Those familiar with Gerald Durrell’s books about his time on Corfu as a child, will recognise many of the animals you can find on Paxos. Being relatively unspoilt and undeveloped, Paxos has a rich wildlife and plant life that varies throughout the year.
In the spring, exotic migratory birds come through the island on their trip back to Europe. We see Hoopoes, Golden Oriels, and many other species transit through the island, restocking for their journey north. Most of the wild plants on the island do most of their flowering in May and June. Lemons from the tree are often at their best in spring. After dusk on a still night in May, you see hundreds of fireflies flashing all across the olive groves.
In the summer, the days are hot and the evenings balmy. Swallows and buzzards hunt for their food high above the villa. Hedgehogs waddle across your path as you take a torchlit walk back to the villa after dinner. Tortoises are active on the island, although we haven’t seen any ourselves yet. Out to sea amongst the boats you can sometimes see a local pod of dolphins playing or fishing. Many of the gardens on Paxos are in summer bloom, most famous being the purples and whites of the Bougainvillea.
In the autumn, the migratory birds return on their journey south. You still hear the single hoot of the tiny Scops Owl. Bats do their acrobatics in the dusk, pursuing insects. The olives ripen. Pomegranates and figs are usually at their best and are great to use in recipes.
In the winter, it rains a lot in Paxos and few people visit. This rain is the reason that Paxos and Corfu are such lush and green islands unlike so many of the islands on the other side of Greece in the Aegean.