We start the day with a vulture feeding ground, where we can see Black Vultures. That turns out to be true, but there is no feeding today. In fact, feeding is only done once a week anymore. The vultures don't understand it yet either. The vultures are doing well, so well that they can provide their own food. The feeding ground is in the Dadia forest, but unfortunately a very large area was burned in the park in 2023. We see few or no forest birds.
Ortolan bunting
Ortolaan
Emberiza hortulana
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5, 1/2000 sec at F4.5, ISO 4000, distance 34.8 m
The photo shows a Ortolan bunting (Emberiza hortulana). It is a bird in the order Passeriformes and the family Emberizidae. The photo was taken at Soufli Municipality, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece at 08:45 on Saturday May 09, 2026.
Red-backed shrike
Grauwe klauwier
Lanius collurio
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 4000, distance 21.8 m
The photo shows a Red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio). It is a bird in the order Passeriformes and the family Laniidae. The photo was taken at Soufli Municipality, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece at 09:04 on Saturday May 09, 2026.
Cinereous vulture
Monniksgier
Aegypius monachus
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 1600, distance 311 m
Besides the black vultures, there are also two Egyptian vultures.
The photo shows a Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus). It is a bird in the order Accipitriformes and the family Accipitridae. The photo was taken at Soufli Municipality, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece at 09:09 on Saturday May 09, 2026.
Greater short-toed lark
Kortteenleeuwerik
Calandrella brachydactyla
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 500, distance 56.4 m
The photo shows a Greater short-toed lark (Calandrella brachydactyla). It is a bird in the order Passeriformes and the family Alaudidae. The photo was taken at Soufli Municipality, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece at 09:28 on Saturday May 09, 2026.
Iris reichenbachii
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 4000, distance 4.82 m
The photo shows a Iris reichenbachii. It is a plant in the order Asparagales and the family Iridaceae. The photo was taken at Soufli Municipality, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece at 09:33 on Saturday May 09, 2026.
Glanville fritillary
Veldparelmoervlinder
Melitaea cinxia
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5, 1/2000 sec at F4.5, ISO 200, distance 8.45 m
The photo shows a Glanville fritillary (Melitaea cinxia). It is a insect in the order Lepidoptera and the family Nymphalidae. The photo was taken at Soufli Municipality, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece at 10:34 on Saturday May 09, 2026.
Black-headed bunting
Zwartkopgors
Emberiza melanocephala
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5, 1/2000 sec at F4.5, ISO 1000, distance 51.9 m
The photo shows a Black-headed bunting (Emberiza melanocephala). It is a bird in the order Passeriformes and the family Emberizidae. The photo was taken at Soufli Municipality, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece at 11:20 on Saturday May 09, 2026.
Scarce swallowtail
Koningspage
Iphiclides podalirius
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5, 1/2000 sec at F4.5, ISO 1000, distance 3.77 m
The photo shows a Scarce swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius). It is a insect in the order Lepidoptera and the family Papilionidae. The photo was taken at Soufli Municipality, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece at 11:22 on Saturday May 09, 2026.
Western yellow wagtail (ssp feldegg)
Gele kwikstaart (ssp feldegg)
Motacilla flava ssp. feldegg
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5, 1/2000 sec at F4.5, ISO 320, distance 15.3 m
The photo shows a Western yellow wagtail (ssp feldegg) (Motacilla flava ssp. feldegg). It is a bird in the order Passeriformes and the family Motacillidae. The photo was taken at Soufli Municipality, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece at 11:54 on Saturday May 09, 2026.
Wildfires in Dadia forest
Apple with iPhone 16 Pro back triple camera 6.765mm f/1.78, 1/6536 sec at F1.8, ISO 64
In 2023, 90,000 hectares of forest were lost in Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli National Park. It is an unimaginably large area. Consequently, the promised forest birds were not there.
The photo was taken at Soufli Municipality, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece (272 m) at 12:42 on Saturday May 09, 2026.
Burn as far as the eye can see
Apple with iPhone 16 Pro back triple camera 6.765mm f/1.78, 1/8130 sec at F1.8, ISO 80
Mountain after mountain, there are only tree stumps, right up to the mountaintops.
The photo was taken at Soufli Municipality, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece (590 m) at 13:39 on Saturday May 09, 2026.
Sierlijke schildwants
Eurydema ornata
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5, 1/2000 sec at F4.5, ISO 1250, distance 1.91 m
The photo shows a Eurydema ornata. It is a insect in the order Hemiptera and the family Pentatomidae. The photo was taken at Soufli Municipality, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece at 13:43 on Saturday May 09, 2026.
Abandoned American listening post
Apple with iPhone 16 Pro back triple camera 2.22mm f/2.2, 1/2841 sec at F2.2, ISO 50
We are going to various abandoned American military sites. In my eyes, the watchtowers are distinctive, even on a mountaintop.
The photo was taken at Soufli Municipality, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece (585 m) at 14:08 on Saturday May 09, 2026.
Blue rock thrush
Blauwe rotslijster
Monticola solitarius
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5, 1/2000 sec at F4.5, ISO 200, distance 26.1 m
The photo shows a Blue rock thrush (Monticola solitarius). It is a bird in the order Passeriformes and the family Muscicapidae. The photo was taken at Soufli Municipality, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece at 14:28 on Saturday May 09, 2026.