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Bulgaria in Summer Naturetrek Tour Report 17 - 24 July 2017 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 Report and images by Alan Outen White Stork Eastern Bath White Pontia edusa Banded Darter Sympetrum pedemontanum female Rose Plume, Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla

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  • Bulgaria in Summer

    Naturetrek Tour Report 17 - 24 July 2017

    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

    Report and images by Alan Outen

    White Stork

    Eastern Bath White Pontia edusa

    Banded Darter Sympetrum pedemontanum female

    Rose Plume, Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla

    mailto:[email protected]:///C:/Users/Peter/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/2NR7BARZ/www.naturetrek.co.uk

  • Tour Report Bulgaria in Summer

    © Naturetrek April 18 1

    Tour participants: Alan Outen (leader), Stoyan Beshkov & Yordan Kutsarov (Dancho) (local guides) and

    Eristo (driver), together with 16 Naturetrek clients

    Summary

    In the course of the week we enjoyed superb scenery and a wonderful range of wildlife. We saw an overall total

    of 874 identified species in addition to a few inevitably remaining unidentified. This represents the second

    highest total ever for this tour. This total included 400 higher plants (the highest total ever for the tour) and 314

    invertebrate species, of which 87 were butterflies and 60 moths, as well as many other attractive and impressive

    bugs, beetles etc. We had record numbers of beetle and Arachnid species for the tour with many other groups

    above average. Being so late in the season it is always difficult to find birds on this tour. As such we only

    managed a total of 88 species. This was nonetheless still higher than for some tours where birds are a primary

    focus, and we had so much more besides.

    Day 1 Monday 17th July

    Our flight was a few minutes late taking off from the UK but, as so often with this route, we nonetheless arrived

    a few minutes early at 1.14pm (BST +2). At Sofia the weather was cool and cloudy following recent rain. After

    clearing immigration and reclaiming luggage, we quickly found Dancho and Stoyan in the arrivals hall. The

    remaining three members of the group were also there having travelled separately. The bus was loaded up and by

    2pm we were on our way.

    After travelling for 70 minutes we stopped at some meadows near Samokov, which provided a productive

    introduction to some of the Bulgarian flora and fauna. Plants included Field Eryngo, Crown Vetch, Skeleton

    Weed, Childling Pink, Viper's Bugloss, Cypress Spurge, Centaurea rutifolia, C. solstitialis, Marrubium peregrinum, Vicia

    hybrida and Silene roemeri. There were even two toadstool species in evidence, these being Agrocybe praecox and

    Suillus granulatus. In the relatively cool and damp conditions Scarce Copper, Chestnut Heath and Lesser Spotted

    Fritillary (as adult and a much photographed larva) were the pick of the butterflies. Some day-flying moths were

    also of interest including Thistle Ermine, Bright Wave and best a clearwing moth species Chamaesphecia empiformis.

    Among other insects noted were Banded Demoiselle and White-legged Damselflies, Southern Hawker

    Dragonfly, Blue-winged Grasshopper, the attractive Mirid Bug Adelphocoris vandalicus and two brightly-coloured

    leaf beetles from the genus Clytra. A Red-backed Shrike and Great Spotted Woodpecker provided some

    ornithological interest.

    Amazingly we found we had been here over an hour and a quarter and it was time to move on. Attempts to carry

    out the briefing on the bus were thwarted by the fact that the microphone was not working. The anticipated

    comfort stop failed to materialise, not least as many were clearly intent on catching up on some sleep after the

    early start! Those who remained alert were aware of several heavy showers as well as birds that included White

    Stork, Common Buzzard, Raven and Bee-eater. Roadside plants were Danewort, Walnut and False Acacia, the

    latter an important nectar source for honey bees in the region.

    We eventually arrived at our hotel in Melnik at 6.45pm, significantly earlier than usual due to the omitted

    comfort stop. With rooms allocated, a very welcome evening meal was followed by a rapid briefing. After a very

    long though interesting day, all were more than ready to retire.

  • Bulgaria in Summer Tour Report

    2 © Naturetrek April 18

    Day 2 Tuesday 18th July

    Today the weather was sunny, hot and dry with a maximum temperature of 30°C. A pre-breakfast walk from the

    hotel was fairly well attended. Those assembling for this noted an attractive little moth on the wall of the hotel,

    reminiscent of our UK Marbled Beauty and its relatives. This Stoyan identified as Cryphia amasina. Birds were

    disappointing for a walk that had been productive in previous years, with Red-rumped Swallow, Golden Oriole,

    Grey-headed Woodpecker and Red-backed Shrike the most interesting. The plants seen included Soapwort, Pink

    Everlasting (Xeranthemum annuum), Artemisia absinthium, Erigeron annuus, Campanula scutellata, Geranium macrorrhizum,

    and the yellow flowered Achillea coarctata.

    After a satisfying breakfast, we assembled at 9am ready for our departure for the day. Based on our itinerary and

    the briefing the night before, we had anticipated that our first stop was to be at Rupite. However our Bulgarian

    guides made a change and we first made a brief stop near the Struma River. This was productive with Oriental

    Marbled Skipper, Lesser Fiery Copper, Clouded Yellow and Eastern Bath White butterflies, and Southern

    Skimmer dragonfly. A Beautiful Marbled moth (Eublemma purpurina) was an excellent find, though seen by few.

    Other insects of note here were a Praying Mantis, the groundhopper Tetrix depressa, the impressive longhorn

    beetle Purpuricenus budensis (which we were to see a lot during the week) and several unusual bug species, among

    them Brassica Bug (Eurydema oleracea), Carpocoris mediterraneus, Psacasta exanthematica and Ancyrosoma leucogrammes.

    Bee-eaters and European Pond Tortoise were the best of the vertebrates.

    At 10.15am we drove on and then stopped again after ten minutes, this time at another wet site near Kojuh,

    where we spent nearly two hours. Among the butterflies noted here were Mallow Skipper and Scarce Swallowtail,

    along with the day-flying burnet moth species Zygaena laeta. Heteropteran Bugs were again good and included the

    large spiny shieldbug Mustha spinosula (yet again missed by the UK leader who has been wanting to see it for

    years!) and the smart red and black striped shieldbug Graphosoma lineatum (widely known as the AC Milan Bug).

    The red and black Tachinid fly Cylindromyia sp. was another interesting find, though perhaps not so appealing to

    some. It also proved an excellent site for Orthoptera with bush crickets such as Rhacocleis germanica and

    Eupholidoptera smyrnensis, and grasshoppers including Aiolopus thalassinus and the Slant-headed Grasshopper (Acrida

    mediterranea). Botanically the most interesting finds were perhaps Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis), Italian Viper's

    Bugloss or Lady Campbell Weed (Echium italicum), Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas) and Christ's-Thorn (Paliurus

    spina-cristi).

    After a further ten minute drive we finally reached the remarkable famous hot springs at Rupite, where the water

    temperature can reach 74°C. Apart from it's local appeal as a spa, the site is also famous for it's rich biodiversity.

    In the course of our time here, the botanists were able to see Maltese Cross (Tribulus terrestris), Spanish Oyster

    Thistle (Scolymus hispanicus), Stranglewort (Cynanchum acutum), Cuscuta campestris, Typha domingensis, Heliotropium

    europeum, and Lavatera thuringiaca among many interesting species. Insects were again good, among them Freyer's

    Grayling, Southern White Admiral and Swallowtail butterflies, Scarlet and Banded Darters and White-tailed

    Skimmer dragonflies, the very attractive longhorn beetle species Chlorophorus varius, another nice bush-cricket

    Tylopsis lilifolia, and an Assassin Bug Rhynocoris punctiventris. Another excellent moth species, though again only

    seen by a couple, was The Four Spotted (Tyto luctuosa). Some of the insect species were impressively large

    representatives of their groups, including the ant species Cremogaster scutellaris, the Mammoth Wasp (Megascolia

    flavifrons) and the very large ant-lion Palpares libelluloides. The related but very rare Bubopsis andromache was an

    excellent find here. Galls of the aphid Tetraneura nigriabdominalis on Elm were another very good find of a species

  • Bulgaria in Summer Tour Report

    © Naturetrek April 18 3

    that is extremely rare in the UK. Marsh Frogs (Pelohylax ridibundus) were very vocal along the stream and much

    photographed. The Caspian Terrapins were more challenging, diving into the water as anyone approached them.

    Also in the water were shoals of the introduced Western Mosquito-fish (Gambusia affinis), whilst a Levant

    Sparrowhawk overhead was a new bird for many, whilst other birds seen here included Buzzard, White Stork,

    European Roller, Eastern Olivaceous and Eastern Orphean Wablers, Alpine Swift and Common Sandpiper.

    These various finds were either side of our picnic lunch, which was supplemented by drinks from the café.

    We left here at 3.50pm and drove to our final site for the day at Marena fishponds, which we reached at 4.15pm.

    Several Crested Larks were seen on the journeys between sites. Here the plan was for the bus to drop us and we

    would then walk through to pick it up at the other end. Unfortunately whilst some made the most of what

    natural history the site had to offer, others were keen to get back to the bus. As such, although most saw Crested

    Lark, Turtle Dove, Black-headed Bunting, Greek Tortoise, Humming-bird Hawk-moth and both Blue and Pale

    Globe Thistles (Echinops banaticus and E.sphaerocephalus). Those who had made straight for the bus sadly missed

    some good finds. Among these was an impressive number of Scarlet Darters, as well as Spotted Darter and a

    splendid male Emperor Dragonfly, Wasp Spiders, a very large and striking Yellow Sac Spider (Cheiracanthium sp.)

    and two equally imposing beetles, the Buprestid Capnodis tenebricosa and the Carabid Ditomus (=Dixus) obscurus.

