If you happen to’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 chook information and writer 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 provides different spectacular birding areas corresponding 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 achieved many instances myself, in addition to offering some wonderful winter birding too for lengthy weekends (an extended winter weekend at Kerkini could be very simple from the UK and is simply sensible). You may get to Athens from just about wherever, and from Athens, you’ll be able to entry wherever else in Greece simply sufficient by aircraft, ferry, or automotive. What’s to not love!”
A number of where-to-find-birds books have been revealed, together with ones by Steve Mills, Dave Gosney (each protecting northern Greece), Steve Dudley (Lesvos), and many others., plus the country-wide information “Birding in Greece” revealed 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 comply with with hard-to-read handwritten particulars. “Birding in Greece” by Chris Vlachos et al., revealed by HOS, offers considerably generic website descriptions (richer normally data on every website, however as a substitute of “search that meadow in your left”, it’s extra like “within the SW part of the reserve you’ll be able to anticipate…”), and once more, the maps. Many chapters take care of 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 dimension!
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 entire continental Greece, aside from Attica (the environment of Athens) and the Peloponnese Peninsula.
Within the aforementioned area, Mills covers all areas—aside from 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 different aid and better mountains, consequently extra rainfall, lusher forests, and extra various habitats, leading to longer chook 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 prematurely, earlier than the #3 was revealed, what would resolve the very best amongst these: the maps. Do the maps proper, and you’re the chief of the pack.
Lastly, the maps are digitalised, (doubtless) based mostly on Google Maps, one thing you may be utilizing in your telephone, making it simple to check the options within the ebook with these on the display screen and discover your approach 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 outstanding achievement that surpasses its predecessors in each scope and high quality. The inclusion of recent websites corresponding 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 ebook is bound to turn into an important companion on my future birding journeys in Greece.
There may be another reason to take my hat off: all funds raised from promoting the books go immediately in direction of chook safety initiatives in Greece. Now you understand which information you actually need.
Birdwatching in Northern Greece: Third Version
Creator: Steve Mills
Paperback | 288 pg | full color
First Printed: 2023/08/10
Printed by: Birdwing Books
ISBN: 9780956777027
Weight: 0.5 kg
