Slovakia & Czech Republic
Butterflies, Flowers and Birds
Saturday 13 - Sunday 21 June 2009 (9 days)
We head for the fabulous wild hills and spectacular mountains of Slovakia and the borders of the Czech Republic for a butterfly and flower bonanza!
© Martin Fowler/Nature Portfolio
Geranium Argus
Slovakia is one of Europe's newest nations, formed when the long country of Czechoslovakia split in 1994. This wild and rugged country offers a wonderful diversity of limestone meadows, high mountains, pristine beech and conifer forests, and lowland wetlands rich in birdlife. We travel from the White Carpathians, along the borders of the Czech Republic, through the subalpine, and up to alpine regions in the High Tatras, finishing on very warm southern slopes of the Slovak Karst
The tour is designed to visit some of the best butterfly areas in the country, looking at the wealth of flowers that we shall encounter on the way, and not ignoring the bird life either.
Our local guide, Martin Hrouzek, is an excellent all-round naturalist with particular interests in bats and butterflies.
Price: £ 1,495
Single supp.: £ 170
Deposit: £ 300 per person
The price is per person and includes scheduled return flights London-Prague and Kosice/London, airport taxes, ground transportation, accommodation on a full-board basis, local taxes, incidental tips, and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes holiday insurance, optional tips to the driver and local guides, drinks, and other personal expenses.
Leaders: Keith Grant and local guidek
Itinerary
Days 1 - 3
We take an early scheduled flight from London to Bratislava via Prague, where we meet our local guide, and drive to the White Carpathians, a hilly range that extends along the Czech/Slovak border and reaches only 1,000 m. Our small hotel is situated on the Czech side, offering a panoramic view of meadows and forests. Flowery meadows surround us where you can easily find some attractive butterflies such as Large, Scarce and Purple-edged Copper.
Next day we enjoy the wooded hilly country of White Carpathians, where extensive flowery meadows dotted with solitary trees and clusters of bushes provide a diverse habitat for many butterflies. We will head for the larger reserves to the south of our base where many host plants are best preserved. We expect Twin-spot Fritillary, a mainly June-flying species living here on its north-western edge of distribution. Also Lesser Marbled Fritillary has healthy populations in protected areas. We hope to find Large Chequered Skipper during its peak emergence. They should be accompanied by Black Hairstreak, Heath, High Brown, Dark Green and Nickerl's Fritillaries, Amanda's, Meleager's, Mountain Alcon and Chapman's Blue, White Admiral, Scarce and Purple-edged Copper.
Before we reach our hotel for dinner we will search for Purple and Lesser Purple Emperor - species that generally appear in June, and for Poplar Admiral that disappears in June. Geranium Argus and Large Copper occur in wet meadows and both Swallowtails fly here. White Admiral, Mazarine Blue, and Great Banded Grayling are not uncommon but more frequent at wooded locations.
At this time of year most of the breeding birds are hard to find but some of them we shouldn't miss, like Corn Bunting, Red-backed Shrike, Barred, Icterine and River Warblers. Black Redstart is common, but Black Stork is more elusive, as are Black and White-backed Woodpecker, Ring Ouzel or Nutcracker which all breed here.
Local meadows rank amongst the richest in Central Europe. Three species of Iris, Iris sibirica, graminea and variegata should be in flower. They are later replaced by Orange and Martagon Lilies Lilium bulbiferum and martagon. Other flowers growing there are Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, Branched St. Bernard's Lily Anthericum ramosum, Nepeta pannonica, Gymnadenia densiflora, Dragon's Teeth Tetragonolobus maritimus, Pseudolysimachion spurium, Cross Gentian Gentiana cruciata, Burnt Orchid Orchis ustulata, Yellow Flax Linum flavum, Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris, Bloody Cranesbill Geranium sanguineum, or Crested Cow-wheat Melampyrum cristatum.
Next day we visit the dolomite and limestone Tematinske Hills, situated at the Vah River. Hot and dry conditions are favourable for many butterflies amongst which a newly-described blue butterfly is the most notable. Polyommatus slovakus (= Lysandra slovaka) was split from Chalk-hill Blue and has its type locality there. Other butterflies should be plentiful and we can expect up to 40 species in this remarkable spot, including Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Sloe and Ilex Hairstreak, Marbled Fritillary, Woodland Grayling, a number of skippers and Reverdin's and Eastern Short-tailed Blue.
