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....about Agios Georgios north, Corfu
 Nature Corner |
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NATURAL HISTORY CORNER |
Around Agios Georgios |
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Many visitors
to Corfu love to observe the different types of wildlife and plants, especially
wild flowers, found in this hot and dry Mediterranean climate.
Due to the
variations in climate through the holiday season the plants and wildlife likely
to be encountered will change each month. 
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Larger
Photograph
(may be slow downloading) |
These pages are simply a
collection of observations made by a holiday visitor over a few years in order
to give some indication of just what is around.
They are not a guide to any of
the topics nor are there any comprehensive lists or descriptions, although I
have attempted to identify some of the flowers. 
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Woodcock
Orchid |
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Taking notice of the
natural world around us is an ideal way to 'chill out'. Just slow down, pause,
and observe. Thoughts of what you see will replace those stressful thoughts you
are trying to get away from. How many times did I hurry to and from the beach
before I noticed this lovely yellow 'weed' on the roadside bank ? (see its
full glory in the Flower gallery 'Autumn')
The
Agios Georgios countryside, (extended to include the areas covered by my
suggested walks on my main web-site) is
wonderfully varied including sea cliffs; sandy beaches; garrigue with its open
sun-drenched areas covered with wild flowers and low thorny shrubs; shady
mature olive groves; small agricultural fields; herb-filled road verges; and
even steep inland cliffs. Nowhere to be seen are any huge arable fields with
their monotonous crops.
Several centuries ago the area
would have probably been covered by a forest of oaks and other indigenous tree
species but years of human influence removed this, particularly grazing of
sheep and goats and clearances for planting the thousands of olive trees. The
present-day extensive green canopy is mainly a forest of olives.
Strolls along the narrow roads,
tracks and footpaths will reveal a wide range of flowers as well as breeding
birds of several kinds, colourful butterflies, insects and maybe some
cold-blooded creatures too. The roadside banks are full of rustles, usually a
sign of a small lizard scurrying to shelter. |
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Everywhere there is
something to see. Even the sandy beach contains some interesting flowers,
including one conserved species, the Sea Daffodil, which displays its
snow-white blooms in late summer. It survives months of dry scorching Corfu
heat by burying its fleshy bulb deep in the cooler depths of the sand. |
Sea
Daffodil |
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A peep into one of the many colourful
gardens revealed this beautiful swallowtail butterfly sipping nectar. |
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These
pages have been put together over a period of several years mainly from
observations by the web-site owner while on annual holiday but with a few
photographs from other web-site visitors.
The web-site owner has no real
expertise on any of the topics featured. They are included in the hope that
visitors will open their eyes to the natural history which is around them on
their trips to Corfu and get more enjoyment from their walks.
(Any
contributions about definitely identified subjects or corrections to my notes
will be gratefully received)
There are a few photographs which you may
enjoy plus one or two short sound files of memorable sounds to remind
you of your Corfu holiday.
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So switch on your
speakers and wander around the Agios Georgios countryside, peer closely into
some wild flowers, and listen to the nightingales, the cicadas, the night
frogs, and a sad owl. |
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Note for
Visitors staying at Arillas or Agios Stefanos
Although most
of the photographs were taken on walks around or close to Agios Georgios north
I am sure that many of the species can also be seen in the countryside around
Arillas and Agios Stefanos NW. So contributions from any nature lovers staying
in those areas will also be appreciated. |
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