Two weekends ago, in Rome, the new K’ Nature daily events took place: an urban trekking with birdwatching on the Lungotevere and a nature walk in the Sorbo valley.
On Saturday, the hike to discover the urban biodiversity of the Tiber affected, through an annular route, the stretch of river that reaches the Lungotevere delle Navi from the Tiber Island.
Once started, we immediately observe an individual of Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla), on the bark of Pines near the Fountain of the Tritons, and a Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata), hunting among the vegetation of the Broken Bridge.
Walking along the left bank of the river, the participants are surprised by the thick flowering plants of Caper (Capparis spinosa), while many Common House Martins (Delichon urbicum) feed on flies and other small insects.
Between the shores and strips of relict riparian vegetation, we spot several species of dragonflies and demoiselles, Common Moorhens (Gallinula chloropus) and Chubs groups (Squalius sp.), a common freshwater fish of the Cyprinidae family.
Arrived on the Lungotevere delle Navi, between the crown of the trees, we contact multiple Passerines including Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla), Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Parus major), in addition to some individuals of Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), that flutter on the water together with the House Martins.
On the way back, after a quick view of the Jewish Ghetto to observe the characteristic nests of House Martin, we conclude our urban trekking with a Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) and a Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) looking for prey between the shores of the Tiber Island.
On Sunday, however, we explored the Sorbo valley, near Formello, one of the most interesting sites of the Veio Regional Park. The walk has seen, in a few kilometers traveled, the succession of different natural and rural environments, shaped over the millennia by volcanoes and streams and characterized by a varied Flora and Fauna.
After being greeted at the meeting point by a singing Eurasian Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis), we see a Grey Heron in flight along the Crèmera, the river that flows along the valley, and a European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) that flies over our heads.
Among the meadows dotted with shrubs we observe a juvenile of Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans) and a Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis).
Continuing, the participants photograph the many Odonata species present along the water course, including Orthetrum brunneum, Calopteryx splendens, Platycnemis pennipes and Sympetrum sanguineum.
The grassy fields on the edge of the Crèmera are used as grazing by wild cattle and horses. Among these we see a group of Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis), while 3 individuals of Black Kite (Milvus migrans) circling on the ridges of the nearby hills and a Little Egret patiently waits for some prey on the riverbank.
We thus move to another environment, that of gorge: a narrow valley carved by the constant action of the waters and colonized by woods. Here we admire the Mola di Formello waterfall and the relict vegetation, made of mosses, ferns and angiosperms, which in these microclimatic conditions finds an ideal habitat.
We continue our walk in the shade of the forest, where we try listening to the many Passerines linked to the tree foliage and we find two plucked, a sign of predation towards a Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) and a Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius). During our passage we observe a large number of Common Wall Lizards (Lacerta muralis nigriventris).
The hottest hours of the day are approaching and it is now time to say goodbye. After the ritual group photo, we stop for one last time, to observe the exuvias released by the Cicadas during the metamorphosis and photograph the multiple species of butterflies that have constantly accompanied us during the morning, including the beautiful Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta).
The next events in the Lazio region return in September: Saturday 5 with the urban trekking among some of the most iconic places in the Eternal City, Sunday 6 we will explore the Sorbo Valley again, Saturday 12 the urban trekking on the Lungotevere, in addition to many other new paths. We can’t wait!