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Steve Daniels

Member Since 02 Jan 2014
Offline Last Active Apr 02 2017 07:51 AM

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#24120 Crete Nature: How To Get Blood Out Of A Stone

Posted by Steve Daniels on 27 November 2016 - 09:55 AM

Ok folks, our mission for today is to clamber down through these rocks and explore that gully down there. To make things more interesting our route is lined with plenty of spiky plants so our chances of getting to the bottom without being bloodied and bruised are remote to say the least. This lethal looking bush here for instance, which I can’t quite place, looks capable of causing serious injury. I see that it’s producing tiny red fruits and as we have our botanist friend Steve Lenton with us today (although he’s opted to take a more sedate route) we’ll collect a couple and pass them on to him for identification. After all, there’s no point in having a dog and barking yourself. Talking of which, you wouldn’t just like to put your hand in and grab a couple of berries would you? Thought not. Here goes then. Ouch, first blood to the flora.

Read on at http://bit.ly/2fPWuIg

RidgeSl, RobertZebra, Curtispr and 4 others like this

#23783 Crete Nature: Descent Into The Milonas Valley

Posted by Steve Daniels on 20 November 2016 - 10:24 AM

Now that we’ve made it all the way up here we’ve got to get all the way back again but this time we’ll come down the Milonas (or Miller’s) Valley. So first we must descend that evil looking slope .

Autumn Crocus, Colchicum pusillum

A quick look at the flowers before we start our descent, most of which we met on the way up, such as the little yellow Sternbergia but there are also these delicate little Autumn Crocuses. Pretty little things that those of you with long memories may remember we met once before when we visited The Waterfall of Milonas a couple of years back and I told you the story of a famous murderer. On the plus side though, it was the original source of the drug colchicine which has a number of uses including treatment of Familial Mediterranean Fever. This is a rather nasty human disease caused by a genetic mutation specific to people of Eastern Mediterranean origin. Like nettles and dock leaves the problem and solution are to be found in the same place.

Read on at http://bit.ly/2fEmDXL

RobertZebra, Harriettner, Billygob and 5 others like this

#23239 Crete Nature: The Final Ascent

Posted by Steve Daniels on 11 November 2016 - 09:38 AM

Spiders, weird lichens, vultures and ferocious weather as we reach our journey’s end in the Thriptis Mountains in this week’s Crete Nature Blog: The Final Ascent http://bit.ly/2fCHMkh

RobertZebra, DonaldBum, StephenMon and 4 others like this

#22716 Crete Nature: The Only Way Is Up

Posted by Steve Daniels on 04 November 2016 - 09:53 AM

Solar powered wasps in space, vulture feathers and herbal tea are amongst the finds in this week’s Crete Nature Blog: The Only Way Is Up http://cretenature.b...-way-is-up.html

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RobertZebra, DonaldBum, AlinashamsOffiftacigo and 2 others like this

#22385 Crete Nature: Life In The Uplands

Posted by Steve Daniels on 27 October 2016 - 07:44 AM

That nice little mountain road that we found last week soon petered out into a dirt track but what the heck, we’ll see more by cutting across country anyway. Now that autumn is getting underway and there’s a bit more moisture about a few more flowers are starting to appear. They’re usually small up here remember so keep your eyes peeled and look in the nooks and crannies of the rocks.

Read on at http://cretenature.b...in-uplands.html

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RobertZebra, DanielAdvip, StephenMon and 2 others like this

#22145 Crete Nature: North By North West

Posted by Steve Daniels on 19 October 2016 - 10:29 AM

The thing about walking on these mountain roads is finding a place to get off them and strike out across country. As they are cut into the hillside you usually find yourself hemmed in by a high and unclimbable bank. The trick here is to look for the place where water crosses the road which can often be spotted by lines of Oleander straggling up and down. Where water comes down we can often go up such as at this spot here. Let’s give it a try.

Continues at at http://bit.ly/2erdFvP

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RobertZebra, DonaldBum, Curtispr and 3 others like this

#21983 Crete Nature: Into The Woods

Posted by Steve Daniels on 14 October 2016 - 08:09 AM

After last weeks detour to The Dew ponds of Katharo we’ll continue our journey up the valley, crossing the tarmac road that cuts across the hills between the villages of Agios Ioannes and Schninokapsala and head into the woods behind the church of St. George of Psychro.

Walnut Leaf Gall Mite, Aceria erinoea

As you can see there are plenty of deciduous trees here and if you can tear yourself away from picking up the walnuts on the floor for a moment there’s a little example of life here that’s worthy of our attention.

Read on... http://cretenature.b...nto-woods.html

RobertZebra, DonaldBum, Dentalst and 2 others like this

#21518 Crete Nature: The Dew Ponds Of Katharo

Posted by Steve Daniels on 06 October 2016 - 05:02 AM

Here we are, all dressed up in muted colours for the occasion, and our first job is to lie very quietly in the mud and see what’s happening. Read more at http://bit.ly/2dQ3J3z

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StanleyEt, WilliamBof, RobertZebra and 8 others like this

#20791 Crete Nature: Where Mary Sleeps

Posted by Steve Daniels on 29 September 2016 - 07:34 AM

Four footed butterflies, Mouse larders, Ivy and breast cancer, Geckos and more await you in this week's Crete Nature Blog

http://bit.ly/2djlh2Q

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StanleyEt, Roberttipt, RobertZebra and 6 others like this

#20132 Crete Nature Blog: Series 4 - The Journey Continues...

Posted by Steve Daniels on 23 September 2016 - 06:02 AM

The Crete Nature Blog is back. Series 4 The Journey Continues... http://bit.ly/2d7r38v

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BrantSl and Timothyexhab like this

#18506 Crete Nature: Riding The Griffin

Posted by Steve Daniels on 09 January 2016 - 09:40 AM

An ‘emotional’ farewell from the Crete Nature Blog in Riding the Griffin http://cretenature.b...ng-griffin.html

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StanleyEt, RidgeSl, ManuelBew and 7 others like this

#18462 Crete Nature: East Of Eden

Posted by Steve Daniels on 24 December 2015 - 11:03 AM

Lichen love life, natural cough medicine and Dumbledore in this week’s Crete Nature: East of Eden http://cretenature.b...st-of-eden.html

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StanleyEt, ManuelBew, Alteryelady and 2 others like this

#18442 Crete Nature: Just When You Thought It Was Safe…

Posted by Steve Daniels on 18 December 2015 - 09:39 AM

A dangerous discovery in this week’s Crete Nature. Just When You Thought It Was Safe… http://cretenature.b...t-was-safe.html

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StanleyEt, ManuelBew, Richardiubkcib and 3 others like this

#18428 Crete Nature: We'll Tak’ The High Road

Posted by Steve Daniels on 10 December 2015 - 09:02 AM

White ravens, the history of saffron, green and purple striped beetles and mushroom dyes make for a colourful Crete Nature this week http://cretenature.b...-high-road.html

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