News from the Strait of Messina

Here below some pictures (by Giovanni Cumbo) of a flock of about one hundred White Storks which was observed two days ago at the Sicilian side of the Strait of Messina.

News from the Strait of Messina

Here at the Strait of Messina Honey Buzzards are passing between one storm and another. Yesterday in a break during the rain we counted more than 1500 raptors passing mostly toward the Tyrrhenian coast. Here below a nice picture (by Juan Ramirez) of Red-footed Falcons perched on a wire close the radar station. 

News from the Strait of Messina

Today was a beautiful migration day here at the Strait of Messina. We counted more than 1000 migrating raptors, most of them were Honey Buzzards but we observed 10 different species of raptors and in particular dozens of Red-footed Falcons. White and Black Storks, Bee-eaters migrated at the site. Also the two nights before were very good for bird migration and we detected thousands passerines with our radars. In the picture below a screenshot of birds tracked by the radar.

Meeting at the Strait of Messina

News from the Strait of Messina

Yesterday a beautiful Imperial Eagle immature has passed over the watchpoint of Mount San Leo on the calabrian side of the Strait of Messina. Here below the sight from this watchpoint.

News from the Strait of Messina

Yesterday was a very good day of migration at the Strait of Messina. Hundreds of raptors were counted from our watchpoints. Most of them were Marsh Harriers but we observed also tens of Montagu's and Pallid harriers, storks and some Lesser Kestrels.

Now we are waiting for the arrival of Honey Buzzards. If you would like to join our count, send us an email.

News from the Strait of Messina

In the last days we observed the first two Honey Buzzards passing over our watchpoints at the Strait of Messina. This last period was characterized by south wind bringing with it fog and low clouds. This weather is not the best possible to watch migrating raptors at the Strait but it creates suggestive atmospheres like the one that has been catched by Miguel Gonzalez in the picture below.