Katelios is a popular holiday destination on the southeast of the island and is 32km from Argostoli. Only a few decades ago, Katelios was a collection of houses and huts used by a few fishermen. A few tavernas opened to feed the fisherman and make use of their catch. Word quickly spread of the excellent cuisine, and it became the holiday destination for the Argostolians. Although it is now popular with tourists from around the world, it remains a quiet and peaceful destination. People come to enjoy the wonderful food and crystal-clear waters with their gently shelving beaches, but how many of you know that it is a great place to spot wildlife?
Katelios is a short drive from our cottage, and it soon became a favourite spot for both my wife and me. Simone loves the long sweeping beach called Agia Varvara and the restaurants and tavernas. I love the food, but for me the scrubland behind the beach and the creek makes it an ideal place to photograph wildlife.
While Simone is sunbathing and swimming, I am usually walking along the dirt road that separates the beach from the scrub. It was along that road that I saw my first woodchat shrike and shortly after my first squacco heron which was hunting along the verge for small lizards and marsh frogs. The scrubland is also a great place for insect spotting. European mantids and numerous dragonflies perch on the highest weeds either resting or waiting for lunch to arrive.
Butterflies are also in abundance, with many species flitting along the road and over the scrub. My favourites are the swallowtails, with both common and scarce swallowtails showing well.
Shortly after arriving on the island to live, Simone and I were having a drink at Dreams (now Dreamcatcher), when a little egret flew down to the edge of the garden and began to preen. Dreams is at the end of Agia Varvara where the tavernas and restaurants start and has stunning views of the sea. Luckily, I still had my camera out and I managed to take a few shots before a member of staff ran towards the bird to frighten it away.
There are a couple of showers for people to wash the sand off, along the dirt road. When a lot of tourists have used them, then puddles form and the red-rumped swallows take advantage and collect mud for their homes. I have managed to get close to them as they are collecting the mud and got a few photos. The nests they build are a closed cup with an entrance tunnel to the cup and are said to be lucky if they nest on your property.
Just passed Dreams, heading towards the village is a short wooden bridge which spans a creek running into the sea. It is just before the Sea and Creek luxury suites and is a wonderful spot to watch wildlife. Standing on the bridge you are protected from any wind by a bamboo grove, so it can get a little warm. Numerous dragonflies hawk and rest on any available surface, while the marsh frogs sing their songs. Balkan terrapins can be seen in the creek, but you must be very still and quiet as they are easily disturbed and vanish quickly to the bottom of the creek.
If you are exceptionally lucky, you might spot a grass snake hunting small fish and tadpoles, but they are rare, and I have only seen a few over the last 2 years. More commonly you can see little ringed plovers, common sandpiper, and hooded crows foraging amongst the seaweed as the creek widens and disperses into the sea.
Katelios has wonderful restaurants, tavernas (and a good cocktail bar), and some great beaches, but for me, the wildlife will keep me returning to this special place.
All of these photos were taken at Katelios in the last 3 years
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