The first Apollos will be flying together with Clouded Apollos above the limestone cliffs. It is difficult to predict which species will be found, but we have another chance of Niobe, Glanville, Spotted and Lesser Spotted Fritillaries. Additionally on dikes along the River Vah we'll seek the numerous Knapweed Fritillaries interspersed with Assmann's Fritillaries.
Three nights White Carpathians
Days 4 - 5
Today we travel to the High Tatras, en route visiting moors on the Polish border. The area can look rather gloomy, but it holds some good butterflies and is surrounded by large wet meadows. We will be looking for Moorland Clouded Yellow, Large Heath (race tiphon), Pearl-bordered, False Heath and Cranberry Fritillary and Woodland Ringlet.
Our second break is planned at a small village where we should find some nice mountain flowers just outside the village. During late June a small mountain meadow with scattered pine and spruce trees holds Orange Lily (Lilium bulbiferum), Erysimum wittmannii (a Slovakian endemic), and Alsace Broomrape Orobanche alsatica. Butterflies here should include Chalk-hill, Mountain Alcon and Turquoise Blue.
The day ends with an exploration of wet meadows below the High Tatras. We especially look for the endangered Scarce Heath, Great Meadow Rue Thalictrum aquilegiifolium, and Round-leaved Wintergreen Pyrola rotundifolia. Corn Crakes and Quails call from inside the meadow and Lesser Spotted Eagle regularly hunts there.
Next day we will be walking in the Belanske Tatras starting from an elevation around 1,000 m and walking along a mountain stream through beautiful mountain forest.
We are here in the peak season for the alpine flowers of this region. High altitude butterflies will also be just emerging. We will have a chance of finding Dewy and Mountain Ringlets, Shepherd's Fritillary and Mountain Green-veined White plus nominate race of Purple-shot Copper and perhaps Blind or Silky Ringlet and Chequered Skipper that disappears earlier at lower elevations.
Bird life could include Dipper, Nutcracker, Crested Tit, Firecrest, Crossbill and Goshawk. Golden Eagles and Peregrines are sometimes seen soaring over the crags looking for Marmots, whilst at ground level we may find an Alpine Accentor or Water Pipit amongst the rocks.
Two nights High Tatras
Days 6 - 8
We now travel south to the Slovak Karst, which is an open landscape of limestone plateaux steeply rising from broad valleys, mainly covered with woodlands, forest-steppe and diminishing pastures. It is a dry, sunny region, and the outstanding plant community here displays a correspondingly eastern quality, while the butterflies are more typical of regions further south.
The Slovak Karst was formerly less wooded than today but still provides good conditions for many species, some of which prefer light forests and forest fringes. We will be looking for Woodland Brown, Woodland and Great Banded Grayling, Common and Hungarian Gliders or a late Scarce Fritillary as they hawk gracefully along the woodland edges. On the other hand, Black-veined White, Adonis, Large, Chequered, Little, Idas and Meleager's Blue, Purple-shot Copper and a host of fritillaries including Silver-washed, High Brown, Niobe, Knapweed and Lesser Spotted prefer open habitats.
On one day, we will walk up through a deeply cut valley, with beech forest and forest-steppe which are typical of this area, slowly climbing to the large plateau from where we will spend the rest of the day slowly descending towards our coach.
A host of localised species could well include Inflated Milk-vetch Astragalus vesicarius, Alpine Aster Aster serpentimontanus, Pannonicum Thyme Thymus pannonicus, Onosma visianii, Asyneuma canescens, Cyanus triumfetti, Aconitum moldavicum, Yellow Monkshood Aconitum anthora, Linum hirsutum, Cimicifuga europaea, Erysimum pallidiflorum, Cynoglossum hungaricum, Chamaecytisus albus or Echium russicum, Orobanche lutea or Lady Orchid Orchis purpurea. The endemic Campanula xylocarpa and carpatica may also have their first flowers.
