The Butterflies & Birds of Macedonia

Naturetrek Tour Report 23 - 30 June 2015

Southern White Admiral Balkan Fritillary

Little Tiger Blue Purple-shot Copper

Report and images by Gerald Broddelez

Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Tour Report The Butterflies & Birds of Macedonia

Tour participants: Gerald Broddelez (leader) & Martin Hrouzek (local) with seven Naturetrek clients

Summary

Although Macedonia is largely unknown to those of us in Western Europe with an interest in natural history, it is an extremely rich and exciting wildlife destination. The most southerly of the six republics that were previously a part of Yugoslavia, Macedonia boasts an impressive variety of habitats and scenery, from the high, forested peaks of the Baba Mountains to the hot, rolling plains of Pelagonia.

This hidden jewel of the Balkans is also one of Europe’s very best destinations for butterflies. This was our pioneering tour, still we found over 110 species of Butterflies, including many Balkan specialities and Macedonian only endemic, the Macedonian Grayling.

We also found an exciting diversity of birds like Dalmatian Pelican, Syrian Woodpecker, Sombre Tit, Roller, Long-legged Buzzard and Masked Shrike! Other wildlife did not disappoint with a good selection of Reptiles and Amphibians seen, many endemic to the Balkan!

Day 1 Tuesday 23rd June

Fly Thessaloniki & transfer to Kavadarci We departed London on a Jet Air flight to Thessaloniki, Greece. On arrival we met our local guides and transferred north to the border with Macedonia. On route we saw our first Collared Doves and Bee-eaters on the wires. The border crossing was a simple affair and soon we found ourselves in the town of Dojran were we had lunch.

We then drove a short distance to a nearby lake and a first stop at a small quarry produced a good selection of butterflies. Swallowtail, Wood and Small White, Painted Lady, Spotted Fritillary, Marbled White and Clouded Yellow. Dragonflies seen were several rare Bladetails, Southern Skimmer and Norfolk Hawker.

Great Reed Warblers and Black-headed Buntings were singing from the reedbeds and willows and Crested Lark and Turtle Dove were seen nicely on the wires overhead.

We then drove to our comfortable hotel on the outskirts of Kavadarci, a historic town situated near the Vardar River in the heart of Macedonia’s wine country.

Day 2 Wednesday 24th June

Kavadarci Following breakfast, we explored the steppe areas around the Vardar River. A short walk along a small stream had a wonderfull variety of insects and birds. A Short-toed Eagle, several Lesser Grey Shrikes and our First Hermann’s Tortoise were seen on route.

Along the stream many species of Dragonflies kept us entertained, South Skimmer, Scarce Chaser, Emperor, Broad Scarlet and Broad-bodied Chaser. As the field were heating up butterflies started to appear and soon we

The Butterflies & Birds of Macedonia Tour Report

had our hands full looking at and identifying many local specialities and more widespread species. Among the better sp seen Hungarian, Persian and Mallow Skipper, Beautiful male Lesser Fiery Copper, Zephyr and Iolas Blue, Scarce Swallowtai, Great Banded Grayling and many Spotted FrItillaries. The nearby bushes were full of birds Woodchat Shrike, Black-headed Bunting, Crested Lark etc. Areas of short grass and bare ground are also home to numerous insect species such as the giant cricket Bradyporus dasypus, long-horned beetles.

A unsheduled stop near a White Storks nest not only gave us great looks at both young and adult birds in the nest but also at the many displaying Spanish Sparrows sharing the huge nest. A local shared some of his fruits , mainly peaches with us and was proud to talk about his country.

We then continued to the dramatic limestone cliffs of the Demir Kapija Gorge cut by the Varda River. Enroute we explored an arid valley home to a single Egyptian Vulture, several Southern Admirals and a men holding a Blasius Horshoe Bat ( one of the biggest colonies in the World is found in a deep cave nearby).

We had lunch in a shady spot near Klisura. Here Nettle Tree Butterfly, Large Tortoiseshell, Yellow-banded Skipper, Ilex Hairstreak and a Hermann’s Tortoise kept us from really enjoying our lunch! A short walk to a nearby monastery added the rare Masked Shrike and Griffon Vultures to the list.

From here we returned to town to change money and refreshments before returning to our hotel in Kavadarci. A optional tour to the local Lesser Kestrel colony was organised. Again we enjoyed the local hospitality and snaps and after some waiting found a Little owl and a few Lesser Kestrels perched on the roof of the old buildings.

