Report from 3 to 6 May 2022

In spite of the weather’s attempt to drag us back to winter, spring is advancing and migration is drawing to an end, both for waterbirds – most of which have already passed through – and for songbirds: we had no new arrivals this week. Still, a handful of our regular breeders – Little Bittern, Marsh Warbler, and Reed Warbler – have yet to be seen; perhaps they are late. The air is filled with the songs of Nightingales, Golden Orioles, and Cuckoos. A Hoopoe is singing as well: should it stay on to breed, it will be a first for La Cassinazza.
Our Common Tern colony, small as it may be, is a hive of activity. At least eight pairs have occupied the nesting platforms, and I expect the first eggs any day now.
With the onset of warmer weather, I can finally share photos of wildlife other than birds. Of course, La Cassinazza is a haven for birds, especially waterbirds, but after an endless series of photos dedicated to them, it’s time for a change of scenery.

The garish Elephant Hawk Moth Deilephila elpenor is particularly fond of honeysuckle blossoms.