Greece: Spring Birding Adventure

Greece has one of the highest bird densities in Europe and our tour will take in the best avifauna this beautiful country has to offer, as well as the fascinating culture and history of one of the oldest civilizations on Earth. This ten-day, small group birdwatching tour will start in Athens, one of the cultural capitals of the world, which also happens to be superb for birding. Here we will familiarize ourselves with the more common European birds, as well as visit some of the best cultural spots in the city, such as the world-famous Acropolis.

The striking Black-headed Bunting is one of our highly sought-after target species on this trip.

We then head up to the stunning Mount Ymittos near Athens, in search of exciting species such as Western Rock Nuthatch, Rüppell’s Warbler, Eastern Orphean Warbler , Barred Warbler, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Black-headed Bunting, and Cretzschmar’s Bunting. This area is also a migration hotspot and supports a wide range of flora and fauna which has led to Mount Ymittos becoming a Natura 2000 protected area (the highest level of protection in Europe).

From Athens we fly north to Thessaloniki and head straight to beautiful Lake Kerkini, an Important Bird Area (IBA) identified by BirdLife International as extremely valuable for birds (and one of several IBAs we visit on this tour). The lake offers wonderful opportunities to view breeding colonies of the Near Threatened (BirdLife International) Dalmatian Pelican and the curious-looking Pygmy Cormorant. The surrounding forest is home to six woodpecker species, including Syrian Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, and Middle Spotted Woodpecker. We will also explore the nearby mountains on the Bulgarian border in search of Sardinian Warbler, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, and Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler.

Our next stop is Mount Pangaion where we explore the foothills, before heading up to the alpine habitats in the higher altitudes (weather/snow levels permitting). Here we will target higher elevation species that include Common Rock Thrush, Water Pipit, Ortolan Bunting, Yellowhammer, Rock Bunting, Alpine Chough, and Rock Partridge. While in the area we will take in the picturesque city of Kavala on the slopes of Mount Symvolo.

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler  is one of the warbler species we’ll likely encounter.

Next we will visit the Nestos Delta on our way to the Evros Delta. We will take time to explore the Nestos Delta’s riverine forest and lagoons which hold many exciting species including White-tailed Eagle, European Turtle Dove, Spur-winged Lapwing, Collared Pratincole, Montagu’s Harrier, Eurasian Hoopoe, Calandra Lark, and Marsh Sandpiper. We may also get lucky in spotting the striking Golden Jackal, a species of canid whose range spreads from Eastern Europe all the way to Southeast Asia.

While at the Evros Delta we will meet local guides who will give us an in-depth look at the management of the area and a tour where we will look for its key species including Purple Heron, European Roller, Squacco Heron, Eurasian Bittern, Slender-billed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Black-winged Stilt, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Long-legged Buzzard, Sandwich Tern, Black Tern, White-winged Tern, Whiskered Tern, and Isabelline Wheatear. We may also glimpse some of the delta’s elusive mammal species including (European) Wild Cat, (European) Grey Wolf, and (Central European) Wild Boar.

Cinereous Vulture is a giant among birds. It has a wingspan of almost 10 feet (3 meters) and stands 4 feet tall (1.2 meters) (photo Philippos Katsiyiannis)!

Nearing the end of our tour we will visit Dadia Forest, which is regarded as the best location in Europe for raptors, with a staggering 35 out of the possible 38 diurnal European raptor species recorded here, along with seven out of nine European owl species. We will also have the unique experience of visiting a vulture feeding station where we can watch the spectacle of these amazing birds in their feeding frenzies. This activity should give us great views of Griffon Vulture, and possibly pretty (for a vulture) Egyptian Vulture, and humongous Cinereous Vulture too.