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Overview
Now declared a national park, the Gargano peninsula is an exceptionally good area for birds, both breeders and migrants.
The promontory itself is a large limestone headland that juts out into the Adriatic off southern Italy. The varied topography and habitats undoubtedly help to explain the abundance and diversity of birds but its position results in large numbers of migrants passing through.
As well as the high sea cliffs there are sand-dunes and much cultivated and grazing land, also mountains and areas of bare rock, rivers and streams. In the north there are beech woods and elsewhere, maquis and garrigue, Holm and Turkey oak groves and Aleppo Pine woodlands.
Birds
Notable Species
Raptors include kites, Short-toed Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Lanner Falcon and Peregrine Falcon. In the forests are White-backed Woodpecker (very rare) and Middle Spotted Woodpecker and Eurasian Eagle Owl, European Roller and many passerines breed in the area.
Three species of swift nest along the cliffs. Little Bustard (on brink of extinction) and Stone-curlew breed in the grasslands.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
European Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Red Kite, Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Eurasian Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Lanner Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Little Bustard, Stone Curlew, Common Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, European Turtle Dove, Great Eagle Owl, Eurasian Scops Owl, Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Alpine Swift, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Green Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Pipit, Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Western Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Dartford Warbler, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, European Pied Flycatcher, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Rock Bunting, Black-headed Bunting
Other Wildlife
The Gargano Peninsula is a paradise for botanists with more than 2,000 plant species recorded including over fifty orchids. The rarely seen Ghost Orchid is very common in the woods here.
Site Information
History and Use
To do
Areas of Interest
The Foresta di Umbra is a woodland reserve at the heart of the peninsula and can be reached on the Peschischi to Manfredonia road.
Access and Facilities
Both these towns can provide accommodation but better placed is Monte Sant' Angelo in the foothills.
Contact Details
To do
External Links
To do
Content and images originally posted by Steve
Reviews
ruggiel's review
Again, information here poorly reliable. Who is the author? Nobody knows....
If you come downhere please do not forget to visit Frattarolo and Lago Salso marshes, last site for Slender-billed Curlew in the Mediterranean Basin and worth for a visit. And buy a new guide, please!
TWM's review. I spent a week in Peschici, last week of April 2006. Lots of Alpine Swifts in the town and Blue Rock Thrush there but overall I did not see a great deal of interesting birds. Penduline Tits nest building by one of the lakes was my highlight. I'll come back with more info later.
