Appunti di viaggio:

NORTH EAST, ISONZO AND STELLA MOUTHS

02-2009

I had to spend a full month of vacation due to problems of the company where I work. I didn't know how to use all this time..
I spent some days in explorations of places that I already knew: La Francesa Oasis, baths of Manzolino-Tivoli, Valdisole Oasis, Mortizzuolo valleys, Park of Stones Roccamalatina;I taken some good pictures, but I was unhappy ..
By chance I met a friend of mine Giuseppe in Manzolino and he suggest to me a place near Trieste, the Cona Island, from what he described it seemed a real fascinating place.
Just 30 seconds to decide ;-)

17-02-2009

ISONZO MOUTH NATURE RESERVE

This reserve was rewarded in 2007 by the European Network Birdwatching Best Italian reserve for birdwatching.

For what is my experience (limited) I believe that this award is fully deserved, and in particular there are a lot of hut for sighting well spread throughout the area. The visitor is always well hided in the entire area and therefore the species are quiet and easily approachable.
The needs of the photographer are often taken into account in the architecture of observation points and the massive presence of birds give high opportunities to take good pictures.

Silvano, ringers and expert birdwatchers received me at the Visitor Center and he explained to me the main features of the reserve.
I went to the Marinetta observatory and a Great Cormorant welcomed me.

Great Cormorant

From a bulkhead I could see a Curlew

Curlew

The Marinetta observatory is structured in three levels; the lower one is below the water level, the perspective you get from there is really interesting. There was a Gadwall.

Gadwall

Going up to the first floor the view is global (you have the best light early morning and late afternoon). Hence the observation of species was perfect. Nice, I had never seen the Greater White-fronted Goose, and I had about 800 of it in front!

Greater White-fronted Goose

Over time the light becames harder and the backlight it was almost inevitable, and here goes one of many Northern Shoveler present in the oasis.

Northern Shoveler

It was time to continue with my lap and I went around the ring to the Fox Observatory. A Water Pipit and a Greylag Goose was with me during my lunch.

Water Pipit

Greylag Goose

The light finally turned warmer and attractive. Returning to the area by a bulkhead I could do justice to the beautiful colors of the Northern Shoveler.

Northern Shoveler

To maintain a low vegetation they introduced the Camargue's Horse, and some of them moved.

Camargue's Horse

What a beautiful light .. Sunset was coming and I tried to do some panning with the Greylag Goose.

Greylag Goose

A flock of Greater White-fronted Goose bye my first day in the Cona Island

Greater White-fronted Goose

18-02-2009

Even the day after the weather was beautiful and I started from the Cịss observatory. Along the way I discovered a bulkhead from which the view was perfect as light as a perspective on the water. Than I was able to photograph the Greater White-fronted Goose in a good way..

Greater White-fronted Goose

When I was moving to another place, Silvano the Ornithologist arrived, he was beginning to count the Greater White-fronted Goose. He explained to me that among 800 Greater White-fronted Goose there was just one Lesser White-fronted Goose. The differences of these species are negligible in size and plumage but the rare Lesser White-fronted Goose has a yellow iris. Well, thanks to the hawk's eye of Silvano, we found she!

Lesser White-fronted Goose

Then I could come back happy to the visitor center; in fact Silvano told me that there was a couple of Eurasian Nuthatch that usually staying in a precise tree than I decided to take some pictures of them. The light was quite strong and they were never calm.

Eurasian Nuthatch

Silvano recommended visiting the following day Marano Lagoon and he phoned to his friend Glauco that is responsible for the Regional Natural Reserve of "Valle Canal Novo e Foce dello Stella"
Coming back from the Marinetta's observatory I taken my best Pygmy Cormorant.

Pygmy Cormorant

Nearby, a couple of Camargue's horses flirt.

Camargue's horse

Great excitement, a Greylag Goose came over my head, she seemed not interested at all to my presence.

Greylag Goose

Among the Common Teal, there was the Eurasian Wigeon.

Eurasian Wigeon

I was beginning to be tired, the day was long.. Then I went to sit in one of the comfortable sit of the Marinetta. There was a nice Shelduck.

Shelduck

At last the sunset.
The vision was spectacular.

Sunshine

Another beautiful day in harmony with the nature.

19-02-2009

"Valle Canal Novo" Nature Reserve

When I arrived to Marano Lagoon, Glauco showed me the Marano Lagoon Nature Reserve. He told me that for many years every morning at 9.00 am they fed birds. Ducks and geese presents, understand the situation in their favor and rush to eat as much as possible. It results that you can shoot with a medium telelens beautiful pictures of Common Pochard.

Common Pochard

Even Mallard arrived..

Mallard

...and we were full!

In this period Greylag Goose have already formed all couple; it's the because if there is any intruder, the male becomes particularly aggressive ..

Greylag Goose

Even the Whooper Swan was noted for its elegance.

Whooper Swan

Interesting things didn't end; in fact Glauco invited me to attend a boat trip to the mouth of Stella river, organized for schoolchildren. I accepted immediately ;-)

Then I met another nice person, Adriano. He usually organize minicruises in the lagoon with his boat www.saturnodageremia.it

It was the first time that I was in the lagoon and the sunny weather gave me the feeling of a magic atmosphere.
Alse there you could find a lot of birds; Curlew and Black-necked Grebe was very common in the area.

Curlew

Black-necked Grebe

After one our of travel we arrived in the "Casoni" area.

Casone

The Casoni were the homes of fishermen, these were made of cane, with techniques passed down from father to son.
Each has the orientation tangent to the direction of Bora wind in order to avoid destruction of the building.
Another interesting feature of the traditional Casone is no chimney for the fire; because there is fire in the middle of the room and the smoke slowly draining the environment, while in case of rain, the water can not enter. This allows you to use much less firewood to make warm the room .. brilliant!

The fish and the Polenta was delicious and Adriano entertained us with some popular song.

Adriano

I was at the end of my beautiful travel.

The places that I visited was beautiful and the presence of species to observed in these areas was very high, but this trip will remain in my memory for the willingness of the people I met. A sincere thanks to Silvano, Glauco and Adriano. See you soon!!

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