Report from 5 to 8 march 2024

This is an unscheduled report: I did not think I would find time for birdwatching these last few days. But it was worth it.

The most thrilling sightings concerned the large flocks of Cranes that flew over La Cassinazza almost every day. These were large flocks – between 100 and 250 individuals – and I reckon that a thousand or so Cranes flew past these last few days.

The most intriguing sighting was that of a Red Kite wearing a small harness: a GPS transmitter. A brief online search took us to the website of the international LIFE-Eurokite project and a map showing the real-time location of our kite, right over La Cassinazza. The bird in question hatched last year near Bratislava, along Slovakia’s border with Austria, and is probably heading back there right now. The wonders of technology!
In addition to the above, these early days of spring migration also brought us the first Black-winged Stilts and Ruff, a pair of Spoonbills, a pair of Shelduck, a nice flock of almost thirty Pintail and several dozen Green Sandpipers. On the other hand, the Reed Buntings and Coal Tits seem to have left.

Last but not least, the Black Woodpecker is back. It was seen briefly, but was very vocal. After an absence of several month, its return at the beginning of spring is raising hopes that it will settle here. This is a photo of last year’s individual, a male destined to remain single. It excavated a nest cavity that was left unused.