Birdwatching on Mt Circeo promontory

The headland where the dunes comes to a halt at the 16th century Torre Paola (Tower Paola) offers a spectacular and quiet view during the off-peak season when the only activity is the few fishermen who sit in the shade of the ancient tower's crumbling crenellations, hanging lazily their fishing rods into the canal that links the inland lagoons to the sea. Even If the origin of the name Circeo is still uncertain, one theory wants it connected with the legend of Circe, and particularly Victor Bérard (in Les Phéniciens et l'Odyssée, ii. 261 seq.) supported of the theory that Aiaia, the Greek name for the island of Circe, is a faithful transliteration of an ancient Semitic name, meaning "island of the hawks".

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Mount Circeo is certainly home to several spectacular species of falcons among which the majestic Peregrine Falcon (Falco Peregrinus). The Peregrine nests on the steepest walls and cliffs of the mountain often in small spur of rocks, particularly inaccessible for men. The peregrine is a lethal and precise predator, a real champion in attacking in flight. First, he carefully observes the ground, and as soon as he detects a possible prey, he plunges on it like a bullet, by diving at a speed that can reach 280 km per hour!

Due its thick tree vegetation the promontory shares several inhabitants with the forest and we commonly find Badger (Meles meles), the European Polecat (Mustela putorius), the European Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), and the Stone marten (Martens foina), the weasel (Mustela Nivalis), the wild boar (Sus scrofa); thanks to the numerous caves all the local species of bats;




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