Phoenicopterus ruber

303_9697 [Phoenicopterus ruber]

 

Flamingos:

This extraordinary, easily recognizable bird needs no introduction

but it’s good to remind that its family includes

very few species scattered worldwide,

of which only the Greater Flamingo (above) appears in Europe.

 

Being a migratory bird, it often visits Greece,

especially the island of Lefkada during the autumn and winter months.

It gets 1.20 - 1.50m in height, with a wingspan of 1.40 - 1.65m

and lives about 30 years!

Flying speed? A flock can reach 60km/h

and cover a distance of 600km in a night!

 

That said, I am tempted to confess

that I was ashamed not to know where they get that characteristic pink/reddish color,

until I found they get it through carotenoid pigments in their food.

That was a frightening discovery!

Do I run the danger of getting a pink face, I wonder,

if I keep eating carrots??? 

🤣

 

The picture was taken in Attica Zoological Park.

 

Clicking on the picture you can see it in higher resolution.

 

 

Parnassius apollo

304_3304 [Parnassius apollo]

Parnassius apollo flies from July to end of August on high altitudes (1000-2300m)

of almost all mountains from Spain through Europe to Central Asia.

This is why it is often called “mountain apollo”.

 

It prefers mountain fields and forests

but above the tree line it looks for rocky slopes.

It is very rarely found in shadowy and wet places.

 

Its populations vary from locally restricted to dense or extinct.

This is why it is completely or partially protected

in almost all countries where it flies

and is considered of a great interest to any collector.

 

A fairly large (70-80mm), beautiful butterfly with vivid colors and designs,

attractive to humans but threatening to predators!

 

A note, perhaps of interest, to photographers: 

The Apollo is rather lethargic. It stays for long periods on flowers

keeping the wings entirely open

and so it provides opportunities for a close view or a closeup photography.

 

The picture was taken on Mt. Oiti, central Greece.

 

 

 

 

Statue of Mother

801_6883 [Mana]

 

The Statue of Mother is located on the island of Aegina,

3 km north of the port of Aegina,

in the area of Plakakia. [37°45'54.5"N 23°25'26.6"E]

 

The spot is beautiful and attracts any visitor to the island.

It is only a walking distance away from the house

where Nikos Kazantzakis lived and wrote his works

and from the beautiful Bouza lighthouse.

 

The Statue of Mana is the work of the well-known Greek sculptor

of the 20th century (1909 - 1993) Christos Kapralos.

It is made of bronze and symbolizes the mother

who is waiting for her son who is a sailor to return from a long, multi-day, voyage.

 

A few meters opposite the statue

you can visit the Christos Kapralos Museum to enjoy remarkable exhibits.

 

 

 

801_6912 [Mana]

 

Please click on the picture

to enjoy the sunset in a larger resolution.

Wishes 2024

803_2522 [Christmas wishes]

 

Χρόνια σας Πολλά!

Galactites tomentosa

302_6233 [Galactites tomerosa]

 

Galactites tomentosa is a common Mediterranean plant

found along roadsides and waste lands in low altitudes.

 

It blooms from April to July and produces flowers of about 3 cm wide.

 

Photographed in Monemvasia area.

 

 

Clematis cirrhosa

IMG_2798 [Clematis cirrhosa]

 

Clematis cirrhosa is an evergreen, climbing shrub

that may climb more than 4-5 m.

It blooms in autumn and winter and produces a plethora

of scented, creamy-white flowers (18-30mm in length)

that, most of the times, cover the whole shrub,

especially in sunny locations.

 

In Greece, it spreads from Thessaly and further south

at heights of up to 600m.

 

 

 

IMG_2792 [Clematis cirrhosa]

 

From Mt. Hymittos, Oct. 20, 2023

 

 

Crocus cartwrightianus

302_2946 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

Crocus carwtrightianus is endemic to southern Greece.

It grows from sea level to 1000m in stony locations from October to December.

Its long red styles give it a unique, impressive look.

It is pretty similar to Crocus sativus, the cultivated species;

a fact that justifies why it is considered the ancestor of sativus.

 

The picture was taken on Mt. Paneio. 

 

 

 

801_1420 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

 The flower is predominantly purple-lilac (see above)

but it often comes in white, as well.

 

The picture is from Sounio.

 

 

Solanum elaeagnifolium

ΙΜΓ_2728 [Solanum elaeagnifolim]

 

 

 

 

This plant is a dense weed of maximum 1m in hight that originated from South America

and gradually spread to North America, Europe and other regions.

It has also acclimatized in southern mainland Greece.

 

It is a locally invasive species that grows in any dry open place available at low levels.

 

804_1197 [Solanum elaeagnifolium]

 

The plant blooms from May to November

and produces flowers of about 30 mm across.

 

 

804_1105 [Solanum elaeagnifolium]

The fruit is a small berry that becomes orange-yellow when it is ripe.

It is considered an ancestor of the “Tomato” that we so often use in our diet.