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We present PUCHEROS +, a new spectrograph developed as an enhanced version of PUCHEROS (Pontificia Universidad Catolica High Echelle Resolution Optical Spectrograph), which was the first high-resolution spectrograph built at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (UC). With respect to its predecessor, PUCHEROS + includes a substantial number of improvements, mainly: a new scientific detector, improved objective optics, calibration system, guiding, active thermal control, and remote observing mode. These upgrades convert our early prototype into a much more powerful instrument for science. With a spectral resolution of R = 18000, a spectral range between 400 and 730 nm and an instrument efficiency of about 30 per cent, PUCHEROS + was tested at the ESO (European Southern Observatory) 1.52-m telescope where it has reached a limiting magnitude of about 12 in V band and radial velocity precision of about 30 m/s. The instrument was conceived as a pathfinder for the high-resolution echelle spectrograph PLATOSpec and at the same time, it demonstrates that a compact, relatively low-cost spectrograph can be efficiently employed for long-term monitoring campaigns and as support facility for space missions, in particular if operated remotely at relatively small- or medium-sized telescopes.

Context. Warm Jupiters are excellent case studies for the investigation of giant planet internal structures and formation theories. However, the sample of long-period transiting giants is still small today for a better understanding of this population. Aims. Starting from a single transit found in the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) data, we confirm the planetary nature of the signal and measure its orbital parameters, mass, and radius. We put this system in the context of long-period giant transiting planets and analyzed the viability to sustain atmospheric or dynamical follow-up. Methods. We carried out a spectroscopic follow-up using FEROS and PLATOSpec to obtain precise radial velocities. We added a photometric follow-up with HATPI and Observatoire Moana to obtain a more precise estimate of the orbital period. We derived the orbital and physical parameters through a joint analysis of this data. Results. We report the discovery and characterization of TIC65910228b, a transiting warm Jupiter with a mass of \\(4.554 0.255\\) \\(M_J\\) and a radius of \\(1.088 0.061\\) \\(R_J\\), orbiting an evolved F-type star every \\( 180.52\\) days in an eccentric orbit (\\(e = 0.25 0.04\\)). Conclusions. This planet joins a still under-explored population of long-period (\\(P > 100\\)) massive (\\(M_p > 4\\) \\(M_J\\)) transiting giant planets, being one of the few with a mild eccentricity. This target is a nice example of the potential of single-transit events to populate this region of the parameter space.

We report the discovery and characterisation of three transiting warm Jupiters: TIC 147027702b, TIC 245076932b and TIC 87422071b. These systems were initially identified as transiting candidates using light curves generated from the full-frame images of the TESS mission. We confirmed the planetary nature of these objects with ground-based spectroscopic follow-up observations using FEROS and the new PLATOSpec spectrograph attached to the ESO 1.52 m telescope at the La Silla Observatory, and with ground-based photometric observations of the Observatoire Moana, Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope and ASTEP. From a global fit to the photometry and radial velocities, we determine that the planet TIC 147027702b has a low-eccentric orbit (\\(e = 0.13 \\pm 0.05\\)) with a period of 44.4 days and has a mass of \\(1.09^{+0.07}_{-0.13}\\) M\\(_J\\) and a radius of \\(0.98 \\pm 0.06\\) R\\(_J\\). TIC 245076932b has a moderately low mass of \\(0.51 \\pm 0.05\\) M\\(_J\\), a radius of \\(0.97 \\pm 0.05\\) R\\(_J\\), and an eccentric orbit (\\(e = 0.43 \\pm 0.02\\)) with a period of 21.6 days. TIC 87422071b has a mass of \\(1.29 \\pm 0.10\\) M\\(_J\\), a radius of \\(0.97 \\pm 0.08\\) R\\(_J\\), and has a slightly eccentric orbit (\\(e = 0.12 \\pm 0.07\\)) with a period of 11.3 days. These well-characterised warm Jupiters expand the currently limited sample of similar gas giants and provide valuable benchmarks for testing models of giant-planet formation, migration, and tidal evolution.

