Visit breathtaking nature reserves during a weeklong Northern Greece Birdwatching Holiday with a top bird guide.
Northern Greece is considered one of the very best regions for birdwatching in Europe. During this 8-day trip you’ll visit fantastic birding spots with the very best nature guides in stunning and varied surroundings among welcoming people.
A unique vacation for birders in one of the very best regions of Europe for birdwatching! Discover the amazing Lake Kerkini, Dadia Forest, the huge Evros Delta on the border with Turkey and finally, Porto Lagos and Nestos Gorge and Delta, all in Northern Greece. A top local bird guide travels with the small group at all times.
Highlights
- The magical Lake Kerkini and its surroundings with a bird list of over 300 species (!) is located only an hour drive from Thessaloniki airport. Watch pelicans, egrets and herons and spot bee-eaters everywhere. Listen to the Nightingale, Golden Oriole and Great Reed Warbler, Penduline Tit and Black Kite.
- Visit Dadia Forest, the best site in Europe for raptors, where 36 out of Europe’s 39 raptor species have been recorded and 20 breed. Watch Black, Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, Golden, Lesser Spotted, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Common and Honey Buzzards, Lanner, Peregrine Hobby and Red-footed Falcon and both Sparrowhawks.
- Discover the huge Evros Delta, on the border with Turkey. Due to its easterly position it offers you the chance to see real rarities, such as Greater Sand, Sociable and even Caspian Plovers.
Read WHEN, WHERE & WHY to go Birdwatching in Greece
Link to the free e-book Birding in Greece
| DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION | Thessaloniki, Greece |
| TOUR DURATION |
8-days |
| PRICES | contact us for pricing and availability updates |
| INCLUDES |
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Other Information:
Trip report 3-10 April 2015 of the Northern Greece Birdwatching Holiday that Keith, Hazel and Michael from the UK enjoyed. Apart from numerous fantastic species, they observed a rarity for Greece too: the Velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca), a black seaduck! The birdwatching sites visited during this 8-day trip starting from Thessaloniki include: Lake Kerkini, Mount Belles, Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli forest, Evros Delta, Lake Ismarida, Porto Lagos, Nestos.
“We would all like to thank you for brilliant well organised birding holiday. We all really enjoyed it, George was great, the families at the hotels looked after us very well and the birding was fantastic. We will recommend “Natural Greece” to our friends. Thank you again”
Keith, Hazel, and Michael
UK
Species (scientific name)
1.Podiceps nigricollis
2. Podiceps cristatus
3. Pelecanus onocrotalus
4. Pelecanus crispus
5. Phalacrocorax carbo
6. Phalacrocorax pygmeus
7. Botaurus stellaris
8. Nycticorax nycticorax
9. Ardeola ralloides
10. Egretta garzetta
11. Casmerodius albus
12. Ardea cinerea
13. Ardea purpurea
14. Ciconia ciconia
15. Ciconia nigra
16. Plegadis faldnellus
17. Platalea leucorodia
18. Phoenicopterus roseus
19. Cygnus olor
20. Anser anser
21. Tadorna tadorna
22. Anas platyrhynchos
23. Anas strepera
24. Anas acuta
25. Anas clypeata
26. Anas penelope
27. Anas crecca
28. Anas querquedula
29. Aythya retina
30. Aythya nyroca
31. Melanitta fusca
32. Bucephala clangula
33. Mergus serrator
34. Gyps fulvus
35. Aegypius monachus
36. Neophron percnopterus
37. Haliaetus albicilla
38. Pandion hal iaetus
39. Aquila pomarina
40. Circaetus gall icus
41. Milvus migrans
42. Circus aeroginosus
43. Circus cyaneus
44. Circus pygargus
45. Circus macrourus
46. Buteo rufinus
47. Buteo buteo
48. Accipiter nisus
49. Falco tinunculus
50. Falco subbuteo
51. Coturnix coturnix (heard only)
52. Ral I us aquaticus
53. Porzana parva
54. Gallinula chloropus
55. Fulica atra
56. Haemantopus ostralegus
57. Recurvirostra avosetta
58. Charadrius alexandrinus
59. Pluvialis squatarola
60. Vanellus vanellus
61. Vanellus spinosus
62. Calidris al pina
63. Tringa glareola
64. Tringa ochropus
65. Tringa totanus
66. Tringa erythropus
67. Tringa nebularia
68. Tringa stagnatilis
69. Limosa limosa
70. Numenius arquata
71. Numenius phaeopus
72. Gallinago gallinago
73. Philomachus pugmax
74. Chroicocephalus ridibundus
75. Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
76. Larus michahellis
77. Sterna sandvicensis
78. Sterna hirundo
79. Hydroprogne caspia
80. Columba palumbus
81. Streptopelia decaocto
82. Streptopelia turtur
83. Clamator glandarius
84. Bubo bubo
85. Athene noctua
86. Apus apus
87. Apus melba
88. Upupa epops
89. Alcedo atthis
90. Picus viridis
91. Picus canus (heard only)
92. Dendrocopos major
93. Dendrocopos syriacus
94. Jynx torquilla
95. Alauda arvensis (heard only)
96. Galerida cristata
97. Lullula arborea
98. Calandrella brachydactyla
99. Melanocorypha calandra
100. Riparia riparia
101. Ptyonoprogne rupestris
102. Hirundo rustica
103. Hirundo daurica
104. Delichon urbica
105. Anthus campestris
106. Anthus trivialis
107. Motacilla alba
108. Motacilla flava
109. Erithacus rubecula
110. Luscinia megarhynchos
111. Luscinia svedca
112. Phoenicurus phoenicurus
113. Phoenicurus ochruros
114. Oenanthe oenanthe
115. Oenanthe hispanica
116. Saxicola rubetra
117. Monticola solitarius
118. Turdus philomelos
In Evros Delta, 317 species of birds have been recorded; a number which is continually increasing, as monitoring becomes more intense and birdwatchers from all over the world visit the area more often.What makes Evros Delta so interesting and why is it so important for the birds?
