10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 24, 2023

I first visited Kerkini and this bird-rich region of northern Greece 15 years ago, and have been returning regularly ever since. Last year, in November, I notched up a dozen species of butterflies, an impressive total anywhere in Europe so late in the year.

Greece 199

Greece Pelicans Geese Buffalo 199

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. Before this trip, I asked Steve Mills, the author of ‘ Birdwatching in Northern Greece ’, which sites would he recommend at this time of the year. Early September morning.

Greece 181

Greece Pelicans Serbia Eagles 181

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2015

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. One of them has a satellite transmitter around its neck and quite a few have white collars marked with the letter “G” (for Greece?) and dual digits. 02, G04,06,07,40 and G74.

Greece 252

Greece Pelicans Geese Breeding 252

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2017

In early August this year, I saw 77 species here (69 on the lake, plus 8 more in the surrounding areas) but barely more than a thousand individuals. There was a Short-toed Eagle ahead, taking flight to be replaced by another ST Eagle. Spring (migrants and breeding species) and winter (wintering waterbirds). Best seasons.

Greece 179

Greece Killing Pelicans Eagles 179

10,000 Birds

MAY 15, 2014

It is an early April morning and we are in the hills surrounding Lake Kerkini in the north of Greece. A few metres further, something is jumping from one branch to another… a pair of Subalpine Warblers , a Mediterranean species that does not go much further north than this. Trips Europe Greece pelicans'

Greece 161

Greece Pelicans Breeding Buffalo 161

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2020

Like many of you, I had plans for this year’s spring migration: to bird the very best tour of the Balkans, heading for northeastern Greece. First, 800 km of driving from Belgrade through Bulgaria to very NE corner of Greece and the Dadia Forest National Park with its 36 species of diurnal raptors, out of Europe’s 38.

Greece 225

Greece Bulgaria Birds Serbia 225

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Have you read my blogs on birding Greece ? Presuming that you live somewhere in Europe and plan a car trip to Greece, let me suggest a couple of routes that will increase your tour list. For the Ionian Sea, take the motorway exit for the town of Prilep, continue through Bitola and head for the Medzitlija – Niki crossing to Greece.

Greece 176

Greece Albania Macedonia Europe 176

10,000 Birds

APRIL 30, 2015

This time I was lucky enough to join a fam trip organised by Natural Greece, an ecotourism company from Athens, and spend a few days at my favourite Kerkini Lake, which you already birded through my bins ( April and September ). Picture 2: Lesser Spotted Eagle – Clanga pomarina. Yes, those were four eagles in 20 minutes.

Greece 239

Greece Woodpeckers Eagles Birds 239

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2018

I had just a split-second glimpse of this species – my only second ever – yet immediately knew what is it, but I was driving through a snowbound countryside and had another car behind me, therefore I stopped a good 50 metres later to eBird it. Greater Spotted Eagle – Clanga clanga. White-tailed Eagle – Haliaeetus albicilla.

Owls 104

Owls Greece Serbia Woodpeckers 104

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 3, 2020

A White-tailed Eagle is calling somewhere from the forest. Judging by Google Earth, some 250 m / 800 ft away, there’s a Greater Spotted Eagle , dark adult that appears like a black hole, like an object pulling and eating all the light, itself appearing as dark as can be. Nearby are four very dark brown ducks… Tufted Duck females!

Serbia 259

Serbia Birds Ducks Cyprus 259

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2018

Checking my annual list, I am where I usually am at this time of year: several species short of 200. Still, this way or another, the year is ending with some glorious species, e.g. a rare Greater Spotted Eagle. Now, one species, that I should find. The Slavonian Grebe is also a lifer for me. The search is on.

Moldova 118

Moldova Birds Serbia Greece 118

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2013

And here I am now, avoiding the two barking dogs trying to bite my tires while I am driving through pre-dawn darkness towards the delta of the river Styx, or Acheron, as it is known today at the Ionian Sea coast of Greece. Short-toed Snake-eagle. Trips Greece wetlands' On a wire by the road, one European Bee-eater awaits me.

Greece 184

Greece Serbia Hunters Cows 184

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2016

Late last month, while searching for bears , woodpeckers and spirits of Greece, I deliberately avoided checking any news, especially from my home country. We are facing a plague of poaching that is again decimating the species. The way I see it, it is a cruel joke leading towards the extinction of a threatened species.

