Prespa Lakes National Park

Western Macedonia > Greece

The largest Dalmatian Pelican colony in the world – more than 1300 pairs, plus more than 350 pairs of Great White Pelican and up to 700 pairs of Pygmy Cormorant.

Added* by Dragan Simic
Most recent update 29 February 2024

Description

The mountains of the Prespa Lakes National Park are more than 2300 metres high, while the lakes lie at the lowest point of the park, at 850 m a.s.l. The Mikri Prespa is shallow, less than ten metres and reeds-fringed, while the northern Megali Prespa is 55 m deep, cold and rich in fishes.

275 bird species were recorded in the national park, 160 of them breeding in it. One tenth of the global population of Dalmatian Pelican breed here and can be observed from March to early October. In 2022, the bird flu killed more than 60% of the breeding pelicans at Lesser Prespa Lake, causing the greatest ecological disaster on record for Greek wildlife. The Great White Pelican arrive later, in April-May, and were mostly spared.

The “Prespa Walking Guide” further says that species found here to breed or probably breed at the very edge of their European breeding range are Goosander (Megali Prespa – relic and isolated population), Hazel Grouse (Mt. Sfika), Common Rock Thrush, Barred Warbler, Savi's Warbler, Marsh Warbler and the Black-headed Bunting.

There are 172 species of butterflies recorded within the national park, 24 species of bats, plus the Beech Marten (which I saw only as a road-kill), Otter, Wild Cat, Badger, Wild Boar, Grey Wolf and the European Brown Bear, among others.

Details

Access

If you are flying to Greece, it is more convenient to fly to Thessaloniki and drive two and a half hours west along the Odos Egnatia motorway, exit for Kastoria (a lovely town – if your time allows, do have a lunch by the lakeside) and continue north to Prespa Lakes. Zoom in on the map and click on the "P" (parking) sign for driving directions.

Terrain and Habitat

Forest , Wetland , Mountain , Lake , Scattered trees and bushes , Grassland

Conditions

Mountainous , Hilly , Rocky

Circular trail

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

Spring , Summer , Autumn

Best time to visit

Spring

Route

Paved road , Unpaved road

Difficulty walking trail

Average walk

Accessible by

Car , Bicycle , Foot

Birdwatching hide / platform

Extra info

The most detailed description of the wider area is to be found in the Birdwatching in Northern Greece (2023) by Steve Mills.

The best topographic maps of the area, accompanied by a walking guide describing 14 nature tours in full detail, can be obtained at the Society for the Protection of Prespa, online or at their HQ in the village of Laimos (Lemos) during working hours; go left at the square with a small park, then right after the bridge.

Links