10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

The sun rises over the village of Chrysochorafa, by Kerkini Lake in the north of Greece, not far from the triple border with Bulgaria and FYRO Macedonia. Such a large bird in such a small pool and only the first of many Dalmatian Pelicans I will see that day. Early September morning. In mid-eclipse, ducks posed quite a challenge.

Greece 218

Greece Pelicans Serbia Eagles 218

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2024

The Balkans, by the way, is a loose term for Europe’s south-eastern peninsula, covering the countries of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece.) It is these Balkan specials that are the target species… Source

Herzegovina 246

Herzegovina Bosnia Albania Macedonia 246

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2024

It’s a reservoir, not a natural lake, and was formed by damming the Striminos river, which flows into Greece from neighboring Bulgaria (unfortunately bringing with it huge amounts of plastic rubbish, creating problems for the National Park.) Both species of pelicans breed on the lake, with the Dalmatians the more numerous.

Pelicans 244

Pelicans Greece Fish Bulgaria 244

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2018

Unlike the previous hotspots, which lie close to Belgrade, the Kompenzacioni bazen lake (literally “compensation pool”), is in the town of Pirot, close to the border with Bulgaria and about 300 km from Belgrade. . #1 Kompenzacioni bazen lake, Pirot. eBird bar chart.

Serbia 200

Serbia Bulgaria Farming Turtles 200

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2016

Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus. In my native Serbia, pelicans are only vagrants, although in the under-birded southeast, they may be more common than we think. They do breed in the Balkans, in Montenegro and Greece where I observed them, as well as in Bulgaria and Romania. Dalmatian Pelican by Sebastian Bugariu.

Montenegro 203

Montenegro Serbia Greece Bulgaria 203