Third urban trekking in Turin accompanied by the ornithologist Riccardo Alba. The cloudy weather and consequently the few people around give hope to a day full of species and some surprises … which in fact was not lacking as we will see!
Not even time to leave and a Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) quickly flies over our heads. Shortly after we meet the usual Eastern Gray Squirrels that now crowd the park (we will count about 40 individuals during the day).
Along the Po river we easily observe some Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), Little Grebes (Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Great Crested Grebes (Podiceps cristatus). A Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) allows us to carefully observe its lobed legs, excellent for swimming but at the same time efficient on land.
On the tall trees that line the river, we have fun recognizing Great Tits, Blue Tits, Firecrests, Nuthatches and Common Chaffinches that feed quickly on the branches of the trees. In this way we continue our journey continuing to talk about small Passerines, underlining how important hearing is to arrive at a correct identification of the species. Shortly after, on a lawn we observe a Hooded Crow x Carrion Crow hybrid.
Here we stop to observe the variability of the plumage of urban feral pigeons and a male of Common Blackbird, when one of the participants notices a dark spot in the grass. It will be a sprig or a clod of earth, nothing shocking… and instead it is a European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), a trans-Saharan migratory species that regularly passes through this period. Probably this exhausted individual will not be able to continue the migration, in fact he appears at the end of his life. Wishing him the best, let’s move on.
Arriving at a panoramic point, we have the opportunity to observe dozens and dozens of Pale (Apus pallidus) and Alpine Swifts (Tachymarptis melba). While we talk about the various differences between the three species of Apodiformes nesting in Turin, we notice another bird of prey in high flight. Comparing the photos and analyzing the shape, length and proportions of the wings and tail, we are delighted to identify the raptor as Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae)! After last time’s Pallid Harrier, once again a species not at all common observed at Valentino Park, which thus confirms itself as a place that has great surprises in store for us and for the participants!
Returning to the parking lot, we still cross the Rocky Garden where we observe typical species of urban gardens such as European Robin, Blackcap and tits. A final view of the Po allows us to add the Cormorant to the checklist, thus reaching 26 species.
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CHECKLIST
- Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
- Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
- Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
- Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
- Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
- Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae)
- Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
- Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
- Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
- Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
- Feral Pigeon (Columba livia var. domestica)
- Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
- Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)
- Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba)
- European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
- Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)
- Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
- Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla)
- European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
- Great Tit (Parus major)
- European Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
- Coal Tit (Periparus ater)
- Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
- Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla)
- Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
- Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)