Coot-Shepherd Gull

A flock of c.1000 Coots was actually driven by a lone Yellow-legged Gull in Lake Paralimni, 100 kms north of Athens. They were very aware of the opportunistic gull who may easily prey on injured or sick birds. Lake Paralimni hosted more than 3.000 Coots along with hundreds of ducks, grebes and cormorants. Unfortunately hunting is permitted and the birds are very hard to approach...

Lake Dystos Winter Trip

Lake Dystos is one of the best places for birdwatching in Evia island. A half-day trip in late January yielded 57 species, among them birds of prey like Long-legged Buzzard and Merlin.

(The lake seen from the south)

Among other species seen was one White Stork foraging on the surrounding fields. White Storks are rather regularly found in Dystos every winter, usually single birds. They have also been recorded in summer, although no nest has been found yet.

As mentioned before, Dystos is also important for birds of prey. Peregrines are resident breeders, while juvenile birds (like this one) come in fall and winter.

One of the "specialties" of Lake Dystos is the Sombre Tit. Widespread and fairly common, it is usually found in the west hillsides, in olive groves or oak stands.

Northern Greece Part 4 - Wildcat and various pics

European Wildcats are rare mamals, resembling domestic cats. This one was at Evros Delta, during the second foggy day.

Wildcat (Felis silvestris) - αγριόγατα


Dead Cormorants can be seen in the fishing port of Porto Lagos, were nets protect the fish from such attacks. This is saddly the case since years now...



Common Buzzards arrive in hundreds during winter time in Evros Delta. Breeding birds are also numerous


Reed Bunting at Evros Delta

Wallcreeper

Wallcreeper is one of the species that is in most birder's wish list. This secretive mountainous species is breeding in Mt Olympus, were fellow birder Savvas Vasiliadis managed to take some shots. More species of Mt Olympus, at his blog http://olympusnp.blogspot.com/





Wallcreeper at Mt Olympus, photo by Savvas Valisiadis

Northern Greece Part 3 - Winter visitors and a woodpecker

Syrian Woodpecker around Rodopi Lakes


Tundra Swans at lake Vistonida


Great Grey Shrike at Porto Lagos Saltpans


Merlin at Evros Delta

Northern Greece Trip - Part 2, the breeding highlights

Pygmy Cormorants and Dalmatian Pelicans are breeding in Evros Delta and Porto Lagos Lagoon. During a birding day in the area, one can see hundreds of these beautiful and world endagered species. They are usually not afraid of human presense, so one can take some nice pics.




Pygmy Cormorants (Phalacrocorax pygmeus) at Evros Delta




Dalmatian Pelicans (Pelenacus crispus) at Porto Lagos


Dalmatian Pelicans at Evros Delta

Trip to North- Greece (Evros Deltas, Porto Lagos, Rodopi Lagoons)

I recently took a 3 day trip (Jan 3-5th) at the North-East part of Greece. Evros Delta, Porto Lagos and Rodopi Lagoons are some of the most important bird areas o Southern Europe.
I used Steve Mills book, which I find mostly useful for spring and autumn migrations, however several hints about wintering species were extremely helpful.
Road conditions were superb, very few spots with mud terrain. I had 88 species overall. Highlight of the trip, a female Little Bustard, a rare winter visitor in Greece. I saw the bird in Porto Lagos beach, close to the Bird Information Center.




Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) at Porto Lagos, Jan 4th 2012

Food was cheap, gas consumption was super high with a Hyundai Tucson 4x4 (665 km, needed 90 lt of unleaded gasoline!), but the overall experience was unforgettable. The temperature was from -10 to +3 degrees Celcius. The days were sunny and sometimes fuggy over Evros Delta. Porto Lagos lagoonwas full of birds, more than anywhere else, Drana Lagoon is huge and difficult for bird observation since birds are very far away.


Things I enjoyed the most:
1. Little Bustard at Porto Lagos
2. Raptors (Goshawk, Merlin, Buzzards), Dalmatian Pelicans and Pygmy Cormorants at Evros Delta
3. White-tailed Eagles at Ismarida Lake
4. The landscape at Evros river, close to Ferres
5. Hen Harriers soaring low over ground, often at dusk
6. Hundreds of waterfowl at Porto Lagos Lagoon

I will be posting several pics from the trip during the next weeks...

Trip to Evros Delta, December 2011 (Part 3)

Greylags used to be very common winter visitors in the past. Nowadays, however, they are much less common, being greatly outnumbered by White-fronted. Few tens of birds are seen each year in Evros Delta, in contrast to several thousands of WF. A very small breeding population is found in Prespa Lakes, numbering less than 50 pairs. 

Trip to Evros Delta, December 2011 (Part 2)

Tundra Swans Cygnus columbianus are the least common of the swans found in Greece. However, in Evros Delta they usually outnumber Whooper Swans, and several hundreds of birds can be seen in winter. This year they have already arrived in good numbers, and their characteristic calls can be heard from early December. 

Λεπτόραμφος γλάρος - Larus genei - in Methoni Pierias

foto charis kourouzidis

Trip to Evros Delta, December 2011 (Part 1)

Evros Delta is one of the best sites for wintering birds, especially wildfowl. It hosts the largest numbers of Geese in Greece, as well as many other interesting species, including rarities like Little Bustard that was sighted a few days ago. It is also a very good place for photographers, especially those seeking good close-ups of birds like this Spoonbill that was feeding a few metres away. 

