Birding areas in Xanthi

The area of Eastern Macedonia is one of the most interesting birdwatching areas in Europe! And that because in close distance there are many and very important wetlands and forests! Here are some information:

Nestos River, Gorge and Delta

Nestos River and Delta are two of the most favorable birding sites of birdwatchers.

The Nestos gorge on the north has steep rocky slopes, with forest on the bottom of the gorge and a mixture of forest and maquis cover the surrounding slopes. In Nestos Gorge can be observed among a plethora of rare birds are Alpine Swifts, Griffon Vultures, Craig Martins, Red-rumped Swallow, Falcons and Grey and White Wagtails, while along the River due to the large diversity of the area such as marshes, sandy islands, marshes and of course river there are hundred of birds like White-fronted Geeses, Honey Buzzards, Black Kites, Turtle doves, Hoopoes, Hen and Marsh Harriers, Golden Orioles and six kind of woodpeckers like Lesser Spotted, Syrian, Grey-headed, Middle, Great and Lesser spotted.

The Nestos delta have been recorded 254 bird species and is a mixture of lagoons and fields with parts of grassland, salt and freshwater marsh and forest is a very important site for breeding, passage and wintering waterbirds, raptors and passerines. Delta of Nestos is the only European area where the Common Pheasant exists and the most important Greek area for the reproduction of Spur-winged Plover. Also in the are can be observed Lesser Kestrels, Eastern Imperial Eagles, Red – breasted Gooses and others.

Lake Vistonida and Porto Lagos

Lake Vistonida is located the natural extension of Porto Lagos Gulf and is located south of Rodopi and Xanthi.  Lake Vistonida and Porto Lagos are protected by Ramsar Convention, are also part of the Areas of Special Protection of Birds of the EU and parts of Natura 2000, due to the biodiversity of species and ecosystems.

In Vistonida Lake can be found more than 214 bird species, while some of them are Spoondills, Herons, Whoopers, Long- tailed ducks, Scaups, Smews, Whooper and Bewick’s swams, White and Grey Herons.  Also birdwathers could observe Sandwich, Common, Whiskered, Little, Gulled-billed and Black Terns, Long-eared Owls, Fish-eagle and Osprey.

Porto Lagos offers an amazing site with the small church of St. Nicolaos that is located in the middle of the lagoon and the thousands of birds around. Porto Lagos hosts at about 600 pairs of Little Egret and Grey Heron and is a very important for breeding, passage and wintering waterbirds, raptors and species that nest in reed beds. Some of the birds that is likely to be observed in Porto Lagos is the White-tailed Eagle, the Red-breasted Goose, Greater Spotted Eagle, Slender-billed Curlew, Eastern Imperial Eagle and Lesser Kestrel.

Delta of Evros

Delta of Evros holds an important position to the migratory bird routes and has also ahs large diversity and hosts more than 330 bird species with a high diversity of habitats as sand dunes, interior rivers, marshes, reedbeds, coastal lakes, swaps, coastal lagoons, and sandy islets. Delta of Evros is protected by Ramsar convention and covers 188 square kilometres.

Birds that can be observed are Slender –billed Curlew, Common Teals, Greater Flamingos, Ospreys, White –fronted and Red –breasted Geese, Rubby Shelducks,

Also Delta of Nestos is the best European sites for observing. It is also possible to observe Isabelline Wheatear and Spur –winged Plover and if you are lucky you could also observe Caspian, Sociable and Greater Sand Plovers, Avocets, Calandra Larks, White pelicans, Rollers, Spanish and House Sparrows, Short-toed Larks, Whitethroat, Terek Sandpipers, Hoopoes, Broad- billed Sandpipers, Common Nightingales, Red – footed falcon and Short-toed Owls.

Dadia forest

Dadia Forest is located on the Southeastern end of Rodopi’s Mountains, on the crossroad of two continents. This is why in Dadia forest can be found species of fauna and flora of Asia, Europe and the Balkan Peninsula. The geographical position of Dadia forest along with one of the most important migration routes; the Western Palearctic Ecozone makes Dadia forest an ideal birdwatching area as here could be observed 36 out of the 38 birds of prey that can be found in Europe like the Lesser –spotted, White-tailed, Short-toed Golden and Booted Eagle, three out of four European species of vultures; Egyptian, Eurasian Black and the Eurasian Griffon Vulture and of course Sparrowhawk, Hobby, Kestrels, Goshawk and Levant Sparrowhawk. 

For more information about birdwatching tours in Greece, please visit our website: www.birding-tours.gr