Birds

1. Graylag goose (Anser anser)

Several flocks in the north and east embankments.

2. Greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons)

Seen exclusively on the east embankment, in the plains mixed with lesser white-fronted geese.

3. Lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus)

Target bird in Kerkini. Seen exclusively on the east embankment, in the plains in flocks mixed with greater white-fronted geese.

4. Tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus)

Target bird in Kerkini. Hundreds of birds divided foraging and in flocks of handfuls of birds flying over around the east embankment.

5. Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus)

Modest numbers seen mixed with tundra swans foraging at the east embankment.

6. Common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)

Hundreds of birds foraging with geese in the east embankment.

0. Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata domestica)

Escaped from captivity. A white bird seen around Lithotopos dam on 11th Dec morning.

7. Northern shoveler (Spatula clypeata)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the thousands.

8. Gadwall (Mareca strepera)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the tens.

9. Eurasian wigeon (Mareca penelope)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the hundreds.

10. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the thousands.

11. Northern pintail (Anas acuta)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the hundreds.

12. Eurasian teal (Anas crecca crecca)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the thousands.

13. Common pochard (Aythya ferina)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the hundreds.

14. Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca)

Several birds seen in the north corner of the east embankment (point A) foraging with common pochards and a tufted duck.

15. Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula)

A 1st winter male seen in the north corner of the east embankment (point A) foraging with common pochards and three ferruginous ducks.

16. Feral pigeon (Columba livia domestica)

Numerous in urban settlements.

17. Common wood-pigeon (Columba palumbus)

Flocks of hundreds of birds would fly over the surroundings of Lake Kerkini in the morning.

18. Oriental turtle-dove (Streptopelia orientalis)

Rare bird in Greece. An adult with phenotype relative to ssp. meena is associated with two collared-doves in the east embankment (point B) of Lake Kerkini on 13th Dec.

19. Eurasian collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Numerous in urban settlements.

20. Little bustard (Tetrax tetrax)

Rare bird in Greece. Two birds seen briefly at flight over the plains of the east embankment (point B) on 12th Dec, quickly vanishing in the grass. Three birds foraging in the open with geese and curlews on 13th Dec from the same spot.

21. Water rail (Rallus aquaticus)

A bird heard on the reeds of the north corner (point A) of the east embankment.

22. Eurasian moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

A bird seen on the north corner (point A) of the east embankment.

23. Eurasian coot (Fulica atra)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the hundreds.

24. Common crane (Grus grus)

Several flocks seen on the north and especially east embankment.

25. Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)

Modest numbers seen in the north and west embankment.

26. Black-bellied plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

Three birds foraging with lapwings seen from the west embankment.

27. Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the hundreds.

28. Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata)

Modest numbers of birds foraging in the plains on the north and east embankments.

29. Common snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

A single bird roosting nearby the Kerkini boat port.

30. Green sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)

Several birds foraging in flooded crop fields in the road network around Lake Kerkini.

31. Dunlin (Calidris alpina)

A single flock of over a hundred individuals foraged on the shore of the east embankment.

32. Black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the hundreds.

33. Caspian gull (Larus cachinnans)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the tens.

34. Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the tens.

35. Whiskered tern (Chlidonis hybrida)

Around ten birds flying around the gulls on 11th Dec in the distance in Lithotopos dam area on our arrival, but not connected again.

36. Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the thousands.

37. Little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the tens.

38. Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the tens.

39. Black stork (Ciconia nigra)

A single individual seen at the east embankment in low flight on 12th Dec.

40. Pygmy cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus)

Target bird in Kerkini. Particularly good views around Lithotopos dam and in Kerkini boat port, but numerous in different points of the lake.

41. Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the hundreds.

42. Eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)

An individual flying over Lithotopos dam on 11th Dec. Three birds flying over the east embankment road and two birds flying next to Kerkini boat port on 12th Dec.

