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When you’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 creator of the Lesvos birding information, as soon as advised me: “Greece is THE premier birding location in Europe for me [and for yours truly as well]. Wider than Lesvos, it additionally presents different spectacular birding places resembling Kerkini, Dadia, and the Evros Delta – they’ll all be mixed in a simple sufficient week or two-week birding journey which I’ve completed many instances myself, in addition to offering some wonderful winter birding too for lengthy weekends (a protracted winter weekend at Kerkini could be very straightforward from the UK and is simply sensible). You may get to Athens from just about anyplace, and from Athens, you’ll be able to entry anyplace else in Greece simply sufficient by aircraft, ferry, or automobile. 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 masking northern Greece), Steve Dudley (Lesvos), and so forth., plus the country-wide information “Birding in Greece” printed by the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS). Gosney’s guide is light-weight and no-nonsense, providing simple 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 troublesome to comply with with hard-to-read handwritten particulars. “Birding in Greece” by Chris Vlachos et al., printed by HOS, offers considerably generic website descriptions (richer basically 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, 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—coated 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 various reduction and better mountains, consequently extra rainfall, lusher forests, and extra numerous habitats, leading to longer chook lists, making it the perfect area of the nation.
Already being acquainted not simply with the competitors, but additionally 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, (doubtless) based mostly on Google Maps, one thing you’ll be utilizing in your telephone, making it straightforward to match the options within the guide with these on the display screen and discover your means 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 resembling Lake Karla, Messolonghi, Mount Parnassos and others expands the scope of the information, whereas the addition of color-coded sections, detailed GPS data, up to date standing lists, and lodging suggestions additional improve the usability of the information. This guide is bound to grow to be a vital 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 instantly in the direction of chook safety initiatives in Greece. Now you realize which information you really 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
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