Times of minima of eclipsing binary KIC 7023917 show quasiperiodic anti-symmetric deviations from the calculated one with an amplitude of up to 10 minutes and a period of 200 - 300 days. These changes correlate with the observed variations of the light-curve maxima (amplitude and phase separation). We used photometric data obtained by Kepler and TESS missions to analyse the times of minima and determine system parameters. The phases and amplitudes of the maxima were measured to study the O'Connell effect. As an additional source of information, we performed ground-based multi-colour photometric observation and determined the radial velocities of the system from our spectroscopic measurements. We could explain long-term variations of the light-curve shape and times of the eclipses using the cold star spot located on the secondary component and the modification of its size. Based on our modelling, the system consists of a primary main-sequence star of spectral type A7 and an evolved, oversized secondary component with a mass ratio of only 0.1 due to past mass transfer. Calculation of absolute parameters gives us the mass of the primary component about 1.8 M\\(_\\) and 0.2 M\\(_\\) for the secondary one, and radii of 2.2 R\\(_\\) of the primary star and 0.9 R\\(_\\) of secondary one, respectively. The studied low-mass ratio eclipsing binary is probably a progenitor of the variable star of EL CVn type. A multiple-period photometric variability was disclosed in the TESS data ranging from half to two hours due to \\(\\) Scuti-type pulsations of the primary component.

We present four newly validated transiting brown dwarfs identified through TESS photometry and confirmed with high-precision radial velocity measurements obtained from the FEROS and PLATOSpec spectrographs. Notably, three of these companions exhibit orbital periods exceeding 100 days, thereby expanding the sample of long-period transiting brown dwarfs from two to five systems. The host stars of long-period brown dwarfs show mild subsolar metallicity. These discoveries highlight the expansion of the metal-poor, long-period distribution and help us better understand the brown dwarf desert. In our comparative analysis of eccentricity and metallicity demographics, we utilize catalogues of long-period giant planets, brown dwarfs, and low-mass stellar companions. After accounting for tidal influences, the eccentricity distribution aligns with that of low-mass stellar binaries, presenting a different profile than that observed within the giant planet population. Additionally, the metallicity of the host stars reveals a noteworthy trend: short-period transiting brown dwarfs are predominantly associated with metal-rich stars, whereas long-period brown dwarfs are more often found around metal-poor stars, demonstrating statistical similarities to low-mass stellar hosts. This trend has also been previously observed in studies of hot and cold Jupiters and points to a period-coded mixture of channels. A natural explanation is that most brown dwarfs originate from fragmentation at wider separations, with long-period systems retaining this stellar-like imprint, while only those embedded in massive, long-lived, metal-rich protoplanetary discs are efficiently delivered and stabilised to short orbits.

Between 1976 and 2022, we monitored the distribution of nest sites across two habitats of the Saker Falcon , nesting in both the mountains and lowlands of Western and Eastern Slovakia. In Western Slovakia, we observed nesting in 79 known nest sites, accounting for 703 nesting attempts, while in Eastern Slovakia, we monitored 281 nesting attempts in 32 nest sites. The brood size varied between these regions; pairs in Western Slovakia produced an average of 3.0 nestlings, whereas those in Eastern Slovakia produced an average of 2.5 nestlings per successful nest. Throughout the period from 1976 to 2022, a total of 2,468 young Saker Falcons fledged in Slovakia. During this period, the range of breeding population gradually shifted to the lowland from the mountains. In the new, predominantly agricultural environment, the nesting success significantly increased from 57.1% in the mountains to 81.1% in the lowland. In Western Slovakia, the benefits of shift in habitat were further justified by the observation that the mean brood size per all breeding attempts in the lowlands was consistently above two young per brood most of the time. In contrast, pairs breeding in the mountains frequently produced two or fewer young per all breeding attempts. Additionally, our findings indicate that electrocution on mid-voltage (22 kV) power lines is the primary cause of mortality among Sakers in Slovakia, with collisions being the second leading cause.

