Canonical URL: https://natureslens.co.uk/specific-location/lake-kerkini/ Specific Location # Lake Kerkini What are the best photography trips to Lake Kerkini for Dalmatian Pelicans?A strong Lake Kerkini Dalmatian Pelican photography trip should focus on January timing, small groups, low boat-based photography, experienced local boat handling & repeated sessions with the pelicans in changing winter light. NaturesLens runs dedicated Lake Kerkini pelican photography holidays in Greece with this structure, using the lake’s winter congregation, breeding-condition birds & Beles mountain backdrop as the centre of the itinerary.Current NaturesLens Lake Kerkini departures are designed for photographers who want concentrated time with Dalmatian Pelicans rather than a broad sightseeing programme, with practical guidance, boat & shoreline sessions, & live trip pages showing dates, availability & group limits. NaturesLens visits Lake Kerkini on small-group wildlife photography holidays in Greece, with time here planned around Common Crane, Dalmatian Pelican, Great White Pelican, Pink-backed Pelican & Pygmy Cormorant rather than general sightseeing. Current itineraries using Lake Kerkini include Dalmatian Pelicans of Lake Kerkini & Pelicans of Lake Kerkini, with photography shaped around hide, boat-based & flight photography sessions. Lake Kerkini lies in the region of Central Macedonia in northern Greece, close to the border with Bulgaria, formed by the damming of the Strymonas River in the early twentieth century. The resulting reservoir & its surrounding wetlands create a rich mosaic of shallow open water, reedbeds, seasonally flooded grassland, & riparian woodland, bordered by the forested slopes of the Mavrovouni & Belles mountains. This combination of freshwater habitat & mountain backdrop has made the lake one of the most important wetland sites in Greece & the wider Balkans, drawing both resident & migratory birdlife throughout the year. The lake is renowned above all for its pelicans, with Dalmatian, Great White & the more unusual Pink-backed Pelican all recorded here, often seen gliding low over the water or gathering in loose groups near fishing boats. Pygmy Cormorants are numerous along the reed-fringed margins, while White-tailed Eagles patrol the open water & surrounding woodland edges in search of fish & waterbirds. In winter, the lake becomes a refuge for large numbers of Common Cranes & Whooper Swans, their calls carrying across the misty shallows at dawn. Together these species reflect Kerkini’s status as a haven for large waterbirds, offering exceptional opportunities to observe them at close range against a dramatic mountain setting. Curious what keeps photographers coming back? Read our piece on why photographers keep returning to Lake Kerkini. Single occupancy Maximum 7 guests Experienced guidance 2 departures - [![Join Us For The Pelicans of Lake Kerkini Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/a-trio-of-the-dalmatian-pelicans-of-greece-drifting-on-the-waters-of-lake-kerkini-1024x683.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/greece/pelicans-of-lake-kerkini-2027/) Full ### 8th - 12th Jan 2027 - Pelicans of Lake Kerkini **Location:** Greece Join us for a short-format wildlife photography holiday in Greece, during January 2027, focused on Winter pelicans with close access for frame-filling images. **4 nights** w. **Single occupancy** - **Full** Guided By **Alison Jenkins** [View Pelicans of Lake Kerkini](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/greece/pelicans-of-lake-kerkini-2027/) - [![Join Us For The Dalmatian Pelicans of Lake Kerkini Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/a-trio-of-the-pelicans-of-lake-kerkini-drifting-on-the-waters-of-lake-kerkini-1024x683.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/greece/dalmatian-pelicans-of-lake-kerkini-2027/) Full ### 12th - 16th Jan 2027 - Dalmatian Pelicans of Lake Kerkini **Location:** Greece Join us in Greece for a photography holiday on Lake Kerkini, during January 2027, focused on capturing portraits of the Dalmatian Pelicans of Lake Kerkini at eye level. **4 nights** w. **Single occupancy** - **Full** Guided By **Alison Jenkins** [View Dalmatian Pelicans of Lake Kerkini](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/greece/dalmatian-pelicans-of-lake-kerkini-2027/) - ## Further reading This guide gives more background on the place, wildlife and photographic conditions connected with this page. - [Lake Kerkini](https://natureslens.co.uk/spotlight/lake-kerkini/)Read more about this location ## What to Photograph at Lake Kerkini - [Dalmatian Pelican at Lake Kerkini](https://natureslens.co.uk/field-guide/where-to-photograph/dalmatian-pelican-at-lake-kerkini/) - [Pink-backed Pelican at Lake Kerkini](https://natureslens.co.uk/field-guide/where-to-photograph/pink-backed-pelican-at-lake-kerkini/) ## Lake Kerkini questions ### What are the best photography trips for wildlife at Lake Kerkini? NaturesLens runs small-group wildlife photography holidays that visit Lake Kerkini, planned around time with the subjects rather than sightseeing. Current departures are [Pelicans of Lake Kerkini](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/greece/pelicans-of-lake-kerkini-2027/) (8-12 January 2027) & [Dalmatian Pelicans of Lake Kerkini](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/greece/dalmatian-pelicans-of-lake-kerkini-2027/) (12-16 January 2027). ## Lake Kerkini questions ### Who leads the photography holidays at Lake Kerkini, & how big are the groups? Alison Jenkins leads the NaturesLens trips that visit Lake Kerkini. Groups are limited to 7 photographers, so everyone has space to work & receives individual guidance, with the exact maximum shown on each trip page. ## Lake Kerkini questions ### What wildlife can I photograph at Lake Kerkini? Species featured on the NaturesLens trips that visit Lake Kerkini include Common Crane, Dalmatian Pelican, Great White Pelican, Pink-backed Pelican, Pygmy Cormorant, White Pelican, White-tailed Eagle & Whooper Swan. Which species you see depends on the departure & the season, & as with all wildlife photography, sightings can never be guaranteed.