Report from 26 to 28 January 2023

The deep cold of winter was with us all day last Saturday, on the day of the International Waterbird Census – and on that day only. The frozen water did not impact waterfowl numbers, as they merely shifted to the deeper impoundments were open water remained. It did drive away the Lapwings, however; we saw no more than twenty. As soon as temperatures crept back above freezing, they returned in the same high numbers – at least two hundred – that we counted prior to the census. Perhaps those who coordinate the IWC might want to keep this in mind. As a flock of Mallards flew by, a duck with white wings drew our attention and immediately generated a range of hypotheses about its identification. But we soon had to resign ourselves: it too was a Mallard, probably of domestic origin, or perhaps a partially leucistic individual. Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers are singing and drumming: the breeding season is just around the corner. This species is expanding at La Cassinazza: I heard at least five singing males just on my morning walk.

We usually know our local Wrens as restless creatures, darting mouse-like near the ground, never sitting still, and always alert and with their tails up. But they do relax every once in a while. Here we are seeing one engage in “comfort behaviour” as it preens its plumage with its bill. In this view, it is hard to even recognize as a Wren!