Birding Rome: a late February morning along the Roman coastal wetlands

At the end of February, during a birding day trip departing from Rome together with a new birdwatching enthusiast, we explored one of the most interesting hotspots of the Roman coast: the Torre Flavia coastal wetlands.

This area, protected at community level thanks to the Directive – 79/409 as a Special Protection Area (SPA IT 6030020), is characterized by wetlands and coastal environments, including coastal ponds, wide reedbeds and well-preserved dunes, which are of fundamental importance for birdlife throughout the year.

Thanks to the conservation measures implemented in recent years and the precious support from the local population, Torre Flavia is a real stronghold for some plant and animal species linked to sandy coasts threatened at a national level, such as the Sea Daffodil (Pancratium maritimum) and the Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus).

We arrive just before dawn near the coastal ponds, we are enchanted by the many Western Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis), Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta) and Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea) which, perched on the tamarisk trees which they use as roosts at night, they are preparing to disperse towards the nearby fields and irrigation canals.

We head towards the beach along the reeds, accompanied by the unmistakable song of the Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia cetti). We observe many Passerines on the nearby shrubs, including two European Stonechats (Saxicola rubicola) and some Eurasian Siskins (Spinus spinus). Along the path we look out towards the pond whenever the dense vegetation allows it, managing to photograph some inhabitants of the marsh such as Little Grebes (Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Teals (Anas crecca), Northern Shovelers (Spatula clypeata) and Gadwalls (Mareca strepera).

Once we reach the beach a Great Egret (Ardea alba) flies over our heads and then heads inland. After traveling a few dozen metres, we come across a small group of waders feeding frantically on the shoreline: these are 4 Kentish Plovers (C. alexandrinus) and a Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula). Not advancing further we enjoy the scene so as not to disturb them.

Continuing our walk along the beach in the opposite direction to the small shorebirds , we decide to alternate seawatching with lookout points towards the reeds. While on the one hand we observe a Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) flying close to the coast and a Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis), on the other we admire a female Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) patroling the reedbeds in search of preys.

We leave the wetland area with a last look at the main pond, the swamp is crowded by Common House Martins (Delichon urbicum) feeding on the main body of water, they have just arrived from the sea ready to reload themselves after the long journey back from Africa, spring migration is coming!

CHECKLIST

1. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
2. Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)
3. Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
4. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
5. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
6. Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
7. Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)
8. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
9. Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
10. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
11. Great Egret (Ardea alba)
12. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
13. Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
14. Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
15. Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
16. Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
17. Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
18. Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
19. Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
20. Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
21. Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
22. Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
23. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia var. domestica)
24. Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
25. Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
26. Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum)
27. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
28. European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
29. Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
30. European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
31. Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)
32. Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
33. Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)
34. Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)
35. Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia cetti)
36. Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
37. Great Tit (Parus major)
38. European Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
39. Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
40. Common Magpie (Pica pica)
41. Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
42. Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
43. Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae)
44. Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
45. European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
46. European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
47. European Serin (Serinus serinus)
48. Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus)