bird trips around Verona

The following is a series of sightings of birds made during this period. Birds identified on call alone or distant sightings of birds of prey not identified to a species have not been included. The order follows the Verona Checklist of Birds by Maurizio Sighele updated September 2006.

Cigno reale Cygnus olor Mute Swan - Regularly seen with cygnets in both of the Malcesine bays. Unusually for a British birder was the families containing mixed grey and white cygnets usually in equal numbers. Largest family group included 4 youngsters (two of each type).

Fistione turco Netta rufina Red-crested Pochard - 13th August female with 5 ducklings in the bay just south of Malcesine town. Also seen on 14th and subsequent days in the main harbour of Malcesine. Also on 14th a group of 5 (including 1 eclipse male) and a group of 2 were seen further south near Isola dell'Olivo.

Moriglione Aythya ferina Pochard - 19th August one male was seen from the bus as we went between Crero and Torri del Benaco.

Smergo maggiore Mergus merganser Goosander - 11th August some were seen from the bus as it comes close to the lake between Crero and Torri del Benaco. I guessed this group held 8 birds resting on the water near some boats. 13th August a group of 9 were seen flying south close inshore between the lake edge and Isola dell'Oliva. There were 9 redhead type birds and presumed to be the birds seen on 11th.

Svasso maggiore Podiceps cristatus Great-crested Grebe. Regularly seen on all parts of the lake we accessed.

Cormorano Phalacrocroax carbo Great Cormorant - 8th August bird seen fishing at Limone.

Airone cenerino Ardea cinerea Grey Heron - One flying north 8th August over Hotel Olivi.

Nitticora Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night heron - One flying north at dusk over Hotel Olivi on 7th August.

Falco pecchiaiolo Pernis apivorus Honey Buzzard - 10th August three seen circling on hillside to east of Malcesine from Hotel Olivi. Birds seemed to go down into the trees there. 13th August one bird seen to do the same thing - i.e. not moving south along the ridge as I had anticipated.

Nibbio bruno Milvus migrans Black Kite - 8th August two circling above Limone.

Sparviere Accipiter nisus Sparrowhawk - 14th female flying down Lake Garda from Malcesine following the coastline. 15th one flying into woods behind Hotel Olivi, followed later by probably a separate bird flying South from Malcesine.

Astore Accipiter gentilis Goshawk - 15th August young bird left woods behind Hotel Olivi and circled high and headed North. It had been seen briefly and without binoculars on two previous days but not identified.

Aquila reale Aquila chrysaetos Golden Eagle - 17th August, first winter bird circling the mountain near the holes in the rocks/caves North of Torbole.

Gheppio Falco tinnunculus Kestrel - 15th August male hunting around the cable car top above Malcesine.

Falco pellegrino Falco peregrinus Peregrine - 8th August, two birds circling above Limone in response to the black kites. One was a large female the other was smaller and darker and assumed to be a young male.

Folaga Fulica atra Coot - Regular on all parts of Lake Garda, largest flocks at Riva and Torbole. Two family groups noted, one had three well grown young at Riva on 14th and one had newly hatched young on 7th in Malcesine, three were still alive on 18th August.

Gavina Larus canus Mew Gull - 11th August seen from the bus as it passed the middle to South of Lake Garda, never seen in the North of the Lake (above Malcesine) during our stay.

Gabbiano reale Larus michahellis Yellow-legged Gull - Regularly seen on the lake in both weeks of different ages. At Malcesine there seemed to be a slow movement north in the mornings and a similar movement south in the evenings.

Gabbiano comune Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull - Regularly seen on different parts of the lake in both weeks adult, first winter and juvenile birds.

Colombaccio Columba palumbus Woodpigeon - 11th August two seen at Gardaland.

Tortora selvatica Streptopelia turtur Turtle Dove - 11th August one seen at Gardaland.

Tortora dal collare Streptopelia decaocto Collared Dove - 3-4 pairs seen in the Malcesine area. Two pairs by Hotel Olivi.

Rondone maggiore Apus melba Alpine Swift - 15th August only seen at the top of the cable car above Malcesine, here there were 10-15 birds in one group.

Upupa Upupa epops Hoopoe - One bird seen in the grounds of Hotel Olivi on 15th.

Torcicollo Jynx torquilla Wryneck - Only seen in the grounds of Hotel Olivi, briefly on 8th and more prolonged view on 16th.

Picchio verde Picus viridis Green Woodpecker - Only seen in the grounds of Hotel Olivi, one bird was seen most days.

Rondine montana Ptyonoprogne rupestris Crag Martin - Seen on 8th in Limone and also Malcesine each day - mainly around the castle.

