Tuesday 5 June 2018

Slovenia Road Trip Day 7

Today I spent around the campsite in the morning and in the afternoon we visited the Postojna Caves. Luckily I'm still in contact with Domen from Wild Slovenia to help out with some of the ids but now trying to get to grips with some of the local botany and butterflies on my own. Also catching plenty of moths at night but just broadly identifying them, cataloguing numbers to family where possible  and collecting photo specimens to hopefully identify later.

 Marsh Fritillary (above and below) showing the black post discal spots

 Glanville Fritillary- another common fritillary in the area with black spots in the post discal band. This individual is heavily marked and quite dark so probably a female. The underwing markings (below) are much more prominent than Marsh Fritillary with black spots in the contrasting discal band

 Star of Bethlehem
 Meadow Clary Salvia pratensis- a distinctive plant in the campsite meadow. 
Common Milkwort (pink form) (presumed) 
 View from the campsite over the organic farm and meadows

 The Postojna Cave- a world famous karst cave system with enormous chambers and karst features. Karst landscape characterises this part of Slovenia. 
The Olm (Captive)- a blind salamander, one  of the 115 species of cave species that have been described at Postojna Cave. Great to see the Olm has been turned into a major tourist attraction at Postojna with Olm toys, statues, Olm cafes and souvenirs- surely not many salamanders are such celebs? 

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