Dinner tonight was outside at a local restaurant in an nearby park. Good food and wine was accompagnied by singing Nightingales and Scops Owls!

Day 3 Thursday 25th June

Kavadarci We made a short drive today to a small nearby village, surrounded by a patchwork of interesting habitats including dry limestone hills, cut by the dramatic Babuna Gorge, and rough, flower-rich, grassland.

Along the river many Banded and Beautiful Demoiselles were found, Rollers and Long-legged Buzzards were displaying overhead and our first delicate Little Tiger Blue butterfly and Spreadwing was seen and photographed.

Before lunch we explored the pine forests around the Maloso Lake area. Pyramidal and Eastern Lizard Orchid were found. Blue-spot Hairstreak and Oberthur’s Grizzled Skipper were new for the list. Lunch was taken by the lake. Many Bladetails, White-tailed Skimmers, a single Little Bittern and Great Reed Warbler were all seen well.

We continued to the fascinating Roman site of Stobi, the best preserved archeological site in the country. While touring the excavated ruins of what once was a substanial trading settlement and home to more then 25000 people accompagnied by a local guide, we also found several Black-eared Wheatears.

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The Butterflies & Birds of Macedonia Tour Report

Our final stop for the day was near Vidactevo. Here in the hill above town we had a fantastic time butterflying. Loads of butterflies were flying around or perched in the nearby bushes and included such goodies as Twin-spot, Niobe and Marbled Fritillary, Lattice Brown, Delattins Grayling, Essex, Small and Large Skipper.Overhead we found the last several Griffon and Egytian Vultures of the country!

At dinner we were joined by Emile (the local vulture specialist and Dime the local butterfly specialist, who was to accompagny is for the rest of the tour).

Day 4 Friday 26th June

Bitola For the second half of our holiday, we moved to the historic town of Bitola, in south-western Macedonia. Set at the foot of the Baba Mountains, which rise to nearly 2,500 metres, Bitola was our base as we turned our attention to the upland butterfly species and other natural history of the Pelister National Park and Galicica Plateau.

Our first stop was above the slopes of the Raec River. Here a variety of butterflies was seen and included Langs Short-tailed, Little , Idas and Little Tiger Blue, Ilex Hairstreak and Black-veined White. Near the River we found a Sombre Goldenring. It was seen and photographed as it chased, caught and ate a bee while perched in a nearby bush. Other noteworthy species seen were Green Hairstreak, Balkan White and Lulworth Skipper.

We stopped for lunch by a small River in the Dren Mountains. Marbled Fritillaries, Lesser Purple Emperor, Large Blue ,Cardinal, Bergers Clouded Yellow and Sloe Hairstreak all fought for our attention. Several very colourful caterpillars were found and the pond held some frogs and dragonflies.

Next we visited the limestone massif of Pletvar. Our main reason for stopping was to look for Macedonia’s only endemic butterfly, the Macedonian Grayling. It did not take long before we found and photographed our first specimen. By carefully checking the better spots on the mountain we found several more and other species like Balkan/Delatinns Grayling, Great Sooty Satyr and Hungarian Skipper. On the Rocky slopes we also found both Balkan Wall and Green Lizard closely watched by a small colony of Red-rumped Swallows nearby.

During the afternoon we ascended the new road up to the 15th-century Treskavec Monastery and enjoyed some of the most stupendous views in all of Macedonia,out over the Pelagonia Plain and towards the Pelister massif. We checked a flowery meadow enroute and were rewarded with a good selection of fritillaries and moths. The monastery itself is under restoration, and we were privileged to meet and talk with its only occupant, Father Kalist, who has lived there for over ten years. As we left we found a young Little Owl on the ground near the entrance. It was to young to fly so we put it back in its nest.

Finally, we made our way to our comfortable hotel in the small town of Bitola, our base for the final nights of the tour.

The Butterflies & Birds of Macedonia Tour Report

Day 5 Saturday 27th June

Bitola One of the highlights of the tour was a day spent in the Pelister National Park, a dramatic mountain range stretching between Macedonia and Greece. The Macedonian side is clothed in extensive alpine meadows, the most southerly range in the Balkans to show an ‘alpine’ character to its flora. The highest peak of Pelister (a name derived from the ancient Greek ‘peristera’, meaning pigeon) reaches over 2,400 metres and overlooks Bitola.

We were picked up by the local rangers in off road vehicles, paying a visit first to the park visitor centre. Interesting displays here about the local flora and fauna – which includes Brown Bear and Grey Wolf – gave useful background to our visit, and a special exhibition on the First World War opened our eyes to a little- appreciated theatre of action in the surrounding Mountains.

