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Take a quick look at the breeding distribution of European birds and you will see that there are a surprising number of species that are restricted to the Balkans. It is these Balkan specials that are the target species… Source
Finding Birds in Northern Greece (2015) covers the birdwise very best northeast of the country (provinces of Macedonia and Thrace), from the wetland border with Turkey all the way to the mountains and lakes at the triple border with Albania and North Macedonia.
But, from the existing data, the authors have drawn a different conclusion – there is no proof that the breeding population ever existed, that the south of Africa was beyond the species range and that that all observations were of vagrant individuals. During my lifetime, this species was rare in my native Serbia, too.
True, because of higher precipitation, more luxurious vegetation and higher diversity of altitudes and habitats, east Macedonia and Thrace may offer better birding and a longer bird list, but for those, there is a more informative new book, Birdwatching in Northern Greece – a site guide by Steve Mills (2011, 2nd edition).
The Prespa Lakes National Park in Greece is well hidden among the mountains at the triple border with Albania in the west and the FYRO Macedonia in the north. In all that swirling of swallows, I am not certain was there a third species, so I keep watching. Coming from the northeast, there are two tarmac roads leading there. Other taxa.
Last year, in November, I notched up a dozen species of butterflies, an impressive total anywhere in Europe so late in the year. Herds of domesticated Water Buffalo can be seen around the lake A week’s winter birding should produce a tally of anything from 120 to 130 species, depending on how hard you work, luck and the weather.
Serbia has 317 eBirded species so far, or 89% of the 356 in the national checklist. The country has one eBird hotspot with 200+ and 48 with more than 100 bird species. The country has one eBird hotspot with 200+ and 48 with more than 100 bird species. Spring migration March to April , 270 eBirded species.
Driving from France or Germany to Greece, you are likely to pass through my hometown of Belgrade and continue south following the E75 through the FYRO Macedonia. Other species of interest include the southernmost breeding population of Greylag Goose in Europe, Goosander (at bigger and deeper Megali Prespa), Hazel Grouse (at Mt.
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. The choice of species is such that I do not know where to look first. Numerous flocks of White Pelicans make for the largest and the most obvious species.
Here go those moments of curiosity, in no particular order: Europe: And so, I was driving from Greece to Serbia… in central FYRO Macedonia, two birds were circling not far from the motorway… black and white… perhaps White Storks on migration? I already have a history of searches for this species.
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