Added to this is the, climate, enormously variable over relatively short distances as a result of the Alpine arc (the Dolomites, Carnic, Julian and Dinaric Alps) lying so close to a warm shallow sea, the Adriatic. Average annual rainfall varies from less than 800mm a year in parts of southern Istria to more than 3300mm in the foot-hills of the Julian Alps, points just 100 miles (160km) apart. Average annual temperatures are equally varied over even shorter distances with a mild 15.7°C in Trieste set against less than 7°C in Tarvisio just over 60miles (100km) away. As one moves away from the coast northeastwards the temperature gradient here is steeper than anywhere else in Europe.

The area covered by the tour

The Logar Agritourism

We are based at the Logar Agritourism, a very comfortable farm-based hotel in the village of Žerovnica next to Cerkniško Jezero, a karstic polje covering more than 3,000 hectares which floods regularly and plays host to a wide range of birds. It is an Important Bird Area. In spring and early summer the lake-bed is usually well-inundated, with nesting Red-necked Grebes and Bitterns while the surrounding wetland areas are host to Corncrakes, Spotted and Little Crakes, Savi’s Warblers, Barred Warblers, Whinchats, Scarlet Rosefinches  and Snipe, all set in some of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe.

The lake is surrounded by limestone mountains, part of the Dinaric Alps and largely covered in dense forest, some of it very ancient. Here the bird-life is thinner on the ground but no less interesting with Ural Owls and Three-toed Woodpeckers both frequent, together with scarcer birds such as White-backed Woodpecker and Hazel Grouse that are easier to track down in spring when they are territorial.

The local farmland and villages are also a joy to behold with “common” species such as Fieldfare, White Stork, Spotted Flycatcher and Skylark in excellent numbers.

           Ural Owl – photo Domen Stanič

             The karstic rockface above the hotel

We are based at Istarska Toplice, a thermal spring resort in northern Istria, set in the countryside against the impressive backdrop of karst rockfaces and caves with nesting Alpine Swifts and right in front of an extensive riparian oak forest running along the River Mirna with seven species of woodpecker. Just around the hotel we can find Black, Grey-headed and Middle-spotted Woodpeckers, Wryneck, Red-backed Shrike, Rock Bunting and Blue Rock Thrush but much other wildlife besides.

From early the area is host to an extraordinary display of Fireflies (Luciola italica) as well as being rich in orchids and butterflies.

The eastern side of Istria, between the Italian border and the city of Rijeka is dominated by a limestone massif, part of the Dinarc Alps running NW – SE and parallel to the coast. Reaching almost 1400m in some places the massif is home to Golden Eagles, Eagle Owls, Rock Partridges and the now-rare Ortolan Bunting as well as commoner karstic grassland birds such as Hoopoe and Turtle Dove.

These sites are threatened by scrubbing over but several are now being grazed once again.

            Rock Partridge hangs on in the Karst

The Caneo Hotel at the mouth of the River Isonzo

NE Italy is the part of the country with the highest diversity in terms of landscape, peoples, climate and birds. We are based at the Caneo Hotel, set within the Isonzo Rivermouth Reserve, 2,200 hectares of marsh, sea and mudflat with the longest species list of any single nature reserve in Europe at 326 species! It owes this to its position close to the Karst and the Alps which means some truly odd species have turned up over the years. The area round the hotel overlooks marsh and mudflats and egrets, herons, Great Reed Warblers, Spoonbills, Marsh Harriers and Bee-eaters are all regular at dinner and log-call with many more to be seen on pre-breakfast walks.

There are a large number of wetland and karst sites to visit very close by, depending on priorities, together with a large cast of supporting wildlife, especially butterflies including Southern Festoon, Large Copper and False Ringlet and flowering plants in breathtaking displays before the summer sun dries out many of the sites.

      Large Copper butterfly

Stol is a long ridge in the Julian pre-Alps overlooking the Italian plain to the south-west and the true Julian Alps to the north. Its broad grassy slopes are very popular with paragliders in the summer months but with raptors all year. Griffon Vultures are seen every day together with large numbers of Honey Buzzards on migration. On quiet days Golden Eagles survey the ridge in search of prey. On the grasslands below there are Corncrakes in summer and Rock Partridges all year although the latter are best seen in late April and May when the males are at their most vocal and visible.

Ptarmigan are present on Mangart

Mangart is a massive attraction for botanists and lovers of the Alpine flora from across Europe and beyond as it gives easy access to one of the most interesting parts of the eastern Alps with large numbers of local and endemic species. Birds are not lacking however and there are Wallcreepers, Alpine Accentors, Alpine Choughs, Water Pipits, Ptarmigan and the occasional Snow Finch to whet the appetite on the circular walk up to the saddle and the Italian border which runs along the ridge.

The flora is simply magnificent, depending upon the season and includes large drifts of Alpenrose, various gentian species. Other fauna include the Alpine Marmot and an east Alps endemic butterfly, Lorkovic’s Brassy Ringlet