Summer Holidays..Wildlife

THE JULIAN'S LOG

Sixteenth Post

“SUMMER HOLIDAYS”

Wherever you go in Slovenia, you are likely to see wild-life; at the coast, in cities or villages, by and in rivers and in the meadows. Here are just some descriptions and photos we have collected on walks and trips.

FOCUS ON WALKS AND WILDLIFE

There’s always a great variety of birds in the skies and woodlands. On walks in the mountains, one of the nicest sights is a group of Alpine Choughs appearing to literally play on the thermals and join you for your picnic.

We have seen Golden Eagles soaring regularly on the Slovenia/Austria border and above Lake Bohinj. In Tivoli Park in Ljubljana, you can see Hooded Crows proudly strutting their stuff!!



Over in the east of Slovenia, you know winter is over when the Storks return and nest in the man made platforms on telegraph poles, or chimneys.



In the damp conditions after the rain, it is common to see a Spotted Fire Salamander



and in ponds left after the snow in the mountains, we have been lucky enough to see the Alpine Newt.




In the summer heat, reptiles bask; lizards on the walls in Ljubljana
and a black form of Adder in scrubland in the mountains.










The summer time and flower filled meadows attract butterflies. There are many varieties of Fritillary and Blue and lots of Painted Ladies.

On Grancisce, just above Mojstrana there are always Swallowtails fluttering gracefully on the grassland at the summit in May. Some of the less common sightings have been of a Poplar or Summer Admiral, a Striped Hawkmoth and 9 Spotted Moth.




As for Mammals, in the mountains it is common to see Chamois and Ibex feeding or sleeping.










The squirrels are red but look almost black and are really quite difficult to photograph! Marmots live on grassy and rocky higher ground and their alarm call is more likely to be heard than a sighting, as they remain quite timid.
So far a bear has been elusive to us, but as the snow starts arriving in late Autumn, always look out for a Snow Cat!!
snowcat sculpted by Kevin Pegram
Hope you’ve enjoyed this edition. Next Blog will focus on facilities and activities in Mojstrana