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Delta of the Kalamas River

Epirus  >  Greece

The narrow strip of the riparian forest and the vast mudflats, saltflats and lagoons form the most important wetland of northwest Greece.

Added* by Dragan Simic
Most recent update 10 července 2026

Description

Due to the irrigation, the current Kalamas Delta is pushed further north, and we distinguish between the old delta, south of the village of Kestrini, and the northern lagoons near the village of Sagiada. Drive by the “tower hill” (1), check the cow herds for volavka rusohlavá, cross the river and search the northern bank of the old delta to the left (turn off at 2). The southern bank is mostly dried out and converted into citrus orchards. The northern lagoons, also known as the Sagiada marshes, can be reached from Sagiada, but it is closer from Kestrini (turn off at 3).

In June I observed kulík mořský and vodouš rudonohý , rybák malý , ibis hnědý , pelikán kadeřavý , ťuhýk menší and ťuhýk rudohlavý , cistovník rákosníkový , sedmihlásek šedý singing from the stands of tamarisk, vlaštovka skalní , cetie jižní , vrabec pokřovní

In September the roadside bushes are alive with migrating lejsek šedý and flocks of budníček větší. ledňáček říční are hunting (on the northern bank alone I recorded six of them). Quite a few vodouš rudonohý, numerous Chocholouš obecný (by cattle corrals), bramborníček hnědý (in reedbeds), pelikán kadeřavý in the Xeradi Lagoon (4).

Details

Access

Driving north along the Ionian seacoast through the city of Igoumenitsa, there is a place where the main artery takes you right, further away from the sea – follow it for 150 metres and then turn left just before a small sports stadium. The rest of the road follows the sea.

Zoom in on the map and click on the "P" (parking) signs for driving directions.

Terrain and Habitat

Wetland , Beach , Mud flats , Agriculture , Scattered trees and bushes , River , Sea , Reedbeds

Conditions

Flat , Dry , Open landscape , Dusty

Circular trail

No

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

Winter , Spring

Best time to visit

Spring migration , Autumn migration , Winter

Route

Unpaved road

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Car , Foot

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Extra info

To be properly explored, the Kalamas area requires a full day. The nearest resorts are at the island of Corfu (Igoumenitsa is the ferry port for the island) or in the town of Parga, further south.

There is no shade, bring a hat and enough water.

A detailed description of the area is to be found in Birding in Greece – Travel Guide to birdwatching sites in Greece (2014) by Vlachos, Trigou & Stavrakas (check the links for the pdf download), and Birdwatching in Northern Greece (2023) by Steve Mills.

Links

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

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