Spring in Northern Greece

The birdlife of northern Greece has a decidedly eastern flavour. Tucked between Turkey, Bulgaria and the clear blue waters of the Thracian Sea, the region lies on an important migration ‘flyway’ between Africa and Europe and attracts birds from both the east and west of the continent. In early May the forests, scrubby hillsides and wetlands will be alive with returning summer migrants, as well as other birds passing through en route to their breeding grounds further north. Familiar species such as Blackcap, Nightingale and Spotted Flycatcher vie for perches with Masked Shrike, Olive-tree Warbler and Collared Flycatcher, whilst overhead, parties of Red-footed Falcons dash past. The coastal wetlands are at their best in the early spring and a few key inland lakes, such as Lake Kerkini, act as a safe haven for large colonies of herons, pelicans, cormorants and other waterbirds.

This exciting 8-day tour complements our popular ‘Greece in Autumn’ itinerary and visits the same three contrasting areas, the forests and hills of Dadia, the coastal habitats of the Evros Delta and the freshwater marshes of Lake Kerkini National Park. We start, however, with a direct flight to Greece’s second city, Thessaloniki, which sits at the head of the three-fingered Halkidiki Peninsula. From here we take the coastal highway east to the pine forests and hills of Dadia, a journey of around three hours and the base for the first two nights of the holiday. The Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park, to give the reserve its full name, is one of Europe’s most important sites for raptors and is home to 20 breeding species including Short-toed Eagle, Booted Eagle, Black Kite and Levant Sparrowhawk, plus Eurasian Black, Griffon and Egyptian Vultures. During our time here we will a visit a hide which overlooks a vulture feeding station which regularly attracts all three species. Other smaller birds to look out for include Masked Shrike, Black-headed Bunting, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Short-toed Treecreeper, Red-rumped Swallow and Grey-headed Woodpecker.

A short distance to the south lies the Evros Delta, a huge expanse of saline and freshwater habitats formed by the Evros River, the longest in the Balkans, slowing and fanning out as it meets the Thracian Sea. Here, in the spring, Wood Sandpipers and Whimbrel share the mudflats with Marsh and Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stints, Spotted Redshank and Greater Flamingo. Broad-billed Sandpiper, Temminck’s Stint and Collared Pratincole are regularly seen and Spur-winged Plover are common. Numerous Bee-eaters hawk for insects overhead, whilst the reed and tamarisk-fringed Athina Marshes nearby attract all three species of marsh tern (Black, Whiskered and White-winged), Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck, Garganey and plenty of Marsh Harriers. We will be based in a comfortable, but simple, hotel on the northern edge of the delta for two nights, a short distance from Loutros Hill, a migrant hotspot in the spring and autumn. Early morning visits to Loutros Hill can yield an exciting variety of species including Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Masked and Woodchat Shrikes and Ortolan Bunting. Eagle Owls also breed on the cliffs around the edge of the hill, and an evening excursion in search of one of these magnificent owls can be arranged for those who wish.

Finally, we move back west for three nights in a comfortable hotel close to the edge of Lake Kerkini, one of Greece’s foremost birdwatching sites. The lake, which lies at the very heart of the Lake Kerkini National Park, is one of only ten Ramsar Sites in the country and home to a wonderful variety of breeding, wintering and passage birds. We will have two full days to explore Lake Kerkini and its surroundings which we will undertake by minibus, boat and on foot. Although the woodlands, fields, hills and fringing reedbeds around the lake hold Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Masked Shrike, Western Rock Nuthatch, Black-headed Bunting, Sombre Tit, Great Reed Warbler and Olive-tree Warbler, the main attraction of Kerkini in May is the huge and noisy heronry that has taken over a flooded forest in the heart of the lake. Here breed large numbers of Grey, Squacco and Black-crowned Night Herons, Little and Cattle Egrets, Pygmy and Great Cormorants and Spoonbills, alongside an impressive colony of Dalmatian and White Pelicans which cover an artificial island nearby.

Our time enjoying the birdlife of Lake Kerkini will be a fitting finale to our week in northern Greece. From here it is only an hour and a half back to Thessaloniki from where we catch our return flight home.