In winter, the city of Turin offers excellent opportunities for urban birdwatching. The River Po, which runs along the east side of the city, in fact, attracts many wintering water birds including gulls and ducks. They gather in large numbers especially at the confluence with Dora Riparia and Stura di Lanzo rivers, which fall within two of the largest green areas of the cities: the Colletta Park and the Confluence Park, near the Natural Reserve of “Meisino and Isolone Bertolla”.
These, of course, are the sites where most Turin birders spend the most time looking for rarities. In fact, over the years there have been interesting sightings, such as a Franklin’s Gull in 2013, a Glaucous Gull in 2012 and a Ring-necked Duck in 2007, all carried out within the Meisino SPA.
In this period, the Po is literally invaded by hundreds of Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Just near the Corso Regina Margherita bridge, a few days ago, during the IWC censuses, we observed two ringed individuals. Thanks to the reading and reporting of the identification code, it was possible to trace the origin of these: one from Croatia and another from the Czech Republic!
On 30/01/2021 we decided to leave for an urban birdwatching day trip along the banks of the Po, starting from the Corso Regina Margherita bridge to get to the Amedeo VIII bridge (total 5.2 km). We are thus moving towards the Lungo Po Antonelli, where, thanks to a particularly eventful morning, we are able to add about 30 species to our checklist in only 1.5 km.
Arriving on the footbridge over the Dora, among the river rapids, we observe a Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) and two White-throated Dippers (Cinclus cinclus), a species particularly present this winter even at low altitudes, probably due to the heavy snowfalls in the Alps in recent weeks. Entering the Colletta Park area, we spot two Great Crested Grebes (Podiceps cristatus) in courtship at the confluence of the Po and Dora rivers, while the call of Little Grebes (Tachybaptus ruficollis) echoes in the background.
Continuing along the Po, the first diving ducks begin to appear: Common Pochards (Aythya ferina) and Tufted Ducks (Aythya fuligula) are very numerous here, with hundreds of individuals present. In the middle we also observe a Gadwall (Mareca strepera) and some Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). In the past few days, two Ferruginous Ducks (Aythya nyroca) were also contacted, unfortunately not present during the day. Among the trees of the Colletta Park the shy Song Thrushes (Turdus philomelos) make themselves heard, we count at least 5 of them in the company of their cousins Common Blackbirds (Turdus merula).
Arriving at the Confluence Park with the Stura river, near the Meisino SPA, the Po widens and the view is spectacular, all crowned by the Basilica of Superga in the background. There are hundreds and hundreds of ducks on the calm waters of the river, with dozens of gulls in flight. A particularly confident Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) approaches us intrigued, and then disappears by diving into the water.
We start to comb through the gulls looking for something “different” than the abundant Black-headed Gulls. We soon recognize a Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus), characterized by completely white wings and a fiery red bill.
Shortly after, we notice the presence of a different size gull, but the distance does not facilitate observation. It almost seems to be the size of a Yellow-legged Gull, but the shape of the head and beak do not convince. We take some photos and thanks to the zoom we realize that it is a Common Gull (Larus canus), a very common species in central-northern Europe that regularly winters in the south, also arriving in Italy.
Although this have a plumage similar to a “second winter” of the nominal subspecies, there is still some subtle peculiarity that makes us think. We therefore send the photos to some experts of this group of birds that are sometimes not easy to identify, already imagining a possible option that would have made that individual not a simple Common Gull.
Our hypothesis is promptly confirmed: it is a Siberian Common Gull (Larus canus heinei)! This subspecies, coming from the far north-east, is recognized by its larger size than the nominal subspecies, by the small dark collar present along the neck and by other characters observable on the wing pattern.
Fully satisfied, we close the checklist with 42 species, embellished by a Siberian guest and some not obvious birds for a city context.
We will be back soon with our urban treks in Turin, also proposing this birdwatching excursion among the different work in progress activities. (CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!)
Report by Riccardo Alba, ornithologist and K ‘Nature tour leader
Photo by Lorenzo Rapa and Tommaso Renzulli
CHECKLIST:
- Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
- Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)
- Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
- Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
- Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
- Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
- Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
- Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
- Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
- Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
- Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
- Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
- Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
- Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus)
- Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
- Siberian Common Gull (Larus canus heinei)
- Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
- Feral Pigeon (Columba livia var. domestica)
- Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
- Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
- European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
- White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
- Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
- Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
- White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)
- Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)
- Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
- European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
- Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
- Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
- Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
- Great Tit (Parus major)
- European Blue Tit (Cyanistes coeruleus)
- Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
- Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
- Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactila)
- Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
- Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
- Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
- Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
- Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
- Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus)