Ukrainian Prairie. My trip to Ukrainian Steppe, Day 2, part 2

Greetings from Ukraine, my friends and readers!

Make yourself comfortable, as I continue my series about most recent trip to the central part of Ukraine, steppe.

These are links if you wonder about previous 3 parts:

• Lost on the map. My trip to Ukrainian Steppe, Day 1 part 1

• Minuscules. My trip to Ukrainian Steppe, Day 1 part 2

• Ukrainian Prairie.Day 2, part 1

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So, we inspected aviary with with bison called a Zoo, and abandoned "Palace of Nature". Unfortunately, the bison grazed far from the fence, and I could took photos using the maximum zoom.

After that our guide offered to drive to another part of the reserve. She said that it is a beautiful valley with hills and gullies, and it worth to go there just to look at the nice view.

I was really impressed with the architecture of the building, and baby bison as well. So I thought that more exciting things can hardly be expected. But who knows if we come back here again, so we agreed.

And I found it so beautiful that I'd never expect a simple terrain can be.

Just imagine, 680 species of plants grow on these spaces. About 20 of them are on Red List of Ukraine.

Blackthorn

We got back on a trail and continue along rich bushes of blackthorn.

Thorns blooms, bloom falls, who does not never loved, does not know the grief

This is my own translation of initial words of famous Ukrainian folk song. But it is native not only for Ukraine. It is a very widespread bush. Does it grow there in your area? It would be interesting to hear.

Every part of this plant has useful properties: berries, leaves, roots and branches. By the way, it is an old ancestor of plum. Did you know?

When nothing prevents it bushes of blackthorn forms big circular groups on the landscape.

Our nice guide told us that just 2 days ago these hills looked like covered by snow. Its flowering is almost over but it looks beautiful even now.

Flowers, more flowers

I can not forget the colorful flowering of steppe grass. In spring and summer steppe changes its rich carpet of colors every day.

Adonis	Centaury
Vinca herbacea	Wild Almond

Once again, we were a little bit late to see the peak of wild almond blooming.

Swift dwellers

I have never seen so many eagles in my life as on this day. Saying Eagle I mean Accipitridae family. Two times we had luck to see the hunting eagle, it is a very exciting scenery indeed.

This one I tried to capture, well, as you can see not the best photo of a bird in a fly.

I had a better luck with partridge. They are not as fast as eagles. But they are harder to see in a grass.

Lizard is a creature I first hear then see. They can not mow the grass in the reserve, that's why this bright green lizard is the only I captured. She is on Red List as well.

I hope that someone of you tell me the name of this bug. He is awesome, isn't he? :D

I also saw a hare, but he was too fast. In the animal world of this steppe, there were few large animals, due to the small size of the area. These are Blotched snake, a Spalax - blind small creature, that came to nowadays from Miocene! Also polecats and foxes pay a visit.

Well, look at the next photograph and tell me who I photographed? I look forward to your comments ;o)

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Farewell look, got in my car and ... leaving this amazing varicoloured world.

But something for last. Our guide set behind me, thanks God, and as we drove she noticed some nasty and dangerous creature on my back - a big tick, yuck!! I've always been squeamish about them, but this time I was scared. How good that I was accompanied with such brave people. Tick was neutralized.

I was very surprised with the fact tick lives in a steppe. I always think that they live in forests and parts of our central and weastern area.

Here we came to the end of the series. Not because there is nothing more to tell about, but because I did not want it to bee too long.

I hope you enjoyed my story and photographs. I greatly appreciate your time, your comments and even upvotes. Look forward to see you again in my blog soon!

All the photographs were taken using my old good friend Pentax K-5.