Cold as... winter!

Otters are a common sight in cannals and waterways around Koper.

A couple of chilly weeks with ocassional Bora have turned the coast into its winter state but the snow. In terms of birds, passerines can be seen in Koper's gardens attacking the olives and khakis still in the trees, mostly Chaffinches, House Sparrows and Blue and Great Tits.

A quick walk in Škocjanski zatok NR produced a large number of ducks at the back of the reserve, with hundreds of Teals and Mallards, about 60 Wigeon and a few Common Pochards and Tufted Ducks. One Sparrowhawk was guarding the ducks probably more focused on the finches, tits and Robins. The lagoon was quiet with no sign of the recently spotted Greylag geese.

A Mute Swan prinning its feathers among ducks.

Photoscoping the Sparrowhawk.

Next week I will be birding in Spain, watch this space!