Pylos or Yialova (Gialova) Lagoon

A brackish lagoon with marshes, partially dried at summer, on Navarino Bay. The main human activities are cattle raising, fishery and hunting. Its importance during the breeding season is not well known. Recently, the surrounding saltflat was drained. Hunting seems to be a very serious problem.

Breeding species include the Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), the Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), the Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), the Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), the Little Tern (Sterna albifrons), the Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and, possibly, the Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola). During migration, several species occur like the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), the Black Kite (Milvus migrans), the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) and the Crane (Grus grus).