43. Little egret (Egretta garzetta)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the tens.

44. Western cattle-egret (Ardea ibis)

Few birds seen in some fields around urban settlements surrounding Lake Kerkini.

45. Great egret (Ardea alba)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the tens.

46. Gray heron (Ardea cinerea)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the tens.

47. Great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)

Target bird in Kerkini. Good views in the pelican island from the fishermen viewpoint. Total wintering numbers seen are on the tens.

48. Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus)

Target bird in Kerkini. A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Particularly good views from Kerkini boat port and in pelican island. Total numbers are on the hundreds.

49. Greater spotted eagle (Clanga clanga)

Relatively numerous. Top counts of two birds at Mandraki port on 12th Dec and three birds seen together at the east embankment on 12th and 13th Dec, but actual numbers must be higher.

50. Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

Several encounters on the road and in the east embankment.

51. Western marsh-harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the tens.

52. Hen harrier (Circus cyaneus)

A bird seen from the opposite side of Kerkini boat port on 12th Dec. A bird patroling over the shore of the east embankment on 13th Dec.

53. White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

A juvenile seen late in the evening around Lithotopos dam on 12th Dec.

54. Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the tens.

55. Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Few individuals connected in different stops around the lake.

56. Middle spotted woodpecker (Dendrocoptes medius)

A bird in the grove between the quarry and the church of Aetovouni, eventually sharing a tree with a great spotted woodpecker and two European green woodpeckers at sunset.

57. Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)

A bird in the grove around Aeovouni church sharing a tree with a middle spotted woodpecker and two European green woodpeckers at sunset.

58. Syrian woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus)

Target bird in Kerkini. The most often seen woodpecker species. Several pairs connected over the trip. Good views of a couple in the west embankment.

59. Gray-headed woodpecker (Picus canus canus)

A couple seen in the trees between points A and B in the east embankment on 12th Dec.

60. Eurasian green woodpecker (Picus viridis)

Two birds in the grove around Aeovouni church sharing a tree with a middle spotted woodpecker and a great spotted woodpecker at sunset. Good views in downtown Sofia.

61. Eurasian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Several birds seen on trees, poles and other structures mostly from the road.

62. Merlin (Falco columbarius)

A bird foraging in the plains of the east embankment on 13th Dec.

63. Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius)

Good numbers seen in different areas of Lake Kerkini, highlighting Aetovouni grove. Relatively tame and approachable in downtown Sofia.

64. Eurasian magpie (Pica pica)

Numerous in different landscapes of Lake Kerkini.

65. Eurasian jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)

A flock of several tens of birds in Borisova Gradina Park, Sofia.

66. Rook (Corvus frugilegus)

A couple of birds foraged in a flock of jackdaws in Borisova Gradina Park, Sofia.

67. Hooded crow (Corvus cornix)

Different birds showed up in most of the places visited in Lake Kerkini in flight, announcing themselves with their loud calls.

68. Common raven (Corvus corax)

A pair seen in Aetovouni quarry on 11th Dec. One individual seen in Sidirokastro castle on 12th Dec. A pair patrols at the east embankment on 13th Dec.

69. Coal tit (Periparus ater)

One individual in a mixed flock around Rila Monastery on 13th Dec.

70. Sombre tit (Poecile lugubris)

One bird seen in the spiny shrubs around the access to Aetovouni quarry on 11th Dec.

71. Marsh tit (Poecile palustris)

One bird in a mixed flock around Rila Monastery on 13th Dec.

72. Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Several birds seen around Lake Kerkini on different dates.

73. Great tit (Parus major)

Abundant around Lake Kerkini, seen and heard in different dates and olaces. Seen also in Rila Monastery and Sofia.

74. Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis)

A flock of several dozens in the plains around the east embarkment of Lake Kerkini on all our visits.

75. Crested lark (Galerida cristata)

Three birds foraging in the shore of the fishermen spot by Lake Kerkini on 12th Dec.