Birds here can include Imperial and Short-toed Eagles and Saker drifting over or gliding below us. Dipper, Red-backed Shrike, Wryneck and Golden Oriole also occur commonly.
Three nights Medzev
Day 9
We transfer to the airport at Kosice for our homeward flight via Prague. Depending on flight times we may have time for stops on the way including Turna Castle, where Turna Golden Drop Onosma tornense is an endemic which comes to full bloom in mid-June. Souslik, a ground dwelling squirrel can be seen here, and Eagles and Black Storks turn up quite regularly.
Please note that we can arrange optional extensions to the trip in Prague, for a chance to spend a bit of time in this delightful city.
Accommodation: Three-star hotels with all rooms en suite.
Numbers: Max. 14 clients
Days 1 - 3
We take an early scheduled flight from London to Bratislava via Prague, where we meet our local guide, and drive to the White Carpathians, a hilly range that extends along the Czech/Slovak border and reaches only 1,000 m. Our small hotel is situated on the Czech side, offering a panoramic view of meadows and forests. Flowery meadows surround us where you can easily find some attractive butterflies such as Large, Scarce and Purple-edged Copper.
Next day we enjoy the wooded hilly country of White Carpathians, where extensive flowery meadows dotted with solitary trees and clusters of bushes provide a diverse habitat for many butterflies. We will head for the larger reserves to the south of our base where many host plants are best preserved. We expect Twin-spot Fritillary, a mainly June-flying species living here on its north-western edge of distribution. Also Lesser Marbled Fritillary has healthy populations in protected areas. We hope to find Large Chequered Skipper during its peak emergence. They should be accompanied by Black Hairstreak, Heath, High Brown, Dark Green and Nickerl's Fritillaries, Amanda's, Meleager's, Mountain Alcon and Chapman's Blue, White Admiral, Scarce and Purple-edged Copper.
Before we reach our hotel for dinner we will search for Purple and Lesser Purple Emperor - species that generally appear in June, and for Poplar Admiral that disappears in June. Geranium Argus and Large Copper occur in wet meadows and both Swallowtails fly here. White Admiral, Mazarine Blue, and Great Banded Grayling are not uncommon but more frequent at wooded locations.
At this time of year most of the breeding birds are hard to find but some of them we shouldn't miss, like Corn Bunting, Red-backed Shrike, Barred, Icterine and River Warblers. Black Redstart is common, but Black Stork is more elusive, as are Black and White-backed Woodpecker, Ring Ouzel or Nutcracker which all breed here.
Local meadows rank amongst the richest in Central Europe. Three species of Iris, Iris sibirica, graminea and variegata should be in flower. They are later replaced by Orange and Martagon Lilies Lilium bulbiferum and martagon. Other flowers growing there are Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, Branched St. Bernard's Lily Anthericum ramosum, Nepeta pannonica, Gymnadenia densiflora, Dragon's Teeth Tetragonolobus maritimus, Pseudolysimachion spurium, Cross Gentian Gentiana cruciata, Burnt Orchid Orchis ustulata, Yellow Flax Linum flavum, Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris, Bloody Cranesbill Geranium sanguineum, or Crested Cow-wheat Melampyrum cristatum.
Next day we visit the dolomite and limestone Tematinske Hills, situated at the Vah River. Hot and dry conditions are favourable for many butterflies amongst which a newly-described blue butterfly is the most notable. Polyommatus slovakus (= Lysandra slovaka) was split from Chalk-hill Blue and has its type locality there. Other butterflies should be plentiful and we can expect up to 40 species in this remarkable spot, including Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow, Sloe and Ilex Hairstreak, Marbled Fritillary, Woodland Grayling, a number of skippers and Reverdin's and Eastern Short-tailed Blue.
The first Apollos will be flying together with Clouded Apollos above the limestone cliffs. It is difficult to predict which species will be found, but we have another chance of Niobe, Glanville, Spotted and Lesser Spotted Fritillaries. Additionally on dikes along the River Vah we'll seek the numerous Knapweed Fritillaries interspersed with Assmann's Fritillaries.
