Bats of Central Europe, Hungary & Slovakia

5th – 11th July 2008

Report of a Travelling Naturalist tour to Hungary and Slovakia

Leaders / Guides
Sandor Boldogh, Ecotours, Hungary
Keith Grant, Travelling Naturalist
Stefan Matis, Ecotours, Slovakia

DAILY DIARY
Saturday 5th July
Arrival, travel to Josvafo
Generally hot & sunny, some light showers
A delay at Heathrow was largely made up by the time we reached Budapest, and having collected our baggage, we made our way out to find Sandor, our guide for the week, and Roland, who had flown in from Paris, waiting for us. We loaded the trailer and were quickly on our way, heading north-east out of the city. Once on the motorway, we stopped after an hour or so for coffee and a snack lunch. Here
the occasional Crested Lark flew over and we saw Kestrel, several Buzzards and at least one Marsh Harrier en route. Once beyond Miskolc, White Storks began appearing, their huge nests often with two or three well-grown youngsters standing around. We stopped again to view a sandy cliff face alongside the road, which had a sizeable Sand Martin colony and at least 10 Bee-eaters in residence. As a shower
began, we moved on to enter the Aggtelek National Park and to Josvafo where we were to stay for the next three nights. We quickly settled in to our rooms and then gathered outside again for the few minutes drive to a nearby restaurant where dinner was laid out for us on the terrace overlooking the forest. After dinner we took about a half hour’s drive to the entrance of a cave system in an old opencast mine working. Even as we arrived, we could see bats emerging and once we had settled down near
the entrance, we quickly became surrounded by Mediterranean Horseshoe Bats. We probably saw several hundreds by the time we decided to call a halt – an amazing start to our trip!

Sunday 6th July
Szinpetri, Tornakapolna, Bodvarako Mine, Viszlo
Generally hot & sunny
We gathered for breakfast at 9am, again taking the short drive up the hill to the restaurant. Scarce Swallowtails and Silver-washed Fritillaries were much in evidence, and a single High Brown Fritillary was also photographed. A Hummingbird Hawk Moth was exploring the Pelargoniums in the pots along the terrace railings, and both White Wagtails and Black Redstarts were busy feeding on and around the pines.
After breakfast, we started our explorations and the first church we entered, we climbed carefully up into the loft space. Here, about 120 Greater Horseshoe Bats were in residence with several Geoffroy’s Bats. The second church was not accessible for us, but Sandor did his ‘monkey-act’ up through the hatch and found a small number of Geoffroy’s Bats. Outside at a damp spot near where we had parked, good numbers of Clouded Yellows, a Scarce Swallowtail and a couple of Blues had gathered, whilst
nearby a Lesser Purple Emperor was found. We then drove to the entrance of the Bodvarako Mine, managed coffee and biscuits before donning hard hats and walking into the hillside. This was an incredible experience with the long shallowly descending man-made shaft suddenly meeting a wonderful natural cave system. Using the steps and ladders provided, we explored those chambers which were lit and were accessible. Returning to the surface, we found both Scarce and Sooty Coppers
in the sunshine immediately outside the mine entrance, and as we walked back to the vehicle, a Woodland Grayling was found. We drove on then to the final church of the day, having our picnic lunch in the shade of the pines. Here we again could access the loft space where, despite a huge accumulation of droppings in certain places, we found only small numbers of Lesser Horseshoe Bats and several further Geoffroy’s Bats. We had very close views of several of the Lesser Horseshoes in the bell tower before leaving and heading back to Josvafo for around 4:30pm. This allowed us some
free time before heading up to the restaurant for our 6pm dinner. With dinner consumed and the checklist completed, we headed out for a mist-netting session at a nearby pool. This was a timed session and formed part of a long-term study monitoring the numbers and species & sex composition of the bats using this site. On this occasion, very few were caught, though we could detect others over the
water, but it did give us the opportunity to see Greater Horseshoe, Serotine and Leisler’s Bats in the hand. We were back at our rooms soon after 11pm.

