Destinations
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Peloponnese 26 April – 3 May 2012
Trees and shrubs
In Greece, Syrian juniper is confined to this area. Other conifers are Aleppo and black pines and Grecian fir. Both species of strawberry trees occur, sometimes growing side by side. Kermes oak, lentisc, Jerusalem sage and various cistuses are common shrubs. Hillsides have evergreen maples and wild olives; we expect to find almond leaved-pear and Valonia oak. Around villages chaste tree is common, as is the pretty but invasive lantana.
Flowers
Spring flowers could include peacock and crown anemones, tulips Tulipa orphanidea and Tulipa australis, Cyclamen peloponnesiacum, Algerian iris, Iris attica, four-spotted and few-flowered orchids, grape hyacinth species, Fritillaria gracea and old friends like crown daisies and pitch trefoil.
Reptiles and mammals
The area boasts two endemic lizards. Greek rock lizards – distinctively unstriped – and chunky Peloponnese wall lizards are found nowhere else. That’s if the books are right: we wonder as nature guides show no wild boar here, but in chestnut forest we have found clear evidence from rootings, backed up by locals’ reports. Golden jackal occurs but is tricky to see: mammals more likely to be seen include stone marten and eastern hedgehog. Other reptiles include geckos, Balkan green lizard and marginated tortoise.
Birds
Those noted above plus egrets, including great white, slender-billed and Mediterranean gulls, buzzard, black-winged stilt, hoopoe, red-rumped swallow, blue rock thrush, black-eared wheatear, sombre tit, firecrest and cirl bunting.
Other wildlife
The area is under-recorded but spring butterflies could include Cleopatra, false Apollo, swallowtail, scarce swallowtail, eastern festoon, southern comma and southern white admiral. Praying mantis, violet carpenter bee and hummingbird hawkmoth are just a few of the supporting cast.
Peloponnese cyclamen
Eastern strawberry tree, photographed in autumn
Greek rock lizard
Peloponnese wall lizard
Violet carpenter bee
