Report dal 14 al 16 settembre 2024

A massive emergence of Scarlet Dragonflies (Crocothemis erythraea) encouraged the Bee-eaters to linger at La Cassinazza. Once they
reckoned they were fat enough, they gathered in one big noisy and gaudy flock, and I watched them fly off towards the south. I have not
seen any since that day. The Lesser Whitethroats and Garden Warblers are also gone, and only a few Pied Flycatchers are left: the vast

majority of the long-distance trans-Saharan migrants have already moved on. After a short break, we will see the arrival of the shorter-
range, intra-European migrants.

Recent rains meant that water levels in the impoundments were high. Now that they are starting to drop, we are seeing Common Snipe,
Lapwings, Greenshanks, Wood Sandpipers, and a single Ruff.
Water Rails are also migrants, and can become numerous at certain times of the year. They are masters at remaining invisible. Their
calls frequently ring out from deep within the reedbed, but seeing them is another matter entirely. Always wary, they make sure they run
even if they have to cross the tiniest opening, and with those long legs, they run fast.