Lake Kerkini

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 and Pygmy Cormorant rather than general sightseeing. Current itineraries using Lake Kerkini include Dalmatian Pelicans of Lake Kerkini and Pelicans of Lake Kerkini, with photography shaped around hide, boat-based and 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.