Visit your favourite destinations
Western Europe
North America
Caribbean
Africa
Asia
Eastern Europe
South America
Australasia
Middle East
East Indies

A Report from birdtours.co.uk

Slovenia, 4 – 18 July 2009,

Allan Finlayson

We stayed at the Cvetka Vila, private apartments situated in a quiet central suburb of Bled, at Lake Bled in the Gorenjska province of Slovenia. Black Redstart frequented the garden but, as the area (although full of greenery) was built up and in immaculate condition, not a great deal of wildlife was present in the immediate vicinity.

The use of a hired car made it possible to visit many parts of North West Slovenia, and we also managed two trips to Austria (Villach and Klagenfurt) and one to Italy (Tarvisio and the Laghi di Fusine). The weather was mixed – torrential rain, thunderstorms and baking heat made for a good variety of conditions!

Species accounts

Birds

1.  Grey Heron  (Ardea cinerea)
One seen from the Bled – Škofja Loka road (7/7); also Lancovo (9/7), Radovna Valley (10/7), Bohinjska Bela (13/7) and Lake Bohinj (14/7).                                                 

2.  Mute Swan  (Cygnus olor)
Recorded from Bled (5/7).

3.  Mallard  (Anas platyrhynchos)
Recorded from Bled (5/7), Villach (8/7), Laghi di Fusine (13/7), Lake Bohinj (14/7) and Volčji Potok (16/7).

4.  Common Kestrel  (Falco tinnunculus)
Recorded from Radovljica (9/7).                                                 

5.  Peregrine Falcon  (Falco peregrinus)
Recorded from Radovljica (9/7).                                                 

6.  Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Recorded from Bled (11/7).

7.  Black-headed Gull  (Larus ridibundus)
Recorded from Bled (6/7).

8.  Feral Pigeon (Columba livia)
Recorded from Bled (5/7), Škofja Loka (7/7), Villach (8/7), Tržič (11/7), Tarvisio (13/7), Klagenfurt (15/7), Kamnik (16/7) and Ljubljana (17/7).

9.  Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
Recorded from Bled (11/7) and Bohinjska Bela (13/7).

10.  Common Swift (Apus apus)
Recorded from Tarvisio (13/7) and Klagenfurt (15/7).

11.  Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Recorded from Radovljica (9/7).                                                 

12.  Great Spotted Woodpecker  (Dendrocopos major)
Recorded from Bled (6/7).

13.  Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Recorded from Bled (6/7), Radovljica (9/7), Radovna Valley (10/7) and Bohinjska Bela (13/7).

14.  Common House Martin (Delichon urbica)
Recorded from Bled (5/7), Škofja Loka (7/7), Villach (8/7), Radovljica (9/7), Stara Fužina (12/7), Tarvisio (13/7) and Lake Bohinj (14/7). 

15.  White Wagtail (Motacilla alba alba)
Recorded from Bled (5/7), Radovna Valley (10/7), Laghi di Fusine (13/7), Bohinjska Bela (13/7), Stara Fužina (14/7) and Snovik (16/7).

16.  Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
Recorded from Škofja Loka (7/7). 

17.  European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)                                                       
Recorded from Bled (6/7) and Snovik (16/7).   

18.  Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
Recorded from Bled (6/7).

19.  Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Recorded from Bled (5/7), Villach (8/7), Radovljica (9/7), Tržič (11/7), Stara Fužina (12/7) and Bohinjska Bela (13/7). Very common in gardens. 

20.  Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
Recorded from Bled (6/7).

21.  Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
Recorded from Lake Bohinj (14/7). 

22.  Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
Recorded from Bled (6/7).

23. Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Recorded from Bled (5/7), Škofja Loka (7/7), Villach (8/7), Radovljica (9/7), Klagenfurt (15/7), Volčji Potok (16/7), Snovik (16/7) and Ljubljana (17/7). 

24.  Common Magpie (Pica pica)
Recorded from Radovljica (9/7). 

25.  Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
Recorded from Bohinjska Bela (13/7) and Volčji Potok (16/7).    

26.  Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
Recorded from Bled (6/7).

27.  Hooded Crow (Corvus corone cornix)
Recorded from Bled (6/7), Stara Fužina (14/7), Klagenfurt (15/7) andVolčji Potok (16/7).

28.  Common Raven (Corvus corax)
Recorded from Mount Vogel (12/7), Tarvisio (13/7) and Bohinjska Bela (13/7).

29.  Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Recorded from Bled (8/7).

30. Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus)
Recorded from Bled (10/7).

31.  Chiffchaff (Pylloscopus collybita)
Recorded from Bled (5/7), Radovljica (9/7), Lancovo (9/7), Mount Vogel (12/7), Bohinjska Bela (13/7), Lake Bohinj (14/7) and Volčji Potok (16/7).

