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Monte Conero - Gradina del Poggio

Marche, Ancona  >  Italy

One of the best places in Italy to watch spring migration with sometimes more than 1000 birds of prey on a single day during April and May.

Added* by Marco Borioni
Most recent update 11 July 2020

Description

De viewpoint of Gradina del Poggio in Monte Cònero Regional Park is a special place. Every year, at the arrival of spring, the same spectacle is repeated: the passage of thousands of birds of prey and other soaring birds on Mount Conero. The headland located within the park of the same name, is in fact one of the main landmarks for birds of prey that, from wintering areas, migrate to the European nesting territories. The Conero is considered the second most important migration site in Italy, after the Strait of Messina, for the spring migration of birds of prey.

The Park is ranked in the national top ten in Italy as a site for birdwatching. During the months of April and May you can sometimes admire more than 1000 birds of prey in a single day. You can see many European Honey-buzzard, Short-toed Snake Eagle and Western Marsh Harrier, but also Eleonora's Falcon, Red-footed Falcon, Eurasian Hobby. Besides raptors also Common Crane, Black Stork and White Stork are sometimes seen here on passage.

Details

Access

You can park at the Gradina del Poggio (see the P on the map and click on the P to go there directly). You can combine a visit to the observation viewpoint with many walks in the Monte Cònero Regional Park (see below).

Terrain and Habitat

Mountain , Grassland

Conditions

Mountainous , Open landscape

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

Spring , Summer , Autumn

Best time to visit

Spring

Route

Paved road

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Extra info

The Monte Cònero Regional Park is a protected area where you can walk in the 18 trails that wind through the woods. The area includes a stretch of high coastline, as well as a wide hilly interior, characterized by panoramic views. Its eastern slopes on the sea are made up of limestone cliffs and in the rest it is dominated by vast Mediterranean formations and mixed woods. See the link below to download walking trails.

Links

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

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