On the slopes of Mount Olympus, humid forests of sweet chestnut elucidated Lesvos’s historical name of Lassia (“the densely forested one”). We bimbled between rafts of peacock anemones whose rayed florets flushed intense scarlet or deep purple. Although too early for the outlandish Komper’s orchid, whose tubers are illicitly harvested for aphrodisiacs, we counted 14 other types of orchid. They included the amusingly named naked man orchid, whose priapic form suggests no need for performance enhancement.
Our week expired too soon. It was a wrench to leave such richness. I yearned to stay longer; others did. Our return flight departed half-empty, the more knowing wildlife-watchers remaining for a fortnight. Lesvos’s shoulder season was theirs.
Species to look out for on LesvosCinereous bunting
This lemon-headed, finch-like bird tops every visiting birdwatcher’s wish list because it is so hard to see anywhere else in the world. Except on Lesvos and two fellow Greek islands, it nests solely in the mountains of southern Turkey and southern Iran.
Starred agama
An inveterate sunbather, this dragon-like lizard typically crests the summit of cliff faces. Despite fierce looks, it is actually rather timid, never straying far from a bolt-hole. It is Europe’s sole species of agama; the remainder live in Asia or Africa.
Levant water frog
This large amphibian hops into Europe only in eastern Greece. Congregating opportunistically in lakes, ponds, streams and even cisterns, it is particularly noticeable in spring, when males seek to court females by quacking and rasping throughout both day and night.
Eastern festoon
Ranging from Albania to Iraq, this eye-catching, spring-flying butterfly graces open woodland and olive groves. Its lemony wings are stitched black and spotted with blazing red. Females lay their eggs on birthwort leaves, which the resulting caterpillars later munch.
Source link : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/greece/lesvos-sea-and-sun-greek-island-wildlife-spring/
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Publish date : 2024-02-10 03:00:00
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