From Opus

[edit] Overview

Close to the Albanian border in the north-west of Greece, this national park contains some of the most dramatic scenery in the country. The rivers flow through gorges with sheer limestone walls or densely forested slopes of Black and Bosnian Pine, Beech and Chestnut.

There are bare rocky peaks reaching more than 200m at Timfi and Smolikos.

[edit] Birds

[edit] Notable Species

Birds include typical mountain species such as Alpine Accentor, Red-billed Chough and Western Rock Nuthatch, Common Dipper and Common Kingfisher breed along the streams and several woodpeckers are found in the dense forests including Black Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker and White-backed Woodpecker.

However, it is the raptors that appeal most to the birders that visit this area. Lammergeier, Griffon Vulture and Egyptian Vulture occur, as well as Golden Eagle, Booted Eagle and Short-toed Eagle, Western Honey-Buzzard, and Peregrine Falcon and Lanner Falcon.

[edit] Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

White Stork, Western Honey-Buzzard, Lammergeier, Egyptian Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Golden Eagle, Booted Eagle, Lanner Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Rock Partridge, Eurasian Scops Owl, Common Kingfisher, Black Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, Wood Lark, Common Dipper, Alpine Accentor, Northern Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Subalpine Warbler, Sombre Tit, Western Rock Nuthatch, Wallcreeper, Red-backed Shrike, Red-billed Chough, White-winged Snow Finch, European Serin, Cretzschmar's Bunting

[edit] Other Wildlife

Mammals found in this very remote area include Brown Bear, Lynx, Wolf and Jackal, Chamois, Wild Boar, Roe Deer and Wild Goat.

The plant life consists of a great many subalpine and rock-living species.

[edit] Site Information

[edit] History and Use

To do

[edit] Areas of Interest

The Vikos Gorge with nearly 1000m high walls is spectacular and reached from the village of Monodendri.

[edit] Access and Facilities

North of Ioannina on the N20 road is the village of Konitsa where accomodation is available. The park is immediately south of here.

There is also hotel accomodation within the park at Mikro Papingo.

[edit] Contact Details

To do

[edit] External Links

To do

Content and images originally posted by Steve