Monday 7th July
Szelcepuszta, Perkupa, Szolosardo, Ragaly, Trizs
Overcast at first, then generally sunny & hot, thunder shower at dusk
Our first stop after breakfast was in front of a small forest notice board. It wasn’t until Sandor started looking carefully up between the board layers that we realised what we were about! Where some of the wood had warped dramatically, a Serotine was roosting and he carefully removed this in order to see what else was in the crack. Right at the top of a narrow slit we could just make out three or four Whiskered Bats huddled together. Letting the Serotine crawl back behind the boards, we then drove on to our first church attic of the day where we found both Greater & Lesser Horseshoe Bats, Geoffroy’s Bats and a Serotine. At the second church, a mixed colony of Greater & Lesser Mouse-eared Bats were crowded right at the top of the bell tower, out of reach but which we could see with careful use of the torches and binoculars. An orchard near Ragaly, owned by a good friend of Sandor, provided the setting for lunch and a glass or two of his own wine from the cellar also went down well. We also found Lesser Horseshoes in one of the outbuildings. A nearby chapel was disappointing, just a single Greater Horseshoe in residence, but then our final church was fantastic with ca.1,000 Geoffroy’s Bats lined up along the beams.
After a pleasant supper and evening back in the lounge of KG’s accommodation listening to the thunder outside, reading over the checklist, going through tomorrow’s plans and looking at some of Derek’s sonograms and Sandor’s photographs, most did a short trip in the vehicle in search of salamanders but finding only Roman Snails and Common & Agile Frogs.

Tuesday 8th July
Red Lake, across the border into Slovakia, Hostovce, Medzev, Debrad
Generally sunny & warm
Today we travelled across the border into Slovakia, stopping first just outside Josvafo at Red Lake. We heard Fire-bellied Toad around the edge and there were many frogs in the lake itself. Exploring a lovely dry grassy slope, we found Lesser Butterfly Orchid coming to the end of its flowering period, plus a superb male Meleager’s Blue butterfly. As we approached the border, Sandor suddenly braked to a stop with a shout of Wild Cat! That woke us all up! However, it was an unfortunate female knocked over on the road, but we were all very impressed with its sheer size and stature, even in death. He telephoned a colleague back at the National Park to come and collect the specimen for tests and to become a museum exhibit. The border here is now an open border, with no sign of the customs and passport buildings which existed several years ago. A sign declared we were now in Slovakia, and that and the change in vehicle license plates and language was the only indication we were now in Slovakia. We met up with our old friend Stefan Matis at the first village and he took us into the church attic where both species of Mouse-eared Bats, Common Pipistrelles and a single Serotine were in residence. Stopping briefly in the lee of Turna Castle, we saw a good number of Sousliks, a species of ground squirrel and an important prey item for many raptors including the Saker. We travelled on, past the turning to our hotel and on to a small lake near Medzev where we had our picnic lunch. At a nearby abandoned house, we found about 50 Lesser Horeshoes and a smaller number of Greater Horseshoes. A further abandoned house across a stream contained at least 45 Lesser Horseshoes and a single Geoffroy’s Bat. On then to our hotel for a well-earned beer on the terrace, where we had White Admirals, Purple & Lesser Purple Emperors flitting around, sometimes actually landing on us. Dinner and checklist at 6pm as usual, after which we drove the short distance to Debrad village where our mist-netting provided an evening’s entertainment for the local children and teens –
guess whose attention span lasted least! This was an unusually quiet session with only a half dozen bats caught – Noctule, Geoffroy’s, two Grey Long-eared and three Serotines. We were home soon after 11.30pm.

Wednesday 9th July
Drienovec, Silicka Jablonica, Krásnohorské Podhradie
Mainly sunny & warm, some cloud
An early morning walk by one insomniac up the track beside the lakes and into the forest produced a couple of Red-breasted Flycatchers! After our normal 9am breakfast, we headed for the Drienovec Cave system, but unfortunately could not access this as someone had stolen the ladder! However, Stefan dropped down and explored in our absence, finding an amazing colony of ca.600 Mouse-eared and ca.700 Screiber’s Bats! When he returned, he did bring a small Fire Salamander with him, and we had found two plants in seed of what were probably two different Helleborine species. Our next stop was at a really light loft containing 50 Mediterranean Horseshoes, at least 250 Greater Horseshoes, at least 250 Geoffroy’s, tens of Common Pipistrelles and 1 Lesser Horseshoe. Lunch then at a childrens’ play area surrounded by fields, where several summer brood Map butterflies were looking so different from the spring brood, and yet more Silver-washed Fritillaries. The next bell tower was disappointing with only 35-40 Greater Horseshoes, 35-40 Geoffroy’s and a
single Lesser Mouse-eared Bat. From looking at the recording later, there was at least 1 Mediterranean Horseshoe Bat also present. Back to hotel for dinner & checklist.
Just before 9pm, we set two mist-nets alongside the lake just outside the hotel and almost immediately caught a Daubenton’s Bat. Over the next hour and a half, a Barbastelle and Common Pipistrelle were caught. We could detect Daubenton’s and Pipistrelles hunting along the tree-lined fringe of the lake.