First of all, it is its geographic position which makes it so important. The Delta lies in northern Greece, a crossroad between three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa. Thus, species of all three continents are observed here. Typical species of Europe which their southern spreading range ends up here, like geese, African species, which their northern range or breeding area ends up in Delta or the wider area, like the Spur- winged Plover and Asian species which are found only in this area and not in the rest of Europe, like the Black- headed Bunting.
Another reason is the diversity and “wildness” of the landscape. Despite the extended drainage works and the loss of almost half the wetland, which was given to agriculture, and the pressure which some social groups bring claiming the use of the wetland for productive or other activities, the area stays in parts unchangeable and hospitable for the wild fauna. Areas with fresh, brackish and salt water, like the riparian forests, the wet meadows, the reed beds, the lagoons, the salt water marshes, the sandy islets comprise habitats for a big variety of birds.
As a result, birds find in Evros Delta the two most important things they need: food and shelter. The flooded areas in the wet seasons of the year and the big watery areas (lagoons, sea until 6 m. depth) provide plenty of food to the water birds and waders and, by extension, to their predators. The protected area, which includes all the natural areas of the wetland, offers safety from human-caused dangers.
It has been proved, by monitoring and ringing, that Evros Delta is a very important ring in the chain of wetlands which birds use as they migrate from Africa to Europe and reversely, and also as they move looking for food and shelter. This part is very important and very crucial for their living.
The Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park is one of the most important protected areas at national, European and international scale. It is one of the first areas in Greece to be declared as protected since a great deal of flora and fauna species found in the Balkan Peninsula, Europe and Asia coexist here. The landscape mosaic formed by pine and oak forests, interrupted by clearings, pastures and fields is the ideal habitat for birds of prey. The National Park hosts three out of the four Vulture species of Europe (the Black Vulture, the Griffon Vulture and the Egyptian Vulture), while it is home to the only breeding population of Black Vultures in the Balkans.
Day 1
Arrive at Thessaloniki airport where you meet your friendly, knowledgeable bird guide.
Transfer to your hotel at Lake Kerkini by car. Depending on your arrival time there may be time to explore Kerkini area for the first time.
Overnight in a hotel at Lake Kerkini
Day 2
Spend your day with the nature guide at the magical Lake Kerkini, definitely one of the very best birding spots in Greece. Boat trip on lake Kerkini included seeing among others, Pelican colony at the rafts. During spring you will watch many types of herons, spoonbills, Dalmatian pelicans, Great white pelicans, Pygmy cormorants, and many other species nest in the flooded forest. A feast for the eye! Full-day birding.
Overnight in a hotel at Lake Kerkini
Day 3
A full day of birding at lake Kerkini and nearby forested areas.
Target species of the forests: Woodpeckers (Syrian, Great-spotted, Middle-spotted, Lesser-spotted, Green, Grey-headed), Rock Nuthatch, Sombre Tit, Penduline Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, and other forest birds.
Overnight in a hotel at Lake Kerkini
Day 4
Last morning birding at Lake Kerkini and drive to Dadia/Evros Delta.
Overnight in a hotel in Thrace
Day 5
Full birding day at Dadia forest. This mountainous area is one of the best places in Europe for the observation of birds of prey. Thirty-five out of thirty-eight diurnal raptors have been recorded here along with seven out of nine owl species.
In the afternoon short drive back to our hotel.
Target species: raptors such as Black Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Egyptian vulture, Golden Eagle, Booted Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Black Stork, and passerines including Long-tailed Tit, Siskin, Masked Shrike.
