Axeman's Travelfeed #003 - The Aukstumala raised bog
Today we are going to very interest and unusual place - the Aukstumala raised bog located in the western part of Lithuania not far from small city Silute in the Nemunas Delta Regional Park.
First mention about this place dating back to 1902 in a scientific monograph describing unique flora and fauna of this place.
This is actually peat mining place which was taking place over 100 years. Presently the reserve is established there to protect whole ecosystem.
This is how it looks from the space (screenshot source: google maps)
This place really not to much from my city, only about 60 kilometers by car. But somehow that's the first time ever we have visited it. Generally just for a walk and to have some good time on the fresh air. But of course the camera was with me.
Few years ago the place was quite reconstructed (guess using EU funds) and initial walking route was changed and prolonged deeper inside the bog. And it starts almost near the car road and first goes through the forest
Some official information about the place you can find on their website: http://www.aukstumala.lt/en/aukstumala-bog/
Since I'm not a scientist and this topic is quite specific I can just make some extract from the more wide description using above source
Quote
Habitats of European importance are protected by the base of Habitat directive 1992 92/43/EEB
Active raised bogs (7110*) occupies less than half (47%) of reserve’s territory. These are not affected or very slightly affected, very acid, poor in minerals, ombrotrophic raised bog habitats. Treeless open active raised bog habitats with well expressed Sphagnum moss cover and plenty of Oxycoccus palustris, insectivorous plants Drosera rotundifolia, D. anglica, red listed plant Trichophorum cespitosum, Rhynchospora alba, Andromeda polifolia and small Pinus sylvestris trees are mostly found in the western and central parts of the reserve.
Degraded raised bogs (7120*) are mostly found in the edges of the reserve, places which are adjacent to peat mining fields, territories which were drained by the ditches or in any other place where hydrology is strongly affected by human activity. These habitats occupy 12% of the reserve‘s territory.
Due to the changes of the hydrological regime, the process of mineralization accelerates. As a result the coverage of Sphagnum mosses start to decrease and the growth of trees like Pinus sylvestris, Betula pubescens, B. pendula and schrubs like Caluna vulgaris intensify. These habitats are capable to restore to active raised bogs if hydrological regime will be restored to a level which is favorable to bog forming plant species.
Bog woodlands (91D0*) covers less than 1 % of the reserve‘s territory. These woodlands penetrate to the active raised bog habitats, where layer of peat is thinner and more mineralized.
Ground Water level is constantly high, although not so high as in the surrounding active raised bogs. Pinus sylvestris dominates the tree layer with a strong intermixture of Betula pubescens and B.pendula. Ledum palustre, Vaccinium uliginosum V. vitis-idaea, Rubus chamaemorum in the layer of herbs and shrubs. The moss cover consist of Sphagnum species mostly.
More than 200 plant species are found in Aukštumala. This bog still has a high importance for protected species. 10 plant species listed in Lithuanian Red List grow here.
Aukštumala is a part of Nemunas Delta Regional Park, which is considered as very important migratory rout not only for bird species, but for bats and butterflies as well. 4 mammal, 18 bird and 5 insect species listed in Lithuanian Red List can be found here.
Unquote
And then we are getting out to the open space to see all the simple, but unique beauty of this place
Some interesting closer views of local flora. Some growing, some not already...
Some small lakes all around. And they are very dangerous - sometimes very deep and with ice cold water
There are two observation towers. Not too high, maybe some 3 meters only, but still panoramic view is a bit better from the top
On the way back it was closer to sunset and I have changed camera to wide angle lens
The territory is extremely important for some ob bird species while migrating. Wasn't too many really when we were there, not a season :) But one have tried to get with a very long lens
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| Camera | Canon 7D Mark II / Sigma 18-250mm |
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Awesome bird shot at the end there... I love switching my lenses when I see birds flying to try to capture them!
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Well, this 18-250 range is a bit consensus between quality and ability... but most often in travels this lens is really must to have for quick shots which will not wait while you changing the lenses :D
I feel that... my one lense is 18 to 55 then my other is 70 to 300...
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I love how you photographed those wooden walkways through the peat bogs. Scotland has many peat bogs too, and i never thought of them being anywhere else. There are still some in rural areas who burn peat for fuel!
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Beautiful landscapes to photograph @axeman. Love the photographs of the vertical clusters of trees forming beautiful forests, the isolated trees and those showing the reflections by the lake. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