Report from 29 November to 2 December 2022

It’s been rainy and foggy. The only clear change in the birdlife was a spike in Mallard numbers, while Teal increased as well. Also of note is the complete lack of thrushes: we saw a handful of Song Thrushes in early November, but they promptly disappeared, and we haven’t had a sniff of either Redwings or Fieldfares. Other species that normally appear by mid-November – Great Bittern, Peregrine Falcon, Marsh Harrier, and Stonechat – are also missing. Perhaps migration is simply very late; we shall see.

The river of Pygmy Cormorants flying into La Cassinazza every night is always a sight to behold.

Goldcrests continue to be much in evidence. Every winter, these tiny, colorful sprites, with their erratic and unpredictable movements, are an irresistible challenge for my photographic skills. This image dates back to last Saturday, during those few hours when the sun finally managed to break through the fog. The yellow maple leaves make for a matching background.