The island of bascule trees

Crete is a wild and amazing island; the high mountains close to the sea left me speechless. Thank to goats, woods are mostly absent and only on the steep cliffs some conifers survive in a way they seem falling down. I have been there to study wintering raptors but the resident ones are more impressive: I have seen lammergeiers in different places, many golden eagles, the Bonelli’s eagle, the goshawk and a lot of griffon vultures. In particular on my last day there I saw one griffon in the nest. The place, that has remained in my mind and eyes, is Kofinas where I watched the best sunset I ever seen.

The land of red kite

In January I started the field work for my PhD and the first place where I went to study wintering raptors was in Basilicata (Southern Italy). The landscape there is wonderful, few people around and a low number of villages. Large open areas and woods on the mountains. The observations were interesting with a good number of raptors wintering there, in particular many red kites. I have seen also many herons along the coastal area and some flocks of cranes.

Wild Dublin

During a trip of few days in Dublin I had the luck to visit a wonderful wetland north of the town, North Bull Island. The area was full of ducks, geese and waders and easy to reach by train from the city centre. In particular the number of Brent Geese, Pintails, Shelducks, Curlews, Oystercatchers and Turnstones was really impressive. Moreover I met a Sparrowhawk eating a pigeon in a small garden in an hot spot road for Christmas shopping…

Anyway people in Dublin are very nice and friendly. If you go there please visit the Sinn Féin Bookshop in Parnel Square 58. Tiocfaidh Ar La!

Winter along the coast of Latium

Every winter I like spending some days at the Circeo National Park. This year I have particularly enjoyed the Sandwich Terns sinking and fishing at the Monaci Lake. The sky was every day covered and the atmosphere was softened and quiet. I have seen also two flocks of Cranes flying along the coast and trying to cross the sea toward South West. I followed their flight along the coastal road by car for some kilometres and after with my binocular over the sea.