Overnight in a hotel in Thrace
Day 6
Discover the huge Evros Delta, on the border with Turkey. Due to its easterly position, it offers you the chance to see real rarities. The Information Center will organize a video presentation, a tour, and a boat trip on the delta for us and that will be a great introduction to the area.
Overnight in a hotel in Thrace
Day 7
Drive towards Thessaloniki
Stops at top birding sites Porto Lagos and at Nestos Gorge and Nestos Delta for more birdwatching! These are one of the very best wetlands in Greece for birding.
Overnight – Hotel in Thessaloniki or a Thessaloniki airport hotel.
Day 8
Transfer to Thessaloniki airport. Departure
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Tour Reviews
We would just like to thank you for a marvellous holiday.
Everything worked very smoothly. A lot of thought had gone into making this an enjoyable holiday. Accommodation and food were to a good standard and we felt welcome wherever we went.
Lavrentis was an amazing guide, knowledgeable, a great birder, flexible and interested in finding out what we wanted to get out of the holiday, and, most of all, great fun. Everywhere we went was both beautiful and interesting – Lavrentis is a mine of knowledge on lots of things besides birds. We felt we saw the real Greece, and for that we are very grateful.
We were very pleased with the holiday, and saw plenty of birds; the first hotel at Lake Kerkini has 3 flights of stairs, totalling 28 steps so we were very happy that you were able to change to an alternative. 28 steps up-and-down at least twice a day would have been very difficult and painful for Wendy
There were so many memorable and exciting parts but probably the most exciting was seeing the Golden Eagle, we sighted about 4 but one was quite low and very distinguishable through the scope, brilliant. My guide was very, very knowledgeable and knew all the good viewing spots. I would rate this holiday: ***** 5-star: I am reborn, simply the best holiday I have ever been on
Rosemary Richards
UK
Very nice and succesful journey. Thanks again for taking good care! / Heel fijne en succesvolle reis. Dank wederom voor de goede zorgen!
Niels Bronsgeest, Stichting Natuurreizen
Deventer, The Netherlands
The feedback we’ve had has been very good. Everybody enjoyed the trip and really enjoyed both Georgos’ and Chris’ company and guiding.
Paul Stanbury
UK
From the beginning we very much enjoyed the birdwatching voyage in Northern Greece. Georgos performed very well in his role as a guide, making where ever possible our trip not only pleasant, relaxed, also informative on the way Greeks understand life. We gained a lot of knowledge on the many species (around 150) we were able to observe, not in the least thanks to his talent to see the tiny birds and the many reptiles (snakes, tortoises). We were impressed !!. As we were not experienced, Georgos made ample room to learn us where to look, to listen and follow the behaviour of a particular bird (and reptile). The overall rating: xxxx
Connie & Piet Elenbaas
The Netherlands
Overall the clients had a great trip. Thanks for your excellent organization!
Chris Lotz, Birding Ecotours
Johannesburg, South Africa
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday? The best bit of the holiday was seeing Greece through the eyes of a Greek person. 2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this holiday? Be flexible and soak up the unique experience. 3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation? Yes 4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall? Excellent. It was well organized and I was very impressed. Overall holiday rating: **** Some wonderful memories, I would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend
David Angell
UK
Thank you once again for arranging this week’s trip around Dadia, Evros and Kerkini. It was very interesting and enjoyable and, as I’d hoped, gave me a great overview of the region. Please pass over my thanks to the chaps who looked after me too.
Paul Stanbury
Chawton, UK
Everyone is back home. They have had a fantastic holiday! Thanks for the organization. We’ll do it again in 2017! / Iedereen weer goed thuis. Ze hebben een fantastische reis gehad! Dank voor de organisatie. Op naar 2017!
Niels Bronsgeest, Director of Stichting Natuurreizen
Deventer, The Netherlands
We would all like to thank you for brilliant well organised birding holiday. We all really enjoyed it, George was great, the families at the hotels looked after us very well and the birding was fantastic. We will recommend “Natural Greece” to our friends. Thank you again
Keith, Hazel and Michael
UK
I was on a birding tour well organised by Natural Greece and accompanied by their nature guide Georgos Spiridakis, who lives on the shore of this lake and specialises in the area. Birdwise, the Kerkini Lake is nothing short of fantastic. Out of 312 bird species recorded here, my daily averages were around 65 to 70, and during the trip, I observed 103 species at the lake alone. We stayed at comfortable, family-run B&B Limneo Hotel at the village of Chrysochorafa, whose friendly owner, Nikos Gallios is ready to personally serve breakfast at 4 am, if his eccentric guests wish so. Highly recommendable birding area and the Natural Greece tour.
D. Simic
Serbia
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