Parthenon, Athens— Photo: Barry Lyon

For first-time visitors, a trip to Athens is highlighted by the pilgrimage to the Acropolis, the most instantly recognizable landmark in Greece. We will spend our first morning together at the ancient hilltop citadel meandering among the remains of the magnificent structures for which the site is so justly famous. A guided interpretive walk will focus on the timeless monuments constructed to honor the Olympian gods worshipped by the ancient Greeks. Our tour will also incorporate a visit to the Theater of Dionysus Eleutheris, which is considered the first theater in Greece. On another morning we'll make our way to the Agora, the primary site of public assembly in ancient Athens and the center of administrative, judicial, and social activity during the Classical era, including during the times of Socrates and Plato.

Complementing our focus on the remarkable historical sites, we'll visit a variety of habitats and ecosystems north and east of the city in pursuit of specialty nesting species and late-season migrants. We'll travel to the low-lying coastal community of Marathon to search for waterbirds and dry-country landbirds. Little Egret, Ferruginous Duck, Short-toed Eagle, Gray Heron, Common Buzzard, Eurasian Kestrel, Black-winged Stilt, Blue Rock-Thrush, and Cretzschmar's and Black-headed buntings are all prized species that occur in the region. An added bonus is a visit to the famous site where the Athenian army defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C.

Visits to several coastal locations, including Cape Sounio and the Vravrona Estuary, will give us chances for Squacco Heron, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli's Eagle, European Turtle-Dove, Red-rumped Swallow, Pallid Swift, Subalpine Warbler, and Rufous Bush-Robin.
 
Our birding will culminate with a trip to the slopes of Mt. Immitos, a 3,000-ft. mountain offering superb views of the Athens city-center, as well as habitat for nesting dry-country birds. Among the many possible species we'll encounter are a number of special birds with limited ranges in far southeastern Europe including Chukar; Rueppell's, Sardinian, and Eastern Orphean warblers; Woodchat Shrike; Sombre Tit; and many others.

All accommodations at a single site; good cuisine; program offers a mix of birding, sightseeing and historical interpretation; easy walking conditions; mild weather with cool mornings, warm to hot days, and little or no precipitation.