We climbed up through fir and endemic Macedonian Pine forests along steep and bumpy tracks, pausing to inspect the dramatic “Stone River” and stopping to explore flower-filled meadows.Marsh Fritillary, Bullfinch , Wall Lizard and Water Pipit were among the highlights seen.

Lunch was taken in a mountain hut near a glacier lake near the pass. Here our local guides presented us with a great lunch consisting of local products. Various cheeses and meats, tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh bread and berries. Wow!!

We explored the high altitude meadows for a while but the wind was blowing quite hard and only Whinchat showed well, untill a male Common Rock Thrush flew by and perched in top of a spruce tree. What a smart bird it was!

We drove down the mountain and spend late afternoon in the now sunny meadows. Black-veined Whites were everywhere, and several species of Frittilaries and Burnets (day flying moths) kept us entertained .

Day 6 Sunday 28th June

Bitola Today was spend exploring the Crna River valleys. We stopped on route to photograph one of the picturesque villages were time appeared to have stood still.

By carefully exploring the meadows near the river we found an astonishing 50 species of butterfly. Some were repeats but many others were new for the list. Swallowtails were common, our first Peacocks appeared, Eastern Rock and Woodland Grayling side by side, Amanda’s, Chapman’s and Anomalous Blues, Sooty and Purple-shot Copper and a great selection of Skippers and Fritillaries! In the trees nearby a Syrian Woodpecker was drumming and Sombre Tits showed well. A stroll by the river added many demoiselles and frogs.

Late afternoon was spend visiting Bitola. One of the main attractions is the famous Clock tower build in the 16th century. Legend says that the Ottoman authorities collected around 60,000 eggs from nearby villages and

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The Butterflies & Birds of Macedonia Tour Report

mixed them in the mortar to make the walls stronger! We also enjoyed a coffee and the local Gelato. A Smooth Snake and Grey Wagtail by the river in town were a nice surprise.

Dinner tonight was typical Macedonian with baked cheese, beans and sausages!

Day 7 Monday 29th June

Bitola Our day started with a visit to the shores of Lake Ohrid, on our way up to the Galicica Plateau. Here we encountered some typical local wetland birds, notably Dalmatian Pelicans, several of which were busy fishing offshore, with Great Cormorants and a small Group of Pygmy Cormorants, sitting conveniently side-by-side for comparison.

We then started the drive up the winding slopes to the plateau, stopping off to explore the meadows and clearings on route.

In one of these we found a spectacular Stag Beatle, several Red Helleborine orchids, White-letter Hairstreak, Olvie Skipper, Praying Manti’s and singing Chiffchaff and Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler.

We finally climbed above the treeline and out onto the plateau proper, from which there are stunning views over Lake Ohrid. The open meadows were rich in flowers and we saw Esper’s Marbled White, Balkan Clouded Yellow, Glanville Fritillary, Geranium Argus, Freyer’s Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary, Clouded Apollo and Balkan Copper, Turquoise Blue, Idas Blue, Little Blue, Wall Brown and Woodland Grayling. A small Group of Woodlarks was a good find.

On the way down to Ohrid we stopped at a small picnic area and found good numbers of Small and Pearly Heath, several Rock Buntings, Yellow-bellied Toad and MANY Ants!

Once at the lake we made a short walk along a rocky track , Cardinal being one of the highlights.

We then included a visit to the town of Ohrid, set on the lake with the same name and with a history going back two millennia. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town was settled by both the Romans and Ottoman Turks and its architectural heritage is superb, with an old fortress, amphitheatre, orthodox churches and mosques all contained within one small area.

The highlight was still to come however. Dime’s sister who is part of one of the better choirs in the country had invited us to attend one of the group competitions in the Old Church. It was a fitting finale to a great trip in one of Europe’s friendliest countries!

