Birding Ingreece TRAVEL GUIDE to BIRDWATCHING SITES in GREECE
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Birding inGreece TRAVEL GUIDE TO BIRDWATCHING SITES IN GREECE 1 Recommended citation: Vlachos, C., Trigou, R. & Stavrakas, L., (2013) Birding in Greece. Travel Guide to birdwatching sites in Greece. Hellenic Ornithological Society, Athens. Editing: Roula Trigou & Chris Vlachos Texts: Chris Vlachos Adaptation into english: Lefteris Stavrakas & Maria Koukiadi Photographs: Chris Vlachos Maps: Aris Manolopoulos, Dionysia Markopoulou & Danae Portolou Graphic design: ONArt/ Dennis Spearman Cover photographs: Rüppell’s Warbler (front), Eleonora’s Falcon (back) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher. © Hellenic Ornithological Society 2013 ISBN 978-960-6861-21-5 First published 2013 by the Hellenic Ornithological Society 2 Printed by COLORPRINT - Tsekouras Ltd. Contents Foreword ..................................................... 4 Valia Calda (Pindos National Park) ........................ 106 Acknowledgements ................................ 7 Lake Pamvotida Introduction ............................................... 9 and Ioannina city ................................. 112 About this travel guide ........................ 10 Kalamas Delta ....................................... 116 How to use this guide .......................... 11 Amvrakikos Gulf .................................. 122 Birdwatchers’ Code of Ethics ............. 13 Mesolongi Map - index of birdwatching and Aitoliko lagoons .......................... 130 destinations in Greece ......................... 14 Mount Olympos ................................... 138 Antichasia mountains Dadia - Lefkimi - Soufli forest ............. 16 and Meteora .......................................... 144 Evros Delta ................................................ 24 Reservoirs of former Lake Karla, Mount Mavrovouni ............................. 148 Lake Ismarida, Porto Lagos, Lake Vistonida and coastal lagoons .......... 30 Spercheios valley and delta ............. 154 Nestos Delta and coastal lagoons, Mount Parnassos ................................. 160 Nestos Gorge .......................................... 36 Wetland complex of Strofylia Central Rodopi mountains ................. 42 and Kotychi ............................................ 164 Lake Kerkini, Mount Beles Gialova lagoon ..................................... 170 and Mount Krousia ................................ 48 Schinias marsh ...................................... 174 Gallikos, Axios, Loudias Mount Ymittos ...................................... 178 and Aliakmonas rivers’ deltas ............ 54 Kythira and Antikythira islands ....... 184 Alyki Kitrous and Agathoupoli lagoons ................... 64 South and East Limnos Island ......... 192 Lakes Volvi and Koroneia, Lesvos Island ......................................... 196 Rentina Gorge ......................................... 70 Naxos Island and Mikres Kyklades Voras, Tzena island complex ..................................... 204 and Pinovo mountains ......................... 76 Mountains Asterousia, Crete ........... 208 Lake Agras, Lakes Vegoritida and Checklist Petron, Lakes Cheimaditida and Zazari of the birds of Greece ........................ 214 ....................................................................... 82 Contacts .................................................. 226 Prespa lakes and Varnountas mountains ................ 88 Bibliography .......................................... 231 Lake Kastoria ............................................ 94 Notes ........................................................ 232 Tymfi and Smolikas mountains ...... 100 Drawings ................................................. 236 3 Foreword Despite its small size, Greece has a very interesting geomorphology and a remarkable natu- ral environment. Thousands of kilometers of coastline, countless islands and rocky islets, im- pressive mountain ranges, more than 680 wetlands, woodlands covering more than 25% of the country’s area and large expanses of shrubland contribute to the existence of hundreds of different habitats which, in turn, support a very rich birdlife. With 449 recorded bird species so far, Greece - compared to other European countries - is a region of special and multilevel ornithological importance that covers the entire biological cycle of birds and it is not seasonal or accidental. More than half (55%) of the recorded species are regular breeders. Among them, 98 Species of European Concern and 9 Globally Threatened Species, like the Dalmatian Pelican, Ferrugi- nous Duck, Black Vulture, Lesser Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon and the Audouin’s