Spring urban birdwatching along the river Po in Turin

Last April we spent a pleasant morning focused on urban birdwatching in the Confluence Park in Turin, in the company of the ornithologist Riccardo Alba.

As soon as we enter the park, we are immediately greeted by hundreds of Common Swifts (Apus apus), just arrived from the African wintering areas, and by the singing of many Passerines that will accompany us for the whole day, including Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), Eurasian Robin (Erithacus rubecola) and Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes).

Surprises are certainly not lacking: during our journey a beautiful Black Kite (Milvus migrans) flies over our heads. This species also spends the coldest months in sub-Saharan Africa and in this period migrates to European nesting sites.

Continuing towards the Dora Riparia, we meet the first waterbird species: Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), Great Crested Grebes (Podiceps cristatus) already intent on performing the typical courtship rituals and Eurasian Coots (Fulica atra). These birds are already in full breeding season, with already chicks following their parents.

Further inspecting the river banks we can spot numerous Tufted Ducks (Aythya fuligula), Eurasian Teals (Anas crecca) and some Common Pochards (Aythya ferina), but a pair of Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) with their particular plumage definitely steals the show from the other ducks present along the river Po.

Shortly after, we also observe two Mandarin Ducks (Aix gelericulata), a flashy alien species from the Far East now naturalized in many European gardens and parks.

An European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) observes us attentively hiding behind a trunk, while we spot two other alien species present with a large population within the city: Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and Coypu (Myocastor coypus).

We thus arrive near the Confluence between the Po and Stura di Lanzo river, where an elegant Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) and many seagulls await us. On the way back, a particularly acute song attracts our attention: it is a Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla), which allows us to close the checklist with 40 species!

Find out more about our birdwatching tours between Turin and its surroundings!

CHECKLIST:

1. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
2. Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)
3. Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
4. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
5. Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)
6. Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
7. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
8. Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
9. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
10. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
11. Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
12. Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
13. Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
14. Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
15. Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
16. Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
17. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia var. domestica)
18. Common Swift (Apus apus)
19. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
20. European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
21. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
22. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
23. Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)
24. European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
25. Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
26. Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
27. Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla)
28. Great Tit (Parus major)
29. Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
30. Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
31. Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla)
32. Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
33. Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
34. Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
35. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
36. Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
37. Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae)
38. Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
39. Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus)
40. Eurasian Greenfinch (Chlrois chloris)