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Finally yesterday, also considering the favorable weather forecast, after months we returned to Riva del Garda.

In Riva del Garda lives Mr. Roberto Boscaini, a Birder enthusiast of waterfowl, with whom, thanks to Vittorio Fanelli, a common friend, we got in touch on November 24, 2020 starting a discreet exchange of messages via Whatsapp, without ever meeting him personally due to Covid19 and our free time. We understood from the beginning that he was a competent and passionate guy like us in this hobby, it was easy to understand each other.

Yesterday, due to a trivial delay in departure and a naive exit from the motorway to look for a pastry shop where to drink a good coffee and eat a good dessert, we arrived in Torbole at 11.30, very late to have a good light for photo, Mea culpa.

We took a toast and loitered, making some encounters of very common species in the area of the mouth of the Sarca river.

Finally after lunch we meet Roberto Boscaini!

Note that after a year of texting with Roberto we hadn’t even heard from each other on the phone!

An exquisite person puts himself at our disposal (thank you) and we go up the river leaving the mouth out because we had ascertained that there was not what we were looking for.

Our goal was to see and obviously photograph the Goosander and the Dipper.

As always, for good luck, I repeat to myself that surely we will not find anything because birds are animals that move quickly from one place to another unlike a cow and therefore you must be lucky that they are there, then to see them and finally that the subject is still for the time you need to photograph it.

During our walk we notice that the place is very nice and quiet, moreover the conversation with Roberto is pleasant as a cultured and intelligent person. He guides us to the power plant where we meet the first Goosander.

Goosander – Mergus merganserThe Goosander was quiet in the rear Power Plant basin and starts moving as soon as it sees us. In the photo above it is clear that he is watching us in fear.

The poor animal carries a hook tucked under its beak as shown above. This is the reason for this terror.

Obviously approaching us, carried by the strong water current, he begins to escape.

Surely he is not able to take off his hook and he certainly does not have a social life and remains alone. Poor animal. Congratulations to the fisherman, I just call him fisherman!

We continue. Roberto sees the Dipper.

The light is poor in the river bed and the vegetation is dark so with small subjects the photos are unclear. I hadn’t taken into account that we were practically in the mountains.

We continue along the river and again upstream we find a pair of Goosanders.

In the end we count five females and two males and enjoy observing their social life.

Seeing them from a distance I was convinced that the body feathers were white but from what we can see they are light cream.

Who is the first?

The males are confronting to show the females their power.

 

They do it like a dance, not a real war.

The female is bored, every day these males have to prove their strength. Boring.

 

 

 

Ducks are known to sleep during the day and are more active at night.

 

Target achieved, thank you very much Roberto.

We return home unhurriedly, happy for the beautiful day. I would like to photograph the Kite. Who

 

Dopo aver visto Il Biancone entrare nel boschetto, peccato non poterlo fotografare,, ieri ha sorvolato casa un rapace che al primo sguardo sembrava una POIANA ma dopo osservando i fotogrammi non ne sono certo.

Dal momento che  l’ho osservato a quando ho potuto uscire con la macchina fotografica, la distanza è diventata considerevole e quindi le foto non sono nitide, ma comunque (credo)

 

  utili per l’identificazione.

Ringrazio chi sia in grado di determinarne le specie.

This morning, before the daily walk, we observed the arrival of 3 specimens of Serin, just inside our gate.

 

 

It was a pleasure to see them also because Serin’s last observation here at home took place on March 25, 2014 exactly 7 years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another 7 years to observe the next ones.

Expected weather SUN. We decide to go and see the Golden Eagles mentioned by Vittorio and Enza last week. We follow  the idea of ​​going to Vallene, positioning ourselves at Malga Volpina or on Colle Enza and patiently waiting for the passage of the Eagles.

Flowing traffic, bright day, during the journey we joke and laugh heartily with that closeness acquired from almost 50 years of marriage as well as those of engagement.

Cheerful  we arrive in Vallene and take the road to Malga Volpina and after about 1 km, the transit is blocked by two falling logs. The cheerful gone immediately also because I haven’t thought of bringing the chainsaw.