Urban birding - part II

Common Buzzard at Faliro Delta, Pireaus


Common Buzzard at Faliro Delta, Pireaus


Common Buzzard at Faliro Delta, Pireaus


Kestrel at Faliro Delta, Pireaus


Common Buzzard at Faliro Delta, Pireaus

Urban birding - part I

With the cost of gasoline raising up to 1.60 euros/lt and the fact that family is always in priority, time for long trips for birding is limited. Therefore, most birders start to go out for birdwatching more often in our local patches.
I recently went to Faliro Delta, close to Peace and Friendship Stadium, at Pireaus. I had the chance to see quite few species, ad get some nice pics of two Common Buzzards that were soaring just above Posidonos Avenue


Great Crested Grebe at Faliro, Pireaus


Sky Lark and Crested Lark at Faliro, Pireaus


Robin at Faliro, Pireaus


Crested Lark at Faliro, Pireaus


Great White Egret at Loutsa Lagoon, Athens

Another Greek Specialty - Pheasant

Greece has rhe privilege of holding the only true "wild" Pheasant population in Europe. In Nestos Delta, a good number of birds thrives in the forest edges feeding on the adjacent fields. As shown in the photo, they differ from the released Pheasants as they lack the white collar and they're also smaller and darker. 

Oh my Gad(walls)

Gadwalls are the least common of the "common" wintering ducks of Athens. Seen usually singly or in small groups of less than 10 birds, they are very shy, always keeping a safe distance. Six birds were seen this month in Lake Koumoundourou, among Teals, Shovelers, Ferruginous and Mallards. 

Griffon Vultures over Athens

3 Griffon Vultures were seen soaring over Athens at Spata area. Here's is a pic of the two of them, kindly provided by Nikos Fokas
Pygmy Cormorant is still in Tritsis Park, Athens

Please read the following report from Evros Delta, Thrace

On November 22nd, during the monitoring of birds from the Management Body of the Evros Delta National Park, 2 female Little Bustards Tetrax tetrax were observed. The observation was made in "Dimitriadis” area and the Little Bustards were near a group of about 100 White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons.

Note that the species is rare in Greece and is included in the List of Rare Birds.

Panagiotis Ioannidis

Moustached skulker

Being the only Acrocephalus warbler winterng in the area, the Moustached Warbler is always a joy to see. Of course, as a true representative of its genus, it is very hard to catch, skulking in the base of the reedbeds, rarely coming out in the open and only for a few seconds. This one was seen in Schinias National Park today, November 28th, 2011.

Six o'clock Tea(l)

Teals are by far the most common and widespread wintering ducks in Athens. They are found in every wetland, usually in flocks that range in size from a few birds to a few hundreds. They are also the most easily seen outside water as they enjoy sun-bathing! 

Great White Visitor in Vravrona

The Great White Egret has become a regular winter visitor in several wetlands of Athens. More recently, one bird spends its time along with a Grey Heron and a Little Egret in the estuary of Erasinos River in Vravrona. And why not? There's plenty of fish in the shallow waters and disturbance is limited. Let's hope it has a nice stay!

Great Surprise from a "Pygmy" Visitor

Pygmy Cormorants have become quite common sights in Northern Greece. However, observations in southern Greece are very rare and irregular. One of those "stranglers" however, has chosen the Tritsis Environmental Awareness Park, which is situated north of Athens, to spend some time. Seen alone or among the small flock of Cormorants that is also wintering there, the bird is rather wary and will keep itself concealed, being out in the open only when resting on an islet found in the largest of the lakes of the Park. Let's hope that this is just the beginning and more birds will appear in the future!

Mighty Loons

Kalochori Lagoon near Thessaloniki is well known among Greek birdwatchers. Among the very interesting species seen there, are Black and Red-throated Divers. The latter are unusual winter visitors so every encounter is noteworthy.

 Black-throated Divers (G.arctica) are common winter visitors, especially in coastal Northern Greece

Red-throated Divers (G.stellata) are much less common, however there's seems to be an increase in the last few years

A lizard with the eyes of a snake

The Snake-eyed Lizard is resident in most of the Aegean islands close to Asia Minor as well as in coastal Thrace. Its difference from all other lizards is that it lacks eyelids, having a transparent membrane instead. This   ind. was seen in Lesvos Island, June 2011. 

Close encounters of the finch kind

This Chaffinch was REALLY close (a little bit closer and my lens wouldn't focus!) and the funny thing was that she actually came towards me and not the other way round....It seems she liked me! Today, a total of 40 species were seen in Vravrona wetland, including Great White Egret, Sparrowhawk, Penduline Tit and Fan-tailed Warbler.

Black & White Beauties

Avocets are one of the most beautiful birds of Europe. Especially when seen in flight when their black and white wings are shown in full extent, like these two birds seen in Mesolonghi Lagoon. 

Audouin's Gulls' close-ups

Audouin's Gulls are usually seen in the Dodecanese and the Cyclades archipelago. They are very rare in coastal areas of mainland Greece. However, in Kymi Port of Evvoia, which may be an island but it is connected with a bridge with mainland Greece, as many as 10 birds can be easily seen.

 Bird are flying very close to fishing boats, looking for scrap

It is not unusual to see resting Audouin's Gulls, along with other species