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Really good accommodation and food, excellent Covid19 precautions. Our leaders were knowledgeable, efficient but relaxed with of a good sense of humour. The programme was varied and interesting covering all aspects of natural history with a sprinkling of history and architecture. However, for myself the highlight was the trip up Mount Etna - quite spectacular! I have been travelling with Naturetrek for 5 years on 6 trips and all have been excellent. The brochure they produce is so good that I keep them all to browse through and admire the photographs. The staff are friendly and efficient and are always approachable. In this Covid year, they have very understanding and helpful.
A.C. Somerset, Sept 20
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Sicily in Autumn
Tour Code: ITA15A 7-day natural history holiday, based in a delightful 'agriturismo' in the coastal town of Siracusa, focusing on the autumn bird migration and Sicily's varied and interesting flora, fauna and scenery.
We hope to run this tour in the future, but have not yet finalised dates and prices. To be added to a waiting list and be informed when details are confirmed, please click on the register interest button, or phone 01962 733051.
Highlights
- Explore headlands for recently arrived migrants
- Scour coastal wetlands for Little Stint, Avocet and Black-winged Stilt
- Search the lava flows of Mount Etna for the elusive Sicilian Rock Partridge
- Take a cable car & 4x4 guided vehicles to view Etna's cone!
- Using a delightful 'agriturismo' as our base
- Visit the old town of Ortigia and enjoy leisurely picnic lunches
- Moth-trapping, tasty food and late season sunshine
- Led by expert naturalist guides
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
This 7-day tour will be focusing on the significant number of migrating birds which use Sicily as a stopover point on their journey south for the winter. We will be based for the week in a charming rural 'agriturismo' close to the sea and resident birds of the surrounding area include Stone Curlew, Zitting Cisticola, Spotless Starling and Sardinian Warbler! The nearby coast has a series of headlands and marshes that we will visit in search of passerines and raptors such as Booted Eagle, while the area’s superb wetlands are home to Spoonbill, Slender-billed Gull and Greater Flamingoes. Delicious cuisine and a sprinkling of history combined with some excellent seasonal birdwatching should make for an enticing week’s holiday!
Grading
Easy birdwatching walks.To complement our popular and successful spring birdwatching holidays to Sicily, we are now delighted to offer a new tour — the chance to enjoy this wonderful island in the autumn, focusing on the southward annual migration of birds as well as resident species and other fauna and flora. We will also be able to appreciate a flavour of Sicily’s rich history, its strategic position in the Mediterranean having led to a succession of occupations, the influences of which may still be enjoyed today. By contrast, Mount Etna has been ever present, its eruptions over the centuries responsible for enriching Sicily’s soils with volcanic ash, earning the island the title of ‘bread basket of Rome’, a sobriquet that remains as true today as in Roman times — its vineyards, olive groves, citrus orchards and other agricultural enterprises generating a rich harvest.
This is a single-centre holiday, our base for its six nights being a former winery near the coastal town of Siracusa. A charming and rustic spot, here the pace of life is relaxed and visitors soon adjust to a slower rhythm. It is still a working farm, however, citrus fruits being its primary crop, though the owners still manage to produce thousands of bottles of the special local wine, Nero d’Avola, on the premises! For those who wish, a tasting can be arranged, along with a sumptuous array of local foods to sample, laid on by our charming hosts.
On our spring trips we have found a stunning variety of birds in the surrounding fields on our pre-breakfast walks, from singing Nightingale, Golden Oriole and Sardinian Warbler to Bee-eater, Lesser Kestrel and Hoopoe. This holiday, though, is timed to coincide with the autumn bird migration and we can expect a wide variety of warblers, waders, raptors and other species as they head south for the winter. Sicily, and other Mediterranean islands, provide essential stopovers for these migrants, enabling them to rest and re-fuel before continuing their journey south. We will explore a variety of different habitats during our week here, keeping a sharp look-out both for migrants and for all of the island’s resident species, amongst them Stone Curlew, Zitting Cisticola, Spotless Starling and Sardinian Warbler. In particular, we will focus on such vantage points as local headlands, which act as way-markers, guiding migrants on their way south. We will also look for Richard’s Pipits which overwinter on the island.