Thursday 10th July
Zadiel Gorge & Rieka
Hot & sunny first thing, some cloud later
There were Scarce Copper, Queen of Spain Fritillary & Hummingbird Hawkmoth around the hotel before breakfast, after which we drove to the Zadiel Gorge. We noted Hobby & Ravens overhead as we parked, and found Large Grizzled Skipper and Weaver’s Fritillary around the car park. Unfortunately, there was no sign of the usual Dippers along the stream, though Grey Wagtail showed well. Towards the end of our walk, a male Red-breasted Flycatcher showed extremely well as it moved around us and over us. We checked a closed refreshments kiosk in the forest, finding just a single Common Pipistrelle, then moved on a short way to a café which was open. Several Particoloured Bats were squeezed in behind some shuttering and barge boards around the edge of the roof. Whilst having our sandwiches, plus welcome teas and coffees from the bar, a Purple-shot Copper was seen on the grassy area nearby.
This prompted a more detailed search and we turned up both Ilex & White-letter Hairstreaks. The attic of a nearby holiday house proved very quiet with only a few Lesser Horseshoe Bats and a couple of Common Pips - the beer was nice though! On the way back, several Crossbills were seen briefly in the tops of the conifers, and Large Blue was added to our growing butterfly list. A mist-netting session near Rieka produced our final new bat species for the trip, a Brandt’s Bat, followed by two each of Common Noctule and Common Pipistrelle, and we were back soon after 11pm.

Friday 11th July
Return to Budapest & departure
Hot & sunny
With an 8am breakfast, we were away in good time and heading back into Hungary with stops for ice cream, then lunch. Roland was heading off to the Hortobagy for an extra few days and we met up with his guide somewhere on the motorway (!) and bade him farewell. Despite the slow traffic in Budapest, we were at the airport in good time for check in and bade our farewells to Sandor.

SPECIES LISTS
The various species lists below use the following references:
Birds: We use the worldwide English names and systematic order as recommended by the I.O.C., and
published in Birds of the World – Recommended English Names (Gill, F. & Wright, M.,
2006,).
Also: Collins Bird Guide (Svensson, L., Grant, P.J., Mullarney, K. & Zetterström, D., 1999).
Mammals: We use the suggested worldwide English names and systematic order as found in Mammals
of the World, A Checklist (Duff, A. & Lawson, A., 2004).
Also: Collins Field Guide: Mammals of Britain & Europe (Macdonald, D. & Barrett, P., 1993).
Amphibians and Reptiles: Collins Field Guide: Reptiles & Amphibians of Britain & Europe [second
edition] (Arnold, E.N. & Ovenden, D.W., 2002)
Butterflies: Butterflies of Europe, New Field Guide & Key (Lafranchis, T., 2004)
Dragonflies: Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain & Europe (Dijkstra, K-D.B., 2006)
Alternate names are separated by ‘/’ and optional names are enclosed by ‘[..]’.

