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Birdwatching at the Gialova lagoon
Photos
Collection.
Gialova Lagoon
 Flamingoes
Flamingoes
Osprey
Kingfisher
Great White Egret
Great White Egret
Flock of Egrets
Little Egret
Little Egret
Glossy Ibises
Black-winged stilts Grey Heron
Marsh Harrier
Hoopoe
Eagle Owl
Short-toed Eagle
Swan
Gialova Lagoon
Gialova Lagoon
Gialova Lagoon
Swans
Gialova Lagoon
Gialova Lagoon
Chameleon
Wild orchid
Sea Lilies
Gialova Lagoon
Kalamari waterfall
Thanos Village is wonderfully located on a low hill
overlooking the Gialova lagoon, which lies only 500
m away. The view is magnificent and the lagoon is a
real bird paradise: more than 270 species of birds
have been counted there by the Hellenic
Ornithological Society – the Greek partner of
Birdlife International. Thousands of birds flying to
Africa in autumn stop at the lagoon to rest and
“refuel” for the last time before the long journey
of 3000 km over the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara
desert. In spring they find there the southern-most
European wetland to rest and feed again.
Furthermore, many species overwinter at the lagoon.
We remind you that also the winter months are a
beautiful period to visit our area. Temperatures are
mild, and often we can have lunch on our balcony
while sun tanning. It can happen that it rains, but
most of the time after a couple of hours sun shines
again. Birdwatchers will be impressed by the natural
spectacle offered by the lagoon in winter!
We recommend visiting the lagoon in the early
morning hours. There are three birwatching hides,
and entrance is free.
The importance of the Gialova lagoon for birds has
been discovered only recently, and this is the
reason why it is not famous (yet!). But this small
wetland has a great advantage over the large
wetlands of Northern Greece: it smaller size allows
birdwatchers to spot most of the birds present
there. A couple of hours in watch tower of the
lagoon are enough to observe most of its
inhabitants, from the impressive eagles to the
elusive Bitterns , etc.
The best period to observe birds at the lagoon is
from September to May. Ruffs, Garganeys, Grey
Herons, Little Egrets, Squacco Herons, Glossy
Ibises, Curlews, Golden Plovers, Black-winged Stilts
and Kingfishers are observed already from August but
it is not until the beginning of September that the
king of the lagoon can be observed: the Osprey.
Purple Herons, Marsh and Pallid Harriers, most
species of Terns, most Waders, including Common and
Marsh Sandpipers, Dotterels, Spotted Redshanks,
Avocets and many more also arrive in September. The
lagoon becomes a real paradise teeming with bird
life!
In winter there are about 20000 birds in the lagoon.
Ducks and Coots are the most numerous birds, but
there are other interesting species too. Over 500
herons - Great White Egrets, Little Egrets and Grey
Herons -overwinter at the lagoon. These birds have
learned to exploit the skills of the Cormorants to
catch fish. Cormorants fish in a large flock in the
canals of the wetland moving along a kind of front
line. The birds in the back of the flock fly over
the front ones and immediately plunge to chase and
catch the fish, while other birds will fly over them
to continue this “fishing roll”. Generally this is
done first along the edges of the lagoon and then
continued in the canals of the marsh, where by far
they catch most of the fish. In this feast the
herons just have to stand on the edges of the canals
waiting to catch the frightened fishes that manage
to escape the Cormorants. This incredible show goes
on all morning, and can’t be missed by visitors! In
winter there can be three species of Eagles:
Imperial Eagle, Spotted Eagle and Osprey. Many Marsh
and Hen Harriers join them. Flamingoes are present
in the wetland all year long, About 10 Bitterns are
there in winter, and can be seen flying above the
reedbed especially just before dusk.
Spring migration begins already by the end of
February. Especially in March and April, thousands
of Waders, Herons, Harriers, Terns but also
Swallows, Wagtails and many other passerines stop at
the lagoon. Waders mainly arrive at night, except
for Curlews, which arrive during the day in March.
Marsh and Broad-billed Sandpipers are just two of
the most interesting species of Waders to be seen.
Among others, Spotted Redshanks and Greenshanks
arrive in April. Ruffs and Wood Sandpipers are the
commonest waders of the lagoon, of which more than
10000 individuals each pass during the whole spring.
The latest Waders to arrive are Turnstones and
Curlew Sandpipers, which are there mainly in May.
Among larger birds, Grey Herons and Marsh Harriers
have a particular way to reach the lagoon between
March and mid April as they are seen literally
falling down one after the other from somewhere very
high in the sky. Finally, more than 1800 Glossy
Ibises can pass from the lagoon during the whole
spring!
Last, breeding birds include Eagle Owls and
Peregrine Falcons, which breed on the nearby cliffs,
and Kestrels, most Owls, and many Black-winged
Stilts.
Already by the end of January the olive groves that
surround us are all covered by flowers, and in
February-March-April nature blooms in all its
beautiful colours. Dozens of rare species of flowers
grow in our area, including many Orchids, Crocuses,
Lilies, etc.
We hope to see you soon!!
Copright 2005
Andrea Bonetti
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