Cranes over the Aspromonte mountain

Yesterday a large flock of Cranes has been detected by radar flying over the Aspromonte mountain and we have counted about 200 cranes heading south. In the picture below (by Giovanni Cumbo) a record shot of this amazing flock. Moreover raptors are still moving across the study area and the most common species are Marsh Harriers, Lesser Kestrels and juvenile Honey Buzzards.

Egyptian Vulture over the Aspromonte mountain

After 6 days of fog and rain in the end yesterday there was a great sight over the Aspromonte mountain. Here below the Egyptian Vulture observed yesterday flying over our watchpoint. The picture was taken by Jack Ashton-Booth.

News from the Aspromonte mountain

Today hundreds of raptors were observed moving over the Aspromonte under intermittant light rain showers. Some Honey Buzzards were forced to ground and had to endure the worst of the weather before continuing on their migration (see the pictures attached). Their migration speed was much slower and resulted in several parties of birds deciding to roost at the site before nightfall, as was the case for a flock of Black Kites pictured below and of the Honey Buzzard in the amazing picture taken by Jack Ashton-Booth.

News from the Aspromonte mountain

Today together with tens of Black Kites we recorded the passage of the first flocks of Honey Buzzards over our study area in the Aspromonte mountain.

Tracking Black Kites

Yesterday occurred a peak in the passage of Black Kites in the Aspromonte mountain with several hundreds of individuals observed. In the afternoon we tracked some flocks that appeared in the "Ornis Italica" radar screen. Here following a screenshot with a flock of 36 kites indicated by the red arrow. 

Black Kites over the Aspromonte

Few days ago we started the new fieldwork together with our friends of Ornis Italica. Today was the first intense day of migration and we tracked some tens of Black Kites.

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 we 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.