Photos with this report (click to enlarge) | |||
 Little Owl |
 Black Stork |
 Griffon Vulture |
|
 Short toed Eagle |
 White Pelican |
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From the beginning we knew that September was not the best time of year for birding in Northern Greece. We used Dave Gosney guide "Finding birds in Greece" (completely out of date) and Steve Mills "Birdwatching in Northern Greece" as guides for areas. Driving conditions and weather were excellent.
Itinerary:
Thessalonika Airport - Lake Kerkini
Lake Kerkini
Lake Kerkini - War Memorial (near Bulgarian Border) - Promachonas
(Bulgarian Border)
Lake Kerkini - Nestos - Porto Lagos - Fanari - Dadia
Dadia - Lefkimi
Dadia - Evros Delta- Loutros Hill
Lake Ismarida - Porto Lagos - Thessalonika Airport.
The trip was a little disappointing despite our low expectations. Low populations of birds in all areas. The impact of Economical upheaval in Greece were clear. The spread of farming and fishing into the sensitive areas, with the anti-bird net etc was disappointing.The exteme shyness and nervousness of all the birds, suggesting that there is some hunting going on.
Evros Delta was a huge disappointment. The driving surfaces around the delta that were damaged in winter 2012 have not been repaired. The amenities around Dadia forest are still closed. Feeding the vultures has been reduced to once per week. Lake Koronia was completely drained. Several locals are trying very hard to support nature conservancy and Birdwing (http://www.birdwing.eu/) are very active. Great accommodation especially Thrassa Hotel.
(Several- up to 10; Common - up to 50)
1.Little Grebe: several Lake Kerkini / Porto Lagos
2. Great Crested Grebe: several Lake Kerkini / Porto Lagos
3. Great Cormorant: Common at Lake Kerkini, fishing in large groups.
4. Pygmy Cormorant: Common at Lake Kerkini
5. White Pelican: c60 at Lake Kerkini
6. Dalmatian Pelican: many 100s at Lake Kerkini
7. Night Heron: Several including Juveniles Lake Kerkini
8. Squacco Heron: Several at Lake Kerkini
9. Little Egret: Common
10. Great White Egret: common
11. Grey Heron: common
12. Black Stork: 3 Lake Kerkini
13. Glossy Ibis: Several Lake Kerkini
14. Spoonbill: Several Lake Kerkini
15. Greater Flamingo: many 100s Lake Kerkini / Porto Lagos
16. Mute Swan: 7 Porto Lagos
17. Shelduck: 4 Porto Lagos
18. Teal: several Lake Kerkini
19. Gadwall: 2 Porto Lagos
20. Mallard: common
21. Shoveler: 1 Lake Kerkini
22. Ferruginous Duck: 3 Lake Kerkini
23. Griffon Vulture: 2 at Dadia Radio Mast (Lefikimi)
24. Short-toed Eagle: 1
25. Marsh Harrier: Lake Kerkini / Porto Lagos
26. Sparrowhawk: Singles seen
27. Levant Sparrowhawk: 2-3 seen
28. Peregrine 1-2 at Dadia Radio Mast (Lefikimi)
29. Common Buzzard: Several
30. Booted Eagle: 1
31. Kestrel: several
32. Hobby: A single en route
33. Moorhen: Several
34. Coot: Common
35. Ringed Plover: 2 ?
36. Black-headed Gull: Several
37. Yellow-legged Gull: common
38. Whimbrel 1-2 seen Porto Lagos
39. Curlew 2-3 seen Porto Lagos
40. Spotted Redshank 1.3 Porto Lagos
41. Greenshank 1-3 Porto Lagos
42. Sandwich Tern: 3 at Porto Lagos
43. Common Tern: 2 at Porto Lagos
44. Whiskered Tern: Porto Lagos
45. White-winged Black Tern: 1 possible at Porto Lagos
46. Feral Pigeon/Rock Dove: Only seen around habitation
47. Woodpigeon 1-2 seen
48. Collared Dove: Common
49. Little Owl: 1 seen
50. Common Swift: common
51. Alpine Swift: 1-2 seen
52. Kingfisher: 5 seen and heard
53. Bee Eater: > 30 Seen and heard in many places
54. Hoopoe: Single seen
55. Grey-headed Woodpecker: 2 heard at Promachonas
56. Green Woodpecker: Singles heard calling
57. Great Spotted Woodpecker: Seen several times
58. Syrian Woodpecker: Seen once feeding on nut tree in Hotel Plotini Evos
Delta
59. Middle Spotted woodpecker: twice heard
60. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker: twice heard
61. Crested Lark: Common
62. Woodlark -seen once
63. Common Redstart -seen twice
64. Sand Martin: common
65. Barn Swallow: Common
66. Red-rumped Swallow: Common
67. House Martin: Common
68. Tawny Pipit: Seen twice
69. Yellow Wagtail: common
70. Grey Wagtail: seen once
71. Dipper : single seen
72. White Wagtail: Only singles seen
73. Nightingale: seen twice
74. Northern Wheatear: A few singles seen
75. Black-eared Wheatear: Seen once
76. Isabelline Wheatear 3-5
77. Whinchat - Common
78. Blackbird: seen in various areas woodland areas
79. Cetti's Warbler: Seen/heard twice in suitable areas
80. Olivaceous Warbler: Seen twice
81. Whitethroat: Seen few times
82. Blackcap: seen once and heard several times
83. Icterine warbler (H)
84. Chiffchaff: Several calling
85. Willow warbler - Common
86. Spotted Flycatcher: Seen everywhere
87. Red-breasted flycatcher - Common
88. Long-tailed Tit: Small numbers at Mountains
89. Blue Tit: several
90. Great Tit: Seen regularly throughout
91. Nuthatch: Singles recorded
92. Penduline Tit: Nest seen
93. Chuckar 5-6 - Seen Dadia Radio Mast (Lefikimi)
94. Golden Oriole: Once seen
95. Red-backed Shrike: Numerous - seen throughout
96. Jay: Common
97. Magpie: Common
98. Jackdaw: Common
99. Hooded Crow: Common
100. Starling: Seen in flock up to 80
101. House Sparrow: Common
102. Pallid Swift - common at Airport
103. Tree Sparrow common
104. Chaffinch: Common
105. Goldfinch: 2 sightings
106. Hawfinch: 1-2
107. Corn Bunting: Common
108. Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin - 1 quick view