Dragons and Butterflies of Vromolimnos

We have never been to Skiathos in June and we were immediately struck by the colours. Not only was it very green but also very fresh and plants that hitherto we have never seen were in full colour.
We were almost glad that last year we did a lot of walking around the Kanapitsa area, we had previously found some lovely places to visit and we didn't want to have to walk too far this time. Not only would my knee become a restriction but on arrival in Skiathos, the temperature soared making it very hot for getting about. Last year we discovered Vromolimnos which is a very pretty beach but the short walk to it is also very beautiful and so were the butterflies this year.



The swallowtails were amazing and I confess that the first time I saw these, I had a tear in my eye, they are just so incredibly lovely. Not only because they look so nice but the sheer size and the way they fly almost takes your breath away.

The area around Vromolimnos is very unspoilt with few buildings and large areas of olive groves, pine trees and a big reed bed with a pool.



On my short trips to and from the beach, there were loads of wild flowers and I was lucky enough to spot lizards scurrying away, some wonderful birds and even a large snake winding it's way across my path.



If you have never been to Greece, especially Skiathos, it is hard to explain the heady smell of pine trees combined with wild herbs that grow throughout the island.



Over three days in a very small area, I counted more than 20 types of butterfly including three different species of swallowtail , which is quite surpising for such a small patch of ground and shows the beauty of leaving areas of ground unspoilt.



Greek Clouded Yellow (I think)





Zebra Swallowtail



Painted Lady

I overheard more than one tourist exclaim at the reed pool by the beach "Oh my goodness, a harbour for mosquitoes". Well, yes it is and there are an unusually high amount of them at the minute follwing quite a lot of rain during May, currently despite any amount of repellent, you are still likely to be bitten. However, the pools also harbour some very beautiful predators of "said" mosquitoes. These migrant hawker dragonflies patrol the water with their powerful flight, they are about three inches long.






Watching their wings glint in the sunlight never fails to capture me, how perfectly they are put together for such a voracious insect. I spotted others at the edge of the pool like this scarlet darter, which is rarely seen in Britain.



Also this fabulous blue eyed one in the waste ground by the side, which I am still trying to identify. Don't you just love those eyes.



When really watching them, I am almost surprised every time I see those eyes rotate, quite freaky to say the least, imagine being able to look around like that!


And over the top............this beautiful beach!





It also very handily has a taverna to appease that quenching thirst, some wonderful food and a lady called Christina (you don't forget a name like that, lol). She worked non-stop and was really friendly and looked after us very well. She is also a mean wasp swatter! I didn't really say she was "scary lady"!haha



So, if you see her, say Hi. I would love to be sitting there with an Amstel right now!

If you enjoyed seeong some Skiathos wildlife, there is more on my photography blog , the Kolios Version.