
Tried to catch up with the rare geese this morning at Isola della Cona: dipped the recently reported Lesser White-fronted and Pink-footed Geese... instead I did found the fantastic
*RED-BREASTED GOOSE* within the massive flock of
White-fronted Geese (see pic above). The birds were not in the freshwater marsh, but out of the reserve, grazing on the fields at Terranova (GO). The flock contained approx. 1000-1500 White-fronted Geese. Among them were also 2
TUNDRA BEAN GEESE (ssp.
rossicus)...and of course the Red-breatsed. Probably the Lesser White-fronted was also within that flock, but I wasn't able to find it (and not even bothered!).
At 10.45 am a superb male
Hen Harrier flew past above the fields.
Meadow Pipits also heard in the area.
Isola della Cona itself (the freshwater was completely frozen over) held: 5-6
Goldeneyes, 200
Lapwings over Alberoni, 1
BITTERN half-hidden in the reedbed (but seen well), 3
Water Rails (all three gave excellent views - out of cover), 1
Green Woodpecker, 4
Pochards, 1 f
Marsh Harrier, Dunlin (flocks on the mudflats), 1
Goshawk hunting.

At 11.45 am a stop on the seaside at Lisert produced 3 nice
SLAVONIAN GREBES (see pics below), 2
Red-breasted Mergansers and lots of
Great Crested Grebes.