With a bitter taste in our mouths we went back down and that was not bad, we decided to go around the wide one for Passo Fittanze and in any case reach the destination,

Close to the pass we begin to see SNOW, snow everywhere and above all the road to reach Malga Volpina is not even visible. With a bitter taste in the mouth we return to Erbezzo to try to intercept the Eagles but nothing, same thing in Selvavecchia.

We are there now, what do we do? Let’s go and see if we meet the Goosander on Lake Garda!

We make a quick visit to Ronchi, where according to Vittorio’s report, they sighted Sea Orcs once again last week. But the morning continues to be negative.

We continue towards Torri del Benaco without any other stops. From the Eastern Gardesana we observe many Coots, many Great Crested Grebes, Little Grebes and Seagulls.

In Torri del Benaco we find a Red Crested Pochard  who, poor him, was sleeping on a pier. I woke him up for a couple of shots.

Then a pair of Goosander, offshore we see another one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We can’t continue to Riva del Garda, they’ve blocked access to the province of Trento, we wanted to meet Roberto Boscaini. It seems that in Trentino Covid is not regressing, they are talking about the Orange Zone. We hope to see you soon Roberto.

On the way back we stop for a coffee in Calmasino and make a detour to the shore to find a Porciglione.

We spent a relaxing day, We’ll look for the Eagles another day.

As in previous years, we went to the Mezzano (Comacchio) to see the cranes again.

Weather forecast: Sun and clouds. Real situation overcast sky and constant heavy haze throughout the day. Difficult to see and photograph the Cranes from afar since they cannot be approached otherwise they will fly away.

In Mezzano, as always in this season, there are many Buzzards that spend the winter. Here’s one for a change.

Obviously the Cranes must be searched for as they are constantly on the move. We slowly go around the dirt roads to check the area well as it is difficult to see in the distance, in the heavy haze, gray or white birds if they are young, even if they are large in size like the Cranes. We are lucky because Luciana, good at noticing even the smallest detail, sees a group of about fifty individuals in the distance.

We approach slowly, very slowly, but almost immediately they begin to take off. It often happens because they have more than one individual alerting the group.

We have to give up because they all get up. However, the distance was considerable. Let’s go back to rolling.

We meet one of the many Kestrels, many are female.

We search all the places we had seen them in the past  years but nothing, none of them. We still meet some Buzzards.

Many run away as soon as I stop the car, like this one, but…..

….. to our surprise there were two, one very courageous and well camouflaged remained on the tree allowing us to move the car to see where it was visible for the photo.

Here she is, now we see her clearly, once the photo is done we remove the disturbance while she remains calm in her position.

 

CRANES disappeared!

We meet some Starlings feeding together with a small group of Lapwings.

then it’s the turn of a Stonechat, female of 1st winter (thanks to Vittorio Fanelli for the identification).

now that of the Goldfinch

NO CRANES.

Now is the Stonechat again to be seen. Always nice to see it.

Finally we meet two cranes. cheers.

Rather than nothing is better rather. There are others running but not the group. We see them flying, always far away to take some decent photos.

the last ones that leave and then disappear.

We decide to leave the Mezzano and catch the low tide of 14.30 hrs at the Scardovari inlet hoping to meet some waders. A strong tidal range is expected. We find the tide but not the waders, there were some Dunlins but very far from the shore.

What’s now? Small tour of the dams. A Yellow legged Gull and a Pigmy Cormorant.

Kingfisher

Then comes the Marsh Harrier female, hunting over the reeds. She is beautiful, elegant, the Landlady.

We decide to leave Santa Giulia, we have an appointment with Pippa, one of the best fishermen in Chioggia, who had called us in the morning because he had caught the Soles and kept about 20 kilos for us. The fish is caught at sea outside Chioggia and delivered to us still alive.

But the Delta always reserves surprises. Along the road, as soon as we leave the Sacca, we meet the  Marsh Harrier female here below, obviously not the same as before, and we have quite a good time.

    

We made up for the lack of Cranes. Rather than nothing, is better a Marsh Harrier; or rather two, is better.

