Report from 28 to 29 february 2024

If we were fogbound for much of January, February was marred by a long spell of relentless rain. At this point in the season, it is safe to say that winter 2023-4 was the first one without any Great Bitterns. This had always been a regular wintering species at La Cassinazza, often with multiple individuals, ever since we started our surveys. I can’t think of a reason for this, as the habitat here has not changed. Hopefully, this is just a short-term, local phenomenon.

The only news of the last few days are the arrival of a Spoonbill and of a pair of Mute Swans; apart from them, there have been no migrants to speak of. If anything, we are noticing the first departures: we are no longer hearing Penduline Tits calling from the reedbed, and Robin numbers are visibly lower. Among the waterfowl, Shovelers remain in evidence, while the Mallards, which have already paired up, are scattered through the surrounding countryside in their search for suitable nesting sites.

Each morning, the Blackcaps, Chaffinches, and Blackbirds enthusiastically belt out their songs to welcome the spring. Soon, I will be on holiday as well, and these reports will be on hiatus for part of March.