    The Bulgarian leaders took a lot of persuading to return to the bus as they were keen to find further dragonfly

    species, in particular Black Pennant, in which they were unsuccessful. Despite this, we were still back at the hotel

    on schedule at 6.30pm with dinner, also as planned, at 7.30pm. This was followed by a resumé of the main finds

    of the day.

    Day 3 Wednesday 19th July

    Today was again hot, dry and sunny with a maximum temperature of 30°C. The 7am pre-breakfast walk was

    taken by six of the group, who were rewarded with sightings of Cirl Bunting, Crag Martin and White Wagtail.

    Great Spotted and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were heard. Al fresco breakfast at 8am was followed by another

    prompt departure at 9am.

    We then drove to Kresna Gorge, arriving at 10am. This is one of the best natural history sites in Bulgaria, though

    threatened by a road development, which will be a tragedy. The site is justly famous for its rich biodiversity and it

    is well worth spending time here, though on this occasion it was less productive than in some years. Even so

    there was plenty of interest. Among the plants worthy of mention were more of the shrub Christ's-thorn (Paliurus

    spina-cristi), Nettle Tree (Celtis australis), Dianthus gracilis, D.pinifolius, Centaurea salonitana var. macrantha, Consolida

    regalis, Nigella elata and the house-leek species Jovibarba heuffelii. Unfortunately Amorpha fruticosa was not yet in

    flower.

    Butterflies seen here included Common and Hungarian Gliders, Common and Scarce Swallowtails, Southern

    White Admiral and Small Copper, with Southern Skimmer, Small Pincertail and Beautiful Demoiselle among the

    Odonata. An excellent moth find, though sadly seen by just a couple of the group, was The Geometrician

    Grammodes stolida (=Prodotis). In contrast, a scorpion species found under bark and subsequently identified as

    Euscorpius solegladi, was retained until all had seen it. Many of the leaves of nettle trees had on them galls caused

    by the mite Reckella celtis, whilst also on the Nettle Trees were large numbers of the bug species Arocatus longiceps,

    normally found on Plane trees. This species is a recent immigrant to the UK though it is spreading rapidly.

  • Bulgaria in Summer Tour Report

    4 © Naturetrek April 18

    We left here at 12.35pm and drove to our lunch-stop above Illindentsi. Here Yellow-bellied Toads were in the

    water trough, as usual. Marbled White and Eastern Wood White were among the butterflies on the slopes. A

    neatly representative selection Orthoptera included the bush-cricket Bucephaloptera bucephala, the grasshopper

    Calliptamus barbarus and the groundhopper Pezotettix giornae, never previously seen on this tour. The snail Zebrina

    detrita also attracted the interest of several in the group, while plants of note included Scabiosa argentea, Centaurea

    rutifolia and fruiting Periploca graeca. A pair of Lesser Kestrels was in residence, as is often the case, and for

    comparison a Common Kestrel also put in an appearance.

    Leaving here at 3pm and following a brief stop for fuel, drinks and ice creams, we then made a brief stop near

    the village of Kulata where many were pleased with the opportunity to photograph a magnificent occupied nest

    of White Stork. At 4.10pm we reached our final site for the day at Chuchuligovo near the Greek border. Here yet

    another Southern Skimmer and a Banded Darter posed well for photographers. There was also another species

    of Buprestid beetle in the genus Capnodis, this one being C.tenebrionis, whilst a very interesting find for anyone

    with mycological interest was a large number of specimens of an unusual looking species of Tulostoma sp., an

    interesting group of fungi, recently collectively given the common name of 'stalkballs'. What was really

    remarkable was that these were growing on an enormous and very dry ant hill; a very surprising habitat. Two

    specimens were collected and are now at the herbarium at Kew where at present the actual species remains

    unidentified.

    Other birds seen during the course of the day included Little Egret, Long-legged Buzzard, Bee-eaters, Black

    Redstart, Blue Rock Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher and Spanish Sparrow.

    After brief delays on our way back one, the first for a Hermann's Tortoise in the road and then for a group of

    piglets similarly risking their lives, we returned to Melnik somewhat earlier than normal as several wanted to

    explore the village while others wanted to start packing for the transfer day tomorrow. We reached the bottom

    of the village at exactly 5.30pm, spot on target, so the group had ample time before dinner at 7pm, when were

    joined by another Humming-bird Hawk-moth. At last a Kotschy's Gecko (Cyrtopodion kotschyi bibroni) put in an

    appearance on the walls. This late addition to the day's list was again followed by a run-through of what had been

    seen during the day and checking off on the lists before we then spent our last night in Melnik.

    Day 4 Thursday 20th July

    The weather today was again hot, dry and sunny, but the maximum temperature only reached 28°C. Our

    imminent departure meant an even more depleted party for the pre-breakfast walk when Grey-headed

    Woodpecker and Golden Oriole were the best of the birds seen. The curious little Plane Lacebug (Corythucha

    ciliata) was found on the leaves of its host. This is another recent immigrant to the UK, which is spreading.

    Following the Humming-bird Hawk-moth of the night before, we were joined at breakfast by a female Stag

    Beetle that was photographed by many.

    Despite the fact that this was the transfer day, so all bills had to be paid and the bus loaded with luggage, we

    nonetheless again left bang on time at 9am. An exceptionally large number of House Martins were noticeable as

    we drove through the village. At 9.15am we made a brief roadside stop at Khursovo, that actually kept to its 15-

    minute schedule. Nonetheless this was time enough for several to photograph another obliging Banded Darter,

    as well as a Small Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura pumilio), our only sighting of this species in the week. Other

  • Bulgaria in Summer Tour Report

    © Naturetrek April 18 5

    hoped-for species did not appear, but we were able to add Pennyroyal, Water Mint, Celery-leaved Buttercup,

    Brooklime and Centaurea calcitrapa to the plant list.

    Driving on, we reached our first scheduled stop of Novo Hozhovo at 9.45am. Here was another fine White

    Stork nest with large youngsters that were much admired and photographed. Leaf mines of the micro-moth

    Cameraria ohridella were a conspicuous feature on the Horse Chestnut leaves, as they are now throughout most of

    the UK despite having only reached there in 2002. We were able to find one of the very pretty but tiny adult

    moths. We then walked down a track to the river and then along the riverside, with a Common Whitethroat

    quickly spotted. Butterflies were plentiful, among them Map, Large Copper, Marbled Skipper, Little Tiger Blue,

    Painted Lady and Green-veined White. The best of the Dragonflies was a Scarce Chaser, found and well

    photographed by Eric. Other insects were also impressive and included Praying Mantis, Rose Chafer, the large

    Violet Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa violacea), the large and handsome beetle Trichodes crabroniformis, two attractive

    Heteropteran bug species new to the ‘all time’ list for this tour Nysius senecionis and Beosus quadrimaculatus, as well

    as the curious looking little bluish-colured Citrus Flatid Planthopper Metcalfa pruinosa. Plants included Cut-leaved

    Teasel, and a fine representative selection of the mint family.

    We left her at 11.55am and made a series of brief stops, the first to purchase fresh fruit, then to replenish water

    supplies and twice for better views of different Short-toed Snake Eagles. Buzzards and Alpine Swifts were also

    noted. The scenery was impressive but as we started to climb towards the pass, the vehicle was clearly struggling

    and a fault meant that in order to cool the engine, hot air was being passed into the already hot interior of the

    bus. Understandably this was uncomfortable and certainly not very popular, though necessary. All were relieved

    when at 1.10pm we reached our lunch stop. Here the presence of Bracken and Birch indicated acidity, yet Beech

    trees also seemed to be flourishing. Galls caused by the larvae of two different host-specific fly species Hartigiola

    annulipes and Mikiola fagi were present on a few of the leaves. Also here was the fly species Tachina fera, Rutpela

    maculata, a familiar longhorn beetle from the UK, the burnet moth Zygaena ephialtes and a good number of Queen

    of Spain Fritillary butterflies, that seemed particularly partial to Rosebay Willowherb.

    With lunch completed, we drove on for another 15 kilometres to our scheduled stop at the Popovi Livadi Pass,

    which we reached at 2.15pm. The walk here is always very productive and this year was no exception. Among a

    wealth of good plants, those which attracted particular attention were Spreading Bellflower, Creeping Jenny, Hay

    Rattle (Rhinanthus javorkae), Nepeta pannonica, Gentiana cruciata, Potentilla cinerea and the impressive thistle Cirsium

    ligulare. Our first orchid species, some nice Common Spotted Orchids, were quickly followed by a colony of

    some beautiful specimens of Red Helleborine. Near to this was a single plant of a puzzling Epipactis species, the

    location of which meant it proved as challenging to get good images, as it was to identify. Eventually back in the

    UK this was identified with help from the images as Small-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis microphylla). This was an

    addition to the all time list for the tour and for all UK members of the group. Fine specimens of the large

    bracket fungus Fomes fomentarius, at one time confined to Scotland in the UK but now spreading with several

    records from SE England, were also noteworthy. The butterflies here are always good and among a good variety

    this year included some that were on the target list for several of the party. Among those seen were Apollo, the

    curious and distinctive Nettle-tree, Meleager's Blue, Higgin's Anomalous Blue, Turquoise Blue, Great Banded

    Grayling, Arran Brown, Knapweed Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary and Dark Green Fritillary. A pristine, recently

    emerged Sombre Goldenring dragonfly obligingly posed for photographs for all-comers. At the other extreme,

    the attractive little Blue Shieldbug and the crab spider species Thomisus onistus was also admired, whilst those who

  • Bulgaria in Summer Tour Report

    6 © Naturetrek April 18

    were under the illusion that all aphids were either greenfly or blackfly were introduced to Pink-Tansy Aphid

    Metopeurum fuscoviride on its host plant. Like most of this large insect group, it is host specific.