32.  Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
Recorded from Bled (5/7), Škofja Loka (7/7) and Radovna Valley (10/7).

33.  Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)
Recorded from Bled (6/7).

34.  Great Tit (Parus major)
Recorded from Bled (6/7), Villach (8/7) and Volčji Potok (16/7).

35.  Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
Recorded from Bled (6/7) and Volčji Potok (16/7). Commonly heard in many areas.

36.  Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)
Recorded from Bled (8/7).

37.  House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Recorded from Bled (5/7), Škofja Loka (7/7), Villach (8/7), Radovljica (9/7), Lancovo (9/7), Tržič (11/7), Tarvisio (13/7), Bohinjska Bela (13/7), Klagenfurt (15/7), Kamnik (16/7) and Ljubljana (17/7).

38.  Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
Recorded from Bled (5/7 and 11/7).

39.  Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Recorded from Bled (5/7), Radovna Valley (10/7), Mount Vogel (12/7) and Volčji Potok (16/7).

40.  European Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
Recorded from Bled (5/7), Škofja Loka (7/7), Villach (8/7), Radovna Valley (10/7), Tržič (11/7) and Lake Bohinj (14/7). 

41.  European Serin (Carduelis chloris)
Recorded from Radovljica (9/7), Tržič (11/7) and Volčji Potok (16/7). Commonly heard singing from rooftops.

 42.  European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
Recorded from Bled (5/7), Škofja Loka (7/7), Radovljica (9/7) and Stara Fužina (14/7).   

43. Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
Recorded from Radovna Valley (10/7).

Unconfirmed sightings

A Woodpecker seen at Bled  (11/7) was either a Green or Grey-headed Woodpecker.

Butterflies

1.  Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus)
Recorded from Radovna Valley (10/7), Dovžan Gorge (11/7), Mount Vogel (12/7), Laghi di Fusine (13/7), Lake Bohinj (14/7) and Snovik (16/7).

2.  Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineolus)
Recorded from Bohinjska Bela (13/7) and Lake Bohinj (14/7).

3.  Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
Recorded fromLake Bohinj (14/7).

4.  Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)
Recorded from Ljubljana (17/7).                                                                                         

5.  Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
Recorded from Bled (5/7), Lake Bohinj (14/7) and Volčji Potok (16/7).   

6.  Wood White (Leptidea sinapis)
Recorded from Bled (11/7) and Bohinjska Bela (13/7).

7.  Large White (Pieris brassicae)
Recorded from Villach (8/7) and Mount Vogel (12/7).

8.  Mountain Green-veined White (Pieris bryoniae)
Recorded from Radovna Valley (10/7), Mount Vogel (12/7), Laghi di Fusine (13/7) and Lake Bohinj (14/7). Quite common. 

9.  Small White (Pieris rapae)
Recorded from Mount Vogel (12/7) and Snovik (16/7).   

10.  Duke of Burgundy Fritillary (Hamearis lucina)
Recorded from Mount Vogel (12/7).

11.  Blue-spot Hairstreak (Satyrium spini)
Recorded from Mount Vogel (12/7).

12.  Holly Blue  (Celastrina argiolus)
Recorded from Mount Vogel (12/7).

13.  Little Blue  (Cupido minimus)
Recorded from Radovljica (9/7). 

14.  Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra coridon)
Recorded from Radovna Valley (10/7) and Lake Bohinj (14/7). 

15.  Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)
Recorded from Mount Vogel (12/7).

16.  Comma (Polygonia c-album)
Recorded from Radovna Valley (10/7), Mount Vogel (12/7), Bohinjska Bela (13/7) and Snovik (16/7).

17.  Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Recorded from Dovžan Gorge (11/7) and Bled (11/7).

18.  Peacock (Inachis io)
 Recorded from Villach (8/7), Lancovo (9/7), Mount Vogel (12/7), Volčji Potok (16/7) and Snovik (16/7).   

19.  Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
Recorded from Mount Vogel (12/7).

20.  Map Butterfly (Araschnia levana)
Recorded from Snovik (16/7).   

21.  Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Recorded from Bled (9/7), Mount Vogel (12/7), Tarvisio (13/7), Laghi di Fusine (13/7), Bohinjska Bela (13/7), Lake Bohinj (14/7), Klagenfurt (15/7), Volčji Potok (16/7) and Snovik (16/7). Abundant everywhere.   

22.  Silver Washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
Recorded from Radovna Valley (10/7), Bohinjska Bela (13/7), Lake Bohinj (14/7) and Volčji Potok (16/7). Quite common.  

