Sicily in Autumn

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.