Current Zoology

The cover of the October issue of Current Zoology shows a collage of two pictures of my friend Ugo Mellone and a picture of mine, a flying Common Buzzard (here below).

Flock of migrating Black Kites

A flock of Black Kites moving across the skies of Southern Italy over the Aspromonte mountain

The first migrant

As the the daylight decreases then raptors become more likely to start their migration. As usual, at the beginning of August the first Black Kites appear over the skies of southern Italy. This year I have catched the sight of the first one in the early morning flying over the beach. The kite was trying not to be blown off over the Ionian Sea from the strong western wind using flapping flight. 

Here in the pictures below two shots from Black Kites taken at their breeding grounds in Central Italy some weeks ago. The pictures show two different individuals close to their nests. The one flying has spent all the reproductive season defending his territory around its nest by flying over human people and calling frequently.

A wet summer

This summer (and the spring too) is particularly wet here in Central Italy and therefore the landscape is green and it doesn't looks like the usual Mediterranean summer landscape. Also the pools are still full of water. Therefore it is not unexpected that small animals like amphibians and reptiles had a great reproductive season. Here in the pictures below two of those species.

Waiting for the spring

Looking for the upcoming spring, here following some shots of the Strait of Gibraltar in its winter mood. 

Sunrise

In these last days of 2013, the weather over Rome is often cloudy and the sunrise at the Natural Reserve of Decima Malafede is ghostly. 

Cona Island Wetland

The Isonzo's mouth is the northernmost wetland of the Mediterranean basin. Therefore it is a crossroad for birds. It's a place where it is amazing to have a walk in every season going through the freshwater marsh to the sea, passing across the brackish water. Each month reveals a different species composition. At the end of summertime you can meet several just fledged individuals sometimes together with their parents. Moreover there are many migrating birds among which good numbers of shorebirds. Geese often send their calls breaking the silence beating the time of the pond. Here following some pictures taken in that amazing and quiet wetland.