Birding Rome: one day in September among the Roman coastline and Tuscia region

Towards the second half of September we had the pleasure of accompanying two nature enthusiasts from the United States for a daily birdwatching trip departing from Rome.

In order to let our overseas guests observe some lifers (which is not entirely obvious as they regularly spend their holidays in the Netherlands), we decide to organize an itinerary among different environments and sites of interest in Lazio region.

As the first stop of the tour we choose the “Centro Habitat Mediterraneo” LIPU reserve, located south of the Tiber river mouth, so as to be able to take advantage of the first hours of light inside the wonderful hides present here, excellent both for birding and for wildlife photography.

As found the previous month in another birdwatching excursion, once again the coastal ponds are literally teeming with life!

In fact, dozens and dozens of waders patrol the muddy banks in search of food, while in the higher water areas, herons and Cormorants are engaged in a frantic fishing, moving from one point to another according to the movements of the fish. Among them, some noisy Great Egrets (Ardea alba) flaunt their white plumage.

On the furthest banks we spot Common Ringed Plovers (Charadrius hiaticula), Little Stints (Calidris minuta), Sanderlings (Calidris alba) and Common Sandpipers (Actitis hypoleucos); very close, on the other hand, Spotted Redshanks (Tringa erythropus) and Common Greenshanks (Tringa nebularia) allow themselves to be photographed undisturbed.

The level and quantity of water is not yet optimal for the many species of ducks which, starting from the autumn months, begin to gather here and, therefore, in this first stop we only observe Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and many Eurasian Teals (Anas crecca).

Before moving to the other hide, a group of Black-headed Gulls draws our attention. Among these, thanks to its more massive bill, red legs, faint ear-spot and whitish primary feathers, we recognize a Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus).

From the second observation point we admire at least three Common Kingfishers (Alcedo atthis) which, like small blue arrows, cross our field of vision several times. Just below the hide, we are able to photograph some Black-winged Stilts (Himantopus himantopus), both adults and juveniles, probably born within the CHM!

During the morning there is also a fair number of Passerines: among the typical bushes of the Mediterranean scrub and the tamarisks that line the ponds we contact, in fact, both sedentary ones, such as Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) and Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia cetti), and migratory, such as Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) and Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava).

We thus enter the third hide which, despite the low level of water present and the light conditions not entirely optimal, gives us a very confident Kingfisher engaged in its morning fishing trip.

The first part of the tour ends at the Visitor Center, where Alessandro awaits us for a brief explanation to the conservation actions carried out by LIPU and to the historical and naturalistic heritage of the CHM: from an extremely degraded place to a hotspot for birdlife and biodiversity!

We therefore move near Anguillara Sabazia, with the dual purpose of spending an hour relaxing on the shores of Lake Bracciano and, of course, adding some species related to the lake environment to our checklist.

After a regenerating packed lunch, based on local cured meats and sheep cheeses, we skirt the eastern part of the volcanic basin. Despite an uninspiring number of waterbird species, this one appears rather crowded: dozens of Great Crested Grebes (Podiceps cristatus) and hundreds of Eurasian Coots (Fulica atra) and Common Pochards (Aythya ferina) gather in the calm lake waters.

We decide to head further north, for a quick exploration of the Mignone river valley, within the Tuscia region. Along the way, among the many testimonies of the ancient Etruscan settlements, we spot many rural environment species and a Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) in migration.

Crossing arable land and now bare sunflower fields, between Common Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) and Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo), a Red Kite (Milvus milvus) stands out.

Observing its elegant flight, it is not surprising to know why Leonardo Da Vinci decided to take inspiration from these birds for his studies on flight!

Before returning to Rome, we enjoy the badlands, produced by the erosion of the clayey soil due to the effect of water washout, which majestically dominate the surrounding landscape.

With about fifty species, tired but satisfied, we thus end a day dedicated to birdwatching and the scenic beauties of Lazio region.

CHECKLIST

1. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
2. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
3. Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)
4. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
5. Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
6. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
7. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
8. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
9. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
10. Great Egret (Ardea alba)
11. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
12. Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
13. Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
14. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
15. Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
16. Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
17. Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
18. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
19. Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
20. Sanderling (Calidris alba)
21. Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
22. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
23. Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
24. Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
25. Common Sniper (Gallinago gallinago)
26. Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
27. Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus)
28. Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
29. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia var. domestica)
30. Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
31. Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
32. Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
33. Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
34. Common Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
35. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
36. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
37. Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
38. Common Redtart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
39. Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)
40. Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)
41. Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)
42. Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia cetti)
43. Great Tit (Parus major)
44. Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
45. Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
46. Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
47. Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
48. Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
49. Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
50. Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
51. Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae)