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wildlife and bird-watching, Tuscany, Lake Trasimeno and Lake Chiusi, Montepulciano oasis
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| Leisure time in Tuscany |
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| Wildlife and bird-watching |
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Wildlife and birds at Sant’ Antonio and our surrounding areas:
Sant’ Antonio is surrounded by forests (part of our forests are under the protection of World Heritage UNESCO), farm lands and olive groves in the heart of southern Tuscany. Our relaxed and quite atmosphere has seen an increase of bird and animal life around our property, forests, our small lake and on our farm lands.
Common mammals that live on and around our grounds are roe deer, wild board, porcupines, hedgehogs, fox, hare and rabbits, badgers and squirrels.
For birdwatchers – there are a number of various birds that will keep you occupied and interested throughout your stay with us on our property and surrounding country side.
Between 15 to 35 minutes drive from Sant’ Antonio Country Resort are various lakes rich in bird life and an heaven for bird watchers. The biggest lakes are Lago Trasimeno, Lago di Chiusi but perhaps the best out of the 3 for bird life is Lago di Montepulciano or better known as Oasi di Montepulciano.
Oasi di Montepulciano is a relatively shallow lake which occupies roughly 1 square kilometre of water surface – partially covered by typical lake plants and canes making it an idea nesting and breading area for aquatic birds.
A letter received by one of our clients:
Dear Nico,
We hope your trip to Great Britain was productive and fun. We had such a wonderful time at your Holiday resort in Tuscany! Thank you for loaning us your binoculars! They came in quite handy after Dale left hers at the Abby at Sant’Antimo. We ended up spotting 47 species of birds while in Italy, with 4 only in Rome. However, we saw 17 species on your property, but with 43 species in the Montepulciano area. Remember, while on your property we were mainly dealing with our grandchildren, so missed identifying numerous ones, including one you pointed out under an olive tree by the pool. And that was after the Hoopoe already had migrated in last August, since we were there from August 25-Sept1.
We would highly recommend your place to anyone- birders, families, or couples!
Give our best regards to your lovely wife, Elena. She was so gracious and helpful during the Barrel races in Montepulciano.
Also, attached is the list of birds we saw.
Sincerely,
Craig and Dale,
Arkansas |
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Lago Trasimeno, il Lago di Chiusi, lago di Montepulciano, bird watching, Sant’ Antonio Country Resort, wildlife of Tuscany
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| Photos and information placed on our website with the very kind permission of Dale. |
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PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae |
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Little Grebe |
Tachybaptus ruficollis |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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Great Crested Grebe |
Podiceps cristatus |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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CICONIIFORMES: Ardeidae |
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Gray Heron |
Ardea cinerea |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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Purple Heron |
Aedea |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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Great Egret |
Ardea alba |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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Little Egret |
Egretta garzetta |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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Black-crowned Night-Heron |
Nycticorax nycticorax |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae |
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Greylag Goose |
Anser anser |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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Eurasian Wigeon |
Anas penelope |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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Mallard |
Anas platyrhynchos |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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Northern Shoveler |
Anas clypeata |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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FALCONIFORMES: Accipitridae |
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Eurasian Sparrowhawk |
Accipiter nisus |
Montepulciano area |
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Eurasian Buzzard |
Buteo buteo |
Montepulciano area |
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FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae |
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Merlin |
Falco columbarius |
Montepulciano area |
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GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae |
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Ring-necked Pheasant |
Phasianus colchicus |
Sant’Antonio and Montepulciano area |
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GRUIFORMES: Rallidae |
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Eurasian Coot |
Fulica atra |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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Common Moorhen |
Gallinula chloropus |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae |
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Yellow-legged Gull |
Larus cachinnans |
Rome |
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Black-headed Gull |
Larus ridibundus |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae |
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Rock Pigeon |
Columba livia |
Rome, Sant’Antonio |
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Stock Dove |
Columba oenas |
Montepulciano area |
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Common Wood-Pigeon |
Columba palumbus |
Sant’Antonio |
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Eurasian Turtle-Dove |
Streptopelia turtur |
Sant’Antonio |
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Eurasian Collared-Dove |
Streptopelia decaocto |
Sant’Antonio |
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PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae |
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Rose-ringed Parakeet |
Psittacula krameri |
Rome (Villa Medici) |
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STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae |
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Barn Owl |
Tyto alba |
Sant’Antonio |
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CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae |
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Common Kingfisher |
Alcedo atthis |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae |
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European Bee-eater |
Merops apiaster |
Sant’Antonio |
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PICIFORMES: Picidae |
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Green Woodpecker |
Picus viridis |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae |
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Sand Martin or Bank Swallow |
Riparia riparia |
Sant’Antonio |
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Barn Swallow |
Hirundo rustica |
Sant’Antonio |
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PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae |
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(Eurasian) Blackbird |
Turdus merula |
Rome, Montepulciano area |
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PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae |
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Spotted Flycatcher |
Muscicapa striata |
Sant’Antonio |
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European Robin |
Erithacus rubecula |
Rome |
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PASSERIFORMES: Paridae |
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Coal Tit |
Periparus ater |
Sant’Antonio |
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Great Tit |
Parus major |
Rome, Sant’Antonio |
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Eurasian Blue Tit |
Cyanistes caeruleus |
Sant’Antonio |
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PASSERIFORMES: Sittidae |
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Eurasian Nuthatch |
Sitta europaea |
Sant’Antonio |
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PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae |
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Eurasian Jay |
Garrulus glandarius |
Montepulciano town |
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Eurasian Magpie |
Pica pica |
Sant’Antonio |
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Hooded Crow |
Corvus cornix |
Rome, Sant’Antonio |
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Common Raven |
Corvus corax |
Montepulciano |
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PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae |
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European Starling |
Sturnus vulgaris |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae |
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House Sparrow |
Passer domesticus |
All over |
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Italian Sparrow |
Passer hispaiolensis x italae |
Rome |
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PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae |
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(European) Goldfinch |
Carduelis carduelis |
Oasi Montepulciano LIPU |
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Greenfinch |
Carduelis chloris |
Sant’Antonio |
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Sant'Antonio - Top Vacation Rental 2011
