Birds of Prey in Slovenia

by: Ruud van der Helm

Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

In the morning of July 7th, 1997, there was abird sitting on one of the telephone piles near our camping sit (Velike Bloke, Dom Pod Liscem). In the area a lot of Buzzards (Buteo buteo) were present, so at first no real attention was paid to this bird. Once having found my binoculars the bird did not resemble a buzzard at all. Its dark brown colour was spread over his body and it had arather small and kind head. The bird was undoubtedly a Black Kite. After having sat there for more than a quarter of an hour, we left the bird alone and it vanished later in an unknown direction. The bird did not return during the two following weeks. It was a suprise for me to hear this species is that kind ofrarae in Slovenia, because at the northern side of the alps it is one of the most common and widespread birds of prey. During our travel from the Netherlands to Slovenia we saw more then ten Black Kites in Germany.

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Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)

In the early morning of July 6th, 1997 we arrived at Velike Bloke (Dom Pod Liscem). At about 8 a.m. a bird of prey was flying towards us from the west. Ti did not come very near, but near enough to distinguish, it was not a common buzzard (Buteo buteo) or any other common species resembling this one. It was arather large bird. The underside of the bird was rather pale and spotted and its head and neck were darker. The bird lacked the dark spots in the wing angle (which can be seen by almost every Buzzard). It did also not have the more or less darker areas on the belly, which is often seen on very pale Buzzards. The Short-toed Eagle, as the conclusion was, prayed without success in the area and after that the bird flew away in north-eastern direction.

 

Dear Slavo.

I recieved an e-mail from Andre Hopsper with the request from you for detailed information of some sighting during a JNM camp in 1997. I can , unfortunately, only give you more information on 2 sightings; the Black-crowned Night Heron and the Orphean Warbler.The night heron was seen during an excursion into the marshes nearby the camp site. It was in adult plumage, no strange plumage features noticed. It flew only short distances.Maarten de Groot took one photograph, but I have no idea about the quality. The Oprhean Warbler has been seen on the camp site. It gave rather good views. I know that this is a rather out of range sighting, so I made a description and identification which i send to the slovenian rarity committee. unfortunately.

Regards,

Thor Veen

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Observation of Sylvia hortensis (Orphean Warbler)

Description and identification of warbler seen at Velike Bloke plateau on 7 July 1997

Thor Veen

General impression: a robust warbler, with a Hippolais like forehead. The large bill and heavy built body were very obvious (more heavy then, for instance, Lesser Whitethroat). The contrasting white throat reminded of a Sylvia. Looked rather long-tailed. Behaviour atypical for most Sylvia species.

Head: greyish head which sharply contrasts with clear white throat. Grey of head gradually changing to brown back. A interrupted faint off-white eye-ring.

Upperparts: the upperparts had a light brown colour. No clear markings on the upperparts (wing edges seemed to have no distinct contrasting pattern). Primary projecton looked small, but this feature couldn't be seen clearly. The underwing showed no distinct markings (underwing seen only shortly and under bad conditions during feeding).

Underparts: the breast, belly and flank had a grubby brown-whitish colour, contrasting with the clear white throat. There was a gradual colour change between throat and breast.

Tail: tail colour brown, no contrast with the upperparts. The tail looked long and of parallel shape. During feeding the end of the tail seemed to have a slightly rounded shape.

Bare parts: legs grey. Bill looked dark-grey. The bill was heavy built and didn't have the rather fine and small shape of most smaller Sylvia species. Not sure about the eye colour, but probably dark.

Behaviour: feeding acrobatic in open, free standing pine trees. The bird was actively feeding on a height of approximately 4 to 5 m. Made a rather tame impression. Flew away to other pine trees further away.

Nightheron at Velike Bloke 1997 (Nycticorax nyctixorax)
by Maarten de Groot

On the 10th of july an excursion of three persons went to Velike Bloke. When we were walked near a small marsh forest next to the stream, Blosisca, a small black and white heron was alarmed and flew away. The bird flew for 50 m and sat down on a dead branch. On this site we could have a good observation of the heron. The identification was very easily and we determined it as an adult Nightheron. Because of the late observation and the yellow leggs (summerplumage has pink leggs) we could conclude it didn’t breed. After an houre we made some pictures of it and left the Nightheron alone. It vanished in unknown direction. The following week the Nightheron wasn’t seen anymore. Later I heared this was the first observation of a Nightheron on Bloke and one of the highest observations of this bird in Slovenia. In the Cerknica-lake-area the Nightheron is a accidental visitor, so it is possible the bird came from this area.

Maarten de Groot