Spur-winged Lapwing by Michael McKee.
- Some of Europe’s and the world’s most spectacular birds including hundreds of Great White and Dalmatian Pelicans, Greater Flamingos and Pygmy Cormorants
- As well as a vulture feeding station with Cinereous, Egyptian and Griffon Vultures
- And a superb selection of localized bird species such as Spur-winged Lapwing, Masked Shrike, Ruppell’s Warbler and Cretzschmar’s Bunting, with a chance of Rock Partridge
- Plus a good chance of Brown Bear on tracking trips into the Pindos Mountains
- All in some splendid scenery, especially the precipitous limestone gorges
- This account deals with the spring period on mainland Greece. During November up to 50 Lesser White-fronted Geese have been seen at Lake Kerkini, on their way to their wintering sites further south. One such site is the Evros Delta where over 100,000 waterfowl occur during the winter, sometimes also including small numbers of Red-breasted Geese. At this time it is also possible to see other wintering bird species such as White-headed Duck and Common Crane. At Lake Kerkini during the winter it is possible to see large numbers of Dalmatian Pelicans (at close range from boats, out of Kerkini and Mandraki), Pygmy Cormorants and Greater Flamingos while raptors usually include a few Greater Spotted Eagles and there is a chance of Golden, Eastern Imperial and White-tailed Eagles. These raptors are present at and around the Dadia Raptor Research Centre feeding station during the winter, along with Cinereous (Eurasian/Black) and Griffon Vultures.
- This account does not deal with the Greek island of Lesvos which is situated in the Aegean Sea to the east of the mainland, although it is actually next to the west coast of Turkey. It is a very popular destination with birders during the northern spring when large numbers of a wide variety of birds migrate through the island, including herons, Pallid Harriers, Eleonora's and Red-footed Falcons, Little Crakes, shorebirds including Collared Pratincoles, Whiskered and White-winged (Black) Terns, (European) Rollers, Red-throated Pipits, Collared Flycatchers, warblers and shrikes. The numbers of passage migrant birds usually peak in the second half of April which just happens to coincide with the usual arrival period of breeding summer visitors such as Short-toed Eagle, (European) Bee-eater, Isabelline Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin (Rufous Bush Chat), Masked Shrike, Olive-tree, Eastern Orphean and Ruppell's Warblers, and Black-headed, Cinereous and Cretzschmar's Buntings. These join resident species such as Ruddy Shelduck, Greater Flamingo, White and Black Storks, Long-legged Buzzard, Sombre Tit, and Krueper's and Western Rock Nuthatches to make a fine selection of birds which may also include rarer migrants such as Levant Sparrowhawk, Baillon's Crake, Spur-winged Lapwing and Great Snipe, while around the coast there is a chance of Audouin's Gull (a rare resident) and offshore a better chance of Scopoli's and Yelkouan Shearwaters. For more information see Lesvos Birding.
- An alternative to Lesvos is Kos, a 40 mile long island next to Turkey where one of the best places to look for migrant birds is Ti(n)gaki saltpans, a good site for Ruddy Shelduck, Little Bittern, Squacco Heron, Spur-winged Lapwing, Black-winged Stilt, Collared Pratincole and other shorebirds, as well as terns. Greater Flamingos are winter visitors but some may linger well into May the best month to visit. Inland Mount Dikeos rises to 850 metres (2789 feet) above olive groves and scrub which support a fine range of breeding birds including Chukar, Bonelli’s Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Eastern Olivaceous, Eastern Orphean, Ruppell’s and Sardinian Warblers, and Black-headed and Cretzschmar’s Buntings while other possibilities include Short-toed Eagle, Lanner Falcon, Great Spotted Cuckoo, and Lesser Grey and Masked Shrikes. Eleonora’s Falcon is most likely to be seen on the volcanic isle of Nisyros, an hour long ferry trip away to the south during which it is possible to see Scopoli’s and Yelkouan Shearwaters.
