Wildlife· Naxos· Greece — Cyclades
Eleonora's Falcon Cliffs (Naxos)
36° 56.3′ N · 25° 29.4′ E · approximate
In late summer, slim dark Eleonora's falcons hunt tired migrant songbirds over the sea cliffs. NaturaGraeca says Naxos's vertical cliffs are ideal nesting sites for the species, and about two-thirds of the world's population breeds in Greece.
Practical
NaturaGraeca names Eleonora's falcon among Naxos's cliff-nesting raptors but does not give colony locations, so treat this position as a likely-habitat marker, not a known colony: the remote south-coast cliffs between Kalantos and Panermos (approx, in the water off the coast). Wikipedia: breeding is delayed until late summer to coincide with autumn migration; colonies nest on coastal cliffs and islets; the birds winter in Madagascar. Watch from the boat at dawn or dusk in Aug-Oct. Keep well off cliffs and islets in the breeding season and never land on islets with nesting birds.
Best for
Dawn and dusk falcon watching from the deck in late summer
Season
Late Jul-Oct (breeding and hunting)
Nearby
- Monk Seal Etiquette (Naxos coasts)0.5 NM away
- Rina Cave (Naxos south coast)0.6 NM away
- Rina Cave Swim & Snorkel (Naxos south coast)0.6 NM away
- Panermos–Rina–Kalantos Coast Trail (Trail 15)0.7 NM away
- Kalantos Bay & Harbour (Naxos)0.9 NM away
- Kalados Taverna & Studios (Kalantos Bay)1.1 NM away
- Naxos South-Coast Lee in Meltemi1.9 NM away
- Panermos West Coves (Naxos)2.2 NM away