Rondine Hirundo rustica Swallow - Regular in both weeks though in the second week the numbers appeared less and some were noted flying south. Noticeable roosts with House martins were seen in Gardaland on 11th and on the crane in Malcesine up to our last evening on 18th August.

Balestruccio Delichon urbicum House Martin - Regular in both weeks. Noticeable roosts with house martins were seen in Gardaland on 11th and on the crane in Malcesine up to our last evening on 18th August.

Ballerina bianca Motacilla alba White Wagtail - Everyday a flock of 10-12 birds adults and first winters were seen feeding under the olive trees in the grounds of Hotel Olivi.

Ballerina gialla Motacilla cinerea Grey Wagtail - One at Malcesine whilst watching the RC Pochards on 13th. And 1-2 on the stream North of Torbole that runs away from the caves.

Merlo Turdus merula Blackbird - Regular around the Olives in Hotel Olivi and the woods on path 659 above Malcesine.

Capinera Sylvia atricapilla Blackcap - Regular during both weeks around Malcesine. Some days for example 16 when 4 were seen in one fig tree it felt that there call was everywhere and so may represent local migration.

Pigliamosche Muscicapa striata Spotted Flycatcher - 8th August one in Limone.

Balia nera Ficedula hypoleuca Pied Flycatcher - 16th August one 1st winter seen in the grounds of Hotel Olivi. This occurred on a day when more small passerines were being seen for example redstarts, blackcaps and prolonged views of wrynecks and may have been migrants not locally bred.

Pettirosso Erithacus rubecula Robin - 10th August one on the 659 trail above Malcesine.

Codirosso spazzacamino Phoenicurus ochruros Black Redstart - 15th August numerous around the cable car top above Malcesine.

Codirosso comune Phoenicurus phoenicurus Redstart - In the grounds of Hotel Olivi birds were seen on most but not all days. Never more than individuals by themselves I saw male, female and first winter birds, but was never able to say how many birds were included. A particularly noisy bird was in a garden by the Lake on 15th, but not seen before or after that date.

Culbianco Oenanthe oenanthe Wheatear - 15th Common by the cable car top above Malcesine.

Cincia bigia Parus palustris Marsh Tit - 10th August from the 659 track. Then on a few dates in the grounds of Hotel Olivi.

Cincia alpestre Parus montanus Willow Tit - 15th August one bird seen and heard in the conifers south of the cable car above Malcesine.

Cinciallegra Parus maior Great Tit - Common in the woods around Malcesine. Particularly common in the grounds of the Hotel Olivi where they were easily the commonest passerine - at least 20 birds.

Cinciarella Parus caeruleus Blue Tit - Only seen once 10th August in a garden on Loc. Caris Malcesine.

Rampichino comune Certhia brachydactyla Short-toed Treecreeper - 10th August was the only day that this species was seen well and heard to sing on track 659. Birds were often seen for a few seconds on the trunks of olive trees of Hotel Olivi. However, as soon as they were in the open a nuthatch would chase them. I cannot rule out that these birds were not Rampichino alpestris (Treecreepers) as they were never seen well enough, but sounded like this species.

Ghiandala Garrulus glandarius Jay - 10th and 13th seen from path 659 above Malcesine.

Gazza Pica pica Magpie - 11th Pair seen in Gardaland. 18th Pair seen near the motorway that goes into Verona.

Gracchio alpino Pyrrhocorax graculus Alpine Chough - 15th large cloud of birds by the cable car above Malcesine.

Taccola Corvus monedula Jackdaw - 18th August 1 with pigeons walking outside the Arena in Verona.

Cornacchia grigia Corvus cornix Hooded Crow - Regularly seen around the lake during the two weeks. Of note was two roosts that may have been of the same birds. One was a small wooded hill behind Hotel Olivi. This held 10-15 birds during the middle of the morning. Secondly, higher up 659 in the middle of the afternoon on 13th at least about 8-10 birds could be found.

Storno Sturnus vulgaris Starling - Only seen at the southern end of Lake Garda from Bardolino to Brescia always in flocks of up to 20 birds.

Passera d'Italia Passer domesticus italiae Italian Sparrow - Numerous around cafes and other human places lakeside. One aggressive male was dominating a dust bath in Gardaland of 3-4 scrapes. He had some grey on the top of his head more like a House Sparrow.

Fringuello Fringilla coelebs Chaffinch - One or two pairs in the grounds of Hotel Olivi.

Verdone Carduelis chloris Greenfinch - 1 male in the grounds of Hotel Olivi.

Cardellino Carduelis cannabina Goldfinch - 1-2 regularly around the Hotel Olivi grounds.

Verzellino Serinus serinus Serin - The most common finch around Hotel Olivi included some pairs with young birds with them.