The following report contains details of several locations visited in Umbria in the course of a family holiday whilst staying with a family member who has moved to live in Umbria. On two days I drove to specific birdwatching sites, any other birding was fitted around other normal holiday activities.
This region is now more easily accessible due to Ryanair recently starting a service to Perugia Airport, with three flights a week, with Wednesday flights probably working out cheapest. Perugia Airport is small and friendly, although boarding the return flight from a small departure loungre is something of a scrum. There are several car hire offices based in the airport. Be aware that 15.8. is (or it was this year) the National Holiday of Feragusto, and most thing close down, including many car hire offices.
I had purchased the Lynx "A Birdwatcher's Guide to Italy", but was unable to find a copy of the LIPU "Where to Watch Birds in Italy" guide, which is out of print. Unfortunately the Lynx guide only listed one site in Umbria, which was Lago di Alviano. Contacting a local birder (Cristiana Marti) on the 'Birding Pals' website was useful, as she kindly sent me a number of tips on sites to visit. The book 'Wild Italy' by Tim Jepson is useful in identifying promising areas, although info on species to be expected is limited.
Although only the one site was listed in the Guide, and although the time of year meant that many small passerines were very elusive and skulking (it seemed to me even more so than in the UK - and perhaps with good reason!), I am sure that this area will repay a determined effort at a more suitable time of year. There seem to be plenty of protected areas (with an abundance of signs saying 'Divieto di Caccia'), and an abundance of relatively unspoilt habitat, especially woodland. I only had the oppurtunity to carry out a limited amount of birding, but without too much effort saw a reasonable range of species.
I stayed on the edge of a small valley near the village of Collelungo, near to the town of Marsciano. During the week in Collelungo, I found that early morning walks were most productive. Birds seen in this fairly typical area of Umbrian countryside included - Fan-tailed Warbler (v. common), Stonechat (common), Hooded Crow (v obvious), Kestrel, Buzzard, Serin, Turtle Dove, Long Tailed Tit italiae, Lesser Whitethroat, Hoopoe, Bee-eater (30+), & Green Woodpecker.
17.8.07 Visited Lago Trasimeno. Just south of San Feliciano there is a reserve run by the provincial authorities which is certainly worth a visit. This is Oasi La Valle site about reserve on L Trasimeno . A small area to park cars is available just outside the reserve entrance by the junction / round-a-about between Savino & San Feliciano. There is a charge of €3 to enter. It is apparently possible to take electric boat tours of the reserve, I think on Sundays. On the day I visited one of the wardens was able to speak some English, and another was very capable. The area acessible on foot is limited to a path from the Reserve Info Centre that runs parallel to a straightened stream channel, leading into an inlet on the lake. There is a small artificial lagoon near the Centre. The path crosses a bridge to the other side of the inlet, and then continues for a few hundred metres along a wooden walkway (the condition of the wood I viewed with some suspicion!) which leads to a hide. At this time the lake level was quite low exposing muddy areas for waders. The obvious thing that strikes you is the enormous numbers of Coots on this lake, which must run into 1000's, with also lots of Little and Great Crested Grebes. Ducks were few, with just Mallard, Teal, and Pochard. Waders present included several Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, and at least 5 Wood Sandpiper, plus Black-winged Stilt. Golden Oriole (m) was seen to swoop several times down from willows to pick up food items(?) from the lake surface. There were 5 Purple Herons visible, as well as several Grey Heron, Little Egrets and Great White Egrets. The walkway affords good views into the reedbeds - seen here were Reed Warbler, Penduline Tit, Cirl Bunting, and a possible Moustached Warbler. As I returned to the entrance, I noticed that staff were carrying out bird ringing, and had the privilege of seeing Kingfisher and juvenile Golden Oriole at very close quarters as biometric data was collected.
There are two lay-bys on the road that goes around the southern shore of the lake (Google Earth 43deg05'27.06"N 12deg09'57.44E and after Santa Arcangelo 43deg04'54.29"N 12deg08'10.19"E), and both are good vantage points. The first was most productive with more Purple Herons, Great White Egrets & Little Egrets, a Squacco Heron, and more Black-winged Stilts.
18.8.07 - Isla Polvese on L Trasimeno - accessible by ferry from pier in San Feliciano. Not much seen here but quite dense reed beds on S side and woodland on fringes, so could be promising. Did see Melodious Warbler, Firecrest and Purple Heron.
20.8.07 Lago di Alviano (WWF Reserve) - TBC
Grey Heron; Purple Heron; Great White Egret, Little Egret; Squacco Heron; Cormorant; Yellow-legged Gull; Black-headed Gull; Mallard; Teal; Pochard; Coot; Moorhen; Great Crested Grebe; Little Grebe; Black-winged Stilt; Common Sandpiper; Green Sandpiper; Wood Sandpiper; Kingfisher; Bee-eater; Hoopoe; Hooded Crow; Magpie; Jay; Wood Pigeon; Collared Dove; Turtle Dove; Green Woddpecker; Nuthatch; Swallow; House Martin; House Sparrow; Starling; Golden Oriole; Long-tailed Tit; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Penduline Tit; Fan-tailed Warbler; Cetti's Warbler; Reed Warbler; Melodious Warbler; Lesser Whitethroat; Firecrest; Blackbird; Robin; Wheatear; Black-eared Wheatear; Stonechat; Whinchat; Chaffinch; White Wagtail; Kestrel; Buzzard; Black Kite