Three nights White Carpathians
Days 4 - 5
Today we travel to the High Tatras, en route visiting moors on the Polish border. The area can look rather gloomy, but it holds some good butterflies and is surrounded by large wet meadows. We will be looking for Moorland Clouded Yellow, Large Heath (race tiphon), Pearl-bordered, False Heath and Cranberry Fritillary and Woodland Ringlet.
Our second break is planned at a small village where we should find some nice mountain flowers just outside the village. During late June a small mountain meadow with scattered pine and spruce trees holds Orange Lily (Lilium bulbiferum), Erysimum wittmannii (a Slovakian endemic), and Alsace Broomrape Orobanche alsatica. Butterflies here should include Chalk-hill, Mountain Alcon and Turquoise Blue.
The day ends with an exploration of wet meadows below the High Tatras. We especially look for the endangered Scarce Heath, Great Meadow Rue Thalictrum aquilegiifolium, and Round-leaved Wintergreen Pyrola rotundifolia. Corn Crakes and Quails call from inside the meadow and Lesser Spotted Eagle regularly hunts there.
Next day we will be walking in the Belanske Tatras starting from an elevation around 1,000 m and walking along a mountain stream through beautiful mountain forest.
We are here in the peak season for the alpine flowers of this region. High altitude butterflies will also be just emerging. We will have a chance of finding Dewy and Mountain Ringlets, Shepherd's Fritillary and Mountain Green-veined White plus nominate race of Purple-shot Copper and perhaps Blind or Silky Ringlet and Chequered Skipper that disappears earlier at lower elevations.
Bird life could include Dipper, Nutcracker, Crested Tit, Firecrest, Crossbill and Goshawk. Golden Eagles and Peregrines are sometimes seen soaring over the crags looking for Marmots, whilst at ground level we may find an Alpine Accentor or Water Pipit amongst the rocks.
Two nights High Tatras
Days 6 - 8
We now travel south to the Slovak Karst, which is an open landscape of limestone plateaux steeply rising from broad valleys, mainly covered with woodlands, forest-steppe and diminishing pastures. It is a dry, sunny region, and the outstanding plant community here displays a correspondingly eastern quality, while the butterflies are more typical of regions further south.
The Slovak Karst was formerly less wooded than today but still provides good conditions for many species, some of which prefer light forests and forest fringes. We will be looking for Woodland Brown, Woodland and Great Banded Grayling, Common and Hungarian Gliders or a late Scarce Fritillary as they hawk gracefully along the woodland edges. On the other hand, Black-veined White, Adonis, Large, Chequered, Little, Idas and Meleager's Blue, Purple-shot Copper and a host of fritillaries including Silver-washed, High Brown, Niobe, Knapweed and Lesser Spotted prefer open habitats.
On one day, we will walk up through a deeply cut valley, with beech forest and forest-steppe which are typical of this area, slowly climbing to the large plateau from where we will spend the rest of the day slowly descending towards our coach.
A host of localised species could well include Inflated Milk-vetch Astragalus vesicarius, Alpine Aster Aster serpentimontanus, Pannonicum Thyme Thymus pannonicus, Onosma visianii, Asyneuma canescens, Cyanus triumfetti, Aconitum moldavicum, Yellow Monkshood Aconitum anthora, Linum hirsutum, Cimicifuga europaea, Erysimum pallidiflorum, Cynoglossum hungaricum, Chamaecytisus albus or Echium russicum, Orobanche lutea or Lady Orchid Orchis purpurea. The endemic Campanula xylocarpa and carpatica may also have their first flowers.
Birds here can include Imperial and Short-toed Eagles and Saker drifting over or gliding below us. Dipper, Red-backed Shrike, Wryneck and Golden Oriole also occur commonly.
Three nights Medzev
Day 9
We transfer to the airport at Kosice for our homeward flight via Prague. Depending on flight times we may have time for stops on the way including Turna Castle, where Turna Golden Drop Onosma tornense is an endemic which comes to full bloom in mid-June. Souslik, a ground dwelling squirrel can be seen here, and Eagles and Black Storks turn up quite regularly.
Please note that we can arrange optional extensions to the trip in Prague, for a chance to spend a bit of time in this delightful city.
Accommodation: Three-star hotels with all rooms en suite.
Numbers: Max. 14 clients