Sicily’s coastline is dotted with some superb wetland areas, which are magnets for passing birds and always very rewarding to explore. A wide variety of waders, which may include Marsh Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Ruff and Spotted Redshank, will be heading south in September and we will take the opportunity to learn how to identify the various members of this challenging group. These are joined by Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Avocet, Spoonbill and Slender-billed Gull and we may even be treated to the memorable sight of a sunlit fly-past by a flock of Greater Flamingoes! Penduline Tits are dispersing at this time of year and becoming less secretive, whilst Booted Eagles will be arriving to join resident species such as Marsh Harriers for the winter. Indeed, many raptors will be on the move at this exciting time of the year so we will be regularly scanning the skies to see what else flies past!
We will also drive north for a day to experience Sicily’s main geological attraction, Mount Etna. This active volcano dominates the northern half of the island and we will — weather permitting — ascend its 2,900-metre cone using the cable car and 4-wheel drive vehicles. The views from the top are stunning and this is likely to be one of the week’s highlights. On our way back down, we will explore the pine woods and heaths of Etna’s lower slopes in search of the rare endemic Sicilian race of Rock Partridge as well as Black Redstart, Short-toed Treecreeper, Rock Bunting and Woodlark. We will also hope to explore a nearby gorge in search of Rock Sparrow, Blue Rock Thrush and the raptors which regularly use it as an ‘aerial motorway’ on their way south.
Finally, as a visit to Sicily is not complete without an appreciation of the wonderful history and culture of the island, time spent in Siracusa will allow you to view its impressive Greek and Roman amphitheatres, and a visit to the architecturally stunning old town of Ortigia will allow you to enjoy its narrow medieval lanes, Baroque palaces and beautiful piazzas. So ends this gentle-paced new holiday on a beautiful Mediterranean island, with a focus on enjoying the autumn bird migration, pleasant Mediterranean climate and some delicious food and wine.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Fly Catania; transfer Siracusa.
Day 2/6
Daily programme of birding excursions from Siracusa.
Day 7
Fly London.
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
A charming 'agriturismo', with swimming pool. All rooms have private facilities.
- Food: All included in the price.
Reviews
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Our two guides were excellent. They were well informed and knew the region of southwest Sicily very well. We discovered over 120 different species of native or migrating birds and waders, including flamingos and spoonbills – in addition to a wide range of butterflies – during five visits to coastal and upland reserves. Hoopoe, various warblers, and Scops owl were common around our accommodation, and an impressive collection of moths was caught in the trap each night. The food and wine were typical Italian and very good. Nearby Ortygia was fascinating and the walk around the higher slopes of Mont Etna was spectacular. The group were like-minded and sociable, so the week was easy-going and good fun. Everything was organised very well and all-inclusive, from our departure from the UK to our return. Transfers, accommodation, food and wine, transport between sites and a special evening meal with the Baron at the Palazzo di Ortygia all ran very smoothly.
S.D. Co. Antrim -
Dave Nevitt and Simon Woolley worked well together and were both extremely knowledgeable and helpful. They also took everyone's differing abilities into consideration.
D. & J.C. Buckinghamshire -
Accommodation was in a great location and very comfortable - Nice to be surrounded by 'birdable' habitat.
A.K. Essex -
Dave's 10 years experience of the island was much appreciated. The Casa where we stayed was in a wonderful location, so peaceful. The pool was much appreciated and the meals eaten outside were great. The staff were wonderful and we were well looked after.
S.L. North Yorkshire -
Both guides were excellent and so knowledgeable. Also very nice people - I was accompanying my husband who was the real birdwatcher but found my interest sparked by their enthusiasm.
S.P. Essex
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