Beautiful Lake Kerkini lies in the north of Greece, only one hours drive from the city of Thessaloniki. Lake Kerkini is a pear shaped fresh water lake, fed by the Strymon River and is about fifteen kilometres long and nine kilometres across, when full and an embankment allows for raised viewing at several key strategic areas. The lake and the surrounding wetlands are bordered by the Kerkini Mountains to the north and the Marvovouni Mountains to the south. The area is well known for its biodiversity and is considered one of Greece’s most important wetlands, which is recognised by its RAMSAR status. This exciting tour follows on from the success of our recent early winter visits to the area and we will once again be based at the delightful Viglatoras Hotel just a short distance from the lake. In spring, this rich wetland area is on a major migration flyway for vast numbers of birds heading north to breed in Eastern and Northern Europe, and as such offers some fabulous birding opportunities without the crowds of some of the better known island destinations.

The terrain is mostly easy and there is little walking as we bird from tracks or roads in most locations. Waterbirds are high on the menu with breeding colonies of all the European herons and egrets, Glossy Ibis and Dalmatian Pelicans, which we will get up close to with a boat trip on the lake. Pygmy Cormorants can be found in large numbers and muddy margins can host a range of passage species such as Marsh, Terek & Broad-billed Sandpipers, Temminck’s Stint, White-winged Black and Whiskered Terns and Collared Pratincole. Passerine migration will still be underway and we will search the woodland and scrub for prize species such as Black-headed Bunting, Icterine, Great Reed, Eastern Subalpine, Wood and Eastern Orphean Warblers. Woodpeckers could feature too with a great chance of Grey-headed, Middle Spotted, Syrian and Black, while we will check rocky areas for Western Rock Nuthatch and Sombre Tit. With so many waterbirds, and such pristine forested hills adjacent to the lake, its no surprise that raptors also feature highly – Lesser Spotted, Short-toed, Booted and Golden Eagles, flocks of Red-footed Falcons, European Honey Buzzard and Levant Sparrowhawk all being likely. Spending a full day in the mountains, we also have an outside chance of catching up with one or two scarce species such as Spotted Nutcracker, Semi-collared Flycatcher and Rock Partridge. You can expect a whopping 170+ species on this highly diverse tour to Europe’s best up and coming destinations.