Elephants 180

Elephants Botswana Zimbabwe Africa 180

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 27, 2016

While crossing Gramos Mountain in northern Greece, a Dendrocopos woodpecker flew over the road and landed in a pine tree. By the cliffs we find several Eurasian Crag-Martins and a consolation species – a family of Golden Eagles in the air! The Greater Spotted Eagle is a threatened species. Enough of the mountains.

Greece 248

Greece Woodpeckers Boars Eagles 248

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2013

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.

Sudan 218

Sudan Macedonia Botswana Serbia 218

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

One simply has to love Greece. There is another raptor over the ridge, light body and wings, dark head and chest – the Short-toed snake Eagle. I am exhilarated – I have had only a handful of chances to observe this species! Such a fascinating species. How old are they as a species?

Greece 217

Greece Falcons Madagascar Africa 217

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2023

My British total was a mere 172 species – not bad, but not very good. Every one of my 171 species was a bird that I found myself. It keeps a monthly record of sightings, so I can tell you that it was in February that I recorded my highest monthly species total (106), while my lowest total was in August (39).

Estonia 216

Estonia Portugal Greece Barn Owls 216

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2016

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. These are my first wild tigers ever!

Wildlife 172

Wildlife Tigers Asia Europe 172

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2017

A few years back, I birded northern Greece with a couple from Namibia. The species he was thrilled to see was the Mute Swan. The species he was thrilled to see was the Mute Swan. Well, for me – no, but for Nicolaas, Mute Swans were a lifer species. All photos (6) by Vladimir Milovanovic.

Birds 118

Birds Namibia Greece Feral 118

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2024

The next couple of months will of course see a boost to my British list, as summer migrants flood into England, while forthcoming trips to Cyprus, Greece and northern Spain will also turbocharge the European list. A lone Whooper Swan on a grey January day in Norfolk As for the ducks – I’m now up to 15 species.

Spain 130

Spain Eagles North America Ducks 130

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2016

Out of just under 200 bird species I observed this year in SE Europe, there are 6 threatened species. point to just one problem source, one over-abundant and highly invasive species – Homo sapiens. point to just one problem source, one over-abundant and highly invasive species – Homo sapiens.

Serbia 198

Serbia Greece Montenegro Bulgaria 198

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2019

172 lists were shared and 1004 species were seen, both records for October, so well done beats! Black Hawk-Eagle – Spizaetus tyrannus. Ankeny NWR–Eagle Marsh. Ornate Hawk-Eagle – Spizaetus ornatus. Martial Eagle – Polemaetus bellicosus. African Hawk-Eagle – Aquila spilogaster.

2019 112

2019 China Battery Jamaica 112

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2019

beats have still managed to share 82 checklists and accounted for 737 species. Our two newest contributors have shared from Mexico and China, bringing the countries birded this month (also including; Costa Rica, Greece, Serbia, USA, UK, India, UAE and New Zealand) to 10. Bonelli’s Eagle – Aquila fasciata.

2019 118

2019 Jamaica Eggs Woodpeckers 118

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2016

Unlike other bird races where participants keep tight-lipped about bird species as mundane as a House Sparrow , this event gives a prize to the team that helps the most. But isn’t all of that data sharing counterproductive for a bird race where the team with the most species wins? Nope, not one bit. This is a Masked Shrike.

Costa Rica 166

Costa Rica Eagles Birds 166

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 2, 2017

9 beats, birded 9 countries this month; Belize , Guatamala , Costa Rica, UK, Iran, USA, Greece, Australia and Mexico. They submitted 144 checklists, noting 628 species adding 72 to the year’s running total bringing it to 1890. Crested Serpent-Eagle – Spilornis cheela. Ornate Hawk-Eagle – Spizaetus ornatus.

2017 100

2017 Australia Sanctuary Woodpeckers 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 30, 2022

In addition, it has over 450 bird species and more than 30 in-country endemics, of which it is possible to see every single species! More than 140 bird species have been recorded, a list that includes dozens of rainforest and/or wet-zone specialists unlikely to be seen anywhere else readily accessible to tourists.

Sri Lanka 147

Sri Lanka Ghana Uganda Eagles 147