Gull. Greece is also very important, in local or regional level, for species such as the Yelkouan Shearwater, Storm Petrel, Shag, Bonelli’s Eagle, Rock Partridge and Rüppell’s Warbler. Finally, Greece sup- ports breeding populations of species that are of great zoogeographical importance such as the Great White Pelican, Pygmy Cormorant, Goosander, Capercaillie, Hazel Grouse, Chukar, Krüper’s Nuthatch and Cinereous Bunting. In winter, populations of many resident birds are joined by the arrival of birds from northern countries; there are, however, 76 species that are mainly or solely winter visitors. Greece is of great importance for many winter visitors, especially for waterfowl and waders. Occasion- ally, waterfowl like the Mute Swan, Tundra Swan, Wigeon and Teal can be seen in record numbers of international importance. Furthermore, Greek wetlands attract many rare or globally threatened species like the Lesser White-fronted Goose, Red-breasted Goose, White- headed Duck, Dalmatian Pelican, Great Egret, White-tailed Eagle, Great Spotted Eagle, Impe- rial Eagle and others. Due to its geographical location and relief, Greece lies on the migration routes of many birds 4 on their way from and to Africa. At least 29 species of the Greek checklist are strictly passage migrants, occurring only during spring or autumn migration. Several Species of European Concern or Globally Threatened Species pass through Greece during migration, including the Slender-billed Curlew, Pallid Harrier, Red-footed Falcon, Corncrake and Great Snipe. Our country also attracts birds that under normal circumstances would never occur in Greece, the southeastern Mediterranean or even the Western Palaearctic. Almost 95 species occur in Greece as accidental visitors, misled by the weather or movements of similar or relative species. Interesting bird species can be seen all across Greece, depending on the biology and habitat of each species, the season, the location, etc. There are, however, areas of special significance for birdlife, known as Special Protection Areas that form the elite of the important bird habi- tats in Greece. So far, 204 areas have been designated, ranging from the pristine forests of the Rodopi mountains to the dry islands of the Aegean and from the salt marshes of Evros Delta to the alpine grasslands of the Pindos mountain range. Greece is defined not only by the Parthenon frieze, the clinging monasteries of the Meteora rocks or the pure white houses in the Cyclades archipelago… Greece is also defined by the bluish plumage of the Roller in the plain of Kilkis, the majestic gliding of the Black Vulture over the pine forest of Dadia and the restless flocks of Eleonora’s Falcons in the rugged cliffs of Antikythira island. This is the country that many environmentally aware tourists seek; a country of birds, our Greece. I am confident that this excellent book will make us love Greece and its birds even more. George Handrinos Ornithologist 5 Foreword Birdwatching: a hobby for millions of people of all ages worldwide, who want to watch the birds in their natural environment. The basic goal is to identify correctly each and every spe- cies and to record some of their special features related to their biology, distribution and behaviour. It stems from a deeper need to contact and comprehend Nature and can be prac- ticed all year round and in every corner of our world. This is, more or less, the definition of birdwatching in dictionaries, websites, books, flyers, etc. This is also how it is “adapted” to Greek standards: a few dozens of birdwatchers, spread all over Greece, enjoying the birds in the country of Aristotle, the first recorded birdwatcher in History. Along with them, a much bigger crowd of people from all over the world: foreign birdwatch- ers, most of them European, have realised the importance of Greece and its richness in bird species and visit it every year and not just for their summer vacations. A crossroad of three continents with great habitat diversity (and in a much better condition compared to the other Mediterranean neighbors) and 449 species of birds “are waiting” for birdwatchers to find them. Among them, rare and endangered species, common and less common birds, species restricted to our geographical region or vagrants that unexpectedly appear after bad weather. For some, birdwatching may be the ultimate dull hobby, where people stay hidden for hours in the same spot - some even wearing camouflage uniforms - just to see one bird, but for oth- ers this is far from being the case! It is your personal choice to spend your free time the way you want, it is also the desire to enter a different world, the world of birds, those feathered creatures you admire, even for a while;