Alpine Flowers of Lake Bohinj and the Julian Alps
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Slovenia – Alpine Flowers of Lake Bohinj and the Julian Alps Naturetrek Tour Report 19 - 26 June 2014 Epipactis atrorubens Rhodothamnus chamaecistus Scopolia carniolica The 2014 Naturetrek Group Report and images by Paul Harmes Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ England T: +44 (0)1962 733051 F: +44 (0)1962 736426 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk Tour Report Slovenia – Alpine flowers of Lake Bohinj and the Julian Alps Tour Leader: Paul Harmes Naturetrek Naturalist Local Guide: Milan Vogrin Local Naturalist Driver: Dusan Participants: Gillian Allsop Margot Birkbeck Rosemary Chapman John Clarkson Ros George David George Susan Jenkins Peter Jenkins Elspeth Kennedy Bob Billington Vyv Leonard Susan Sutton Giles Reed Norman Still Mary Taylor Day 1 Thursday 19th June Weather: Stansted – Cloudy. Slovenia – Fine, warm and sunny with some cloud. Thirteen tour participants met with Paul at the departures gate at Stansted Airport for the Easyjet EZY3245 flight to Ljubljana. Upon our arrival, we completed immigration formalities and collected our luggage, before making our way to the arrivals hall, where we met up with Milan, our local guide, and our driver for the week, Dusan. With luggage loaded, we set off travelling towards Kranj, before joining the motorway northwest to the exit for Bled. Passing through the town we soon had spectacular views of Lake Bled and the imposing Castle Bled, perched some 130m above the lake on the north shore. As we continued on, the road ran beside the Sava Bohinjka River. Before long, we passed through the small town of Bohinjska Bistrica and the villages of Savica and Polje, before arriving in Ribcev Laz, situated at the eastern end of the beautiful Lake Bohinj, and the Alpinum Hotel Jezero, our base for the duration of the tour. Having settled into our rooms, we gathered in reception, where Paul and Milan outlined some of the programme for the week, and also met up with Susan and Peter, the final two members of our party, before going to dinner. Day 2 Friday 20th June Weather: Fine, warm and sunny; rain later. After breakfast at 07.30, we met with Milan at 08.30, before embarking on our first full day. As we were preparing to leave, a Spotted Flycatcher was seen hunting food from its vantage point in a tree just outside the hotel. © Naturetrek June 13 1 Slovenia – Alpine flowers of Lake Bohinj and the Julian Alps. Tour Report Our objective today was to walk the path along the north side of Lake Bohinj. This route would take us through natural woodland, pastures and planted woodland of Fagus sylvatica (Beech) and Picea abies (Norway Spruce). We began making our way through natural forest, comprised of Fagus sylvatica (Beech), Ostrya carpinifolia (Hop Hornbeam), Corylus avellana (Hazel), Fraxinus excelsior (Ash) and Juniperus communis subsp. communis (Common Juniper). Early finds included Petrorhagia saxifraga (Tunic Flower), Cephalanthera rubra (Red Helleborine), Salvia pratensis (Meadow Clary), Genista tinctoria (Dyer’s Greenweed), Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. alpestris (Kidney Vetch), Clematis recta (Erect Clematis) and Epipactis atrorubens (Dark Red Helleborine). Insects had also started to appear. These included Cetonia aurata (Rose Chafer), the caterpillars of Swallowtail butterfly and Water Betony Moth, and Small White, Small Heath and Large Skipper butterflies. The birds were generally quiet, although European Greenfinch, Common Chaffinch and Coal Tit were all heard. Moving on, Scabiosa dipsacifolia (Wood Scabious), Cornus sanguineum (Dog Wood), Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Common Spotted Orchid) and Rhamnus saxatilis (Rock Buckthorn) were added, as well as Pearly Heath and Large White butterflies, and Lacerta viridis (Eastern Green Lizard) and Bombina variegata (Yellow-bellied Toad). We took lunch where a stream emptied into the lake. By now the sun was rather warm and more butterfly species were active. These included Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Silver-washed Fritillary, Marbled Fritillary, Comma Butterfly, Blue-spot Hairstreak, Wood White and Woodland Brown. In addition, Chequered Skipper, Wood White, Holly Blue, and Large Skipper butterflies were also added. Moving on, we found Cephalanthera damasonium (White Helleborine), Hacquetia epipactis (Hacquetia), Gymnocarpium robertianum (Limestone Fern), Asplenium trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens (Maidenhair Spleenwort), Asplenium viride (Green Spleenwort) and Dryopteris filix-mas (Male Fern). After crossing a boulder-filled dry river bed, we added Astrantia bavarica (Bavarian Masterwort), Dianthus sternbergii (Sternberg’s Pink), Cirsium erisithales (Yellow Melancholy Thistle), Silene alpestris (Alpine Catchfly) and