    Leaving here somewhat reluctantly for many, we returned to the bus and continued our journey. It was not long

    before the tall, and appropriately named Candelabra Thistle (Cirsium candelabrum), was spotted by the roadside.

    This often grows near where we had stopped but was not apparent there this year. As it was still very hot on the

    bus, we made a fifteen-minute stop at some services for complementary ice creams. Our final stop for the day

    should have been at the Gotse Delchev fishponds. Unfortunately this site had been wrecked by devastating

    floods that had surged through earlier in the year, so it was no longer safely accessible. This did undoubtedly cost

    us some species that we might have expected. On the other hand it did mean that we reached our base for the

    remainder of the week at Hotel Dumanov in the large ski resort of Bansko at 5.30pm, significantly earlier than in

    previous years. As it was becoming apparent that many in the group preferred shorter days in the field than has

    been the norm in the past, that was perhaps no bad thing! It left people plenty of time to unpack or explore

    before our usual evening meal time of 7pm. It was pleasantly cooler here and our excellent evening meal was

    eaten outside, followed as usual by the day's log.

    Day 5 Friday 21st July

    Today the weather was very pleasant, fine, dry and sunny with a maximum temperature of 24°C. Being in the

    centre of a busy town does not lend itself to a meaningful pre-breakfast walk and past experience has shown this

    to be of little merit. Nonetheless, for those willing to take advantage of the opportunities, there was the

    compensation in that it is always remarkable how many moths and other insects are attracted overnight to lit

    balconies. Moth species this morning included Riband Wave, Scorched Carpet, Brown-line Bright-eye, Four-

    spotted Footman and Pine Hawk-moth, all of which occur in the UK, as well as a bush-cricket Poecilimon

    thoracicus, a chafer beetle (Amphimallon sp.) and a caddis species, none of which were UK species. These were all

    shown to those who were interested and photographed by several before then being released.

    Breakfast was at 8am and yet again we were punctual in our departure at 9am, which was good as we had quite a

    distance to travel. Birds seen on our journeys during the day included Little Egret, Grey Heron, Kestrel and

    Hoopoe, whilst Smoke Bush (Cotinus cogyria) was also noticed. Eventually passing through the village of Rila

    (where there were large numbers of White Stork nests) and beyond Rila Monastery, we arrived at Kirilova

    Polyana in the Rila National Park.

    On the boundary wall of the restaurant compound was Common Polypody Fern, whilst on the wall of the

    building itself was another excellent moth Arctia flava, a rare species that we do not have in Britain but is related

    to our Garden Tiger Moth. From here we walked slowly up the ascending wooded trail, noting the species as we

    went. The plant diversity was impressive and included Digitalis viridiflora, Campanula moesiaca (in two colour

    forms), Potentilla regis-borisii, Scabiosa lucida, Senecio hercynicus, Carduus scardicus, Prenanthes purpurea, Tanacetum

    macrophyllum, Telekia speciosa, Wood Cow-wheat, Wood and Bloody Cranesbills, Broad-leaved Helleborine, and

    Common Spotted and Bird's-nest Orchids. Not all managed to see the Red Squirrel. Insects were also excellent

    with the pick of the butterflies being Scotch Argus, Silver-washed Fritillary, Large Ringlet and many Purple

    Emperors (including a fine male that posed well for the photographers). Three day-flying Burnet moths Zygaena

    loti, Z.ephialtes and Z.angelicae as well as a Phoenix added to the moth list. No fewer than four longhorn beetles

  • Bulgaria in Summer Tour Report

    © Naturetrek April 18 7

    were noted Rutpela maculata, Stenurella semipunctata, Stictoleptura rubra and Pachytodes cerambyciformis, as well as our

    only Bee Chafer of the week, this last species when we were nearly back at the restaurant.

    Here most of us enjoyed a trout lunch as a change from our usual lunchtime fare, with chicken or a vegetarian

    option also on offer. A Dipper was in the river. We then spent a short while in the flower-rich meadows though

    the most noteworthy plant added was Dusky Cranesbill or Mourning Widow Geranium phaeum. Butterflies were

    again plentiful with Marbled White especially numerous, but with Black-veined White, Wood White, Balkan

    Copper, Idas and False Eros Blues, Large Wall, Marbled Fritillary and more Silver-washed Fritillary also seen. A

    specimen of the beautiful Macaronius Owlfly Libelloides macaronius was seen by a few, while an unusually coloured

    form of Woodland Grasshopper (Omocestus rufipes), a picture-wing fly Oxyna flavipennis [Tephritidae] and a sawfly

    Tenthredo zonula were caught and shown to those near at hand, some of whom photographed them before their

    release.

    We then drove back to the monastery where the group had an hour and a half to explore this and the excellent

    museum. As always, there was another good selection of moths on the walls including on this occasion Common

    Footman, Light Emerald, Mottled Beauty, Snout, Small Phoenix, The Fern and Brussels Lace, the last somewhat

    localised in the UK and sadly rather inaccessible to photograph well here. Also on the wall was a harvestman,

    subsequently identified as Phalangium opilio. Wall Rue fern was prolific here. Pallid Swifts were wheeling overhead

    and one member of the group even managed to photograph one clinging high up on the wall.

    We left here at 4.50pm and were back at the hotel at 6.30pm. As this was later than scheduled, we pushed dinner

    back to 7.30pm, and this was followed by checking off the list of species seen in the day, which was completed

    by 9.30pm.

    Day 6 Saturday 22nd July

    The weather was very pleasant today with a maximum temperature of 28°C, but cooler at Bezbog. Moths at light

    comprised a number of species that had also been seen the previous morning plus a few new ones. Least Carpet

    (Idaea rusticata), Small Emerald (Hemistola chrysoprasaria), Purple Marbled (Eublemma ostrina) all occur in the UK

    though the last is only a rare migrant, with Calymma communimacula and the micro Ephelis cruentalis both species

    unknown and unlikely in Britain. A longhorn beetle was eventually identified as Axinopalpis gracilis, another

    species new to the all time list for this tour and one that is apparently not often photographed.

    Following breakfast, our departure for the day was yet again punctual at 9am. Today we only had a comparatively

    short distance to travel to the Gotse Delchev mountain hut (1412 metres). We were there by 9.30am and with

    picnic lunches distributed, we were ready for the two-stage chairlift ascent to the Bezbog Lake at 2240 metres. By

    10.15am (a record for this tour!) the last of the group had reached the top and we set off to walk through in this

    superb mountain setting. Bezbog means 'Godforsaken' but the scenery is majestic. Some of the group just

    wanted to walk on up to the higher lake (with two of these later walking down all the way as well rather than

    taking the chairlift). Two others went back down on the chairlift fairly soon as they decided they were in need of

    a more substantial lunch! Others enjoyed the rich alpine flora and butterflies in particular. Among the many

    plants we were able to see here were Gem coccineum, Doronicum austriacum, Centaurea nervosa, Veratrum album,

    Bruckenthalia spiculifolia, Epilobium nutans, Campanula alpina, Gentiana pyrenaica, Saxifraga stellaris, S.rotundifolia,

    Scrophularia scopolii, Euphrasia minima, Viola biflora and endemics such as Jasione bulgarica, Dianthus microlepis, and

  • Bulgaria in Summer Tour Report

    8 © Naturetrek April 18

    Pinguicula balcanica (the last sadly not flowering). Among the ferns were Brittle Bladder Fern, Oak Fern, Holly

    Fern and Moonwort, a particularly good find. Fontinalis antipyretica, Philonotis fontana, two species of Sphagnum and

    several other species provided some bryological interest. Birds were few though Raven, Nutcracker, Linnet and

    Dunnock were among those seen, the last three of these additional sightings for the week.

    A number of interesting butterfly species are to be found at this altitude and on this occasion these included

    Balkan Fritillary, Nicholl's Ringlet, Ottoman Brassy Ringlet, Bright-eyed Ringlet, Large Ringlet and Eastern Large

    Heath. Around the lake were Common Hawker, Yellow-winged Darter and Four-spotted Chaser dragonflies, as

    well as a large black horsefly Hybomitra caucasica. A Common Frog was clearly quite at home at this altitude

    (though it clearly petrified a young girl who saw it) whilst shoals of Minnows were in the water. A sadly dead

    Convolvulus Hawk-moth was seen near the buildings.

    The group assembled at the top of the chairlift at 4pm and by 4.35pm we were all down. We then made our way

    to some meadows above Dobrinishte, which we reached at 4.45pm. Of the many plants noted Allium carinatum,

    Silene armeria and Lotus angustissimus were additions to the week's list. Butterflies were less good than in some years

    though Silver-spotted Skipper, Balkan, Scarce and Sooty Coppers and Small Tortoiseshell were among those

    seen, the last remarkably the only sighting all week. A Purple-barred Yellow was a pretty addition to the moth list

    for the year, while the bush-cricket Broughtonia arnoldi was another addition to the all time list for this tour. Several

    specimens of the attractive Oak Spider (Aculepeira ceropegia) attracted the attention of the photographers. Also

    attractive but significantly smaller were two plant hopper species, the sexually dimorphic Cicadella viridis and the

    yellow and black Evacanthus interruptus. Two larger Heteropteran bugs here were Melanocoryphus albomaculatus and

    Deraeocoris rutilus.

    We were joined on the bus by a few horseflies, which were caught and identified as Atylotus fulvus, Tabanus bromius

    and T.tergestinus, then safely released. The stragglers in the group were finally back on the bus at 5.45pm and as

    we were therefore again a little late back at the hotel, albeit only 13 minutes, dinner was pushed back to 7.15pm.

    All seemed to have enjoyed the day in their own ways. With dinner and subsequent lists completed by 9.15pm,

    most were content to call it a day and retire.

