Lesvos

11th-18th May 2006

Parakila

On our way to Ipsiliou Monastery we stopped off for an hour or so at Parakila Chapel.

Parakila Chapel

Here we found a couple of spectacular Dragon Arums. The black 'tongue' of the flower spike is around 30cm long and gives off a pungent smell of rotting flesh to attract the carrion flies it tricks into pollinating it.

Dragon Arum (Dracunculus vulgaris)

Sombre Tits were fairly common in the bushes around the chapel.

Sombre Tit (Parus lugubris)

Along the rough track that runs above the chapel we spotted numerous Agamas basking on the rocks in the early morning sun.

Starred Agama (Laudakia stellio)

A couple of miles before reaching Agra we stopped where a large culvert crossed under the road. A large flock of Rock Sparrows were feeding here among the broken rocks and rusty discarded car parts.

Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia)

On the outskirts of Agra, we stopped briefly to assist a Spur-thighed Tortoise that was attempting to cross the main road.

Spur-thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca)

Spur-thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca)