ITALY - SICILY TOUR

Sicily is located in the heart of the Mediterranean, and in many ways it epitomises its characteristics, with its sunny beaches, a very pleasant climate all year round, gardens and orchards full of flowers and vegetables, and its relaxed way of life.

Yet it is hard to put down in words the magic of Sicily: the combination of the charm of its ancient Greek ruins with the more recent architectural splendour, as well as the wonderful landscapes combined with the wealth of birdlife, make for an unforgettable destination for any nature lover.

Add to all of this the world famous quality of Sicilian food and its fantastic wines, and well, it's hard to resist!

Bird watching in Sicily is very good all year round, but probably April offers some of the best chances of seeing both migrating and breeding species: at this time of year the passage of passerines can be spectacular, with many species of warblers on show, including Subalpine, Spectacled and Sardinian, as well as larks, shrikes

and the first European Bee-eaters and Eurasian Golden Orioles. Waders and ducks are also numerous, with the more widespread species accompanied by less frequent ones, such as Stone Curlew, Collared Pratincole and Ferruginous Duck.

Other interesting species include Common Rock Sparrow, Sicilian Rock Partridge and Audouin's Gull. Also, Sicily is home to the last Italian population of Bonelli's Eagles with 20 pairs still remaining and there are also some breeding Lanner Falcons.

We will explore the extensive wetlands, headlands and rocky areas near Syracuse, where we will be based for the first five nights, including a visit to the foothills of the majestic Etna volcano; the last two nights will be spent near Ragusa. From there we will visit the Gela area in order to take in some different bird habitats.

6 April to 13 April 2019 (land)

Leader: Nicola Scatassi & local guide

2018 Cost from 1.890 euro - single room suppl. €160

(GBP around £1.715)

Mediterranean Migration

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