Crete's spring flowers & migrating birds

A spring visit to the Greek island of Crete is a delight. Crete’s climate, terrain and enviable position in the southern Mediterranean have created an outstanding flora. There are over 1,600 species of flowering plant on the island, of which at least 139 are endemic.

Hoopoe by David Morris

In April the verges and fields burst into bloom with carpets of poppies, Sea Stocks, ranunculus, gladioli, daisies and a multitude of other flowers. Our visits in April also coincide with bird migration – herons, raptors and ‘falls’ of tired passerines, among many other birds, break their journey northwards to replenish in Crete’s olive groves, scrub, maquis and marshy fields.

Tour leader Jenny Willsher describes some of the highlights from the first of our three April holidays so far …

• Spring was late, but flowers still superb
• Exceptional displays of flowers on the Omalos Plateau
• A fall of Hoopoes
• Good views of waders at Gouves lagoons
• Clients loved Plakias

For more information on our tour to Crete, click here.