    Day 7 Sunday 23rd July

    Today was mostly sunny with a maximum temperature of 27°C. New moths overnight were Dunbar, Toadflax

    Brocade, Rose Plume (Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla) and Codling Moth in addition to several seen previously. As

    usual, these were brought down at breakfast time for people to see and photograph if they wished prior to the

    insects being released into vegetation.

    Our punctuality in departure maintained and we drove to the mountain hut at Banderitsa (1785 metres) arriving

    at 9.30am. From here we walked along the roadside to Vihren mountain hut at 1950 metres. A Red Squirrel was

    seen soon after we set out. The flora here was excellent and included choice plants such as Allium flavum,

    A.sphaerocephalon, Erigeron atticus, Bupleurum sibthorpianum, Lamium garganicum, Scutellaria alpina, Sedum grisebachii,

    Daphne oleoides, Teucrium montanum, T.chamaedrys, Dianthus petraeus, D.gigantaeformis, Polygala major, Rosa pendulina,

    Asynema canescens, Scorzonera purpurea, Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris), Red Helleborine (Cephalanthera rubra),

    Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) and Dark Red Helleborine (Epipactis atrorubens). A large clump of

    Purple Reed Grass (Calamagrostis arundinacea) proved remarkably popular as a photographic subject.

  • Bulgaria in Summer Tour Report

    © Naturetrek April 18 9

    Birders had excellent views of Nutcracker, Ring Ouzel and Red Crossbill, with several getting good photographs

    at close range. Nuthatch, Treecreeper, and Serin were also seen. A good range of butterfly species were seen,

    among them Large Grizzled Skipper, Turquoise Blue, Holly Blue, False Eros Blue, Osiris Blue, Pearl-bordered

    Fritillary, Ringlet and Ottoman Brassy Ringlet. Day-flying moths included the beautiful Speckled Yellow with the

    wonderful scientific name Pseudopanthera macularia, Drab Looper (Minoa murinata) and a probable Typhonia ciliaris

    (one of the group called bagworms).

    At one point on the way up the Rowans were looking distinctly yellow and closer examination showed that the

    leaves were festooned with the rust fungus Gymnosporangium cornutum. This species alternates hosts between

    Rowan and Juniper. It is common in Scotland but unknown in Southern England since the two hosts do not

    grow together there.

    By 12.45pm we had all reached the Vihren hut. The road on the way up had been getting increasingly busy with

    cars parked all the way along the verge. This is becoming a problem at weekends due to the popularity of this

    place with locals (a potential problem for any of the sites that we visit on the second half of the week, so for the

    future it is hoped to alter the dates to avoid this). It was so bad this year that the police were preventing all but a

    few authorised vehicles from coming up. Although our Bulgarian friends had made arrangements for our lunch

    provisions to be sent up so we could at least eat these at the mountain hut, our bus was stuck at the bottom and

    unable to come up and collect us as had been planned. Hence after eating our lunches we thus had no option but

    to walk back down.

    Unfortunately, in complete contrast to some years, the walls around the buildings at Vihren were virtually devoid

    of moths and there was nothing new. A large cranefly with spotted wings was the most noteworthy insect. This

    was subsequently identified from images as either Tipula montana or T.scripta. An impressive longhorn beetle,

    apparently Anastrangalia sanguinolenta was found nearby. Some of the group wanted to go up further before the

    walk down, whilst others were keen to set off back down. Before doing so, a few investigated a small gulley

    nearby with a fine colony of Forked Spleenwort

    As people arrived back at Banderitsa, a few took advantage of the drinks etc on sale whilst others pottered,

    looking at insects etc. As in Britain, Umbellifer flowers are always a good draw for these, with Hogweed

    especially favoured and here the related Heracleum sibiricum was clearly highly popular with Common Soldier

    Beetles, a few longhorn beetles and large numbers of bees and flies taking full advantage of them. Among the

    flies was an impressive and attractively coloured horsefly Philipomyia aprica and several hoverfly species including

    Chrysotoxum festivum, Scaeva pyrasti, Volucella pellucens, Eristalis pertinax and E.tenax.

    All members of the group were back by 4pm and we then drove down to some meadows above Bansko, which

    we reached at 4.25pm. Here Ringlet, Peacock, Comma and Large Blue butterflies were noted before the weather

    became noticeably cooler, overcast and squally, preceding a sharp shower and distant thunder. Although this

    came no nothing, most were keen to return to the bus and this meant we were back at the hotel early at 5.40pm.

    We therefore reverted to our 7pm dinner followed by a final run through of the species seen, together with the

    individual highlights of the week.

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    Day 8 Monday 24th July

    Today was fine and dry after some overnight rain, with a maximum temperature of 27°C. The selection of moths

    overnight included only one new species, the Meal Moth, Pyralis farinalis. We were scheduled to depart at 8.30am

    to begin our journey back to Sofia and once more we left on time. Birds seen on our journey were diligently

    noted as always. We made a brief fuel and comfort stop where it had also been agreed would be a good

    opportunity for photographs.

    The expectation was that we would make one further stop at some services close to Sofia where people would be

    able to purchase what they wanted for lunch. However we had a late change 48 kilometres from Sofia when the

    coach pulled off at Pancharevo Lake where there was also a large restaurant. Our two Bulgarian leaders

    disappeared and made a reservation for lunch. We spent some time around the lake and added Mallard and Coot

    to the bird list, as well as plants such as Marsh Horsetail, Skullcap, Gipsywort, Great Willow-herb and Common

    Water Plantain. A pristine Brown Hairstreak was the best of the butterflies but disappointingly, there were no

    new dragonflies or damselflies. Unfortunately not all were happy about the change of plan and nor did really

    want the subsequent substantial meal, which seemed to take an inordinate amount of time.

    We left at 12.47pm, arriving at the airport at 1.15pm for our 2.30pm flight. We boarded at 2.07pm but the

    aircraft then sat on the tarmac and it was not until 2.54pm that we took off. Nonetheless after a smooth flight,

    we arrived back at Heathrow 15 minutes ahead of schedule. All baggage was safely recovered and having said our

    final farewells at the carousel the group dispersed to their various final destinations.

    Acknowledgements

    My thanks to all members of the group for their many contributions to the lists, whether during the tour or

    subsequently via many images. Thanks also to my Bulgarian co-leaders Stoyan and Yordan (Dancho), for their

    excellent guidance, as well as to Stoyan for his phenomenal knowledge of the Lepidopteran fauna and Dancho

    for all his efforts with the birds and dragonflies. Thanks also to our careful driver and those staff in the hotels

    who did their best for us.

    I must also thank my good friend Dr. Dimitar Dimotrov (also known as Mitko) for help with some plant queries

    and Dr. Dragan Chobonov (Orthoptera), these two from the Natural History Museum in Sofia where they are

    colleagues of Stoyan, who of course provided butterfly identifications as well as many of the moths. Birds,

    dragonflies and damselflies were all confirmed by Yordan Kutsarov (Dancho). I am also very grateful to the

    following contacts from various countries for assistance in identification or in checking my own identifications

    for various groups: Bob Dransfield (Aphid Gall), Ábrahám Levente (Neuroptera), 'Discoelius' (Spain), Rapha1

    (France), Christian Schmid-Egger and Henrik Piros (various Hymenoptera), Theo Zeegers, Mihailo Vujic, Roger

    Thomason and John Kramer (various Diptera), Barış Çerçi, Sheila Brooke (some Hemiptera), Michelle

    Carraretto, Giorgio Pezzi, Gabriele Franzini (various Coleoptera), Victor Fet (Scorpion) and Ian Dawson (some

    spiders).

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    Species Lists

    Birds (=recorded but not counted; h = heard only)

    July

    Common name Scientific name 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

    1 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

    2 White Stork Ciconia ciconia

    3 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

    4 Little Egret Egretta garzetta

    5 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

    6 Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus

    7 Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes

    8 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus

    9 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo

    10 Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus

    11 Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus

    12 Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni

    13 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

    14 Eurasian Coot Fulica atra

    15 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

    16 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

    17 Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus

    18 European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur

    19 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

    20 Little Owl Athene noctua

    21 Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba

    22 Common Swift Apus apus

    23 Pallid Swift Apus pallidus

    24 European Roller Coracias garrulus

    25 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster

    26 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

    27 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor h

    28 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major h h

    29 Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus h

    30 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio

    31 Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator

    32 Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus

    33 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius

    34 Eurasian Magpie Pica pica

    35 Spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes h

    36 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix

    37 Northern Raven Corvus corax h

    38 Willow Tit Poecile montanus

    39 Coal Tit Periparus ater

    40 Great Tit Parus major

    41 Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus

    42 Crested Lark Galerida cristata

    43 Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris

    44 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

    45 Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris

    46 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum

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    July

    Common name Scientific name 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

    47 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica

    48 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

    49 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

    50 Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus

    51 Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Iduna pallida

    52 Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla

    53 Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca

    54 Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis

    55 Common Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla

    56 Goldcrest Regulus regulus h

    57 Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea

    58 Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris

    59 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris

    60 Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus

    61 Common Blackbird Turdus merula

    62 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus

    63 European Robin Erithacus rubecula

    64 Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos h

    65 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros

    66 Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius

    67 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata

    68 Semi-collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata

    69 White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus

    70 House Sparrow Passer domesticus

    71 Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis

    72 Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

    73 Dunnock Prunella modularis

    74 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

    75 White Wagtail Motacilla alba

    76 Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

    77 European Serin Serinus serinus

    78 European Greenfinch Chloris chloris

    79 European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

    80 Common Linnet Linaria cannabina

    81 Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra

    82 Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula

    83 Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothrauste

    84 Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra

    85 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella

    86 Rock Bunting Emberiza cia

    87 Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus

    88 Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala

    Mammals

    1 Lesser White-toothed Shrew Crocidura suaveolens †

    2 European Mole Talpa europaea †

    3 Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris

    4 mouse sp. [not identified]

