Stari Begej Carska bara - Special Nature Reserve
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Coordinates: 45º 16’ N, 20 º25’ E (60 km N from Belgrade)
Altitude: 75-85 m
Stari Begej - Carska Bara is a remnant of the once flooded area in the lower Begej River. It is a mosaic of fishponds, swamp, marsh, forest, meadow, and steppe intersected by rivers, canals, and embankments. Vegetation consists of salt-tolerant communities, a rich aquatic flowering plant community, and steppe vegetation. The diversity of biotopes gives rise to high species diversity at the site and includes various rare, endangered, or vulnerable fish, birds, plants, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.
Manager on the Reserve is a private company ”Ečka Fishfarms” from Lukino Selo.
Habitats:
oxbow river, reed beds, riverine poplar and willow forests, mixed ash lowland forests, poplar and willow plantations, lowland wet meadows, extensive pasture, arable land, traditional orchards, fishponds.
Plants:
several hundred plant species are recorded in the reserve of which specially significant are: White Water-lily (Nymphaea alba), Yellow Water-lily (Nuphar luteum), Water Soldier (Stratiotes aloides), Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus), Water Violet (Hottonia palustris), Dame's Rocket (Herperis matronalis), Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale), Butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus), Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis), Horned Pondweed (Zannichellia palustris), Trapa longicarpa, European Common Twayblade (Listera ovata), Bird's-nest orchid (Neottia nidus-avis).
Fungi:
there are more than 150 known mushroom and toadstools species and some of them are: (Morchella vulgaris), Porcini (Boletus edulus), Yellow Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius), Death Cap (Amanita phalloides), Meadow Mushroom (Agaricus campestris), Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera), Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus), Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea).
Insects:
numerous species are found in the Reserve so far and some of them are: European Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus), Great Capricorn Beetle (Cerambyx cerdo), Ground Beetle (Carabus gigas), Violet Ground Beetle (Carabus violaceus), Long Horned Beetle (Morimus funereus), Glow-worm (Lapyris noctiluca), Giant Ichneumon Wasp (Rhyssa persuasoria), Sand Wasp (Ammophila sabulosa), Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa violacea), Purple Emperor (Apatura iris), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), European Peacock (Inachis io), Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator), Scarlet Dragonfly (Crocothemis erythraea), Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens).
Fish:
24 recorded species and some of them are: Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus), Zope (Abramis ballerus), Carp (Cyprinus carpio), Tench (Tinca tinca), Danubian Bream (Abramis sapa), Bitterling (Rhodeus sericeus), Crucian Carp (Carassius carassius), Weather Loach (Misgurnus fossilis), Notrhern Pike (Esox lucius) and Catfish (Silurus glanis).
Amphibians:
Fire Salamander, Northern Crested Newt, Common Newt, Common Spadefoot, Common Toad, Green Toad, Fire-bellied Toad, Common Tree Frog, Agile Frog, Marsh Frog, Edible Frog.
Reptiles:
European Pond Terrapin, Green Lizard, Sand Lizard, Common Wall Lizard, Slow Worm, Aesculapian Snake, Dice Snake, Grass Snake, Smooth Snake.
Birds:
a total of 240 species is recorded within the reserve. Some of the breeding species are: Little Grebe, Pygmy Cormorant, Bittern, Little Bittern, Night Heron, Little Egret, Great Egret, Purple Heron, White Stork, Black Stork, Spoonbill, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, White-tailed Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Honey Buzzard, Goshawk, Hobby, Spotted Crake, Little Crake, Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Barn Owl, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Bee-eater, Green Woodpecker, Syrian Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Wryneck, Black Redstart, River Warbler, Savi’s Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Collared Flycatcher, Penduline Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Red-backed Shrike, Golden Oriole, Serin, Hawfinch, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting.
Mammals:
more than 40 species inhabit the reserve and some of them are: Water Vole, European Hare, Southern White-breasted Hedgehog, Wildcat, European Polecat, Otter, Beech Marten, Golden Jackal, Wild Boar, and Roe Deer.
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