the leaves of Maianthemum bifolia (May Lily). We were now nearing the village of Ukanc, our destination, and the point where we planned to catch the boat back to Ribcev Laz. We ended the day with more exciting finds. Heath Fritillary and Clouded Yellow butterflies were added, together with Campanula glomerata (Clustered Bellflower), Lunaria redivida (Perennial Honesty), Thalictrum aquilegifolium (Great Meadow-rue), Telekia speciosa (Large Yellow Ox-eye), Aruncus dioicus (Goat’s-beard Spiraea) and Orobanche gracilis (Slender Broomrape). From Ukanc, we caught the boat back to the jetty at Ribcev Laz, near our hotel, just as the rain began to fall. Day 3 Saturday 21st June Weather: Fine, warm and sunny, with some cloud Today, we boarded the bus at the hotel after breakfast, for the journey to Goreljek, on the Pokljuka plateau, situated northeast of Ribcev Laz. We made our way up through Bohinjska Bistrica, before turning left and beginning to climb. We drove up through Jereka and Gorjuse, before stopping at the Barje Sijec Reserve. We began by exploring the verges and some coniferous woodland on the north side of the road. Early finds included Corallorhiza trifida (Coralroot Orchid), Gymnocarpium dryopteris (Oak Fern), Phegopteris connectilis (Beech Fern), Equisetum sylvaticum (Wood Horsetail), Ranunculus aconitifolius (Aconite-leaved Buttercup) and Luzula luzuloides (White Woodrush). 2 © Naturetrek June 13 Slovenia – Alpine flowers of Lake Bohinj and the Julian Alps Tour Report At this point we moved to the other side of the road, and an extensive area of peat bog, the southern-most in Europe. Here we found Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. pulchella (an Early Marsh Orchid), Gymnadenia conopsea subsp. densiflora (Marsh Fragrant Orchid), Andromeda polifolia (Bog Rosemary), Drosera rotundifolia (Round-leaved Sundew), Vaccinium oxycoccus (Cranberry) and Eriophorum vaginatum (Hare’s-tail Cotton-grass), among many more. We also recorded Heath Fritillary and Woodland Ringlet butterflies. We now moved on to visit the Sotno Barje peat bog, passing summer cottages and meadows. Here we found Veratrum lobelianum (Green False Helleborine), Melampyrum sylvaticum (Wood Cow-wheat), Homogyne discolor (a purple Colt’s-foot), Pinus mugo (Dwarf Mountain Pine) and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry). Searching a small meadow adjacent to the bog, we found Campanula barbata (Bearded Bellflower), Gymnadenia albida (Small White Orchid), Pedicularis verticillata (Whorled Lousewort) and Arnica montana (Arnica). We also recorded Common Firecrest and European Crested Tit. It was now time to return to the bus, where we took our picnic in an adjacent meadow. During lunch, several Red Crossbills were seen feed in nearby Picea abies (Norway Spruce). After out meal, we set off the short distance to explore another area of conifer woodland. Along the way, we found a good specimen of Saxifraga rotundifolia (Round-leaved Saxifrage). The wood produced Moneses uniflora (One-flowered Wintergreen), Maianthemum bifolia (May Lily), Neottia cordata (Lesser Twayblade), two small clumps of Corallorhiza trifida (Coralroot Orchid) and Coeloglossum viridis (Frog Orchid). We now moved on towards the village of Koprivnik, making a stop to photograph a splendid stand of Vicia sylvatica (Wood vetch) on a verge. Whilst we were there, we also added Phyteuma ovatum (Dark Rampion), Phyteuma orbiculare (Round-headed Rampion), Veronica urticifolia (Nettle-leaved Speedwell) and Impatiens parviflora (Small- flowered Balsam). An adjacent meadow produced Aquilegia vulgaris (Wild Columbine), Gymnadenia conopsea subsp. conopsea (Fragrant Orchid), Neottia nidus-avis (Bird’s-nest Orchid) and Tofieldia calyculata (Tofield’s Asphodel). Woodland Brown, Small White and Chequered Skipper butterflies, and Shaded Broad-bar and Burnet Companion moths were also added. The return journey, to Ribcev Laz, took us through Jereka, Cesnjica, Studor, where we stopped to photograph the typical hay drying racks, and Stara Fuzina, arriving back at the hotel in good time for dinner. Day 4 Sunday 22nd June Weather: Fine, warm and sunny. Today, we planned to explore a new area for the tour, the Mangart Saddle. After an early breakfast at 06.30, we joined the bus and were on the road by 07.30. Leaving Ribcev, we made our way via Bohinjska Bistrica to Bled, and north to the motorway, which we joined westwards to Jesenice and Kranjska Gora, before crossing the border into Italy. Along the way a Common Buzzard and Barn Swallows were seen. Continuing on, we passed through Tarvisio before turning east at Cave del Predil, and making a stop at the Passo di Predil. Here, butterflies were quite active in the morning sun, with Black-veined White, Meadow Brown and Duke of Burgundy added to the list. However, the main reason for this stop was to search for Iberolacerta horvathi (Horvath’s Rock