Spring and winter are the best months. Spring is very good for passage migrants and summer visitors while in winter ducks are abundant, attracting many birds of prey. Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
VISIT
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IME TO
birdwatchers at Gialova. Every year, Ospreys overwinter at the lagoon - one of the few sites they occur in Greece. Many ducks crowd the waters of the lagoon to find food, while the Imperial Eagle and the Bittern also visit the area. Mute Swans and Greater Flamingos are almost always around, while Cormorants often rest at the oblong islet of Sfaktiria (7), which shelters Navarino bay. One of the most spectacular views you can get at the wetland is that of Cormorants fishing from one canal to another. Fish often hop outside the water and herons pack the shores waiting for them. It is also stunning at dawn, when the wetland is covered with fog until the morning sun clears the sky. You can go to the island of Sfaktiria by boat from the port of Pylos. A journey there could reward you with views of the Peregrine Falcon. Alternatively, you can follow the path located at the foot of the hill of Palaiokastro. And if you feel like climbing up the hill, you will enjoy the most beautiful views of the lagoon! From this spot (8) you can observe with a telescope or binoculars all the bird species that visit the area. It also is the territory of the local Eagle Owl pair. During migration, rare species have been recorded, such as the Crane, the Dotterel, even the Velvet Scoter off the coast!
Other interesting fauna/flora The area is also renowned for the African Chameleon Chamaeleo africanus that breeds here. HOS monitors and protects this species with special care. This is the only site in Europe where this sensitive reptile occurs, and raising the awareness of locals and visitors is very important for its survival. Moreover, the area next to the lagoon of Gialova is a breeding site of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, another species for which Greece has great responsibility. Large mammals are rare to the area, but there are many species of small mammals and bats.
EXTRAS At the end of the tour, on the main dyke you will see signs that lead you to the wooden trail created by HOS. This “Nature Trail� is a beautiful route encircling the area to reveal some of the secrets of the flora but also to offer you a closer look of the wetland and its inhabitants.
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