BIRDS - AVES
GROUSE, PHEASANTS & allies - Phasianidae
Common Quail Coturnix coturnix : heard on 6th.
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus : noted en route on 2 days, on 5th & 10th.
GEESE, SWANS & DUCKS - Anatidae
Mute Swan Cygnus olor : 2 on 10th is our only record.
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos : 2 on 9th is our only record.
STORKS - Ciconiidae
White Stork Ciconia ciconia : noted most days, either adults in roadside fields or nests containing 2 or 3 wellgrown
youngsters standing around.
HERONS & BITTERNS - Ardeidae
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea : noted on 3 days with 1 early am on 7th, 2 Red Lake on 8th, 1 in a field on 9th.
FALCONS & allies - Falconidae
Common/Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus : noted on 3 days, several en route on 5th, 8th, & 9th.
Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo : 1 over Zadiel Gorge on 10th is our only record.
HAWKS, EAGLES & allies - Accipitridae
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus : 1 over Zadiel Gorge on 10th is our only record.
[Western] Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus : noted on 4 days with at least 1 en route on 5th, a pair just
over the border on 8th, at least 3 over roadside fields on 9th, 2 on 10th.
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo : noted each day in small numbers.
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina : a really nice individual walking around in a roadside field on 8th is
our only record.
RAILS, CRAKES & COOTS - Rallidae
Corn Crake Crex crex : heard late evening on 5th.
Eurasian/Common Coot Fulica atra : noted on 2 days with at least 1 on 9th, 2 on 10th.
SANDPIPERS, SNIPES & allies - Scolopacidae
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos : 1 at lunch stop near Medzev on 8th.
PIGEONS & DOVES - Columbidae
Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon Columba livia : noted most days.
[Common] Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus : noted on 4 days.
European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur : noted on 4 days.
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto : noted most days.
OWLS - Strigidae
Tawny Owl Strix aluco : a feather picked up next to the mine shaft on 9th was this species.
SWIFTS - Apodidae
Common Swift Apus apus : noted on 3 days in small numbers.
KINGFISHERS - Alcedinidae
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis : 1 at lunch stop on 8th is our only record.
BEE-EATERS - Meropidae
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster : ca.10 at a colony near Josvafo on 5th.
WOODPECKERS - Picidae
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius : noted on 2 days with one heard on 9th, 1 seen on 10th.
White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos : 1 Zadiel Gorge on 10th is our only record.
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major : heard at two places on 7th.
Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus : a pair briefly during lunch stop on 8th is our only record.
SHRIKES - Laniidae
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio : commonly noted each day.
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor : 1 on 6th is our only record.
OLD WORLD ORIOLES - Oriolidae
[Eurasian] Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus : noted on 4 days with 1 early am on 6th, several heard on 7th,
early morning on 8th, heard on 9th.
CROWS, JAYS & MAGPIES - Corvidae
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius : noted on 3 days.
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica : noted most days.
Hooded Crow Corvus cornix : noted on 2 days.
Northern/Common Raven Corvus corax : noted most days.
TITS & CHICKADEES - Paridae
Marsh Tit Poecile palustris : noted on 3 days, 8th - 10th.
Willow Tit Poecile montanus : 1 around the village rooms on 6th is our only record.
Coal Tit Periparus ater : several on 10th is our only record.
Great Tit Parus major : noted on 4 days.
Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus : noted on 2 days.
SWALLOWS & MARTINS - Hirundinidae
Sand Martin / Bank Swallow Riparia riparia : breeding colony near Josvafo (with Bee-eaters) on 5th.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica : noted each day.
[Common] House Martin Delichon urbicum : noted each day.
LARKS - Alaudidae
Crested Lark Galerida cristata : noted on 2 days with several en route on 5th, 1 on roadside en route on 8th.
OLD WORLD WARBLERS - Sylviidae
Common Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia : heard late evening on 5th is our only record.
River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis : heard on 2 days, late evening on 5th, and 1 singing at turnoff to Ranc
Sugov on 8th.
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus : heard singing late evening on 5th.
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita : noted in small numbers on 4 days.
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla : noted each day.
WRENS - Troglodytidae
[Winter] Wren Troglodytes troglodytes : several in the gorge on 10th.
NUTHATCHES & WALLCREEPER - Sittidae
Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea : noted on 4 days.
TREECREEPERS - Certhiidae
Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris : heard in the gorge on 10th.
STARLINGS - Sturnidae
Common/European Starling Sturnus vulgaris : noted on 2 days, 5th & 9th.
THRUSHES - Turdidae
Common Blackbird Turdus merula : noted each day.
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos : noted on 4 days.
OLD WORLD CHATS & FLYCATCHERS - Muscicapidae
European Robin Erithacus rubecula : noted most days.
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros : noted each day.
European/Common Stonechat Saxicola rubicola : noted on 3 days with a few on 7th, a male on 9th, several
at roadside on 10th.
[European] Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca : a male on roadside on 6th is our only record.
Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva : noted on 2 days with 2 during early am on 9th, a cracking male in
gorge on 10th.
OLD WORLD SPARROWS & allies - Passeridae
House Sparrow Passer domesticus : noted each day.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus : noted on 3 days.
WAGTAILS & PIPITS - Motacillidae
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea : noted on 3 days.
White Wagtail Motacilla alba : noted each day.
FINCHES & allies - Fringillidae
Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs : noted most days.
European Serin Serinus serinus : noted on 3 days with several singing males on 7th - 9th.
European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris : noted on 4 days.
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis : noted most days.
Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina : several on 9th is our only record.
Common/Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra : noted on 2 days, 1 flew over calling on 9th, several briefly on
10th.
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes : 1 Josvafo early am on 8th is our only record.
BUNTINGS, NEW WORLD SPARROWS & allies - Emberizidae
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella : singing males noted on 4 days.