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    July

    Common name Scientific name 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

    Reptiles/Amphibians

    1 Spur-thighed Tortoise Testudo graeca

    2 Hermann's Tortoise Testudo hermanni

    3 European Pond Terrapin Emys orbicularis

    4 Caspian Terrapin Mauremys caspica

    5 Kotschy's Gecko Cyrtopodion kotschyi bibroni

    6 Sand Lizard Lacerta agilis

    7 Green Lizard Lacerta viridis †

    8 Grass Snake Natrix natrix †

    9 Yellow-bellied Toad Bombina variegata

    10 Common Frog Rana temporaria

    11 Marsh Frog Pelohylax (Rana) ridibundus

    Fish

    1 Western Mosquito-fish Gambusia affinis

    2 Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus

    Butterflies

    1 Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malve

    2 Large Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus alveus

    3 Orbed Red-Underwing Skipper Spialia orbifer

    4 Mallow Skipper Carcharodus alceae

    5 Marbled Skipper Carcharodus lavatherae

    6 Oriental Marbled Skipper Carcharodes orientalis

    7 Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages

    8 Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola

    9 Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris

    10 Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus (=venatus)

    11 Apollo Parnassius apollo

    12 Swallowtail Papilio machaon

    13 Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius

    14 Small White Artogeia rapae

    15 Southern Small white Artogeia mannii

    16 Green-veined White Artogeia napi (inc balcanica)

    17 Eastern Bath White Pontia edusa

    18 Black-veined White Aporia crataegi

    19 Large White Pieris brassicae

    20 Clouded Yellow Colias crocea

    21 Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni

    22 Wood White Leptidea sinapis

    23 Eastern Wood White Leptidea duponcheli

    24 Brown Hairstreak Thecla betulae

    25 Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas

    26 Scarce Copper Lycaena virgaureae

    27 Sooty Copper Lycaena tityrus

    28 Large Copper Lycaena dispar

    29 Balkan Copper Lycaena candens

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    July

    Common name Scientific name 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

    30 Lesser Fiery Copper Lycaena thersamon

    31 Little Tiger Blue Tarucus balkanicus

    32 Lang's Short-tailed Blue Leptotes pirithous

    33 Short-tailed Blue Cupido argiades

    34 Osiris Blue Cupido osiris

    35 Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus

    36 Large Blue Maculinea arion

    37 Idas Blue Plebeius idas

    38 Brown Argus Aricia agestis

    39 Mazarine Blue Cyaniris semiargus

    40 Turquoise Blue Plebicula dorylas

    41 Meleager’s Blue Meleageria daphnis

    42 Chalk-hill Blue Lysandra coridon

    43 Common Blue Polyommatus icarus

    44 False Eros Blue Polyommatus eroides

    45 Higgins' Anomalous Blue Polyommatus nephohiptamenos

    46 Purple Emperor Apatura iris

    47 Southern White Admiral Limenitis reducta

    48 Hungarian Glider Neptis rivilaris

    49 Common Glider Neptis sappho

    50 Peacock Butterfly Inachis io

    51 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta

    52 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

    53 Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae

    54 Comma Butterfly Polygonia c-album

    55 Map Butterfly Araschnia levana

    56 Cardinal Pandoriana pandora

    57 Silver-washed Fritillary Argynis paphia

    58 Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja

    59 High Brown Fritillary Argynnis adippe

    60 Niobe Fritillary Argynnis niobe

    61 Queen of Spain Fritillary Issoria lathonia

    62 Marbled Fritillary Brenthis daphne

    63 Balkan Fritillary Boloria graeca balcanica

    64 Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria euphrosyne

    65 Knapweed Fritillary Melitaea phoebe

    66 Spotted Fritillary Melitaea didyma

    67 Lesser Spotted Fritillary Melitaea trivia

    68 Marbled White Melanargia galathea

    69 Great Banded Grayling Hipparchia (=Kanetisa) circe

    70 Freyer’s Grayling Neohipparchia fatua

    71 Scotch Argus Erebia aethiops

    72 Arran Brown Erebia ligea

    73 Large Ringlet Erebia euryale

    74 Nicholl's Ringlet Erebia rhodopensis

    75 Ottoman Brassy Ringlet Erebia ottomana

    76 Bright-eyed Ringlet Erebia oeme

    77 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina

    78 Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus

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    July

    Common name Scientific name 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

    79 Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus

    80 Chestnut Heath Coenonympha glycerion

    81 Eastern Large Heath Coenonympha rhodopensis

    82 Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus

    83 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria

    84 Wall Brown Lasiommata megera

    85 Northern Wall Brown Lasiommata petropolitana

    86 Large Wall Brown Lasiommata maera

    87 Nettle Tree butterfly Libythea celtis

    Moths

    1 a Clearwing Moth sp Chamaesphecia empiformis

    2 Red-tipped Clearwing Synanthedon formicaeformis

    3 Humming-bird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum

    4 Pine Hawk-moth Sphinx pinastri

    5 Convolvulus Hawk-moth Agrius convolvuli

    6 Zygaena angelicae

    7 Black Burnet Moth Zygaena ephialtes

    8 6-spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae

    9 Bloodword Burnet Moth Zygaena laeta

    10 Slender Scotch Burnet Zygaena loti

    11 Narrow-bordered 5-spot Burnet Zygaena lonicerae

    12 Common Forester Adscita statices

    13 Arctia flava

    14 Common Footman Eilerna lurideola

    15 Four Spotted Footman Lithosia quadra

    16 Calymma communimacula

    17 Snout Hypena proboscidalis

    18 Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata

    19 Light Emerald Campaea margaritata

    20 Brussels Lace Cleorodes lichenaria

    21 Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata

    22 Phoenix Eulithis prunata

    23 Small Emerald Hemistola chrysoprasaria

    24 The Fern Horisme tersata

    25 Small Waved Umber Horisme vitalbata

    26 Riband Wave Idaea aversata

    27 Bright Wave Idaea ochrata

    28 Least Carpet Idaea rusticate

    29 Treble Brown-spot Idaea trigeminata

    30 Scorched Carpet Ligdia adustata

    31 Purple-barred Yellow Lythria purpuraria

    32 Drab Looper Minoa murinata

    33 Speckled Yellow Pseudopanthera macularia

    34 Sub-angled Wave Scopula nigropunctata

    35 Tawny Wave Scopula rubiginata

    36 Shaded Broad Bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata

    37 Blood-vein Timandra comae

    38 Dark Arches Apameae monoglypha

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    July

    Common name Scientific name 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

    39 Silver Y Autographa gamma

    40 Toadflax Brocade Calophasia lunula

    41 Dunbar Cosmia trapezina

    42 Cryphia amasina

    43 Bird's Wing Dypterygia scabriuscula

    44 Earias vernana

    45 Purple Marbled Eublemma ostrina

    46 Beautiful Marbled Eublemma purpurina

    47 The Geometrician Grammodes stolida (=Prodotis)

    48 Brown-line Bright-eye Mythimna conigera

    49 The Four-spotted Tyto luctuosa

    50 Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana

    51 Horse-Chestnut Leaf miner Cameraria ohridella

    52 Rose Plume Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla

    53 Codling Cydia pomonella

    54 Emmelina monodactyla

    55 Ephelis cruentalis

    56 Thistle Ermine Myelois circumvoluta

    57 Meal Moth Pyralis farinalis

    58 Long-legged Tabby Synaphe punctalis

    59 Typhonia ciliaris

    60 Udea olivalis

    Dragonflies & Damselflies

    1 Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens

    2 Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo

    3 Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans

    4 Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura pumilio

    5 Small Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma viridulum

    6 White-legged Damselfly Platycnemis pennipes

    7 Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea

    8 Common Hawker Aeshna juncea

    9 Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator

    10 Small Pincertail Onychogomphus forcipatus

    11 Sombre Goldenring Cordulegaster bidentata

    12 White-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum albistylum

    13 Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum

    14 Keeled Skimmer Orthetrum coerulescens

    15 Southern Skimmer Orthetrum brunneum

    16 Banded Darter Sympetrum pedemontanum

    17 Yellow-winged Darter Sympetrum flaveolum

    18 Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombii

    19 Spotted Darter Sympetrum depressiusculum

    20 Scarlet Darter Crocothemis erythraea

    21 Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa

    22 Scarce Chaser Libellula fulva

    23 Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata

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    July

    Common name Scientific name 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

    Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)

    1 small mayfly sp.

    Neuroptera (Lacewings, Ant-lions etc)

    1 a green lacewing sp. Chrysoperla carnea agg.

    2 Large Mottle-winged Ant-lion Palpares libelluloides

    3 an Ant-lion sp. Creolon plumbeus

    4 Macaronius Owlfly Libelloides macaronius

    5 an Ant-lion sp. Myrmecaelurus trigrammus

    6 Bubopsis andromache

    Mecoptera (Scorpion Flies etc)

    1 a Scorpion Fly Panorpa germanica

    Dermaptera (Earwigs)

    1 Common Earwig Forficula auricularia

    Orthoptera (Grasshoppers & Crickets)

    1 Broughtonia arnoldi

    2 Bucephaloptera bucephala

    3 a bush-cricket sp Eupholidoptera smyrnensis

    4 a bush-cricket sp Poecilimon thoracicus.

