Croatia Checklist Update

After two fantastic weeks tracking and wildlife watching in Croatia we are finally back in the UK.  Over the two weeks our instructor team between them clocked up nearly 400 miles on foot between, summited Mount Risnjak 3 times and looked at literally hundreds of tracks, scat and other sign.

The first week was some joint team training with Pablo, J.P, and the Woodlife Trails Team quickly followed by our normal spring Tracking & Wildlife Watching Course.

We had some notable new sightings to add to the list this year as well as  capturing some amazing video of bear, boar and deer on our trail cameras.

In addition to the star attraction of bear and wolf sign, we had some new unusual ones to learn from some slightly smaller but nether the less still exciting animals, firstly a Fire Salamander track and the tracks of  a Yellow-bellied Toad hopping.

Young Bear tracks

Fire Salamander Tracks

Two new reptile species; Common Wall Lizard and a melanistic (black) Adder…….which slithered right underneath a customer’s legs on a sit spot!

Some good new bird species were added to the list including; Black Stork, Hoopoe, Nutcracker, Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Ural Owl (a rare dark-faced form), Golden Eagle and Peregrine.

Hoopoe (picture by Ed Sellen)

We had a few nice mammal firsts; a couple of nice sets of Polecat tracks, a dead Water Shrew, an Eagle owl pellet which contained both Glis Glis and Bank Vole remains. The icing on the cake was for the first time in 4 years we finally got to see the elusive Chamois, not once but 3 times observing 4 different animals (20% of the park’s total population).

Chamois (Picture by Ed Sellen)

We also got to see some clear Chamois tracks and also feeding sign where they are browsing on Deadly Nightshade!  The are one of the few animals which are reported to eat this extremely toxic plant and seem to suffer no ill effects.

Chamois tracks

Over the 4 years since we have been running this trip we have built up quite an impressive list of flora and fauna that we have either observed or seen direct sign of.

Flora and Fauna Species List for Croatia

Fungi
Common Name Latin Name
Lion’s Mane Fungus Hericium erinaceus
Cauliflower Fungus Sparassis crispa
Hedgehog Fungus Hydnum repandum
Horse Hoof Fungus Formes formentarius
Porcelain Fungus Oudemansiella muscida
Dog Stinkhorn Mutinus caninus
Scarlet Elf Cup Sarcosypha coccinea
Shaggy Inkcap Coprinus commatus
Earth Star Geastrum sessile
White Cheese Polypore Tyromyces albellus
Split Gill Fungus Schizophyllum commune
Morel Morchella esculenta
Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus
Monilophytes
Bracken Fern Pteridium aquilinum
Hart’s Tongue Fern Phyllitis scolopendrium
Bryophyte Polytrichum attenuatum
Hard fern Blechinum spicant
Maidenhair Spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
Lady Fern  Athyrium filix-femina
Coniferae
Silver Fir Abies alba
Mountain Pine Pinus mugo
Norway Spruce Picea abies
Juniper Juniperus communis
Mountain Juniper Juniperus communis
 
Angiospermae
Hazel Corylus avellana
Beech Fagus sylvatica
Sweet Chestnut Castanea sativa
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus
Alpine Buckthorn Rhamnus fallax
Ash Fraxinus excelsior
Wych Elm Ulmus glabra
Silver Birch Betula pendula
Common Dogwood Cornus sanguina
Rowan Sorbus aucuparia
Large-leaved Spindle Evonymus latifolia
Elder Sambucus nigra
Dwarf Elder Sambucus ebulus
Wild Cherry Prunus avium
Bramble Rubus fructicosa
Raspberry Rubus ideaus
Wild Strawberry Fragaria vesca
Dandelion Taraxaclum officinale
Common Solomon’s Seal Polygonatum multiforum
Spotted Cat’s Ear Hypochaeris maculata
Goat’s Beard Aruncus silvestris
Liverleaf Hepatica nobilis
Hacquetica epipactis
Bastard Agrimony Aremonia agrimonoides
Spring Snowflake Leucojum vernum
White Butterbur Petasites albus
Black Bryony Dioscorea communis
Selfheal Prunella vulgaris
Bugle Ajuga repens
Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
Moschatel Adoxa moschatellina
Marsh Valerian Valeria dioica
Common Valerian Valeria officinalis
May Lilly Maianthemum bifolium
Adenostyles alliariae
Alpine Enchanter’s Nightshade Circaea alpina
Coralroot Bittercress Cardamine bulbifera
Lady’s Mantle Alchemilla vulgaris
Salad Burnet Sanguisorba minor
Opposite-leaved Golden-Saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium
Spurge-laurel Daphne laureola
Mezereon Daphne mezereum
Crosswort Cruciata laevipes
Sweet Cicely Myrrhis odorata
Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris
Hogweed Heracleum sphondyllium
Ramsons Allium ursinium
Drooping Bittercress Cardamine enneaphyllos
Toothwort Lathraea sqamaria
Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara
Blue Eyed Mary Omphalodes verna
Sticky Sage Salvia glutinosa
Wood Sorrel Oxalis acetosella
Dogs Mercury Mecurialis perenis
Purple Cyclamen Cyclamen purpurascens
Clematis Clematis vitalba
Alpine Clematis Clematis alpina
Stemless Carline Thistle Carlina acaulis
Perennial  Honesty Lunaria rediviva
Sweet Woodruff Gallium odoratum
Crosswort Cruciata laevipes
Yellow Archangel Galeobdolon luteum
Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa
Wood Spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides
Angelica Angelica sylvestris
Tansy Tancetum parthenium
Alpine Aster Aster alpines
Autumn Crocus Crocus nudiflorus
Gallant Soldier Galinsoga parviflora
Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris
Ragged Robin Lychnis flos-cuculii
Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus
Butterbur Petasites hybridus
White Butterbur Petasites alba
Winter Heliotrope Petasites fragrans
Sanicle Sanicula europea
Stinging Nettle Urtica diocia
Wild Carrot Daucus carota
Wild Basil Clinopodium vulgare
Hairy Bittercress Cardamine hirsuta
Narrow-Leaved Bittercress Cardamine impatiens
Drooping Bittercress Cardamine enneaphyllos
Wood Avens Geum urbanum
Balm Leaved Dead Nettle Lamium orvala
Rosebay Willowherb Angustifolium epilobium
False Lily of the Valley* Maianthenum bifolium
Large Flowered Calamint* Calamintha grandiflora
Broad-Leaved Helleborine Epipactis helleborine
Lungwort Pulmoniaria officinalis
Deadly Nightshade Atropa bella-donna
 Stinking Aposeris  Aposeris foetida

