Destinations
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Crete 20 – 27 April 2010
Flowers
Crete’s rich flora of 1600 native species includes 140 endemic to the island, such as Cretan cyclamen and Cretan ebony. In April many orchids are at their peak with Cretan bee, naked man, few-flowered, rainbow, four-spotted and bumblebee orchids among 20 or more species. Shrubs like Jerusalem sage and cistus contribute to colourful and aromatic hillsides.
Birds
The mountains and gorges of Crete are a stronghold for birds of prey, with the largest population of griffon vultures in Greece. Lammergeier, Bonelli’s and golden eagles and buzzard all breed, as do crag martin, blue rock thrush, chough and raven. The hillsides and scrub support both Sardinian and the much rarer Rüppell’s warbler. At this time of year a whole range of birds passes through on migration, pausing especially at wetlands, however small; these might include red-footed falcon, alpine swift, bee-eater, squacco heron, little bittern and various waders and warblers.
Other wildlife
Even at this time of the year there are butterflies such as swallowtail, scarce swallowtail, cleopatra and eastern festoon. We often see freshwater crabs (see right); reptiles can include Balkan (stripe-necked) terrapin and Balkan green lizard.
Orchis boryi, Crete 2005 (Ivan Nethercoat)
More on vultures in Crete here.
www.cretewww.com is a website "dedicated to help record, conserve and promote the wildlife of Crete."
Freshwater – or land – crab