In the period between the years 1976 to 2016 we monitored the nesting site distribution of two populations of saker falcon (Falco cherrug) concentrated in the highlands and adjacent lowlands of western and eastern Slovakia. In western Slovakia we recorded nesting by 56 pairs and 514 nestings, and in eastern Slovakia we observed nesting by 32 pairs and 245 nestings. There were similar nesting success rates in both regions, with pairs producing on average 3.2 young in every successful nest. During the monitored period as a whole a total of 1,788 young saker falcons were raised. At the same time all the pairs gradually resettled in the lowlands, and in the new environment the nesting success rate significantly improved (81.1% compared with 57.1 % in the highlands). This change of nesting biotopes was caused by the impacts of intensive exploitation and environmentally inappropriate forest management, with the accompanying excessive disturbance of nesting birds, but at the same time the disappearance of ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) colonies led to a change in the food spectrum for the observed saker falcon pairs. We evaluated the falcons’ feeding habits in western Slovakia between the years 1977 and 2016 (49 pairs; 1–17 pairs/year) and in eastern Slovakia between 2009 and 2016 (12 pairs; 1–3 pairs/year). Altogether 17,669 prey items were identified. From 1976 onwards mammals (Mammalia, 19.8%, 24 species) became gradually less represented as a component in the falcons’ diet compared with birds (Aves, 79.9%, 58 species). In areas of western Slovakia we found stable and predominant proportions of domestic pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) ranging from 52% to 62%. The proportion of pigeons was distinctly lower in eastern Slovakia (31.5%), compensated for by larger shares of common vole (Microtus arvalis), common starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) and hooded crow (Corvus cornix). The common starling (9.5%) was a significant prey species in the lowlands of western and eastern Slovakia alike. Mammals were mostly represented by common voles (9.8%), European hamsters (Cricetus cricetus, 5.3%), ground squirrels (2.1%) and hares (Lepus europaeus, 1.6%). Changes over time in the composition of falcons’ prey were also evaluated over five periods in western Slovakia.

From October 201 0 until December 201 4 the LIFE09 NAT/HU/000384 project was implemented in four Special Protected Areas in Slovakia. The recent project was complementary to a previous LIFE project implemented between 2006 and 201 0. Both projects supported regular monitoring of the population of saker falcon and new approaches to conservation of the species. The LIFE09 project helped to increase knowledge about the prey composition and the behaviour of the species. The population was strongly affected in 201 3 by extremely bad weather conditions (1 .79 fledglings/breeding attempt). Although the total number of saker falcon pairs in Slovakia is thought to be higher, 31 pairs were breeding in 201 4. By analysis of the diet (2991 individuals), 47 prey species were identified, from which birds were predominant (80%). More than half of the diet consisted of feral pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) (59%) Od októbra 201 0 do decembra 201 4 bol realizovaný projekt LIFE09 NAT/HU/000384 v štyroch Chránených vtácích územiach na Slovensku. Projekt nadviazal na predchádzajúci LIFE projekt, realizovaný v rokoch 2006 až 201 0. Oba projekty podporovali pravidelné sledovanie populácie sokola rároha a nové prístupy pre zachovanie druhu. Projekt LIFE09 prispel k zvýšeniu poznatkov o zložení potravy a rovnako aj o správaní sa tohto druhu. Populácia bola silne ovplyvnená v roku 201 3 mimoriadne zlými poveternostnými podmienkami pocasia (1 ,79 vyleteného mládata na zapocaté hniezdenie). Aj ked sa predpokladá, že celková populácia je vyššia, v roku 201 4 bolo zistených na Slovensku spolu 31 párov sokola rároha. Analýzou potravy (2991 jedincov), bolo identifikovaných 47 druhov koristi, z ktorých vtáky boli dominantné (80 %). Viac ako polovicu potravy tvoril holub domáci (Columba livia f. domestica) (59 %)

Eurasian eagle-owl ([Bubo bubo]) nesting in a nest box on a very high voltage electricity pylon In 2008 an Eurasian eagle-owl ([Bubo bubo]) nestled down for the first time in a wooden nest box with dimensions of 80×80×80 cm, installed on a very high voltage electricity pylon in open agricultural landscape near the village of Budkovce on the Východoslovenská rovina plain in Slovakia. Since 2008 it has nested in this nest box every year, raising 1 and 2×3 young. Nesting by an Eurasian eagle-owl in a nest box on a pylon in agricultural land has not previously been recorded in any part of its whole breeding range. An interesting discovery in 2010 was a clutch of four eggs laid by a common kestrel ([Falco tinnunculus]) found in the corner of the box, despite the fact that the Eurasian eagle-owls female and chicks were in the nest box.