The Butterflies & Birds of Macedonia Tour Report

Day 8 Tuesday 30th June

Fly London An early start this morning and an uneventful drive back to Thessaloniki. On route we added the last new birds to the list before taking our mid-morning flight back to London

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Yellow-banded Skipper Osiris Blue

Black-veined White

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The Butterflies & Birds of Macedonia Tour Report

Species Lists

Butterflies (=recorded but not counted) June Common name Scientific name 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 Swallowtail Papilio machaon     2 Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius      3 Clouded Apollo Parnassius mnemosyne 

4 Black-veined White Aporia crataegi       5 Large White Pieris brassicae    6 Small White Pieris rapae      

7 Southern Small White Pieris manii   

8 (Balk.) Green-veined White Pieris napi (balcana)     

9 Eastern Bath White Pontia edusa   

10 Clouded Yellow Colias crocea      11 Balcan Clouded Yellow Colias caucasica  12 Berger's Clouded Yellow Colias alfacariensis  

13 Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow Colias erate  14 Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni     15 Wood White Leptidea sinapis       16 Eastern Wood White Leptidea duponcheli    17 Purple Hairstreak Quercusia quercus  18 Sloe Hairstreak Satyrium acaciae   19 Ilex Hairstreak Satyrium ilicis    

20 Blue-spot Hairstreak Satyrium spini   21 White-letter Hairstreak Satyrium w-album 

22 Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi  

23 Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas      24 Sooty Copper Lycaena tityrus   

25 Purple-shot Copper Lycaena alciphron  

26 Lesser Fiery Copper Lycaena thersamon   27 Balkan Copper Lycaena candens 

28 Lang's Short-tailed Blue Leptotes pirithous 

29 Little Tiger Blue Tarucus balcanicus   

30 Little Blue Cupido minimus 

31 Osiris Blue Cupido osiris     32 Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus   

33 Large Blue Maculinea arion  34 Iolas Blue Iolana iolas  35 Eastern Baton Blue Pseudophilotes vicrama     36 Zephyr Blue Plebejus pylaon    

37 Silver-studded Blue Plebejus argus  

38 Reverdin's Blue Plebejus argyrognomon  

39 Brown Argus Aricia agestis       40 Mazarine Blue Cyaniris semiargus    41 Anomalous Blue Polyommatus admetus  42 Escher's Blue Polyommatus escheri 

43 Amanda's Blue Polyommatus amandus    44 Chapman's Blue Polyommatus thersites    45 Turquoise Blue Polyommatus dorylas   46 Adonis Blue Polyommatus bellargus  

47 Common Blue Polyommatus icarus       

The Butterflies & Birds of Macedonia Tour Report

June Common name Scientific name 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 48 Geranium Argus Eumedonia eumedon  49 Nettle-tree Butterfly Libythea celtis  50 Southern White Admiral Limenitis reducta     51 Large Tortoiseshell Nymphalis polychloros    

52 Peacock Inachis io 

53 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta  

54 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui        55 Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae 

56 Comma Butterfly Polygonum c-album      57 Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia     58 Cardinal Argynnis pandora  

59 High-Brown Fritillary Argynnis adippe   60 Niobe Fritillary Argynnis niobe    61 Queen Of Spain Fritillary Issoria lathonia   62 Twin-spot Fritillary Brenthis hecate      63 Marbled Fritillary Brenthis daphne     64 Balkan Fritillary Boloria graeca  65 Nickerl´s Fritillary Melitaea aurelia  66 Weaver's Fritillary Clossiana dia 

67 Glanville Fritillary Melitaea cinxia  

68 Freyer's Fritillary Melitaea arduinna 

69 Knapweed Fritillary Melitaea phoebe  70 Spotted Fritillary Melitaea didyma        71 Lesser Spotted Fritillary Melitaea trivia   72 Heath Fritillary Melitaea athalia  

73 Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia 

74 Marbled White Melanargia galathea       75 Esper's Marbled White Melanargia russiae 

76 Balkan Marbled White Melanargia larissa      77 Woodland Grayling Hipparchia fagi  78 Great Banded Grayling Brintesia circe       79 Eastern Rock Grayling Hipparchia syriaca 

80 Delattin's Grayling Hipparchia volgensis    81 Macedonian Grayling Pseudochazara cingovskii 

82 Great Sooty Satyr Satyrus ferula 

83 Woodland Ringlet Erebia medusa    84 Bright-eyed Ringlet Erebia oeme 

85 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina        86 Dusky Meadow Brown Maniola lycaon   

87 Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus       88 Pearly Heath Coenonympha arcania 

89 Russian Heath Coenonympha leander  

90 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria     91 Wall Brown Lasiommata megera  

92 Northern Wall Brown Lasiommata petropolitana 

93 Lattice Brown Kirinia roxelana   

94 Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae   95 Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus armoricanus     96 Olive Skipper Pyrgus serratulae 

97 Sandy Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus cinarae   

98 Yellow-banded Skipper Pyrgus sidae   

The Butterflies & Birds of Macedonia Tour Report

June Common name Scientific name 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 99 Hungarian Skipper Spialia orbifer   