76.1. Common chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita collybita)

Few individuals heard and seen around Lake Kerkini in different places and dates. Also heard in Sofia.

76.2. Siberian chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita tristis)

Rare bird in Greece. An individual photographed and recorded in the vegetation of the east embarkment of Lake Kerkini on 13th Dec.

77. Cetti’s warbler (Cettia cetti)

Several birds heard in the vegetation of the east embankment.

78. Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus)

Numerous flocks of several birds seen at different spots of Lake Kerkini.

79. Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)

A bird heard and seen in the pine forest around Sidirokastro castle on 12th Dec.

80. Common firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla)

A bird heard and recorded in the grove between Aetovouni quarry and church on 11th Dec.

81. Western rock nuthatch (Sitta neumayer)

Target bird in Kerkini. An obliging pair of these birds foraged in the rocky walls of Sidirokastro quarry on 12th Dec.

82. Eurasian nuthatch (Sitta europaea)

Three birds seen in the forest around Rila Monastery on 14th Dec.

83. Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)

Several birds heard and seen in the vegetation around Lithotopos dam and in the west and east embankments.

84. European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the hundreds.

85. Song thrush (Turdus philomelos)

Few birds seen in different areas of Lake Kerkini.

86. Redwing (Turdus iliacus)

A single individual sitting on a tree top at east embankment on 13th Dec.

87. Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula)

Several individuals seen in the vegetation of different visited points around Lake Kerkini.

88. European robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Several individuals seen in the vegetation of different visited points around Lake Kerkini.

89. Black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the tens.

90. Blue rock-thrush (Monticola solitarius)

A single bird seen in Aetovouni quarry on 11th Dec.

91. Dunnock (Prunella modularis)

Heard and briefly seen in the willows bordering the lake at different locations, including the west embankment and Kerkini boat port.

92. House sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Numerous in urban settlements.

93. Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus)

A big flock seen in the east embankment (point A) containing over 100 birds on 12th Dec. Also seen in Borisova Gradina park in downtown Sofia.

94. Gray wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

Several birds seen in different areas of Lake Kerkini, mostly in Lithotopos dam.

95. White wagtail (Motacilla alba)

Several birds seen in flooded cropfields and at different spots on the shores of Lake Kerkini.

96. Meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis)

Several encounters in the plains of the west and east embanment and Mandraki port.

97. Water pipit (Anthus spinoletta)

Seven birds foraging together in front of Kerkini boat port.

98. Common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the hundreds.

99. Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)

Good wintering numbers. Particularly good views in the east embankment (point B) and Kerkini boat port, but flocks seen in other areas as well. Total numbers are on the tens.

100. European greenfinch (Chloris chloris)

Several encounters with the species in different spots, especially as lone flyover individuals calling.

101. Eurasian linnet (Linaria cannabina)

A couple of birds fly calling over the east embankment trail (point C) on 13th Dec.

102. European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the hundreds.

103. Eurasian siskin (Spinus spinus)

A flock of 15 birds seen and heard flying over the trail at the east embankment (point C) on 12th Dec.

104. Corn bunting (Emberiza calandra)

Up to six birds detected on the road to Lithotopos in the morning of our arrival from Bulgaria on 11th Dec.

105. Rock bunting (Emberiza cia)

One bird seen in the spiny shrubs around Sidirokastro castle on 12th Dec.

106. Cirl bunting (Emberiza cirlus)

A numerous wintering species in lake Kerkini. Total numbers are on the tens.

107. Reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)

A bird called from the willows around the road of the east embankment on 13th Dec.

Mammals

1. Golden jackal (Canis aureus)

Seen three times: one in the morning of 12th Dec on fields around Megalochori and twice foraging in our two visits to the plains of the east embankment.

2. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

An individual seen in the morning of 13th Dec on the road close to Limnochori.

3. Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

Seen in urban gardens of Sofia.