Monday, June 10, 2013
Macedonia 2013
The trip report from last week's visit to Macedonia and northern Greece is now available from the usual place, with the photo gallery up on flickr. Enjoy!
Wildlife News: 10th June 2013
Just back from a week in Macedonia, of which more to follow. Meanwhile, a random New York Ovenbird and a catch up on some news...
- Amazing news from Portugal, where an Iberian Lynx has been photo-trapped in the west of the country, the first confirmed sighting for decades.
- Similar news from Morocco, only this time involving video footage of North African Wolves.
- While in Germany, European Bison are roaming wild for the first time in 400 years.
- Are Kelp Gulls killing Right Whales?
- 60% of UK species in decline. Meanwhile, the trial badger cull is underway and Natural England is licencing the destruction of Buzzard nests and eggs to "protect" a pheasant shoot and a poultry farm. You might like to contact your MP and let them know what you think of the government's priorities...
- Hula Painted Frog rediscovered in Israel, previously thought extinct.
- Little Bittern are again breeding on the Avalon Marshes, an amazingly successful wetland creation project in Somerset. Big really is beautiful.
- And some Wildlife Travel news: our November trip to Iceland is now confirmed, as are our October holiday to Chile and September trip to the Algarve: plenty of spaces left for those wanting an autumn break.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Macedonia 2013: some cool insects
Another quick update from Macedonia, with some of the rather nice beasts that we've bumped into along the way.
Russian Heath
Ascalaphus libelluloides. We have also found the blue-winged Ascalaphus ottomanus
Twin-spot Fritillary
Nemoptera sinuata
Another handsome black and red longhorn beetle, this time Stictoleptura cordigera
Yellow-banded Skipper
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Macedonia 2013: 2nd to 4th June 2013
A quick update from the first few days of our Macedonia trip. Based in the central town of Kavadarci, we've been exploring the drier hillsides, gorges and steppe habitats of the area (as well as a rubbish dump or two, which have rewarded us with five Eastern Imperial Eagles). We've also enjoyed a fly-past group of Rose-coloured Starlings, four species of shrike and a good range of warblers: Eastern Orphean, Eastern Subalpine, Eastern Olivaceous, Sardinian and Olive-tree.
An early start tomorrow, but hopefully worth it... the vulture restaurant has been primed!
The super-impressive Bradyporus dasypus, a massive cricket (this is smaller than life size!) that is very abundant in the dry grassland, chomping its way through the vegetation.
Eastern Spectre Caliaeschna microstigma, Europe's smallest hawker and something of a Balkan speciality.
Nose-horned Viper Vipera ammodytes
Lattice Brown
Heermann's Tortoise. We've seen both species of tortoise (this and Spur-thighed) every day so far.
Purpuricenus budensis, an impressive longhorn beetle, one of several species found so far.
Balkan Marbled White, a very common grassland butterfly
Eastern Lizard Orchid
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