A very tranquil looking Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece after the sun had set
Lake Kerkini is the most important place in Europe for the globally threatened Dalmatian Pelican and thankfully, can be observed here in great numbers during the winter months. Mirror like reflections backed by high snowy peaks, Lake Kerkini is stunning place to be and a real paradise for bird watchers. It’s situated in Northern Greece, about 20km from the Greek-Bulgarian border. Lake Kerkini offers some of the most accessible, and best opportunities for both birding and bird photography in Europe. The lake and the surrounding wetlands are nestled between the Kerkini Mountains to the north and the Marvovouni Mountains to the south. It hosts more than 300 sorts of birds, including 140 non-migrants species, including some endangered species and 170 species that migrate every year. Non-migrating species of birds include Black Storks, Squacco Herons, Purple Herons, Spoonbills, Little Bitterns, and a variety of Warblers. There are also two endangered non-migrating species, the Pygmy Cormorant and the Dalmatian Pelican. Birdwatching tours regularly include walking tours around the lakeside as well as hiking into the hillside and lake boat rides. Anyways on with the photos! 🙂
Poplar trees in winter silhouetted against an illuminated Belles mountains in Northern Greece at sunset
Some fun lightpainting – © Drew Buckley / Richard Peters
Milky Way over Lake Kerkini
A small fishing boat with fisherman on is surrounded by misty layered hills backlit at sunrise on Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece
Misty layered hills backlit at sunrise on Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) flies across other Flamingos Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece at sunrise
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) flies across Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece, Belles mountains in the background that border Bulgaria
Long exposure of the movement of star trails over Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece
Portrait of a Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) in pink sunset light as it swims on Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece
Close up portrait of a Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) in golden evening sunshine on Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece
Dalmatian Pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) in golden evening sunshine leap out of the water to catch fish on Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece
Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) comes into land appearing to water ski on a very still Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece
Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) swims across a near still Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece, its reflection very prominent
Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) flies across a near still Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece
Dalmatian Pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) leap out of the water to catch fish on Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece
Two Dalmatian Pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) on Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece
Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) comes head on into land on a very still Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece
Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) flies across a near still Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece, its reflection very prominent
Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) comes into land appearing to water ski on a very still Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece
Close up portrait of a Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) on Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece
Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) flies across a near still Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece, its reflection very prominent