Report from 1 to 3 July 2023

Some of the Common Terns are back and three pairs have once again laid eggs. Considering that incubation takes about 24 days, and that about a month goes by between hatching and fledging, any chicks will fledge no earlier than the beginning of September. They will almost immediately have to embark on a migration of several thousand kilometres, and there are no guarantees that they will make it. Nevertheless, this is giving me the opportunity to test my new “crow-proof” mesh cages that are protecting the nests: the mesh is so fine that the crows can’t get in. In spite of my fears, the terns show no hesitation in finding the entrance and shimmying their way in. Hopefully, no crow will be able to imitate them

In early June a colour-ringed Spoonbill made a brief stay at La Cassinazza. I have now received all the data from the French ringing scheme: it was ringed in 2019 at Les Saintes-Maries-De-La-Mer, in Camargue, and spent 2022 at the Thyna salt pans near Sfax in Tunisia. This species is prone to wandering, and this individual fits the pattern.

There were no new arrivals this week, but I saw the Black Woodpecker again after over a month. It must have been here the whole time, but remained silent. I have not seen the Nuthatches since they fledged their young two months ago.

One of the characteristic sounds of summer here at La Cassinazza is the song of the Turtle Dove, that soft “turrrr… turrr..” that gives it its name in English, Italian, and many other languages. It does not like to show off, and even when it sings it remains concealed in the canopy.