    5 a bush-cricket sp Tylopsis lilifolia

    6 Slant-headed Grasshopper Acrida mediterranea

    7 Aiolopus thalassinus

    8 a grasshopper sp. Calliptamus barbarus

    9 Blue-winged Grasshopper Oedipoda caerulescens

    10 Woodland Grasshopper Omocestes rufipes

    11 a bush-cricket sp. Rhacocleis germanica

    12 Large Mountain Grasshopper Stauroderus scalaris

    13 a groundhopper sp Pezotettix giornae

    14 a groundhopper sp. Tetrix depressa (=Uvarovitettix)

    Dictyoptera (Mantids & Cockroaches)

    1 Praying Mantis Mantis religiosa

    Hemiptera (Bugs)

    1 Adelphocoris seticornis

    2 Adelphocoris vandalicus

    3 Bishop's Mitre Aelia acuminata

    4 Ancyrosoma leucogrammes

    5 [fam: Alydidae] Arocatus longiceps

    6 Beosus quadrimaculatus

    7 a Shieldbug sp Carpocoris mediterraneus

    8 Common Squash-bug / Dock Bug Coreus marginatus

    9 Plane Lacebug Corythucha ciliata

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    July

    Common name Scientific name 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

    10 Deraeoceris rutilus

    11 Hairy Shieldbug / Sloe Bug Dolycoris baccarum

    12 Brassica Bug Eurydema oleracea

    13 Ornate Shieldbug Eurydema ornata

    14 AC Milan Bug Graphosoma lineatum (= italicum)

    15 Lygaeus equestris

    16 Melanocoryphus albomaculatus

    17 Megalonotus emarginatus

    18 Metopoplax fuscinervis

    19 a very large Shieldbug sp Mustha spinosula

    20 Nysius senecionis

    21 a spotted Shieldbug sp Psacasta exanthematica

    22 Rhopalus parumpunctatus

    23 an Assassin Bug Rhynocoris punctiventris

    24 a Tortoise bug sp Sciocoris sp cf cursitans

    25 Pied Shieldbug Tritomegas bicolor (=Sehirus)

    26 Blue Shieldbug Zicrona caerulea

    27 a Cicada Cicada orni

    28 a 'froghopper' sp. Cicadella viridis

    29 Evacanthus interruptus

    30 Citrus Flatid Planthopper [fam: Flatidae] Metcalfa pruinosa

    31 Black Bean Aphid on Dog Daisy Aphis fabae

    32 Pink Tansy Aphid Metopeurum fuscoviride

    33 as gall on Ulmus sp Tetraneura nigriabdominalis

    Thysanoptera (Thrips)

    1 Dog Daisy Thrips Haplothrips leucanthemi

    Diptera (Two-winged Flies)

    1 a Horsefly sp. [fam: Tabanidae] Atylotus fulvus

    2 a Hoverfly [fam: Syrphidae] Chrysotoxum festivum

    3 a red & black Tachinid fly Cylindromyia sp ?

    4 Marmalade Fly Episyrphus balteatus

    5 a hoverfly sp. [fam: Syrphidae] Eristales pertinax

    6 Drone-fly [fam: Syrphidae] Eristales tenax

    7 as gall on Fagus sylvatica Hartigiola annulipes

    8 a Horsefly sp. [fam: Tabanidae] Hybomitra caucasica

    9 Chloropid fly as gall on Phragmites Lipara lucens

    10 as gall on Fagus sylvatica Mikiola fagi

    11 a picturewing fly [Tephritidae] Oxyna flavipennis

    12 [fam: Tachinidae] Phasia hemiptera

    13 a Horsefly sp. [fam: Tabanidae] Philipomyia aprica

    14 Pied Hoverfly Scaeva pyrastri

    15 Band-eyed Brown Horsefly Tabanus bromius

    16 Downland Horsefly Tabanus glaucopis

    17 a Horsefly sp. [fam: Tabanidae] Tabanus tergestinus

    18 [fam: Tachinidae] Tachina fera

    19 a cranefly sp [Tipulidae] Tipula montana / scripta

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    July

    Common name Scientific name 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

    20 a Hoverfly [fam: Syrphidae] Volucella inanis

    21 a Hoverfly [fam: Syrphidae] Volucella pellucens

    Hymenoptera (Bees, Wasps etc)

    1 a Potter Wasp sp. Ancistrocerus cf gazelle

    2 Honey Bee Apis mellifera

    3 Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidaries

    4 Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

    5 a large ant species Cremogaster scutellaris

    6 a Spider-hunting Wasp sp. [fam: Pompilidae] Cryptocheilus alternatus

    7 Pea-gall on Rosa sp Diplolepis nervosa

    8 as Robin's Pincushion Gall Diplolepis rosae

    9 a Potter Wasp sp. Eumenes sp.

    10 as larval gall on Salix Eupontania viminalis

    11 Wood Ant Formica sp

    12 Black Garden Ant Lasius niger

    13 Mammoth Wasp [fam:Scoliidae] Megascolia flavifrons

    14 a sawfly sp. Tenthredo zonula

    15 Violet Carpenter Bee Xylocopa violacea

    Coleoptera (Beetles)

    1 Green Tiger Beetle Cicindela campestris

    2 Ditomus (=Dixus) obscurus

    3 Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus

    4 7-Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata

    5 Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata

    6 Capnodis tenebricosa

    7 Capnodis tenebrionis

    8 Rose Chafer Cetonia aurata

    9 Geotrupes stercorarius

    10 Cetonia cuprea

    11 Bee Chafer Trichius fasciatus

    12 a flower chafer Oxythyrea funesta

    13 a chafer Amphmallon sp. cf. majale

    14 Trichodes apiarius

    15 Trichodes crabroniformis

    16 Common Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva

    17 [fam: Meloidae] Oenas crassicornis

    18 Mint Leaf Beetle [ fam: Chrysomelidae] Chrysolina menthastri

    19 Clytra laeviuscula

    20 Clytra quadripunctata

    21 a longhorn beetle sp [Cerambycidae] Anastrangalia sanguinolenta

    22 a longhorn beetle sp [Cerambycidae] Axinopalpus gracilis

    23 a longhorn beetle sp [Cerambycidae] Chlorophorus varius

    24 a longhorn beetle sp [Cerambycidae] Monochamus galloprovincialis

    25 a longhorn beetle sp [Cerambycidae] Pachytodes cerambyciformis

    26 a longhorn beetle sp [Cerambycidae] Purpuricenus budensis

    27 a longhorn beetle sp [Cerambycidae] Rutpela (=Strangalia) maculata

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    July

    Common name Scientific name 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

    28 a longhorn beetle sp [Cerambycidae] Stenurella semipunctata

    29 a longhorn beetle sp [Cerambycidae] Stictoleptura rubra

    30 a large weevil sp. Lixus sp cf angustatus/ algira

    Arachnida (Spiders etc)

    1 Oak Spider Aculepeira ceropegia

    2 a funnel-web spider Agalena labyrinthica

    3 Garden Spider Araneus diadematus

    4 Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi

    5 Yellow Sac Spider Cheiracanthium sp.

    6 a crab spider Misumenia vatia

    7 Nursery-web Spider Pisaura mirabilis

    8 Thomisus onustus

    9 a harvestman sp Dicranopalpus ramosus

    10 a harvestman sp Phalangium opilio

    11 a scorpion sp Euscorpius solegladi

    12 as galls with mites on Walnut lvs Aceria erinea

    13 as galls with mites on Sycamore Aceria macrorhyncha

    14 as gall on Alnus glutinosa Aceria nalepai

    15 as gall on Vitis vinifera Colomeris vitis

    16 as gall on Alnus glutinosa Eriophyes laevis

    17 as gall on Celtis australis Reckella celtis

    Myriapoda (Millipedes & Centipedes)

    1 Mediterranean Banded Centipede Scolopendra cingulata

    Mollusca (Snails, slugs etc.)

    1 Cepaea vindabonensis

    2 a Snail sp. Helix lucorum

    3 Zebrina detrita

    Plants

    Scientific Name Common Name Date(s) / location

    PTERIDOPHYTES

    Equisetum arvense Common Horsetail 17; 20; 24;

    Equisetum palustre Marsh Horsetail 24;

    Botrychium lunaria Moonwort 22;

    Asplenium rutamuraria Wall-rue 21;

    Asplenium septentrionale Forked Spleenwort 18; 23;

    Asplenium trichomanes Maidenhair Spleenwort 17;

    Athyrium filix-foemina Lady Fern 20; 22;

    Cystopteris fragilis Brittle Bladder Fern 22; 23;

    Dryopteris filix-mas Male Fern 22;

    Gymnocarpium dryopteris Oak Fern 22;

    Polypodium vulgare Common Polypody 21;

    Polystichum lonchitis Holly Fern 22;

    Pteridium aquilinum Bracken 20; 22; 23;

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    Scientific Name Common Name Date(s) / location

    GYMNOSPERMS Conifers and Allies

    Abies borisii-regis 20;

    Picea abies Norway Spruce 20; 23;

    Pinus leucodermis (inc P.heldreichii) Bosnian Pine 22; 23;

    Pinus mugo Dwarf Mountain-pine 22;

    Pinus nigra Black Pine 20;

    Pinus peuce Macedonian Pine 23;

    Pinus sylvestris Scot's Pine 17; 20;

    Cupressus sempervirens Mediterranean Cypress 18;

    Juniperus communis Juniper 20;

    Juniperus sibirica 22;

    Juniperus excelsa Greek Juniper 19;

    ANGIOSPERMS Flowering Plants

    Aceraceae Maple family

    Acer campestre Field Maple 18;

    Acer platanoides Norway Maple 20;

    Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore 17; 18

    Acer tataricum 18;

    Anacardiaceae

    Cotinus coggygria Smoke Tree 21;

    Rhus typhina Stag's-horn Sumach 17; 18

    Apiaceae Carrot family

    Bupleurum sibthorpianum (=falcatum) Sickle-leaf Hare's-ear 19; 23;

    Daucus carota Wild Carrot 17; 18

    Eryngium campestre Field Eryngo 17; 18

    Heracleum sibiricum Siberian Hogweed 21;

    Ligusticum mutellina Alpine Lovage 22;

    Pastinaca sativa Wild Parsnip 17; 21;

    Sanicula europaea Sanicle 21;