 

 

Amphibians
Common Name Latin Name Observed Heard Sign Observed Comments
Fire Salamander Salamandra salamandra Several dead ones on road, tadpoles found.

Tracks

Alpine Newt Triturus alpestris
Smooth Newt Triturus vulgaris
European Tree Frog Hyla arborea Seen in pool calling
Yellow-Bellied Toad Bombina variegata Tracks seen
Fire-Bellied Toad Bombina bombina
Common Toad Bufo bufo Found eggs and ovaries from Buzzard predation
Agile Frog* Rana dalmatina
Common Frog Rana temporaria
Reptiles
Slow Worm Anguis fragilis
Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara
Common Wall Lizard Podarcis muralis
Common Viper

(melanistic)

Vipera berus
Birds
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Footprints and droppings at Kupa source
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Black Stork Ciconia nigra
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Tracks
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
Buzzard Buteo buteo Feather found

Feeding sign found

Goshawk Accipiter gentilis
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Peregrine Falco peregrinus
Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
Rock Dove Columba livia
Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
Pygmy Owl Glaucidium passerinum Call heard and replied to recording
Eagle Owl Bubo bubo Pellet found at top of Risnjak. Pair seen in 2013, seen 2016 and 2017
Barn Owl* Tyto alba Several pellets found in grassy area behind village
Tengmalms Owl Aegolius funereus Heard calling in reply to recording 2015 & 2017
Ural Owl Strix uralensis Several heard calling in reply to recording

Rare dark faced bird seen 2017

Tawny Owl Strix aluco
Swift Apus apus
Kingfisher* Alcedo atthis
Grey-Headed Woodpecker Picus canus
Green Woodpecker Picus viridis
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major
White-Backed Woodpecker Dendrocopus leucotos
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus medius
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Denrocopos minor
Three-Toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus Feeding sign and holes
Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius Lots of confirmed feeding sign and holes
Wryneck Jynx torquilla
Swallow Hirundo rustica
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
White Wagtail Motacilla alba
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Jay Garrulus glandarius
Hoopoe  
Magpie Pica pica
Jackdaw Corvus monedula
Hooded Crow Corvus cornix
Raven Corvus corax Foot prints found
Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes Split Hazelnut shells

Heard and seen 2017

Dipper Cinclus cinclus
Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Footprints in mud. Nest
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Goldcrest Regulas regulus
Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
Robin Erithacus rubecula
Blackbird Turdus merula
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus
Willow Tit Parus montanus
Sombre Tit Parus lugubris
Blue Tit Parus caeruleus
Coal Tit Parus ater
Great Tit Parus major Footprints in mud
Nuthatch Sitta europaea
Treecreeper Certhia familiaris
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Serin Serinus serinus
Greenfinch  
Mammals
Mole Talpa europaea Molehills and dead mole
Noctule Nyctalus noctula
Pipistrelle* Pipistrellus pipistrellus
Common Shrew Sorex araneus Dead animal
Water Shrew Neomys fodiens Dead animal
Eastern Hedgehog Erinaceus concolor Scat
Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus A couple of burrows found
Brown Hare Lepus capensis Droppings, form and kill site. Dead one on road
Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris Spruce cone, hazel nut and spruce tip feeding sign. Dead one on road
Edible Dormouse Glis glis Hazel nut feeding sign, bones found in Eagle Owl pellet. Seen in 2013
Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius Hazelnut feeding sign
Common Vole Microtus arvalis Runs in long grass, remains in Barn Owl pellet, hazelnut feeding sign
Bank Vole Clethrionomys glareolus Scat and feeding sign, bones found in Eagle Owl pellet
Snow Vole* Micotus nivalis Burrows at top of Risnjak
Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus Hazel nut feeding sign
Brown Bear Ursus arctos

 

Scat, tracks and hair
Wolf Canis lupus Scat and tracks
Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Lots of scat
Weasel Mustela nivalis Latrine
Stoat Mustela erminea Scat and

Latrine

Steppe Polecat Mustela eversmanni
Western Polecat Mustela putorius Tracks and scat
Pine Marten Martes martes Scat
Beech Marten Martes foina Scat and tracks
Badger Meles meles Latrines, tracks, digging
Lynx Lynx lynx Clear tracks in stream bed, also seen in same location in 2013. Associated with Red Deer tracks.
Wild Cat Felis silvestris Print,possible den, latrine
Wild Boar Sus scrofa Lots of scat and feeding sign, particularly Wild Carrot.
Chamois Rupicapra rupricapra Scat by salt lick on Risnjak

4 seen 2017

Red Deer Cervus elaphus Scat, tracks and feeding sign
Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus Scat, tracks and feeding sign.

 

*Denotes probable

 

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