- It is also possible to see the endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal in Greek waters. This rare animal has a world population of no more than 700 individuals which live in a few fragmented colonies between Madeira and Turkey with nearly half around the coast of Greece and the islands of the Aegean Sea where they are studied by The Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal in conjunction with which it is possible to look for this shy and rarely seen marine mammal in the Oreoi Straits between the mainland and the island of Euboea.
- Greece is the only place in Europe where Loggerhead Turtles nest and the largest colony is on the Ionian island of Zakynthos off the west coast of the mainland where a good place to see females hauling up the sandy beaches to lay their eggs is Laganas Bay from June to August.
- This account also does not deal with the Peloponnese, a large island to the south of the mainland, where butterflies abound, especially on Mount Chelmos and mainly in late June when it is possible to see several blues, Clouded Apollo and White-banded Grayling. During late March-early April the rich flora includes swathes of red anemones and white asphodels, and there are usually numerous orchids. During late October-early November the variety of colourful bulbs on the Mani Peninsula and the Taygetos Mountains at the southern tip of the Peleponnese is amazing.
- Another large Greek island is Crete, famous for its orchids, and one small location near the village of Spili may be the best single spot for orchids in Europe! 20 species have been found here in a day including Bory’s, Four-spotted, Milky, Rainbow and Toothed. In April it is possible to see as many as 40 species and subspecies of orchids on the island including the endemic Cretan Bee Orchid. There are about 2000 species of native plants on the island including about 170 endemics.
- The Hellenic Ornithological Society has a Birding in Greece: Travel Guide to birdwatching sites in Greece available online or as an app, Birding in Greece: Travel Guide to birdwatching sites in Greece.
- Greece is the ideal place to combine natural history with human history, with famous sites such as the Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens, and the Sanctuary of Apollo and Temple of Athena at Delphi.
Best Birds and other wildlife in Greece
Birds
Specialities
Greater Flamingo, Great White and Dalmatian Pelicans, Pygmy Cormorant, Cinereous (Eurasian/Black) and Griffon Vultures, Spur-winged Lapwing, Masked Shrike,
Ruppell’s Warbler, Sombre Tit, Rock Sparrow and Cretzschmar’s Bunting.
Also a chance of Rock Partridge, Yelkouan Shearwater, Eastern Imperial and White-tailed Eagles, Long-legged Buzzard, Levant Sparrowhawk, (Northern) Nutcracker, Olive-tree Warbler, Wallcreeper, Alpine Accentor and (White-winged) Snowfinch.
Others
Black-necked (Eared) Grebe, Little Bittern, (Black-crowned) Night-heron, Purple and Squacco Herons, (Eurasian) Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, White and Black
Storks, Egyptian Vulture, Lesser Spotted and Short-toed Eagles, Lesser Kestrel, (Pied) Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Collared Pratincole, Slender-billed
Gull, Black, Gull-billed, Whiskered and White-winged (Black) Terns, Alpine and Pallid Swifts, (European) Bee-eater, (European) Roller, (Eurasian) Hoopoe,
Black, Grey-headed and Syrian Woodpeckers, Lesser Grey, Red-backed and Woodchat Shrikes, (Eurasian) Golden Oriole, Alpine Chough, Calandra Lark, Red-rumped
Swallow, (Eurasian) Crag Martin, (Eurasian) Penduline-tit, Western Rock Nuthatch, Firecrest, Eastern Bonelli’s, Great Reed, Eastern Olivaceous, Eastern
Orphean, Sardinian and Eastern Subalpine Warblers, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Blue and Rufous-tailed Rock-thrushes, (Black-headed) Yellow Wagtail,
Black-headed and Rock Buntings, and Spanish Sparrow.
Also a chance of Ruddy Shelduck, Ferruginous Duck, Booted and Golden Eagles, Red-footed Falcon, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Eurasian Eagle-owl, White-backed Woopecker, Shore (Horned) Lark, Isabelline Wheatear and Collared Flycatcher.
For the latest news on birds see Birdwing, a non-profit organisation from which all income goes directly towards projects to help birds in Greece and to encourage people to protect and appreciate the birds and other wildlife there.