MAMMALS - MAMMALIA
PIKAS, RABBITS & HARES - Order: LAGOMORPHA
Brown/European Hare Lepus europaeus : 1 in roadside field on 9th is our only record.
RODENTS - Order: RODENTIA
European Souslik Spermophilus citellus : many near Torna Castle on 8th.
CARNIVORES - Order: CARNIVORA
Wild Cat Felis felis : a female dead on road near the border on 8th is our only record.
Beech Marten Martes foina : 1 across road late evening on 5th is our only record.
HEDGEHOGS, MOLES & allies - Order: ERINACEOMORPHA
Eastern Hedgehog Erinaceus concolor : noted on 2 days with 1 late evening on 5th, 1 at roadside during
evening on 6th.
European Mole Talpa europaea : molehills noted on 10th.
BATS - Order: CHIROPTERA
Mediterranean Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus euryale : noted on 2 days; several hundred emerging from roost
cave on 5th, at least 50 mainly at one site on 9th.
Greater Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum : noted most days; several with Mediterranean
Horseshoe's on 5th, ca.120 breeding colony plus several mist-netted during late pm on 6th, ca.150 in one site
plus a lone individual on 7th, 1 at one site on 8th, ca.300 at two sites on 9th.
Lesser Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus hipposideros : noted most days; ca.30 breeding colony on 6th, 34 in 3
sites on 7th, at least 100 over two sites on 8th, 1 on 9th, 14 in holiday house attic on 10th.
Western Barbastelle [Bat] Barbastella barbastellus : 1 mist netted on 9th is our only record.
Grey Long-eared Bat Plecotus austriacus : 2 mist-netted on 8th is our only record.
Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus : noted on 4 days with several detected during mist-netting
session on 6th, at least 35 in one site plus others during evening mist-netting session on 8th, 1 mist netted on
9th, a few at two sites plus 2 mist-netted on 10th.
Lesser Noctule / Leisler's Bat Nyctalus leisleri : 1 mist-netted during late pm on 6th is our only record.
Common Noctule Nyctalus noctula : noted most days; detected over lake late evening on 5th, 1 detected
during mist-netting session on 6th, detected at one site plus others during mist-netting session on 8th, 1
detected over lake on 9th, 2 mist-netted on 10th.
Common Serotine Eptesicus serotinus : noted on 4 days; 2 mist-netted during late pm on 6th, ca.40 scattered
over several sites on 7th, at least 25 at one site plus others during mist-netting session on 8th, 1 detected over
lake on 9th.
Particoloured Bat Vespertillo murinus : at least 10 at gorge café on 10th is our only record.
Schreiber's/Common Bent-winged Bat Miniopterus schreibersi : at least 600 but out of reach of us on 9th.
Daubenton's Bat Myotis daubentonii : noted on 2 days with several detected during mist-netting session on
6th, 1 mist netted on 9th.
Lesser Mouse-eared Bat Myotis blythii : noted on 3 days with mixed colony of ca.350 at great height in bell
tower on 7th, ca.420 at one site on 8th, 1 in bell tower on 9th.
Geoffroy's Bat Myotis emarginatus : noted on 4 days; ca.100 at two locations on 6th, ca.1,000 at one site plus
others on 7th, 1 at one site plus others mist-netted on 8th, ca.300 at two sites on 9th.
Greater Mouse-eared Bat Myotis myotis : noted on 3 days with a mixed colony of ca.350 at great height in bell tower on 7th, ca.80 at one site with Lessers on 8th, ca.700 in cave out of reach on 9th.
Brandt's Bat Myotis brandti : 1 mist-netted on 10th is our only record.
European Whiskered Bat Myotis mystacinus : 4 behind a warped forest notice on 7th is our only record.
EVEN-TOED UNGULATES - Order: ARTIODACTYLA
[Western] Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus : noted on 3 days with 1 in roadside field after dinner on 6th, 1 in
roadside field on 8th, a couple on 10th.

REPTILES - REPTILIA
Sand Lizard : 1 on 7th is our only record.

