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Overview
Mt Parnassus is one of the highest mountains in central Greece at 2,457m and lies a few km east of the famous archeological and birding site of Delphi.
The Parnassus National Park is dominated by several high peaks and the scenery and forests here are among the most beautiful in the country. The virtually unspoilt forests consist largely of Greek Fir Abies cephalonica and this is one of the best preserved forests of this tree remaining in Greece.
Other habitats include upland meadows, with a rich and varied flora, scrub and high, bare limestone cliffs. The area is especially important for raptors but there is an excellent range of woodland birds to be seen.
Birds
Notable Species
Griffon Vulture and Egyptian Vulture both breed and Lammergeier may still do so, Short-toed Eagle and Golden Eagle and Peregrine Falcon are fairly common and easily seen.
The forests hold Eurasian Goshawk and Lanner Falcon breeds on the rocky crags. Woodpeckers are common and include Black Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker and Middle Spotted Woodpecker.
In the more open areas there are typical upland birds such as Rock Partridge, Alpine Accentor, Blue Rock Thrush, Alpine Chough, Wallcreeper and Snow Finch. Eastern Mediterranean specialities such as Western Rock Nuthatch, Ruppell's Warbler and Cretzschmar's Bunting can also be found here as well as Olive-tree Warbler and Eastern Olivaceous Warbler.
The ski resort has breeding Red-rumped Swallow and attracts scavenging Yellow-legged Gull.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
European Honey Buzzard, Lammergeier, Egyptian Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Eurasian Goshawk, Common Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Common Kestrel, Lanner Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Rock Partridge, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Alpine Swift, Black Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, Wood Lark, Horned Lark, Eurasian Crag Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Northern House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Common Dipper, Alpine Accentor, Eurasian Robin, Black Redstart, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Eurasian Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Olive-tree Warbler, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Ruppell's Warbler, Orphean Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Common Firecrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Coal Tit, Sombre Tit, Western Rock Nuthatch, Wallcreeper, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Alpine Chough, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, White-winged Snow Finch, Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Linnet, Cirl Bunting, Rock Bunting, Ortolan Bunting, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Black-headed Bunting, Corn Bunting
Other Wildlife
In addition to birds the park is well-known as an area of great botanical importance with several endemic species and races and many Greek specialities, particularly amongst the mountain meadow flora. Several species of Crocus can be seen including the purple C.veluchensis, and C.sieberi and the golden C.chrysanthus as well as the rosy lilic Colchicum catacuzenium and the delicate blue Anemone blanda.
Site Information
During the summer the park can be rather crowded, especially at weekends and the best time for birders or botanists to visit is May-June.
History and Use
To do
Areas of Interest
To do
Access and Facilities
The park is to the east of Delphi and can be reached via Arachova. Go through the village and after about 15km either take the left fork into the forest or the right which leads to the higher levels and the ski-centre.
Delphi provides a wide range of accommodation and forms the best base from which to explore the park.
Contact Details
To do
External Links
Content and images originally posted by Steve