Mammals
Natural Greece track Brown Bears in the Pindos
Mountains where the chances of seeing them varies from 80% during the summer (May, June and July) to 30% in other months. Souslik is also present in
Greece and there is a chance of Alpine Chamois.
Invertebrates
A superb diversity and abundance of butterflies, especially on and around Mount Chelmos and Mount Parnassos where it is possible to see over 50
species of butterfly in a day and a hundred in a week.
Plants
There are about 6000 plant species, around 15% of which are endemic and the rich flora includes many orchids.
Best Sites for Birds and other wildlife in Greece
- Dadia Raptor Research Centre Bus trips to observatory overlooking hillside where carcasses are put out for all three vulture species. Also Black Stork and Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, and a chance of Eastern Imperial Eagle.
- Evros Delta Great White and Dalmatian Pelicans, herons, Black Stork, Spur-winged Lapwing, Collared Pratincole, passage migrant shorebirds, terns and Lesser Grey Shrike. Also a chance of Ruddy Shelduck, White-tailed Eagle and Red-footed Falcon.
- Lakes Mitrikou (Ismarida) and Vistonida (Fanari/Porto Lagos) Greater Flamingo, Pygmy Cormorant, Collared Pratincole, Slender-billed Gull and terns. Also a chance of White-tailed Eagle.
- Iasmos Gorge Western Rock Nuthatch, Eastern Orphean Warbler, and Blue and Rufous-tailed Rock-thrushes.
- Kavala Seawatching, to the west, for a chance of Yelkouan Shearwater.
- Mount Paggaio A chance of Rock Partridge, Shore Lark, Alpine Chough, Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush, Alpine Accentor and Rock Bunting.
- Lake Kerkini Nesting colonies of pelicans, Pygmy Cormorants, herons, ibises and spoonbills, as well as White Stork, Lesser Grey and Masked Shrikes, and Eastern Orphean Warbler. Also a chance of Ferruginous Duck, Lesser Spotted Eagle and Eurasian Eagle-owl. Boat trips run from Kerkini and Mandraki.
- Sidirokastro Western Rock Nuthatch, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Blue Rock-thrush and Black-headed Bunting. Also a chance of Golden Eagle and Long-legged Buzzard.
- Kerkini Mountains Short-toed Eagle, Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush and Rock Bunting. Also a chance of Levant Sparrowhawk, Black Woodpecker and Nutcracker.
- Kalochori Greater Flamingo, Slender-billed Gull and shorebirds.
- Mount Olympus A chance of Black and White-backed Woodpeckers, Shore Lark (at summit), Wallcreeper (summit), Alpine Chough (summit), Alpine Accentor (summit) and Snowfinch (summit), as well as Alpine Chamois and Hermann's Tortoise. Over 1500 flowering plants including over 20 endemics and many butterflies including apollos. Also a Souslik colony at nearby Dion.
- Alyki Kitros Saltworks Slender-billed Gull. Also a chance of Greater Flamingo and Collared Pratincole.
- Mount Parnassos Alpine Chough, Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush, Rock Bunting and numerous butterflies including Balkan Copper and Blue Argus. Also a chance of Black Woodpecker.
- Delphi Short-toed Eagle, Western Rock Nuthatch, Eastern Orphean and Ruppell’s Warblers, Blue Rock-thrush, Rock Sparrow, and Black-headed and Cretzschmar’s Buntings.
Best Times for Birds and other wildlife in Greece
Spring bird migration usually peaks during late April-early May; autumn migration the first half of September. Late June is the peak time for butterflies and mid-July for plants. November is usually a good time to look for Lesser White-fronted Goose.
Recommended Bird Books etc. for Greece
Collins Bird Guide by L Svensson et al. Collins, 2010 (Second Edition).
Birds of Europe by L Jonsson. Helm, 1999.
Finding Birds in Northern Greece by D Gosney. Easybirder, 2015 (Book and/or DVD).
