Maroneia

This was my favourite visit of the trip (I think...). It was warm, the air filled with the calls of Hoopoes, Nightingales and the purring of Turtle Doves. There were aromatic herbs and abundant invertebrates. New bird species perched on tree tops and the Aegean sparkled. Travelling to the site we passed through Olive Groves and the roadsides hosted colourful weeds. There were numerous archaeological sites as the area has been occupied since the Neolithic and is well preserved.  Birds included: Rufous-tailed Bush Robin, Black-eared Wheatear, Lesser Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Alpine Swift, Red-backed Shrike, Cirl Bunting, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Tawny Pipit ...the list goes on! 

Olive Groves.

Excavations...

Cistus.

Bee Eater.

Walking down the track to the coast.

Lovely scrubby vegetation.

Looking out to Thasos.

Painted Lady.

Violet Carpenter Bee and Poppies.

A splash of colour.

Seed heads....

Grape Hyacinth.

Looking inland.

Rockrose sp.

The Aegean.

Coast.