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. 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. MORE

Interestingly, while they have not yet been recorded in Serbia in the breeding season, Masked Shrike , Olive-tree Warbler and Sardinian Warbler were seen breeding just south of the border, in North Macedonia, and it is likely that some pairs might choose localities further north. Serbia has 317 eBirded species so far, or 89% of the 356 in the national checklist. MORE

The series of birding workshops and meetings continued across the map, through Ulcinj, Montenegro, then Samobor, Croatia and Stip (described here ), North Macedonia, leading to Brussels, the unofficial capital of EU. Gonna take a sentimental journey. Gonna set my heart at ease …. Gotta take that sentimental journey. Sentimental journey home. Sentimental Journey – Ella Fitzgerald (1947). MORE

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. Early September morning. Barn Swallows and Eurasian Collared Doves on the wires… I was here for the first time in April this year (find about it here ) and easily made up my mind: this is a place worthy of many returns. MORE

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. The other day I was exploring a new area for the first time, birding the national park that I’ve watched only in BBC documentaries, the place famous for the largest Dalmatian Pelican colony in the world – more than 1300 pairs! Have you heard of it? Can you pinpoint it on a map? MORE

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). Since I live not very far from Greece, I have often combined my vacation there with birding. As the time passed on, I started combining birding with vacation. MORE

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? Today is the United Nations World Wildlife Day, a time to celebrate and raise awareness of the living world around us. MORE

Neighbouring (FYRO) Macedonia nowadays has about 20 pairs, while two decades ago they had 135! And so, I was driving from Greece to Serbia… in central Macedonia, two birds were circling not far from the motorway… black and white (above)… perhaps White Storks on migration? Scientific papers are simply boring. That is why they have sections Abstract and Summary, to allow you to read the digested versions and skip the rest. MORE