    Araliaceae

    Hedera helix Ivy 18;

    Asclepiadaceae

    Cynanchum acutum Stranglewort 18;

    Periploca graeca Silk Vine 19;

    Asteraceae Daisy family

    Achillea millefolium Yarrow 17; 18

    Achillea clypeolata 18;

    Achillea coarctata 18;

    Achillea crithmifolia 17;

    Arctium minus Lesser Burdock 17; 23;

    Arnica montana Arnica 22;

    Artemisia absinthium Common Wormwood 18, 19; 20;

    Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort 17; 18; 21;

    Calendula officinalis Pot Marigold 18;

    Carduus scardicus (=kerneri) 20; 21;

    Centaurea calcitrapa Red Star Thistle 20;

    Centaurea nervosa 22;

    Centaurea rutifolia 17; 18; 19;

    Centaurea salonitana var. macrantha 18;

    Centaurea solstitialis St Barnaby's Thistle 17; 18;

    Chondrilla juncea Skeletonweed 17, 19;

    Cichorium intybus Chicory 17; 18;

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    Scientific Name Common Name Date(s) / location

    Cirsium candelabrum Candelabra Thistle 20;

    Cirsium ligulare 20;

    Conyza canadensis Canadian Fleabane 20;

    Doronicum austriacum Austrian Leopard's-bane 22;

    Echinops bannaticus Blue Globe-thistle 18;

    Echinops sphaerocephalus Pale Globe-thistle 18;

    Erigeron acer Blue Fleabane 20; 23;

    Erigeron annuus Annual Fleabane 18; 20;

    Erigeron atticus Greek Fleabane 23;

    Eupatorium cannabinum Hemp Agrimony 21;

    Hieracium sp. Woolly Hawkweed 23;

    Lactuca serriola Prickly Lettuce 18; 20;

    Lapsana communis Nipplewort 18;

    Leucanthemum vulgare Ox-eye Daisy 23;

    Matricaria discoidea Pineapple Mayweed 23;

    Mycelis muralis Wall Lettuce 20; 21;

    Pilosella officinarum (Hieracium pilosella) Mouse-ear Hawkweed 17; 22;

    Prenathes purpurea 21;

    Scolymus hispanicus Spanish Oyster Thistle 18;

    Scorzonera purpurea (inc ssp. rosea) 23;

    Senecio glaberrimus 22;

    Senecio hercynicus 21;

    Sonchus oleraceus Smooth Sowthistle 18;

    Tanacetum corymbosum 20;

    Tanacetum macrophyllum 21;

    Tanacetum vulgare Tansy 17; 20;

    Taraxacum officinale agg. Dandelion 17; 18;

    Telekia speciosa Heart-leaved Ox-eye 21; 23;

    Tragopogon crocifolius 22;

    Tripleurospermum inodorum Scentless Mayweed 23;

    Tussilago farfara Coltsfoot 20; 23;

    Xeranthemum annuum Pink Everlasting 17; 18;

    Balsaminaceae Balsam family

    Impatiens glandulifera Himalayan Balsam 18;

    Betulaceae Birch family

    Alnus glutinosa Alder 18; 19; 23;

    Betula pendula Silver Birch 19; 20;

    Bignoniaceae

    Catalpa bignonioides Indian Bean Tree 19;

    Boraginaceae Borage family

    Anchusa officinalis Common Bugloss 18; 24;

    Buglossoides (Lithospermum) arvensis Field Gromwell 18;

    Echium vulgare Viper's Bugloss 17; 18; 24;

    Echium italicum Italian Viper's Bugloss 18;

    Heliotropium europaeum European Heliotrope 18;

    Myosotis alpestris Alpine Wood forget-me-not 22;

    Myosotis arvensis Field Forget-me-not 20;

    Myosotis scorpioides Water Forget-me-not 21;

    Brassicaceae

    Barbarea bracteosa 21;

    Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherds Purse 17;

    Cardamine rivularis 22;

    Rorippa lippizensis 22;

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    Scientific Name Common Name Date(s) / location

    Sisymbrium officinale Hedge Mustard 20;

    Subularia aquatica Awlwort 22;

    Buddleiaceae

    Buddleia davidii Buddleia 17; 18;

    Campanulaceae Bellflower family

    Asyneuma canescens 23;

    Campanula alpina Alpine Bellflower 22;

    Campanula glomerata Clustered Bellflower 22; 23;

    Campanula lingulata 23;

    Campanula moesiaca 21;

    Campanula patula (inc C.abietina) Spreading Bellflower 20; 22;

    Campanula persicifolia Peach-leaved Bellflower 21; 23;

    Campanula scutellata 18; 20;

    Campanula trachelium Nettle-leaved Bellflower 17; 18; 20;

    Jasione montana Sheepsbit Scabious 18;

    Jasione bulgarica Bulgarian Sheep's-bit 22;

    Cannabiaceae Hemp family

    Celtis australis Nettle Tree 19;

    Humulus lupulus Hop 20;

    Caprifoliaceae Honeysuckle family

    Sambucus ebulus Dwarf Elder / Danewort 17; 18;

    Sambucus nigra Elder 17; 18;

    Sambucus racemosa Red-berried Elder 21;

    Caryophyllaceae Pink family

    Arenaria biflora Two-flowered Sandwort 22;

    Cerastium alpinum Alpine Stitchwort 22;

    Dianthus gigantaeformis (=pontederae) Tall Pink 23;

    Dianthus gracilis 17; 20;

    Dianthus microlepis 22;

    Dianthus petraeus 23;

    Dianthus pinifolius Pine-leaved Pink 19;

    Gypsophila paniculata

    19;

    Lychnis flos-cuculi Ragged Robin 22;

    Petrorhagia velutina (Kohlrauschia) Childing Pink 17; 18;

    Sagina procumbens Procumbent Pearlwort 18;

    Saponaria officinalis Soapwort 17; 18; 23;

    Scleranthus perennis Perennial Knawel 22;

    Silene alba White Campion 21;

    Silene armeria Sweet Wiliam Catchfly 22;

    Silene nutans Nottingham Catchfly 23;

    Silene pusilla 23;

    Silene roemeri 17;

    Silene vulgaris Bladder Campion 20; 22;

    Stellaria graminea Lesser Stitchwort 20;

    Chenopodiaceae Goosefoot family

    Chenopodium album Fat Hen 18;

    Chenopodium bonus-henricus Good King Henry 21;

    Cistaceae Rockrose family

    Helianthemum nummularium Common Rockrose 23;

    Convolvulaceae Bindweed family

    Calystegia sepium Hedge Bindweed 18;

    Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed 17; 18;

    Cuscuta campestris a Dodder 18;

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    Scientific Name Common Name Date(s) / location

    Cuscuta europaea Greater Dodder (on Urtica dioica) 23;

    Cornaceae

    Cornus mas Cornelian Cherry 18;

    Cornus sanguineus Dogwood 18;

    Corylaceae

    Corylus avellana Hazel 17; 21;

    Ostrya carpinifolia Hop Hornbeam 19;

    Crassulaceae Stonecrop family

    Jovibarba heuffelii a Houseleek 19;

    Sedum acre Biting Stonecrop 23;

    Sedum album White Stonecrop 21;

    Sedum alpestre Alpine Stonecrop 22;

    Sedum grisebachii 23;

    Sedum hispanicum 23;

    Sedum ochroleucum Creamish Stonecrop 23;

    Dipsacaceae Teasel family

    Dipsacus laciniatus Cut-leaved Teasel 20;

    Knautia midzorensis 20;

    Scabiosa argentea 19;

    Scabiosa lucida Shining Scabious 20; 21; 22;

    Ericaceae Heather family

    Bruckenthalia spiculifolia 22;

    Vaccinium myrtillus Bilberry 22;

    Euphorbiaceae Spurge family

    Euphorbia amygdaloides Wood Spurge 21; 23;

    Euphorbia cyparissias Cypress Spurge 17; 20;

    Euphorbia myrsinites Glaucous Spurge 18;

    Euphorbia serrulata Upright Spurge 20;

    Ricinus communis Castor Oil roadsides

    Fabaceae Pea family

    Amorpha fruticosa Bastard Indigo Bush 19;

    Astragalus onobrychis 17;

    Chamaecytisus absinthioides 21;

    Chamaecytisus hirsutus Hairy Broom 22;

    Colutea arborescens Bladder Senna 19;

    Coronilla varia (Securigera) Crown Vetch 21; 23;

    Dorycnium pentaphyllum Canary Clover 23;

    Genista tinctoria (inc. campestris) Dyer’s Greenweed 22;

    Laburnum anagyroides Laburnum 19;

    Lotus angustissimus Slender Bird's-foot Trefoil 22;

    Lotus corniculatus Bird's-foot Trefoil 18;

    Lotus pedunculatus (=uliginosus) Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil 23;

    Medicago lupulina Black Medick 17;

    Medicago sativa Lucerne 17; 18;

    Melilotus albus White Melilot 17; 18;

    Onobrychis montana Mountain Sainfoin 23;

    Ononis spinosa Spiny Restharrow 18;

    Psoralea (Bituminaria) bituminosa Pitch Trefoil 22;

    Robinia pseudoacacia False Acacia 17; 18;

    Trifolium arvense Haresfoot Clover 17; 18; 24;

    Trifolium badium 21;

    Trifolium campestre Hop Trefoil 17;

    Trifolium hybridum Alsike Clover 20;

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    Scientific Name Common Name Date(s) / location

    Trifolium incarnatum Crimson Clover 19;

    Trifolium pratense Red Clover 20;

    Trifolium repens White Clover 18; 21;

    Vicia hybrid Hairy Yellow Vetch 17;

    Fagaceae

    Fagus sylvatica Beech 20;

    Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak 18;

    Gentianaceae Gentian family

    Gentiana cruciata Cross Gentian 20;