23.  Heath Fritillary (Mellicta athalia)
Recorded from Radovna Valley (10/7).

24. Woodland Brown (Lopinga achine)
Recorded from Lake Bohinj (14/7). 

25. Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)
Recorded from Radovljica (9/7). 

26. Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
Recorded from Mount Vogel (12/7).   

27. Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera)
Recorded from Laghi di Fusine (13/7).

28. Arran Brown (Erebia ligea)
Recorded from Dovžan Gorge (11/7), Laghi di Fusine (13/7) and Lake Bohinj (14/7). 

29. Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
Recorded from Radovljica (9/7), Radovna Valley (10/7), Bohinjska Bela (13/7) and Snovik (16/7).

30. Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)
Recorded from Radovna Valley (10/7), Dovžan Gorge (11/7), Tarvisio (13/7), Bohinjska Bela (13/7) and Lake Bohinj (14/7). 

31. Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania)
Recorded from Radovna Valley (10/7) – actually landed on my shirt!

Unconfirmed sightings

White or Southern White Admirals were seen on 12/7 (Mount Vogel) and 13/7 (Laghi di Fusine).
A butterfly seen at Lake Bohinj (14/7) could have been Assmann’s Fritillary.

Damselflies and Dragonflies

1. Beautiful Demoiselle  (Calopterix virgo)
Recorded fromVolčji Potok (16/7) and Snovik (16/7).

2. Common Bluet  (Enallagma cyathigerum)
Recorded fromVolčji Potok (16/7).

3. Blue Featherleg   (Platycnemis pennipes)
Recorded from Lake Bohinj (14/7). 

4. Balkan Emerald  (Somatochlora meridionalis)
Recorded fromVolčji Potok (16/7).

Unconfirmed sightings

A blue dragonfly atVolčji Potok (16/7) was probably a Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens.).
Green dragonflies at Lake Bohinj  (14/7) could have been either the Brilliant or Downy Emerald

Mammals

1. Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Recorded from Bled (6/7).

2. Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus)
Recorded from Bled (10/7).

Unconfirmed sightings

A hedgehog seen at Lake Bled (4/7) could have been either the Eastern (Erinaceus concolor) or Western ( Erinaceus europaeus) Hedgehog.

Moths      

1. Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum)
Recorded from Bled (6/7) and Lake Bohinj (14/7). 

2. Scarlet Tiger (Callimorpha dominula)
Recorded from Mount Vogel (12/7)

3. Nine-spotted (Amata phegea)
Recorded from Rodovna Valley (10/7)

4. Silver Y  (Autographa gamma)
Recorded from Radovljica (9/7). 

Unconfirmed sightings

A Burnet Moth photographed appears to have been either the Six-spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) or Zygaena transalpina.
A further Burnet photographed in the Radovna valley on 10 July was probably the Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet (Zygenea lonicerae)
A Catocala species photographed at the apartment on 13/7 could not be identified to species level.

Reptiles and amphibians

1. Yellow-bellied Toad  (Bombina variegata)
Recorded from Snovik (16/7).

2. Red-eared Terrapin (Trachemys scripta)
Recorded from Volčji Potok (16/7).

3. Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Recorded from Ljubljana (17/7).

4. Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis)
Recorded from Laghi di Fusine (13/7) and Lake Bohinj (14/7).

Unconfirmed sightings

Lizards at Tarvisio (13/7) and Lake Bohinj (14/7) were almost certainly Common Wall Lizards

Green Frogs at Volčji Potok (16/7) were almost certainly Pool/Edible Frogs.

Other Creatures                                                                                                            

Beetles

1. Glow Worm (Lampyris noctiluca)
Recorded from Bled (13/7).

2. Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata)
Recorded from Lake Bohinj (14/7).

Land Snails

1. Roman Snail (Helix pomatia)
Recorded from Bled (6/7).

Unconfirmed sightings

Two snails photographed on 10/7 (Radovna Valey and Bled) could not be identified.

Fish

1. Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)
Recorded from Tarvisio (13/7).

2. Northern Pike (Esox lucius)
Recorded from Lake Bled (5/7).

3. Grayling (Thymallus thymallus)
Recorded from Lake Bohinj (14/7).

4. Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Recorded from Lake Bled (5/7).

Unconfirmed sightings

Other fish seen in Lake Bled could have included Perch and Roach.

SPECIES TOTALS Total seen New species Unconfirmed
Beetles  2 2 0
Birds   43 0 1
Butterflies 31 10 2
Damselfies and Dragonflies 4 1 2
Fish  4 2 2
Land Snails 1 1 2
Mammals    2 0 1
Moths   4 2 3
Reptiles and Amphibians 4 2 3
 TOTALS  95 22 16

 

Why not send us a report, or an update to one of your current reports?