Covering over 150 sites in Europe and North Africa, this guide opens up a world that a lot of visitors to the area glimpse but few really explore. Habitats of every type are included, from the forested uplands of the Pyrenees and the olive groves of Spain to the marshes of northern Italy and the deserts of Morocco, revealing an extraordinary richness of flora and fauna in every region. Written for the enthusiast rather than the specialist, this guide contains a key to the area's main groups of plants and animals, describing not just their appearance and behaviour, but also how they relate to the wider environment. The core of the book is a guide to the major wildlife - and especially birdwatching - sites of nine Mediterranean countries. It tell the reader where and when to see spectacular species such as bee-eaters and eagles, turtles, bears and boars, orchids and anemonesa and points out the discoveries to be made in even the least promising surrounding. Each of the country-by-country sections is backed up with a full range of maps and practical details on where to stay near the sites and how to get to them by car, on public transport or on foot.