Quinto di Treviso is crossed by the River Sile and the municipal area includes a fairly large lake produced by a now disused gravel quarry. In this lake and from the banks of the river branches you can observe some species of birds.

Today was an empty morning, with very few passerines and waders also due to the high water of the lake and consequently of the river.

It’s a pity,  I would have liked to entertain Franco our today guest.

Here are a few shots from the morning which began with a very cloudy sky and then with a large clearing up but in the late morning.

Coming here often we  knew of the three Water Rails and of the Tufted Ducks even if in small numbers.

Positive the relaxing environment and the pleasant landscape.

Water Rail – Rallus acquaticusWe meet the Water Rail which normally lives among the vegetation of the wetlands. It has a very loud cry, often emitted at night.

It feeds of plants but also of small animals.

Nocturnal migrating bird. It is easier to hear than to see.

And here we meet the Little Grebe and her family.

 

 

 

 

Here is feeding one of the two kids.

They are two well educated kids!

 

The Little Grebe is going up and down of the river, while fishing.

 

And while going up and down meets a Coot

We are used to see the distinguish the Coot by the white cap and the red eye.

Few people knows that the Coot has yellow legs and white webbed feet

 

Further we see a nice male of Tufted Duck happy to show himself to the camera.

Seen flying close to the water of the river a very colorful Kingfisher and two Water Rails in pairs

We have ascertained that the Buzzard wintering in our grove is no longer the same. For a couple of times around eleven in the morning we observed the exit from the wood and subsequent flight in thermals of the Buzzard which can be seen in the following photo shoots.

We will check in the next few days

This morning, during our daily walk, we met, as often happens, the Kingfisher, perched on a branch of the bank opposite ours, in the Pionca Canal, near our friends’  home. Climbing up the embankment we were able to photograph it despite the distance. Some shadows in the photos are given by the grass that  was hiding us.

 

It was a female.

Shortly after our return home, we notice that (almost certainly the same female bird) was busily fishing in our pond.
Even though our Bleaks started to move less due to the lowering of the temperature, she still managed to get the meal.

The Kingfisher, one of the most beautiful birds in Italy and in Europe, has a splendid turquoise blue and brick red livery, measures about 15-17 cm. equipped with a short tail and a large head with a very pointed beak.

It flies quickly close to the water showing the bright blue of the back, lives in natural cavities or small holes dug in the banks of the rivers.

It is not easy to spot despite the flamboyant dress, it is usually a blur of blue color flying low over the water. Its flight is as quick as lightning.

It perches on a branch above the water with its beak pointed downwards and shakes its head and tail when it spots the prey: it then dives suddenly keeping its wings open, as well as its eyes which are protected by a third eyelid. It emerges from the water with the fish in its beak, then returns to the perch. The entire action takes place in less than two seconds.

 

Dopo la recente visita al Lago di Cornino e il flop di quella deludente all’0asi dell’Isola della Cona abbiamo trascorso una distensiva giornata alla RISERVA NATURALE VALLE CANAL NOVO di Marano Lagunare.

Le foto delle specie osservate sono pubblicate qui di seguito assieme a qualche nota di quello che ricordo di ogni uccello

USIGNOLO DI FIUME

Vive nel folto della vegetazione lungo i corsi d’acqua dove si muove con scatti improvvisi, alla ricerca di cibo costituito da insetti e larve. Individuabile per il canto che pratica tutte le stagioni. Presidia il suo territorio per anni, difficile distinguere la femmina dal maschio.

CORRIERE GROSSO

Fra i vari limicoli presenti vicini alle zone di osservazioni c’era il Corriere Grosso piccolo trampoliere, di difficile distinzione con il Corriere Piccolo e il Fratino

 

PIOVANELLO COMUNE

Limicolo di circa 20 cm di taglia che nidifica nella Siberia artica e sverna sopratutto in Africa.

 

PAVONCELLA

Uccello comune nel periodo di svernamento, in genere arriva in Settembre, formando grossi stormi in aree agricole, umide e pianure. Si nutre di vermi e insetti.

STORNO

Elemento famigliare nelle nostre città, lo abbiamo osservato recentemente all’inizio della serata da una terrazza a Maniago, si riunisce in vasti stormi. Ottimo imitatore del canto di altri uccelli.

