend in October.

White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos, Mt. Snežnik, October (blog).

Brown Bear Ursus arctos, Mt. Snežnik, October (blog).

Happy faces of someone who just saw a bear.

Ural Owl Strix uralensis, Mt. Snežnik, November.

Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus, Mt. Snežnik, November. Video.

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla, Mt. Snežnik, November.

Autumn hiking on the Snežnik plateau, October.

In the wildest corners of the Snežnik mountain range, October.

Golden Jackal Canis aureus, Karst near Sežana, November (blog).

Middle Spotted Woodpecker Leiopicus medius, Karst near Sežana, November.

Sunny autumn in the Karst's oak forests, November.

Camouflaged Ural Owl Strix uralensis, Karst, November. Video.

Enjoying a sunset in the Javorniki Mts., November.

Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica, Landscape Park Strunjan, December.

Wishing you a wildlife-rich 2021! Domen & Sara.

Let there be water in the karst

The karst's most basic characteristic is its limestone composition and thus the near-absence of surface water. The latter is actually present, but mostly invisible, stored in the form of groundwater in caves and underground rivers. However in certain seasons, when heavy rainfalls concentrate over a short period of time (usually in a few days), the underground reservoirs are quickly filled and water spills on the surface. Sinkholes that usually absorb water, transfrom into violent springs, while dry poljes (karstic floodplains) turn into lakes. Lake Cerknica is the most classical example of this phenomenon, but there are many others all over the central and western part of Slovenia, where limestone is the main type of bedrock. The Notranjska region is particularly rich in karstic phenomena, especially those involving "flood water", while the "Classical Karst" region to the west (the one which we write with a capital "K", to emphasize the name of the place) remains mostly dry. Like (almost) every autumn, in the past two weeks we experienced heavy rainfalls that brought a considerable amount of water to the karstic landscape. As wildlife is really thin on the ground at this time of year, we sometimes like to go out looking for interesting physical features of the natural world, especially so because we have them all around us in the Karst where we live.

Over the weekend we payed a short visit to lake Cerknica which was quite full of water, but held few birds. Wildfowl numbers were quite low, however we managed to spot the "usual" White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla, an adult perched distantly in the middle of the lake. Several winter species like Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor and Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus (two males) were around, but what made our day was a large flock of 250-300 Fieldfares Turdus pilaris feeding in a field by a village. We also had Goshawk Accipiter gentilis, Redwing Turdus iliacus and a large flock of Hawfinches Coccothraustes coccothraustes.

NW corner of the Cerknica floodplain, filled with water.

Reflections on lake Cerknica.

White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla

Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor

Fieldfare Turdus pilaris

Given the circumstances we also checked the water levels at nearby Rakov Škocjan and Planina cave, that represent the natural continuation of the waters flowing out from lake Cerknica. The rivers Rak and Unica gave us some inspiration to record a little video (below is the result). The only bird of note was a Dipper Cinclus cinclus on the river Unica, as usual coping very well with the high water table. The violent karstic springs such as those at Rakov Škocjan (but especially those of the river Pivka) are sometimes so strong that they bring to the surface underground dwellers like the mysterious Olm Proteus anguinus, the charismatic cave-salamander, endemic to the karst around the Adriatic (see here).

 

Rivers Rak & Unica.

A spring of the river Rak at Rakov Škocjan.

The entrance to Planinska jama (Planina cave) & the river Unica.

Dipper Cinclus cinclus

 

Although as we mentioned above, the "Classical Karst" where we live is much drier even in rainy times (water persists only deep down in the caves), there are still some places where the limestone rock gives way to sandstone (flysch), creating steep valleys with small temporary and permanent streams. The Kranjšek stream near Sežana is a nice example. In the past there used to be several mills along its relatively short course. The valley is now abandoned and mostly overgrown with spontaneous vegetation, including ferns of all sorts. The several small, but scenic waterfalls are adorned by fallen and rotting trees creating natural dams. A little corner of karstic wilderness. Here too we took the chance to record a few waterfalls and make a small video (watch below). The surrouding oak forests, which we visited several times in the last two weeks, provided multiple encounters with Middle Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos medius, an ever increasing species in mature karstic woodlands, as well as a nice Woodcock Scolopax rusticola. The oak trees at this time of the year are also adorned by the incredibly beautiful golden fruits of the Yellow-berried Mistletoe Loranthus europaeus - one of the few touches of colour in the grey winter landscape.

Waterfalls on the Kranjšek stream.

Epiphytic Polypodies Polypodium vulgare on fallen trees give a primeval-like appearence.

Yellow-berried Mistletoe Loranthus europaeus

A typical view of a Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius.

Ural Owls at daytime roost

Due to a considerable amount of indoor desk work and the current restrictions, lately we've been mostly confined to our home area in the Karst around Sežana. We only made short walks in the woods and meadows close to home, which wasn't that bad actually, given the fact that with the increasingly wintry weather, wildlife is thin on the ground and can be enjoyed conveniently in small, daily "pills". One such super-concentrated pill was a couple of hours spent in the oak-beech woodlands where we payed a visit to our local pair of Ural Owls Strix uralensis. We spotted the two birds resting together on a Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris at a usual site, where we see this pair on a regular basis. The owls apparently know us well (we've been following them for several years) and never seem too bothered by our presence. This time they were taking a nap on the pine and seemed super relaxed, something that is obvious in the video below. Note at min 1:20 the two birds sitting together on the same branch.

Ural Owl Strix uralensis (last pic taken on another recent occasion).

While sitting quietly, watching the owls a group of +10 female Red Deer Cervus elaphus trotted by, followed later by two handsome males with nice antlers. Red Deer is a widespread species across Slovenia, but was absent from the Karst until only a few decades. Nowadays it is well established and especially common in larger stretches of oak forests on the eastern edge of the Karst. Nevertheless, for us it still remains an amazing sight in this part of Slovenia. Among birds there were all the common woodpeckers of this area, including Middle Spotted Dendrocopos medius and Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius. Numerous Redwings Turdus iliacus were feeding on the ground in the company of tens of Blackbirds Turdus merula, while the trees were very lively with common forest birds of all sorts. A Fire Salamander Salamandra salamandra crawling in the leaf litter was also nice to see so late in the season. Out in the open, on the meadows a Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor (a winter guest to Slovenia) was showing nicely on a bush.

Fire Salamander Salamandra salamandra

Marsh Tit Poecile palustris opening a beech's seed.

Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor

 

At last we also got some more Cranes Grus grus migrating through the Karst. We saw two larger flocks (130 and 265) passing right above our house on the 21st of November, although the passage seemed rather weak overall. The beginning of December might still bring some more flocks.

Common Crane Grus grus

Just another ordinary sunset in western Slovenia.