100 Persian Skipper Spialia phlomidis 

101 Mallow Skipper Carcharodus alceae     

102 Marbled Skipper Carcharodus lavatherae 

103 Oriental Marbled Skipper Carcharodus orientalis 

104 Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages 

105 Lulworth Skipper Thymelicus acteon 

106 Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola      107 Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris     108 Large Skipper Ochlodes venatus    

Dragonflies 1 Green-eyed Hawker Aeshna isoceles  2 Bladetail Lindenia tetraphylla   3 Black Pennant Selysiothermis nigra  4 Southern Skimmer Orthetrum brunneum    5 Broad Scarlet Crocothemis erythraea   6 Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombii  7 White-tailed Skimmer Plathemis lydia   8 Emperor Anax imperator  9 Scarce Chaser Libellula fulva    10 Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans   11 White-legged Damselfly Platycnemis pennipes     12 Common Clubtail Gomphus vulgatissimus    13 Small Pincertail Onychogomphus forcipatus     14 Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa   15 Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo    16 Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens    17 Sombre Goldenring Cordulegaster bidentata  

Birds (H = heard only) 1 Common Merganser (Goosander) Mergus merganser  2 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus  3 White Stork Ciconia ciconia       4 Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus  5 Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax  6 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea      7 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea  8 Great Egret Ardea alba  9 Little Egret Egretta garzetta  10 Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus  11 Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus  12 Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmeus   13 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo   14 Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus    15 European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus  16 Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus   17 Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus  18 Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina  19 Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus 

The Butterflies & Birds of Macedonia Tour Report

June Common name Scientific name 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 20 Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus   21 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo         22 Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus   23 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus  24 Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica  25 Rock Dove Columba livia     26 Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus        27 European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur       28 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto         29 Eurasian Scops Owl Otus scops H 30 Little Owl Athene noctua   31 Pallid Swift Apus pallidus    32 European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus H 33 Common Swift Apus apus   34 European Roller Coracias garrulus   35 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster      36 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops     37 Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla  38 European Green Woodpecker Picus viridis   39 Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni   40 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus        41 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio      42 Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor     43 Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator    44 Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus  45 Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus H  H  46 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius     47 Eurasian Magpie Pica pica         48 Spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes  49 Western Jackdaw Coloeus monedula       50 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix         51 Northern Raven Corvus corax  52 Sombre Tit Poecile lugubris    53 Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus   54 Great Tit Parus major    55 Woodlark Lullula arborea    56 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis   57 Crested Lark Galerida cristata     58 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica         59 Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris   60 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum       61 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica      62 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti H H H 63 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita  64 Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus    65 Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Iduna pallida H  H 66 Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum H 67 Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla H    68 Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria  69 Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis  70 Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans 

The Butterflies & Birds of Macedonia Tour Report

June Common name Scientific name 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 71 Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes  72 Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea   73 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris         74 Common Blackbird Turdus merula       75 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos  76 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus  77 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata   78 Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos  H  79 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros  80 Common Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis   81 Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius  82 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra  83 Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica     84 White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus 85 House Sparrow Passer domesticus        86 Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis    87 Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus      88 Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris 89 Dunnock Prunella modularis   90 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea     91 White Wagtail Motacilla alba   92 Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris  93 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis  94 Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta   95 Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs      96 Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula   97 European Greenfinch Chloris chloris       98 Common Linnet Linaria cannabina       99 European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis     100 Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra       101 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella   102 Rock Bunting Emberiza cia  103 Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus H H     104 Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala      

Mammals 1 Blasius Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus blasii  2 European Hare Lepus europaeus  3 Beech Marten Martes foina  4 Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus 

Reptiles & Amphibians 1 Marsh Frog Pelophylax ridibundus    2 Common Wall Lizard Podarcis muralis     3 Balkan wall Lizard Podarcis tauricus   4 Erhard's Wall Lizard Podarcis erhardii  5 Common Frog Rana temporaria  6 Hermann's Tortoise Testudo hermanni     7 Mediterranean House Gecko Hemidactylus turcicus  8 Eastern Spadefoot Scaphiopus holbrookii 

The Butterflies & Birds of Macedonia Tour Report

June Common name Scientific name 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 9 Smooth Snake Coronella austriaca  10 European Green Lizard Lacerta viridis   11 Balkan Green Lizard Lacerta trilineata  12 Yellow-bellied Toad Bombina variegata 

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