Report from 25 to 18 March 2023

In the space of a couple of days, migration well and truly took off. The waders started the show: new arrivals this week included Black-winged Stilt, Wood Sandpiper, and Spotted Redshank. Of the species already present, there are a handful of Little Ringed Plovers, several dozen Common Snipe and Lapwings, no more than fifty Ruff, and at least eighty Green Sandpipers. The last-named species is usually rather solitary, and such a high count is remarkable. With the clear, settled weather and their hurry to continue their journey, most of these birds only stop at La Cassinazza briefly, sometimes for a few hours only. The impoundments also hosted several other seasonal firsts: Garganey, Wigeon, a pair of Spoonbills, Spotted Crake and Little Grebe. Chiffchaffs continue to be much in evidence, there was a small influx of Water Pipits, and we enjoyed the spring’s first Willow Warbler, Common Redstart and Barn Swallow. Last but certainly not least, we found a new species for La Cassinazza: a Marsh Tit. Much like the Nuthatches that arrived last year, this species must have found an ecological corridor between here and the woodlands of the Ticino River Park, undoubtedly the source of both these species.
And the Goshawk is still around: I watched it in awe as it flew overhead with a Teal in its talons.

Firecrests are also on the move. They were around early in winter, but disappeared for two months as the weather turned colder. We are now seeing it once again with some regularity, although always in ones and twos.