Ghostly Vision
Well-known member
Hi all,
I am visiting Slovenia for five days from 3rd October, and will report back on my success on this thread.
Although the country does not have any unique birds, because it is on the edge of the Alps it has some goodies that may be easier here than other places.
Thanks to local genius Jurij Hanzel, I have sites for two birds I really do need to see, having failed on a number of previous occasions - Rock partridge and Hazel grouse. They sound pretty reliable sites, and realtively easy to get to.
Other birds we are likely to see are Wallcreeper, Snow finch, Three-toed and other woodpeckers, and Nutcracker. All typical Alpine stuff.
However, the country is also excellent for other things, among which are the herps (lizards and amphibians). The Olm, or "human fish", or "baby dinosaur" lives in the Karst caves in the south west of the country, as well as over the border in Italy, but pretty much nowhere else in the world. We have organised a guide to take us into a cave system to see wild ones. This creature lives in complete darkness for most of its 100-year lifespan, unseeing and living by a sense of smell alone. It can go years without eating. What a crazy thing!
Even rarer is the Black olm, a subspecies of the common one (or possibly even a species). This was discovered in the last 15 years and is known from onyl a single underground cave in Slovenia - which is inaccessible from below. A locked gate in a field looks down on the river that passes underground, and with luck and time, one may be seen swimming past from above. We have managed to get access to this gate, too, so could see one of the rarest creatures in Europe!
Various other reptiles and amphibians occur, including Europe's second most poisonous snake, nose-horned viper. An absolute beauty, and very dangerous!
Although our October trip will not be much good for Butterflies, Dragonflies or Orchids, these groups are well represented in Slovenia, and given how inexpensive the country is, I may have another trip next year to try for these also.
My flight cost £26 return on Easyjet from Birmingham to Trieste - just over the border in Italy (no check in luggage, but also no taxes). Car hire around £100 for the five days, and Hotels loking at around £11-15 per night.
Slovenia is the size of Wales, so nowhere is more than two hours drive away. It is a beautiful place by the looks of it, and unspoilt so far by the CAP and other EU directives.
Bring it on!!!!!
I am visiting Slovenia for five days from 3rd October, and will report back on my success on this thread.
Although the country does not have any unique birds, because it is on the edge of the Alps it has some goodies that may be easier here than other places.
Thanks to local genius Jurij Hanzel, I have sites for two birds I really do need to see, having failed on a number of previous occasions - Rock partridge and Hazel grouse. They sound pretty reliable sites, and realtively easy to get to.
Other birds we are likely to see are Wallcreeper, Snow finch, Three-toed and other woodpeckers, and Nutcracker. All typical Alpine stuff.
However, the country is also excellent for other things, among which are the herps (lizards and amphibians). The Olm, or "human fish", or "baby dinosaur" lives in the Karst caves in the south west of the country, as well as over the border in Italy, but pretty much nowhere else in the world. We have organised a guide to take us into a cave system to see wild ones. This creature lives in complete darkness for most of its 100-year lifespan, unseeing and living by a sense of smell alone. It can go years without eating. What a crazy thing!
Even rarer is the Black olm, a subspecies of the common one (or possibly even a species). This was discovered in the last 15 years and is known from onyl a single underground cave in Slovenia - which is inaccessible from below. A locked gate in a field looks down on the river that passes underground, and with luck and time, one may be seen swimming past from above. We have managed to get access to this gate, too, so could see one of the rarest creatures in Europe!
Various other reptiles and amphibians occur, including Europe's second most poisonous snake, nose-horned viper. An absolute beauty, and very dangerous!
Although our October trip will not be much good for Butterflies, Dragonflies or Orchids, these groups are well represented in Slovenia, and given how inexpensive the country is, I may have another trip next year to try for these also.
My flight cost £26 return on Easyjet from Birmingham to Trieste - just over the border in Italy (no check in luggage, but also no taxes). Car hire around £100 for the five days, and Hotels loking at around £11-15 per night.
Slovenia is the size of Wales, so nowhere is more than two hours drive away. It is a beautiful place by the looks of it, and unspoilt so far by the CAP and other EU directives.
Bring it on!!!!!