Our Holiday to the Greek Island of Samos

My wife and I decided to spend a week relaxing on the Greek island of Samos. This unspoilt Greek island lies very close to the coast of Turkey and is situated in the centre of the Aegean, on the East side of the Sea of Icaria. The island has two large mountains, Mount Kerkis (or Kerketeus) in the west at a height of 1,434 metres and Mount Ambelos (or Karvounis) in the centre at a height of 1,150 metres.

Our Hotel was situated in the hillside above the small fishing village of Kokkari, on the North coast and Mount Ambelos and it's range of peaks and crags could be seen behind our hotel. There were numerous walks into the mountain valleys and around the Olive Tree escarpements. Some stunning views across the sea towards Turkey and overlooking Kokkari village and a short walk from the hotel, lead to a beautiful Chapel.

Our HOTEL situated in the Hillside overlooking Kokkari !! Cheap at half the price – Tony Davison©

This one looks a lot more like it! – Tony Davison©

Although not a birding holiday, I did manage to see some decent species from the Hotel and surrounding area. Early morning walks were a little disappointing and I expected to see far more butterfly species than were actually seen. Samos is a mini version of Lesbos and albeit a migrant hotspot in the spring. The discovery of a Two-tailed Pasha on a morning walk in the valley and an Aegean Meadow Brown along one of the escarpements, were both butterfly ticks. The only other butterflies seen were Cleopatra; Swallowtail; Possibly Southern Swallowtail; Large Skipper; Painted Lady; Comma;; Possibly Eastern Marbled Skipper and Small White.

Two-tailed Pasha – Tony Davison©

Robber Fly species – Tony Davison©

Birds seen during the week were – Large numbers of Scopoli's Shearwaters, one evening, off shore after very strong southerly winds; several Grey Heron; 2 Short-toed Eagle; 4 Long-legged Buzzard; 3 Eleonora's Falcon; numerous Yellow-legged Gull; 1 Audouin's Gull; 1 Turtle Dove; numerous Collard Dove; 1 Hoopoe; at least 6 calling Tawny Owl; numerous Alpine Swift, several Pallid Swift amongst hundreds of Common Swift; 1 Crested Lark at the airport; 4 Red-rumped Swallow; hundreds of Swallow & House Martin; 4 Sardinian Warbler; 2 Olivaceous Warbler; numerous Jay & Hooded Crow; Blackbird, Chaffinch, Great Tit, House Sparrow.

The following piuctures will hopefully give a feel to the village of Kokkari and the area in which we spent our weeks holiday.