Pine Bunting near Venice, NE Italy

A male Pine Bunting (Emberiza leucocephalus) was found on 22nd December 2009 by Paolo Vacilotto at Maserada sul Piave near Treviso, a half our of car from Venice, NE Italy. The bird was still present today. This is a set of pictures taken recently. The first one dating back to 30th December 2008:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15374151@N00/3150152593/

Two pictures taken on 3rd January 2009

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15374151@N00/3164628788/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15374151@N00/3163795781/

The last one was taken on 10th January 2009:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15374151@N00/3184559897/

Birdwatcher meeting in the Po Delta, 7th and 8th December 2008

A total of 40 participants gathered in the Po Delta, NE Italy fot two days of birdwatching and bird-photographing. In spite of some fog troubles, a lot of interesting species was observed. The main ones were: Flamingo, Shag, Black-necked Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Slender-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Knot, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Little Stint, Kentish Plover, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Curlew, Dunslin, Sanderling, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier an a Long-eared Owl roost of more than 50.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hybrid African Spoonbill X Sacred Ibis in the Po Delta, NE Italy

The picture shows an hybrid African Spoonbill (Platalea alba) X Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus), taken recently in the bird sanctuary of Punte Alberete, Ravenna, NE Italy. The sanctuary host a huge colony of herons, egrets, spoonbills, ibis and cormorants. Both African Spoonbill and Sacred Ibis are breeding in the colony. An hybrid Eurasian X African Spoonbill was recorder recently there.

Information about ringing in Italy of Sacred Ibis with yellow rings are available here: http://home.scarlet.be/~pin02658/cr-SacredIbis.htm

Photo courtesy of Roberto Zaffi.

References:

  • VOLPONI S. & EMILIANI D., 2008: Presenza e riproduzione di due specie di Ciconiformi esotici con formazione di ibridi nelle zone umide ravennati del Parco del Delta del Po. X Convegno Nazionale degli Inanellatori Italiani – Riassunti delle comunicazioni e dei poster: 50-51.
  • VOLPONI S., EMILIANI D. & FASOLA M. 2008. An overview of Spoonbills in Italy. International Spoonbill Working Group Newsletter, 5: 3-5.
  • Hybrid Eurasian X African Spoonbill in the Po Delta, NE Italy

    Aldo Tonelli was able to take a picture of a putative hybrid  Eurasian x African Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia x Platalea  alba) at the Canneviè sanctuary, Po Delta, NE Italy on 7th november 2008. Last year a similar hybrid (or the same ?) was photographed in Hungary by Ádám Faragó at Zalavár, Kis-Balaton, Bárándi-víz, on 28th July 2007. Both birds were ringed with an Italian black ring, and were probably born in Valle Mandriole near Ravenna, Po Delta, NE Italy, in a colony where a mixed African x Eurasian Spoonbill pair is well known since 2004. The birds were showing red bare parts on face. Moreover, the dark, and not pinkish legs was pointing to hybrid and not to pure African Spoonbills. A picture of the latter bird are available in this previous post.

    Booted Eagles in the Po Delta, NE Italy

    1-2 Booted Eagles are regular winter visitors to the Po river Delta. They prefer particularly the areas around the Mesola forest. This pale morph bird was photographed there on 1st November 2008, photos courtesy of Alessandra Luponetti, Marcello Zappaterra and Marco Crivellari (the latter two). Another dark morph bird was recorded there on 3rd November 2008 by Aldo Tonelli.

     

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    Owl night at Ostellato, NE Italy

    Ostellato is a village in the Ferrarese countryside. It hosts a diurnal Long-eared Owl roost site. Yesterday 18 Owls were present there at the sunset. A group of about 30 birders gathered there to watch the owls when flying away to the nearest fields. Photos courtesy of Gigi De Carlo.