Birdwatching in Northern Greece by S Mills. S Mills, 2011 (Second Edition), available from
Mammals of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East by S Aulagnier et al. Helm, 2009.
Mammals of Britain and Europe by D McDonald and P Barrett. Collins, 2005.
Collins Butterfly Guide by T Tolman and R Lewington. Collins, 2009 (Third Edition).
Butterflies of Britain and Europe: A Photographic Guide by H Aarnio et al. A & C Black Publishers, 2009.
Apps etc.
Collins Bird Guide.
Where to watch birds in Europe & Russia by N Wheatley. Helm, 2000.
Don’t know which country/countries/regions to visit in Europe? Then it may be worth considering taking a look at this book, written by this website’s author. It is many years old of course but it still provides a starting point, an overview and a guiding light to the best birds and the best places to look for them in the region, and could save hours of searching for similar information on the internet. However, it is important to check more up-to-date sources for sites which have been opened up, sites and species which have been discovered, lodges that have been built etc. since the book was published.
Birding and Wildlife Trip Reports for Greece
Many trip reports, some for Greece, are posted on the websites listed here. On some of these websites some reports are independent and some are posted by tour companies who organize tours to Greece. These tour companies and others also post their own reports on their websites, which are listed under 'Some Organized Tours to Greece' below.
- The best website for trip reports is CloudBirders
- but these are also worth a look
- Birdtours
- Fatbirder
- Jon Hornbuckle
- Mammal Watching
Local bird and wildlife guides in Greece
The costs of organized tours partly reflect the quality of the tour leaders. Some leaders are certainly better than others and many companies claim their leaders are the best but even the best rely at least to some extent on the exceptional skills of the local guides they employ. If you are travelling independently, employing such local guides will greatly increase your chances of seeing the wildlife you wish to see.
Accommodation for birders in Greece
Some Organized Tours for birds and other wildlife to Greece
There are many tour companies who organize tours to see mammals, birds, other wildlife and other natural wonders. The cost of these tours vary considerably according to such variables as the airlines used, the number of days the tours last, the number of sites visited, the number of people in the group (an important consideration if you wish to see such wildlife as rainforest mammals and birds), the number of tour leaders, the standard of accommodation and transport, and the percentage profit the company hopes to make. Generally, where the number of days tours last and the number of sites visited are similar, the cheapest tours are those that use the cheapest airlines, accommodation and local transport, that have the largest groups with the least number of leaders, and that make the least amount of profit. The most expensive tours tend to be those which are exceptionally long, use the most expensive accommodation (ridiculously lavish in some cases, even for single nights) and which make the most profit. Some tour costs partly reflect the quality of the tour leaders. Some leaders are certainly better than others and many companies claim their leaders are the best but even the best rely at least to some extent on the exceptional skills of the local guides they employ.
While tour companies organize tours with set itineraries many also organize custom tours for individuals and private groups who instead of taking a tour with a set itinerary want to follow their own itinerary to suit their own personal tastes, whether it be mammals, birds, other wildlife, other natural wonders or even man-made attractions, or a mixture of them all. Many organized tours with set itineraries are also fast-paced and target as many species as possible, whether they are mammals, birds or other wildlife or everything, which usually leaves little time to enjoy the best sites and individual species, but on a custom tour those taking part can specify the pace and the sites and species they wish to concentrate on. Custom tours also suit people who like to travel with people they already know, rather than with a group of strangers, and people with partners with different interests. Individuals and small groups will almost certainly have to pay more than the price of an organized tour with a set itinerary but a large group of friends may be able to travel for less than the price quoted for a set tour.
Tour companies who run organized tours or can arrange custom tours to Greece include the following.
- Bird Holidays
- Field Guides
- Greentours
- Naturetrek
- Wise Birding Holidays
- We are a small wildlife watching holiday company based in Devon (UK) specialising in birdwatching and mammal watching holidays across the world. What sets us apart from other wildlife watching companies is quite simple:
- 1 – small group sizes: (average between 4 – 8 people)
- 2 – a commitment to conservation: (donation after each tour)
