Report from 14 to 17 September 2022

We are now during a lull in migration, as most of the long-distance migrants have passed through on their way to Africa, while most of the short-distance migrants are yet to arrive. La Cassinazza seems empty: nothing to see, and nothing to hear. Even the Night Herons and Pygmy Cormorants that were so numerous until last week seem to be largely gone. The same can be said for most of the waterfowl.
And so here we were, feeling sorry for ourselves, bored from an uneventful day of birdwatching, when…. “Did you hear that? Wasn’it a…?”, “Of course it was!”…… “I see it, it’s up high” ….. “It’s hiding behind the trunk, now it’s behind a bunch of leaves”……
Until finally it was out in the open: a Eurasian Nuthach! For one brief moment it was in full sun, only to immediately fly away, a second individual in tow. This is a woodland species that only lives in the forest interior and is very reluctant to cross open areas. These pioneers have managed to reach La Cassinazza, and hopefully they fill find the local woodlands, which are now quite mature, to their liking. This is yet another new species for La Cassinazza, and our dull day was immediately brightened up.
The first Chiffchaffs and Robins of the fall made themselves known by their calls.
The only songs that ring out loud and clear are those of the Cetti’s Warblers, which are frequently heard but seldom seen. They prefer to lurk in the heart of the reedbed or in dense waterside shrubbery. The photo shows one in a typical posture, with a raised tail.