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Systematic list - part 1: Ducks, Gamebirds and Grebes

 

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna (c. 12)

Small numbers at Granelli and Vendicari; also 2 flew over Portopalo di Capo Passero and Riserva Naturale Orientata Fiume Ciane.

 

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (c. 15)

Small numbers at each of the larger wetlands visited.

 

Garganey Anas querquedula (c. 7)

Between 2 and 5 on 4 visits to Granelli.

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Garganey, Granelli, 30th April

 

Shoveler Anas clypeata (1)

A male at Vendicari 28th April.

 

Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina (1)

A female on the small lake just NE of Portopalo di Capo Passero on 3rd May.

Red-crested Pochard, near Portopalo di Capo Passero, 3rd May

 

Pochard Aythya ferina (2)

A male at Granelli on 1st May and a female there on 3rd May.

 

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca (15+)

3 at Riserva Naturale Orientata Fiume Ciane on 23rd April, up to at least 12 at Granelli on 28th April-3rd May. I enjoyed the opportunity to study this species in a place where the occurrence is more or less untainted by the presence of escaped and hybrid birds, and in particular it was good to see that all the supposedly 'wrong' features of the recent female in Norfolk are in fact perfectly within range for female Ferruginous Duck.

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Ferruginous Ducks, Granelli, 28th April (top), 29th April (middle) and 1st May (bottom)

 

Sicilian Rock Partridge Alectoris (graeca) whitakeri (4)

2 heard calling, and 1 eventually seen, at Mount Etna on 26th April. They were on lava fields covered in small trees between Pedara and Etna South. Another 2, presumably a pair, crossed the road further up in an area of lava that had very little vegetation.

An excellent article by Andrea Corso on the identification and taxonomy of this endemic potential species was published in Dutch Birding 32: 72-96 (2010) – a PDF can be found here: http://www.ebnitalia.it/files/alectoris_whitakeri.pdf

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Sicilian Rock Partridge, Mount Etna, 26th April

 

Pheasant Phasianus colchicus (2)

1 heard calling regularly at Capo Murro di Porco and 1 seen briefly. At least 2 birds were probably involved.

 

Quail Coturnix coturnix (1)

1 flushed and seen well in flight beside the lighthouse at Capo Murro di Porco on 24th April.

 

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis (c. 10)

Small numbers at Riserva Naturale Orientata Fiume Ciane and Granelli. Also singles at 2 sites near Portopalo di Capo Passero.

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Little Grebe, Granelli, 29th April

 

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus (15-20)

Recorded at each of the larger wetlands visited.

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Great Crested Grebe, Riserva Naturale Orientata Biviere di Gela, 28th April

 

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis (10+)

At least 10 at Granelli on 29th April with smaller numbers there subsequently.

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Black-necked Grebes, Granelli, 29th April

 

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