    Gentiana pyrenaica Pyrenean Gentian 22;

    Geraniaceae Geranium family

    Erodium cicutarium Common Storksbill 17;

    Geranium macrorrhizum Rock Cranesbill 18; 22;

    Geranium phaeum Dusky Cransebill 21;

    Geranium pyrenaicum Hedgerow Cransebill 20;

    Geranium robertianum Herb Robert 21;

    Geranium sanguineum Bloody Cranesbill 21;

    Geranium sylvaticum Wood Cranesbill 21; 22;

    Grossulariaceae Currant family

    Ribes uva-crispum Gooseberry 21;

    Hippocastanaceae

    Aesculus hippocastanum Horse Chestnut 20;

    Hypericaceae (Guttiferae) St John's-wort family

    Hypericum tetrapterum Square-stalked St John's-wort 17;

    Juglandaceae Walnut family

    Juglans regia Walnut 17; 18

    Lamiaceae Mint family

    Acinos alpines Alpine Calamint 21; 22;

    Acinos arvensis Basil Thyme 23;

    Ballota nigra Black Horehound 17; 18;

    Clinopodium vulgare Wild Basil 17; 21;

    Galeopsis tetrahit Common Hemp Nettle 17;

    Lamium garganicum Large Red Dead-nettle 23;

    Lamium purpureum Red Dead-nettle 17; 18;

    Lycopus europaeus Gipsywort 24;

    Marrubium peregrinum 17, 18; 19;

    Melissa officinalis Balm 20;

    Mentha aquatic Water Mint 20; 24;

    Mentha longifolia Horsemint 20;

    Mentha pulegium Pennyroyal 20;

    Mentha spicata Spear Mint 20;

    Nepeta pannonica 20; 22; 23;

    Origanum vulgare Marjoram 20;

    Prunella laciniata Cut-leaved Self-heal 20;

    Prunella vulgaris Self-heal 18; 20;

    Scutellaria alpina Alpine Skullcap 23;

    Scutellaria galericulata Skullcap 24;

    Stachys palustris Marsh Woundwort 20;

    Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort 20

    Teucrium chamaedrys Wall Germander 23;

    Teucrium montanum Mountain Germander 23;

    Thymus pulegioides Large Wild Thyme 17;

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    Scientific Name Common Name Date(s) / location

    Lentibulariaceae Butterwort family

    Pinguicula bulcanica Balkan Butterwort 22 (nf);

    Lythraceae Loosestrife family

    Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife 18; 24;

    Malvaceae Mallow family

    Alcea rosea Hollyhock 22;

    Althaea officinalis Marsh Mallow 18;

    Lavatera thuringiaca 18;

    Malva sylvestris Common Mallow 18;

    Moraceae Mulberry family

    Ficus carica Fig 17; 18;

    Morus alba White Mulberry 20

    Oleaceae Olive family

    Fraxinus angustifolia Narrow-leaved Ash 18;

    Fraxinus excelsior Ash 19;

    Ligustrum vulgare Wild Privet 23;

    Syringa vulgaris Common Lilac 18;

    Onagraceae Willowherb family

    Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay Willowherb 20;

    Epilobium alpestre Alpine Willowherb 22;

    Epilobium cilatum American Willowhern 22;

    Epilobium hirsutum Great Willowherb 24;

    Epilobium montanum Broad-leaved Willowherb 20;

    Oxalidaceae

    Oxalis corniculata Procumbent Yellow Sorrel 18;

    Papaveraceae Poppy family

    Chelidonium majus Greater Celandine 18;

    Papaver rhoeas Common Poppy 18;

    Parnassiaceae

    Parnassia palustris Grass of Parnassus 23;

    Plantaginaceae

    Plantago coronopus Buckshorn Plantain 18;

    Plantago gentianoides 22;

    Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain 20;

    Plantago major Greater Plantain 18;

    Platanaceae Plane family

    Platanus orientalis Oriental Plane 17; 18; 19;

    Polygalaceae Milkwort family

    Polygala major Large Milkwort 23;

    Polygala vulgaris Common Milkwort 20;

    Polygonaceae Dock family

    Persicaria hydropiper Water Pepper 20;

    Polygonum aviculare Knotgrass 17; 18;

    Persicaria maculosa Redshank 19;

    Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel 17; 21;

    Rumex acetosella Sheep Sorrel 21;

    Rumex alpines Monk's Rhubarb 22;

    Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved Dock 21;

    Portulacaceae

    Portulaca oleracea Yellow Purslane 20;

    Primulaceae Primrose family

    Anagallis arvensis Scarlet Pimpernel 19;

    Lysimachia nummularia Creeping Jenny 20;

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    Scientific Name Common Name Date(s) / location

    Ranunculaceae Buttercup family

    Clematis vitalba Traveller's Joy 17; 18; 19; 24;

    Consolida regalis Forking Larkspur 18; 19;

    Delphinium balcanicum 18;

    Delphinium peregrinum Violet Larkspur 19;

    Nigella elata 19; 21;

    Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup 21;

    Ranunculus montanus 22;

    Ranunculus scleratus Celery-leaved Buttercup 20;

    Thalictrum flavum Common Meadow Rue 23;

    Rhamnaceae Buckthorn family

    Frangula alnus Alder Buckthorn 23;

    Paliurus spina-christi Christ's Thorn 18; 19;

    Rosaceae Rose family

    Agrimonia eupatoria Agrimony 18; 24;

    Alchemilla mollis agg. Lady's Mantle 20;

    Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn 17; 18

    Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet 22; 23;

    Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry 20; 21;

    Geum coccineum Red Avens 22;

    Geum montanum Alpine Avens 22;

    Geum rivale Water Avens 22;

    Geum urbanum Wood Avens 22;

    Malus domestica Apple 18;

    Potentilla aurea Golden Cinquefoil 22;

    Potentilla cinerea Grey Cinquefoil 17; 20;

    Potentilla crantzii Alpine Cinquefoil 22;

    Potentilla erecta Tormentil 20; 23;

    Potentilla regis-borisii 21;

    Potentilla reptans Creeping Cinquefoil 20; 24;

    Prunus domestica Wild Plum 18;

    Prunus persica Peach 17;

    Prunus spinosa Blackthorn 18;

    Rosa pendulina (=alpina) Alpine Rose 23;

    Rubus caesius Dewberry 20;

    Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble 17; 18;

    Rubus idaeus Wild Raspberry 21; 22;

    Sanguisorba minor Salad Burnet 17;

    Sorbus aucuparia Rowan 21; 23;

    Rubiaceae Bedstraw family

    Asperula aristata

    23;

    Asperula cynanchica Squinancywort 22;

    Cruciata glabra Glabrous Crosswort 23;

    Cruciata laevipes Crosswort 21;

    Galium anisophyllon 22;

    Galium uliginosum Fen Bedstraw 20;

    Galium verum Lady's Bedstraw 17; 18; 20;

    Gallium odoratum Woodruff 21;

    Salicaceae Willow family

    Populus alba White Poplar 18;

    Populus nigra Black Poplar 19;

    Populus tremula Aspen 21;

    Salix alba White Willow 17; 24;

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    Scientific Name Common Name Date(s) / location

    Salix caprea Goat Willow 21;

    Salix cinerea Grey Willow 21;

    Salix elaeagnos Rosemary Willow 23;

    Salix fragilis Crack Willow 19;

    Santalaceae

    Thesium bavarum Bavarian Bastard Toadflax 22;

    Saxifragaceae Saxifrage family

    Saxifraga rotundifolia Round-leaved Saxifrage 22;

    Saxifraga stellaris Starry Saxifrage 22;

    Scrophulariaceae (now Plantaginaceae) Figwort family

    Antirrhinum majus Snapdragon 18;

    Cymbalaria muralis Ivy-leaved Toadflax 18;

    Digitalis viridiflora Green-flowered Foxglove 21; 23;

    Euphrasia minima Dwarf Eyebright 22;

    Euphrasia officinalis agg. Eyebright 20; 22;

    Linaria genistifolia Dalmation Toadflax 17; 18;

    Melampyrum nemorosum Wood Cowwheat 21;

    Odontites verna Red Bartsia 23;

    Rhinanthus javorkae Hay Rattle 20;

    Rhinanthus minor Yellow Rattle 20; 21;

    Rhinanthus rumelicus 23;

    Scrophularia auriculata Water Figwort 21;

    Scrophularia nodosa Common Figwort 21;

    Scrophularia scopolii Italian Figwort 22;

    Verbascum longifolium inc ssp pannosum 19;

    Verbascum nigrum Dark Mullein 18;

    Verbascum sinuatum Wavy-leaf Mullein 18;

    Verbascum speciosum 18;

    Verbascum thapsus Great Mullein 18; 20;

    Veronica beccabunga Brooklime 20;

    Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell 17;

    Solanaceae Nightshade family

    Datura stramonium Thorn Apple 18;

    Solanum nigrum Black Nightshade 18;

    Tiliaceae

    Tilia x vulgaris Common Lime 19; 20;

    Thymelaeaceae Daphne family

    Daphne cneorum Galand Flower 23 fr;

    Daphne oleoides

    23;

    Ulmaceae

    Ulmus minor Small-leaved Elm 18;

    Urticacae Nettle family

    Parietaria judaica Pellitory of the Wall 19;

    Urtica dioica Stinging Nettle 18;

    Valerianaceae

    Centranthus ruber Red Valerian 17; 18;

    Valeriana officinalis Common Valerian 20;

    Verbenaceae

    Verbena officinalis Vervain 18;

    Violaceae

    Viola arvensis Field Pansy 18;

    Viola biflora Yellow Wood Violet 22;

    Viola tricolor Heartsease 20; 23;

  • Bulgaria in Summer Tour Report

    © Naturetrek April 18 29

    Scientific Name Com