If you had to pick only one area for birdwatching in Greece, then you would have no other choice: Evros delta is the ideal place!
River Evros is the second largest river of the Balkan Peninsula and the natural border between Greece and Turkey. The delta formed and the great variety of the adjacent habitats, attract large numbers of birds from the surrounding areas. The area is also located on the main migratory route of birds. A bird paradise, Evros delta is placed amongst the most popular destinations for Greek and foreign birdwatchers as well. So far, almost 320 species have been recorded here, which equals to more than 70% of the Greek checklist! Some of them are of international interest and importance, like the Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris), a globally threatened species.
PROTECTION STATUS
This is a NATURA 2000 site, a National Park and a Ramsar Convention Site. Part of the area is a Wildlife Refuge. It is also an Importan Bird Area (GR006)
HIGHLIGHT SPECIES
Lesser White-fronted Goose (winter visitor)
Red-breasted Goose (winter visitor)
Ruddy Shelduck (winter visitor)
Dalmatian Pelican (winter visitor)
Pygmy Cormorant (winter visitor)
Bittern (winter visitor)
Black Stork (summer visitor)
White-tailed Eagle (resident)
Imperial Eagle (winter visitor)
Greater Spotted Eagle (winter visitor)
Red Kite (winter visitor)
Black Kite (resident)
Levant Sparrowhawk (summer visitor)
Hobby (summer visitor)
Little Bustard (winter visitor)
Stone Curlew (summer visitor)
Collared Pratincole (summer visitor)
Spur-winged Lapwing (summer visitor)
Mediterranean Gull (summer visitor)
Gull-billed Tern (summer visitor)
Eagle Owl (resident)
Short-eared Owl (winter visitor)
Bee-eater (summer visitor)
Roller (summer visitor)
Green Woodpecker (resident)
Syrian Woodpecker (resident)
Greater Short-toed Lark (summer visitor)
Masked Shrike (summer visitor)
HOW TO GET THERE
The city of Alexandroupolis, which is only 15 km west of Evros Delta, is located 800 km northeast of Athens or 300 km east of Thessaloniki. Daily flights connect Athens airport to “Dimokritos” airport of Alexandroupolis, which is even closer to the delta.
ROUTE
A good idea for observing a fairly large number of birds during a two to three day visit to the area is to set off from Loutra village – it is situated approximately 7 km from the airport or approximately 13 km from the centre of Alexandroupoli, heading east. From the main road, pass the first junction to Loutra, leading to the Management Body Information Centre, and you will see ‘Isidora’ hotel on your left hand side. Exactly opposite the hotel is an asphalt road (1) (which turns into a dirt road further on). This road will take you to the western part of the delta, an area with free access to visitors. Driving straight on (you are actually driving along the east embankment of the Loutros stream) will lead you to Drana lagoon (2). This recently restored lagoon – which has greatly suffered over the years – will be on your left, while on your right hand side you will see Laki lagoon (3). Drana is one of the largest lagoons of the delta and an excellent site for thousands of overwintering wild geese. Most of them are Greater White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons, but small numbers of the very rare Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus and Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis are also found, while the Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea is frequent. During the same season, large numbers of ducks can be seen, as well as all three European swans, while Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo, Pygmy Cormorants Phalacrocorax pygmeus and Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus are very common. Equally common are Little Egrets Egretta garzetta and Grey Herons Ardea cinerea, while the Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris can be seen in the dense reedbeds of the canals along the side of the dirt roads. The large waterfowl congregations attract many raptors, including the Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga, the Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca and the rare White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla. Other frequently seen birds of prey are the Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus, the Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus, the Black Kite Milvus migrans and the Red Kite Milvus milvus, while a lucky birdwatcher can even come across the – very rare in Greece – Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus.
In spring, the central part of the delta is a unique place for birds and birdwatchers alike. A great number of species comes here to breed or feed; Great White Pelicans Pelecanus onocrotalus, Purple Herons Ardea purpurea, Black Storks Ciconia nigra, Glossy Ibises Plegadis falcinellus, Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia, Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus, Spur-winged Lapwings Vanellus spinosus, Collared Pratincoles Glareola pratincola along with many waders and herons are spread all over the place: at Paloukia (4) (the other large lagoon), lake Nymfon (5), lake Skepi (6), Neraïdotopos, but also next to the dyke you are driving on! Heading north, following the main dirt road towards Ferres, you will most probably find Lesser Spotted Eagles Aquila pomarina, Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta, plovers (Charadrius spp.), several terns (Sterna spp., Chlidonias spp.), Bee-eaters Merops apiaster, and Rollers Coracias garrulus. Spring is also a very good season to explore Loutros Hill (7) (don’t forget to visit the village’s famous thermal baths), where, if you are lucky, you will most probably see the Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina, the Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus and the Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum. However, if you spend some more time on the hill, the chances are that you will be rewarded with views of harriers (Circus spp.), the Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus and, if you visit the area at dusk, the call of the Eagle-owl Bubo bubo. In spring, the flooded fields of Antheia – the area south of Aristino village (8) – and Apalos, hold thousands of songbirds, while herons are everywhere!
In the remains of the once extended riparian forest, where the landscape – against all odds – still resembles a heaven on earth, Levant Sparrowhawks Accipiter brevipes, Hobbies Falco subbuteo, Green Woodpeckers Picus viridis, and Syrian Woodpeckers Dendrocopos syriacus have their vital habitat. As the forest stretches along the borderline with Turkey, the use of a telescope or binoculars should be tactful and discreet. Needless to say, the same applies to photographers as well.
In winter, a visit to the port of Alexandroupolis (9) will possibly reward you with close views of Yelkouan Shearwaters Puffinus yelkouan and Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis. If you are determined, patient and a bit lucky when searching along the shoreline you might find Mew Gulls Larus canus or a flock of Common Scoters Melanitta nigra or Velvet Scoters Melanitta fusca. In spring you will be astonished by the large congregations of Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus.
Many rarities for Greece have been observed in the area, especially during migration, most notable being the Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis, the White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus, the Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax, or even extremely rare species such as the Arctic Tern Sterna paradisae, the Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus and the Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris. As birdwatching becomes more popular, and numbers of birdwatchers visiting the area increases, many more species are expected to be recorded. Besides, many people still visit the Evros delta with the dream of finding a Slender-billed Curlew…
BEST TIME TO VISIT
This area offers great birdwatching opportunities all year round. Spring seems to be the best season, due to the variety of breeding species, followed by winter with the thousands of waterfowl and waders. Autumn and summer are no less productive, as a great number of passage migrants can be seen.
OTHER INTERESTING FAUNA/FLORA
Golden Jackals and Wildcats are quite common inhabitants of the area. In winter, Wild Boars and, in rare cases, Wolves can also be seen. There are also herds of feral horses.
EXTRA
In order to go deep into the delta you need a special permission from the local Army Division or you must be escorted by a guide from the Information Centres of Loutra and Ferres.