Due to the current crisis, facebook are not allowing links
to be posted to sites talking about microscopic things
beginning with v. As my next blog is about bacteria,
archaea and microscopic things beginning with v they
have blocked links to it. Try
Here: http://bit.ly/stevesnature191
to be posted to sites talking about microscopic things
beginning with v. As my next blog is about bacteria,
archaea and microscopic things beginning with v they
have blocked links to it. Try
Here: http://bit.ly/stevesnature191
The
topographer came yesterday to measure the house and grounds in case
they had mysteriusly changed since the original contract of sale
(they had; another storey had been added which the builder and
architect had assured us that they would legalize but apparently...
and a couple of metres of land behind the house had sort of atttaced
itself to the new government Land Registry – nuffink to do wiv me
guvn'r, me 'and must of slipped when I was mappin' it on Google
Earf). So, with a bit of toing and froing with lawyers next week the
house should be legal enough to sell. The topographer swarmed up and
down walls and olive trees with his GPS on a stick, the real estate
agent bumbled about trying to look useful and I weeded the garden.
When they'd eventually beetled off I tidied the barbecue area, sat
down to an al fresco luch and looked over the last five series of the
Crete Nature Blog. What fun we had!
Series
six took us on a tour of the upland villages of eastern Crete. We
went carob kibbling in Schinokapsala,
communed with the endemic Cretan Frogs in Orino,
explored the gypsum hills of
Chrysopigi,
learnt the explosive
history of Santa Barbara (which wouldn't be out of place in a Terry
Paratchett Discworld Novel) in Sklavoi,
and investgated the strange purple ponds of Lithines
amongst other adventures en
route.
Series
7 took us on a long, circular route around Agioi Saranta (The
40 Saints), a limestone massif above the village of Koutsounari.
Here we tracked the progress of a pair of ravens which we named
Huginn and Muninn and who eventually delighted us by producing a
third raven which we named Loki. We also came across some goats that
appeared to be experimenting with levitation and a whole host of
orchids that, in some places around the Mediterranean, are being
eaten to extinction by.. us humans!
By
the time Series 8 came around the blog was getting to be pretty
popular and people were asking if they could join me on my walks and
I dutifully obliged with a programme of Sunday
Strolls. These took us to places such as Bramiana reservoir, the
delightful little village of Sisi on the north coast, the Almyros
wetlands and Kroustas Forest where we were treated to a spectacular
flypast of Griffon Vultures. We also enjoyed some fabulous lunches at
village tavernas.
When
Series 9 came around it was time for a revamp. Although we hadn't
been everywhere and seen everything the places left to visit and the
wildlife yet to be observed were taking on an all too familiar hue. A
couple of new features were Walking
Notes
so that anyone could follow our adventures at a later date and In
The Lab. Apart
from loafing about the countryside and blogging about it you may be
surprised to know that I am a Consulting Naturalist doing field
research for various universties, monitoring various insect
migrations such as the Painted Lady butterfly and the Marmalde
Hoverfly. This often involves lab. work so I invited you into my home
laboratory to see what I get up to when your not looking. (I am really
looking forward to setting up a new home laboratory when I get to Cumbria).
Finally
we started doing a bit of Fieldcraft
and Foraging and
following on from this, tasting the results which led to a spin-off
blog, Steve's
Wild Kitchen with recipes including Chicken Chow Mein with Wood
Sorrel Root, Simple Marmalade and the Great Cumbrian Breakfast with
Garlic Mustard. This is something I hope to develop more when I start
inflicting my blogs on you from Cumbria.
Apart
from that I've written The
Quick Guide To Creepy-Crawlies
which can be used anywhere in the world and is suitable for all ages.
For this, and for other books I have written or have yet to write,
you can follow me on Amazon
or if you have a general interest in Greece and the Greek islands (as
I know many of you have) I am currently pulling a group of bloggers
and authors together under the banner Books
& Blogs Authors and here you can find all of your favourites:
for
all the latest publications from myself, Yvonne
Payne,
Janet
Ellis,
Kathryn
Gauci,
Richard
Clark,
Gabi
Ancarola,
Marjory
McGinn,
Chris Moorey,
John Manuel, Suzi
Stembridge,
Ian
Yates
and
Ruth Kozak with more to come.
Crete
Nature Catch-up
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LINKS:
Share
your nature thoughts, photos and comments on Naturalists
(the
facebook page that accompanies this blog)
Explore
the region with the #CreteNature interactive Hiking
and Nature Map
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