FENICOTTERO

Trampoliere inconfondibile frequenta le lagune basse e gli stagni costieri in genere in acque salmastre e alcaline. Il becco ripiegato verso il basso permette loro di  nutrirsi di animaletti acquatici, sopratutto l’Artemia Salina filtrando l’acqua su lamelle presenti sulle loro mascelle. Inconfondibile in volo si sposta in genere in folti stormi. Le femmine hanno piumaggio simile a quello dei maschi ma sono di taglia inferiore mentre i giovani hanno un piumaggio grigio bruno, zampe marroni e occhio scuro. Le colonie spesso di diverse migliaia di individui, sono arrivate in Sardegna dalla Spagna e dalla Francia per poi espandersi in Toscana, Puglia, Delta del Po e recentemente anche nel Veneto e Friuli Venezia Giulia.

PIVIERESSA

Il maschio veste un piumaggio estivo con parti inferiori nere, in inverno i due sessi sono privi di caratteri distintivi. Si riunisce lungo i litorali nutrendosi prevalentemente di vermi, lumache e crostacei.

OCA SELVATICA

Presente in più individui si spostavano da un posto all’altro. É quella che fra le europee si riproduce più a sud. In estate nidifica in aree isolate lungo le coste marine o laghi.

 

MESTOLONE

Riconoscibile facilmente per il robusto becco a forma di pala è un’anatra di superficie. Il maschio in Settembre come visibile nella foto è in muta parziale.

 

PETTEGOLA

Osservata assieme ad altri limicoli come il Piovanello Pancianera (vedi foto in volo) è spesso separata dal gruppo. Simile al Totano Moro e alla Pantana in inverno.

 

TOTANO MORO

Uccello costiero di medie dimensioni si muove sia in acque relativamente alte che in acque basse. In estate (Maggio-Luglio) la livrea diventa nera.

GARZETTA

Ardeide molto diffuso e numeroso in questa oasi.

 

BECCACCINO

Ho notato una quindicina di individui presenti in vari luoghi dell’oasi. Durante il giorno, come succede per gli anatidi, si riposa per poi uscire allo scoperto per cacciare al crepuscolo o di notte. Nidifica in Europa settentrionale e viene da noi per svernare.

 

GABBIANO COMUNE

Molti individui presenti sia del Gabbiano comune che di quello Reale. Non ho fatto osservazioni per distinguere altre specie.

 

PANTANA

Nidifica in foreste del Nord Europa vicino a corsi d’acqua e marcite, in Italia si osserva durante i passi. Simile alla Pettegola e al Totano Moro.

 

 

COMBATTENTE

Nidifica in Europa esegue parate riproduttive per accoppiarsi. In Italia presente durante i passi.

 

MERLO

Giusto per menzionare un pullo presente nell’area di ristoro dell’oasi.

TESTUGGINE PALUSTRE EMIS ORBICULARIS

La nostra tartaruga autoctona

 

RANA VERDE

Rana comune o rana verde ibrida dei fossi,

PIGLIAMOSCHE

Presente! bell’esemplare.

Non ho inserito foto dell’Avocetta che pur presente era lontana e difficile da fotografare. Questo è quanto salvo menzionare che ancora con il sole alto ci siamo trattenuti al capanno sino alle 18.00.

La sorpresa l’abbiamo avuta quando siamo arrivati all’uscita ed era chiusa. A seguito della nostra chiamata telefonica è arrivato immediatamente il gentilissimo signor Glauco che ci ha aperto permettendoci di ritornare a casa e non trascorrere la notte in oasi in compagnia di zanzare e company.

Una doverosa nota. Abbiamo trascorso una bellissima giornata in compagnia di una coppia veramente squisita con la quale abbiamo anche condiviso il pranzo in paese a Marano Lagunare.

La birreria da noi scelta presentava un menù poco chiaro e personale alquanto strano nel trattare i clienti. Il conto invece è stato presentato molto bene per quanto mangiato. Sicuramente ritorneremo se ci lasceranno entrare, dipenderà dall’umore della signora.

A presto.