For those who’ve birded in Spain, presumably greater than as soon as, and are contemplating one other Mediterranean nation to quench your thirst, look to the east. Steve Dudley, a hen information and creator of the Lesvos birding information, as soon as informed me: “Greece is THE premier birding location in Europe for me [and for yours truly as well]. Wider than Lesvos, it additionally gives different spectacular birding places similar to Kerkini, Dadia, and the Evros Delta – they’ll all be mixed in a simple sufficient week or two-week birding journey which I’ve carried out many occasions myself, in addition to offering some wonderful winter birding too for lengthy weekends (an extended winter weekend at Kerkini may be very straightforward from the UK and is simply good). You will get to Athens from just about anyplace, and from Athens, you may entry anyplace else in Greece simply sufficient by airplane, ferry, or automotive. What’s to not love!”

A number of where-to-find-birds books have been printed, together with ones by Steve Mills, Dave Gosney (each overlaying northern Greece), Steve Dudley (Lesvos), and many others., plus the country-wide information “Birding in Greece” printed by the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS). Gosney’s information is light-weight and no-nonsense, providing easy instructions like “on that meadow on the left search for these species,” however its maps resemble these from early hippy guides to India—hand-drawn and tough to observe with hard-to-read handwritten particulars. “Birding in Greece” by Chris Vlachos et al., printed by HOS, offers considerably generic web site descriptions (richer typically data on every web site, however as an alternative of “search that meadow in your left”, it’s extra like “within the SW part of the reserve you may anticipate…”), and once more, the maps. Many chapters cope with bigger reserves, dozens of kilometres throughout, proven solely on one full-page map. That’s it—no different maps, only one per every space, regardless of its measurement!

By now, you’re conscious of the weaknesses of those different guides, however what if you wish to discover Greece past simply the north of it? Whereas Steve Mills began his information with northern Greece, by the third version he has expanded the protection to embody your complete continental Greece, other than Attica (the environment of Athens) and the Peloponnese Peninsula.

Within the aforementioned area, Mills covers all areas—other than the cliffs of Meteora—lined in Vlachos/HOS information, and in his “historic” space, northern Greece, Mills covers considerably extra websites than the country-wide Vlachos information. On the similar time, the north stands out with the extra diverse reduction and better mountains, consequently extra rainfall, lusher forests, and extra numerous habitats, leading to longer hen lists, making it the easiest area of the nation.

Already being acquainted not simply with the competitors, but in addition with Steve Mills’s Birdwatching in Northern Greece: Second Version, I knew upfront, earlier than the #3 was printed, what would determine the perfect amongst these: the maps. Do the maps proper, and you’re the chief of the pack.

Lastly, the maps are digitalised, (seemingly) primarily based on Google Maps, one thing you may be utilizing in your cellphone, making it straightforward to check the options within the guide with these on the display screen and discover your method round. Whereas smaller areas could also be depicted on three maps, the bigger areas are depicted on 10 to fifteen maps! And that’s why I take my hat off to Steve Mills.

The third version of “Birdwatching in Northern Greece” is a exceptional achievement that surpasses its predecessors in each scope and high quality. The inclusion of recent websites similar to Lake Karla, Messolonghi, Mount Parnassos and others expands the scope of the information, whereas the addition of color-coded sections, detailed GPS info, up to date standing lists, and lodging ideas additional improve the usability of the information. This guide is bound to change into a necessary companion on my future birding journeys in Greece.

There’s another reason to take my hat off: all funds raised from promoting the books go straight in the direction of hen safety tasks in Greece. Now you realize which information you actually need.

Birdwatching in Northern Greece: Third Version
Creator: Steve Mills
Paperback | 288 pg | full color
First Revealed: 2023/08/10
Revealed by: Birdwing Books
ISBN: 9780956777027
Weight: 0.5 kg