The flora and fauna of Gdańsk and Pomerania

SPRING

Bellis perennisIt is a common European species ofdaisy. Many plants also share the name „daisy”, so to distinguish this species from other plants, this plant is sometimes qualified as a common daisy or lawn daisy.It is a small plant with rosetted leaves growing flat to the ground and small flower heads with white petals and yellow center.

Anemone nemorosa (in Polish: zawilec gajowy)

It’s early spring flowering plant. Its common names are: wood anemone, windflower and smell fox – an allusion to the smell of leaves.Anemone is a perennial plant, growing from 5 to 15 cm tall.

Common toad (in Polish: ropucha szara)

The toad is an inconspicuous animal as it usually lies hidden during the day. It becomes active at dusk and spends the night hunting for the invertebrates on which it feeds. It moves with a slow ungainly walk or short jumps and has grey or brown skin covered with warts.

Mallard (in Polish: kaczka krzyżówka)

The male birds have a glossy green head and they are grey on wings and belly, while the females have brown-speckled plumage. Mallards live in wetlands, eat water plants and small animals. This species is the ancestor of most breeds of domestic ducks.

Red squirrel (in Polish: wiewiórka pospolita)

White Stork(in Polish: bocian biały)

Is a large bird in the stork family. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on its wings. Adults have long red legs and long red beaks, and measure on average 100–115 cm. The White Stork is a long-distance migrant, wintering in Africa from tropical Sub-Saharan Africa to as far south as South Africa, or on the Indian subcontinent. When migrating between Europe and Africa, it avoids crossing the Mediterranean Sea and detours via the Levant in the east or the Strait of Gibraltar in the west, because the air thermals on which it depends do not form over water.

SUMMER

Fallow deer(in Polish: daniel zwyczajny)

The fallow deer is a ruminant mammal belonging to the family Cervidae. This common species is native to western Eurasia, but has been introduced widely elsewhere. In Poland rare in the wild.

European hornet(in Polish: szerszeń europejski)

The European hornet commonly known simply as the "hornet", is the largest European eusocial wasp. The queen measures 25 to 50 mm long; males and workers are smaller.This species will sting in response to being stepped on or grabbed. They are also defensive of their hive and rather aggressive around food sources such as lilac bushes. Care should be taken when encountered in these circumstances as they may sting without warning. The pain from the sting may persist for several days.

Other insects…

AUTUMN

Achillea millefolium(Common yarrow)(in Polish: krwawnik pospolity)

Trifolium pratense(red clover)(in Polish: koniczyna łąkowa)

It is perennial plant, growing 20–80 cm tall. The leaves are trifoliate (with three leaflets), each leaflet 15–30 mm long and 8–15 mm broad, green with a characteristic pale crescent in the outer half of the leaf. The flowers are dark pink, 12–15 mm long.

WINTER

Grey seal(in Polish: foka szara)

It is a large seal, with males reaching 2.5–3.3 m long and weighing 170–310 kg; females are much smaller, typically 1.6–2.0 m long and 100–190 kg in weight. Males are generally darker than females, with lighter patches and often scarring around the neck. Females are silver grey to brown with dark patches. They are threatened with extinction. This view is very rare.

Seals in the Seal Centre in Hel

On Gdańsk’s beaches live also other animals… :)

THE END :)