AMPHIBIANS - AMPHIBIA
Fire Salamander Salamandra salamandra : 1 on 9th.
Fire-bellied Toad Bombina bombina : heard Red Lake on 8th.
Yellow-bellied Toad Bombina variegata : several at lunch stop Medzev on 8th.
Common Toad Bufo bufo : several during night walk on 7th.
Common Frog Rana temporaria : noted on 2 days with 2 during night walk on 7th, 1 gorge on 10th.
Agile Frog Rana dalmatina : noted on 2 days with 1 near the mine entrance on 6th, 1 during night walk on 7th.

BUTTERFLIES - LEPIDOPTERA
SKIPPERS - Hesperiidae
Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages : 1 early am on 6th is our only record.
Large Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus alveus : 1 photographed Josvafo on 8th.
Safflower Skipper Pyrgus carthami : 1 photographed Zadiel Gorge on 10th
Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris : noted most days.
Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineolus : photographed on 9th is our only record.
Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus : noted on 4 days.
SWALLOWTAILS & allies - Papilionidae
Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius : noted each day.
[Common] Swallowtail Papilio machaon : noted on 3 days with 1 on 5th, 1 on 6th, several on 7th.
WHITES, YELLOWS & SULPHURS - Pieridae
Wood White Leptidea sinapsis : noted on 4 days, 7th - 10th.
Large White Pieris brassicae : noted each day.
Small White Pieris rapae : noted on 2 days.
Green-veined White Pieris napi : noted on 4 days.
Eastern Bath White Pontia edusa : 1 near chateau on 9th.
Pale Clouded Yellow Colias hyale : 1 photographed on 6th with other Clouded Yellows.
Clouded Yellow Colias crocea : at least 5 on 6th.
Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow Colias erate : a female photographed on 7th.
METALMARKS, HAIRSTREAKS, COPPERS & BLUES - Lycaenidae
Sloe Hairstreak Satyrium acaciae : several very worn individuals noted on 2 days, 7th & 9th.
Ilex Hairstreak Satyrium ilicis : photographed on 10th.
White-letter Hairstreak Satyrium w-album : photographed on 10th.
Scarce Copper Lycaena virgaureae : photographed on 2 days, 6th & 10th.
Sooty Copper Lycaena tityrus : photographed on 6th.
Purple-shot Copper Lycaena alciphron : photographed on 10th.
Short-tailed Blue Everes argiades : photographed on 2 days on 6th & 8th.
Provençal Short-tailed Blue Everes alcetas : noted on 2 days (photographed) on 6th & 10th.
Eastern Short-tailed Blue Everes decoloratus : photographed on 9th.
Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus : 1 photographed Zadiel Gorge on 10th.
Large Blue Maculinea arion : 1 photographed Zadiel Gorge on 10th.
Mazarine Blue Cyaniris semiargus : noted (photographed) on 6th & 8th.
Common Blue Polyommatus icarus : noted on 7th (photographed) & 9th.
Meleager's Blue Meleageria daphnis : noted on 2 days with a male photographed Red Lake on 8th & another
Zadiel Gorge on 10th.
Silver-studded Blue Plebejus argus : a worn-out individual noted on 11th.
BRUSH-FOOTED BUTTERFLIES - Nymphalidae
Admirals & Gliders - subf: Limenitinae
White Admiral Limenitis camilla : noted on 2 days, at Ranc Sugov on 8th, and on 10th.
Hungarian Glider Neptis rivularis : several noted on 2 days on 7th (photographed) & 10th.
(Purple) Emperors - subf: Apaturinae
Purple Emperor Apatura iris : noted on 4 days.
Lesser Purple Emperor Apatura ilia : photographed on 2 days on 6th & 8th.
Vanessids & smaller Fritillaries - subf: Nymphalinae
Peacock Inachis io : noted on 2 days on 8th & 10th.
Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta : noted on 4 days on 6th & 8th - 10th.
Comma Polygonia c-album : noted on 2 days on 8th & 10th.
Map butterfly Araschnia levana : summer brood individuals noted on 3 days, with 1 briefly on 7th, then
several on 9th & 10th.
Heath Fritillary Mellicta athalia : noted on 2 days, on 7th & 9th.
Nickerl's Fritillary Mellicta aurelia : differentiating between this and the following species is often difficult,
but some individuals photographed on 8th & 9th were this species.
Assmann's Fritillary Mellicta britomartis : individuals photographed on 3 days, 7th - 9th, were this species, but see comments under Nickerl’s Fritillary above.
Larger Fritillaries & Heliconians - subf: Heliconiinae
Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia : noted most days, pleasingly common.
Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja : noted on 2 days, on 6th, and at Red Lake on 8th (photographed).
High Brown Fritillary Argynnis adippe : 1 photographed near restaurant on 6th is our only record.
Queen of Spain Fritillary Issoria lathonia : 1 briefly early am on 10th is our only record.
Twin-spot Fritillary Brenthis hecate : a worn individual photographed on 7th is our only record.
Weaver's Fritillary Boloria dia : photographed on 10th is our only record.
Browns, Ringlets & Satyrs - subf: Satyrinae
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria : noted on 2 days, 9th & 10th.
Chestnut Heath Coenonympha glycerion : photographed on 10th is our only record.
Pearly Heath Coenonympha arcania : noted most days.
Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus : 1 on 7th is our only record.
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus : noted on 4 days.
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina : commonly noted each day.
Marbled White Melanargia galathea : commonly noted most days.
Great Banded Grayling Brintesia circe : several during lunch on 7th is our only record.
Woodland Grayling Hipparchia fagi : photographed on 6th is our only record.

