Around the port of Alexandroupolis

The port of Alexandroupolis is worth checking out for wintering Divers, Grebes, Terns and Gulls, with wintering flocks of finches and other passerines - plus the inevitable attendant raptors - around the scrub-covered fringes. The first birds you'll come across will probably be the scavenging Hooded Crows.

Slightly less gruesome and more serene are the many Cormorants swimming and "drying out" around the harbour.

Fiery-eyed Black-necked Grebes linger in good numbers in the sheltered waters around the harbour.

In early March 2004, some of the birds were showing signs of breeding plumage.

 
We also spotted a wintering Black-throated Diver on the more open waters. It gave a friendly wave and swam in close to the harbour wall and paraded in front of us for half an hour or so.

Great Crested Grebes gather in one corner of the harbour, drinking from a freshwater outfall.

Flocks of Sandwich Terns and Yellow-legged Gulls are also everywhere to be seen.

Two star birds among the gulls - adult breeding plumage Mediterranean and Slender-billed Gulls.
   
 
   
Two Mediterranean Gulls (centre and right) and one Black-headed Gull for comparison.  
 
   
Slender-billed Gulls in the pink:`
  

Some of the surroundings are quite interesting as well!
There's no place like home!

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