Northern Greece: Birds & History May 22–June 1, 2020 ©2019
NORTHERN GREECE: BIRDS & HISTORY MAY 22–JUNE 1, 2020 ©2019 Meteora, Greece © Voyagerix-Shutterstock For most travelers, the allure of Greece is forever bound in its classical ruins, sun-splashed islands, and wine-dark Aegean Sea. Indeed, images of the Acropolis and islands such as Crete and Santorini stoke the postcard ideal of Greece like no others. However, for those with a strong sense of curiosity and a desire to look deeper into the heart of this ancient country, lies another Greece—Northern Greece—an overlooked region very different from that of the iconic south, a scenic land of mountains, lakes, river deltas, and less known but equally impressive historical sites and architectural wonders. On this new tour, we will travel to Northern Greece, a part of the country virtually unknown to most North Americans and a place that defies popular perceptions of Greece. On this “Birds and History” trip, we will travel from Athens to Alexandroupolis, mixing time in premier birding locations with visits to historical sites of quiet renown. Our birding pursuits will take us to areas that are not only the top sites in Greece, but among the top birding sites in all of Eastern Europe. These include the Nestos River Delta, Lakes Vistonida and Ismarida, the beautiful Dadia Forest, the Evros River Delta, and magical Lake Kerkini. Northern Greece, Page 2 The birding should be exceptional, and we expect encounters with a great many species not found farther south in Greece. A sample of species we may observe includes Ferruginous Duck, Dalmatian and Great White pelicans, Pygmy Cormorant, Purple Heron, Black and White storks, Eurasian Stone- Curlew, Spur-winged Lapwing, European Roller, Black and Syrian woodpeckers, Calandra Lark, Isabelline Wheatear, Eastern Orphean and Olive-tree warblers, Semicollared Flycatcher, Eurasian Penduline-Tit, Bearded Reedling, Red-backed and Masked Shrikes, and European Golden Oriole.
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