MOTHS - LEPIDOPTERA
The Nine-spotted Syntomis phega : commonly noted each day.
Silver-Y Autographa gamma : noted on 2 days, on 9th & 10th.
Poplar Hawkmoth Laothoe populi : 1 in mist net on 9th is our only record.
Hummingbird Hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum : noted on 2 days, on 6th & 10th.
Blood-vein Tinandra driseata : noted on 6th.
Feathered Beauty Peribatodes secundaria : ??dead in gents on 8th is our only record.
Buff-tip Phalera bucephala : noted on 9th.
Brown-line Bright-eye Mythimna conogera : noted on 9th.

DAMSELFLIES & DRAGONFLIES - ODONATA
DEMOISELLES - Calopterygidae
Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo : noted on 2 days, 8th & 9th.
EMERALD DAMSELFLIES - Lestidae
Migrant Spreadwing / Southern Emerald Damselfly Lestes barbarus : 1 near hotel on 10th.
BLUE-TAILED & RED DAMSELFLIES - Coenagrionidae
Common Bluetail / Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans : noted near hotel on 10th.
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula : ??lunch stop on 8th is our only record.
WHITE-LEGGED DAMSELFLIES - Platycnemididae
Blue Featherleg / White-legged Damselfly Platycnemis pennipes : noted near hotel on 10th.
CHASERS, SKIMMERS & DARTERS - Libellulidae
Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa : noted on 2 days, at lunch stop on 8th, & again on 9th.

OTHER SELECTED TAXA
Great Green Bush Cricket Tettigonia viridissima : noted on 5th.
Hornet Vespa crabro : noted on 7th.
Rosechafer Cetonia aurata : noted on 8th.
Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus : noted on 4 days; 6th - 8th, & 10th.
Roman Snail Helix pomatia : found during night walk on 7th.
Carpathian Spring Snail Sadleriana pannonica : many of this minute endemic in the stream at Josvafo on 6th.

Surrounded by Mediterranean Horseshoe Bats at the cave entrance on one our first evening was a fantastic start and set the tone for the rest of the trip. With the visits to various church attics and the evening mist-netting sessions, we did extremely well, noting 17 bat species. Although not a birding trip as such, we did find some stunners, including Bee-eaters at the Sand Martin colony, male Red-breasted Flycatchers still in their breeding finery, Lesser Spotted Eagle wandering around a roadside field and both Grey-headed & White-backed Woodpeckers. The Wild Cat, though sadly dead on the roadside, was none-the-less very interesting for those of us who hadn’t seen one before. Its sheer size was very impressive. The butterflies cannot be forgotten with superb Meleager’s Blue and Purple-shot Copper. The Hungarian Gliders were good to see and what can beat Purple Emperor actually landing on you. The good numbers of fritillaries were excellent, particularly the Silver-washed Fritillaries which seemed to be everywhere. Inspections of the various butterfly photographs and advice from the
Ecotours butterfly people has changed some of our initial identifications, but the species lists above are now the definitive lists for the trip. We must thank Sandor and Stefan for their expertise and knowledge, and of course encourage Sandor to keep practising with his keys and padlocks!! Well done to all of you who made this trip the success it was, and I hope to see you all on another trip, sometime in the not-too-distant future.

Keith Grant, August 2008
© The Travelling Naturalist Wildlife Holidays 2008