Tuscany: A perfect place for a spot of birding

With its coastal areas, forests, mountain ranges, and network of parks and reserves, Italy, and in particular Tuscany, is the perfect place to get back to nature. This diverse and beautiful country is also an excellent location for bird watching holidays, and as part of your camping trip, you can also fit in a spot of birding in Tuscany.

Tuscany is a well kept secret for lovers of wildlife, and is incredibly suited to those who enjoy bird watching. With some fantastic natural areas and over 500 bird species, you are spoilt for choice. Many of these birds aren't usually found in the rest of Europe, and there are also numerous species from Africa.

Within the Tuscany region, there are many places to go birding, but one place that simply can't be missed is the Maremma Wetlands. This is a 27 square kilometre area where over 200 different species can be spotted, and this number keeps increasing. It's no wonder there are so many, as these wetlands are on an important migration route. There are two marshes: the Diaccia Botrona Marsh, which consists of over 1,300 hectares, and the Bolgheri Marsh, which is the most important area for waterfowl anywhere on the Tyrrhenian coast. As well as the wetlands, you can also visit the uplands, and try to spot some eagles and falcons.

Another notable spot for birding is the Arcipelago Toscano National Park. This is the largest marine park in Europe, with 56,766 hectares of sea and 17,887 of land, where you can see many varieties of birds. From here, Elba Island is also within easy reach, if you fancy a trip to this stunning location, well known for its association with Napoleon. Whilst in one of our campings in Tuscany, why don't you pay a visit to the beautiful Arcipelago Toscano?

Finally, another important location for bird watching is the Valdichiana, a 'garden paradise' and agricultural centre. With its abundant fields, olive groves, vineyards and orchards, it's the perfect place to observe many diverse bird habitats. Furthermore, there's the Mugello region. This protected wetland area near the Apennine mountains is a great place to see ducks and mallards, and is also an annual migratory route for flamingos, storks, kestrels and eagles.

Due to the fact that there are so many places to go birding in Tuscany, it's easy to find a guide or participate in a tour. The spring migration season is the best time to hire an environmental guide, and you can sign up for various birding tours all year round. There are lots of companies to choose from, many of which combine your birding tour with other highlights, such as trips to places of cultural interest. So, if you are a keen bird watcher, nature lover, or want to try something new, why not give birding a go? And what better place to start than in a campsite in Tuscany beach. 

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