Birdwatching in Italy, Ventotene Island Tour

Birdwatching in Italy Ventotone Style!

Ventotene Island is a site of fundamental importance for birdlife and migration. Thanks to its geographical position, in fact, it represents the first stop for many species that seasonally make huge travels between the African continent and Europe (and the other way around), and that “invade” with very high numbers the island.

In spring Ventotene with its cultivated fields and its typical plants of the Mediterranean environment welcomes the so-called “short-range migrants”, all those species that spend the winter months around the Mediterranean Basin and that go as far as possible on the coasts of North Africa and the “long-range migrants”, those who spend the winter south of the Sahara.

Autumn, however, it is considered by many to be the season of rarities. The island, in fact, in addition to being mainly affected by the presence of short-range migrants, is affected by the arrival of less frequent species for our country, often due to the random movement of young and “inexperienced” migratory birds.

With its volcanic origin, the mineral-rich soils of the island offer products with a unique flavor also for its human inhabitants. After a period of departure from the countryside, we are witnessing a gradual return to agriculture: in addition to those who have always cultivated the numerous gardens on the island, there have been those who have taken up ancient crops such as that of Lentils, those who have restored ancient vineyards and those who have combined old traditions with the most recent and innovative techniques, introducing synergic cultivations and permaculture.

The life of the fields and the relationship with the migratory birds has always been strongly rooted in the life of every islander. Over time, the hunt and capture of small passerines have been replaced by research projects, monitoring and interest by researchers, exciting the local community itself.

Join us for a weekend to discover the migration and the rural traditions of the island, in support of small agricultural realities, to get to know Ventotene in a period far from summer overcrowding!

Day 1

Day 1 - Arrival, Island Transfer & Birding

Early morning rendez-vous in Formia's harbour and ferry to Ventotene. Arrival at the bed and breakfast located above the eastern cliffs of the Island before lunch, that with ist garden and amazing view on the sea is already a great place for looking for birds.

Lunch in one of the most famous restaurants of the island with a menu based on local fish and vegetables.

A full afternoon of birdwatching among the shrublands, lentil fields and vineyards of the island. Sunset enjoying on the western cliffs of the island. Dinner in a typical restaurant, run by local farmers, situated in the old roman harbour of the village.

Day 2

Day 2 - Bird Migration Museum, Ringing Station, Birding & Boat Trip

Breakfast in the main square of the village and walk to the Bird Migration Museum together with a local biologist guide.

Visit of the Museum, one of the first one of this kind in Europe. Visit to the Ringing Station of the Italian Institute for the Environment and Research (ISPRA), one of the most important ones in Italy.

Free lunch at the old roman harbour and a boat trip around the island.

The boat trip, that lasts around 2 hours, is the perfect moment for enjoying the view of the island from a different perspective and also to look for sea birds (shags, shearwaters, migratory herons). Once back on the island visit to the rock pools to introduce the biodiversity of this particular environment.

Birdwatching in the surroundings of the village with a focus on migratory passerines related to open fields.

Dinner in a typical restaurant, run by local farmers, situated in the old roman harbour of the village. Night session of listening to the peculiar songs of both of the species of shearwaters that nest on the island.

Day 3

Day 3 - Birdwatching in "Villa Giulia Ruins" and Mainland Transfer with Seawatching

Breakfast in the main square of the village and archeological visit of the ruins of the hold roman villa "Villa Giulia" with a local guide and birdwatching among the ruins. This site is very interesting for migratory birds but also for plants with the presence of the endemic "Limonium pandatariae".

Birdwatching on the north-west cliffs of the island and transfer to the mainland.

The ferry trip is a perfect moment for photographing both species of shearwaters, the Audoin's gull and other species of marine animals (including, often, cetaceans).

Easy to observe:

Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea), yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan), european shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), black kite (Milvus migrans), western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus), Montagu’s harrier (Circus pygargus), pallid harrier (Circus macrourus), european honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus), eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo), Eleonora’s falcon (Falco eleonorae), long-eared owl (Asio otus), short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), eurasian scops owl (Otus scops yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis), Audouin’s gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii), european turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur), common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), european nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), common swift (Apus apus), pallid swift (Apus pallidus), alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba), eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops), european bee-eater (Merops apiaster), eurasian wryneck (Jynx torquilla), greater short-toed lark (Calandrella brachydactila), common sand martin (Riparia riparia), barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), red-rumped swallow (Cecropis daurica), common house martin (Delichon urbicum), tawny pipit (Anthus campestris), tree pipit (Anthus trivialis), yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava), white wagtail (Motacilla alba), european robin (Erithacus rubecula), common nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos), bluethroat (Luscinia svecica), common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros), northern wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), black-eared wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica), whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), common stonechat (Saxicola torquatus), song thrush (Turdus philomelos), fieldfare (Turdus pilaris), redwing (Turdus iliaricus), common blackbird (Turdus merula), ring ouzel (Turdus torquatus), blue rock thrush (Monticola solitarius), rufous-tailed rock thrush (Monticola saxatilis), garden warbler (Sylvia borin), blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), common whitethroat (Sylvia communis), spectacled Warbler (Sylvia conspicillata), subalpine warbler (Sylvia cantillans), sedge warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), european reed warbler (Acrocephalus scripaceus), great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arudinaceus), icterine warbler (Hippolais icterina), willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), wood warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix), common chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), goldcrest (Regulus regulus), firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla), spotted flycatcher (Muscicapa striata), mediterranean flycatcher (Muscicapa tyrrhenica), pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis), red-breasted shrike (Lanius collurio), Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator), common starling (Sturnus vulgaris), eurasian golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus), italian sparrow (Passer italiae), eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus), common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), brambling (Fringilla montifringilla), common linnet (Carduelis cannabina), european goldfich (Carduelis carduelis), european greenfinch (Chloris chloris), eurasian siskin (Carduelis spinus), european serin (Serinus serinus), hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes), corn bunting (Emberiza calandra).

In addition is easy to see multiple species of migratory waterbirds such as herons, storks and waders.

Rarities often spotted on the island;

Great spotted cuckoo (Clamator glandarius), european roller (Coracias garrulus), horned lark (Eremophila alpestris), richard’s pipit (Anthus richardi), olive-backed pipit (Anthus hodgsoni), red-throated pipit (Anthus cervinus), citrine wagtail (Motacilla citreola), thrush nightingale (Luscinia luscinia), rufous bush robin (Cercotrichas galactoides), isabelline wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina), western orphean warbler (Sylvia hortensis), eastern orphean warbler (Sylvia crassirostris), Ruppell’s warbler (Sylvia rueppelli), dartford warbler (Sylvia undata), Marmora’s warbler (Sylvia sarda), common grasshopper warbler (Locustella naevia), isabelline warbler (Iduna opaca), western bonelli’s warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli), yellow-browed warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus), Hume’s leaf warbler (Phylloscopus humei), dusky Warbler (Phylloscopus fuscatus), Radde’s warbler (Phylloscopus schwarzi), red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva), atlas flycatcher (Ficedula speculigera), semicollared flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquata), lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor), trumpeter finch (Bucanetes githagineus), little bunting (Emberiza pusilla), ortolan bunting (Emberiza hortulana), black-headed bunting (Emberiza melanocephala).

Number of Travelers	Cost Per Traveler (€)	Total Cost (€)
1	380	380
2	350	700
3	320	960
4	300	1200

Birdwatching in Italy, Ventotene Island Tour - 3 Days

Birdwatching in Italy, Ventotene Island Tour - 3 Days

Birdwatching in Italy Ventotone Style!

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