April 2007

Linosa

In 2007 we decided to visit Linosa earlier than the previous year: we visited Linosa from April 5^th to 15^th, while Lampedusa received coverage from April 1^st to 12th.

Although numbers of passerine migrants are usually lower in early April that they are at the beginning of May, we did have one huge fall of passerines on Easter Sunday (April 8^th), especially Subalpine Warblers: it seemed that every bush held 5-10 Subalpines (and keep in mind that at least 60% of Linosa is covered by bushes!).

Most birds were cantillans, but about 10% were identified  as albistriata on call.

Moltoni's Warbler is recorded too with some birds migrating at the end of April and May.

Subalpine Warbler

Subalpine Warbler

Subalpine Warbler

Moltoni's Warbler photographed on
Ventotene Is. (Thanks to Andrea Ferri)

Many other species were quite common, including:

Lesser Kestrel

Common Redstart

Scops Owl

Scops Owl

Wryneck

Red-throated Pipit

The best rarities were:

·         A pair of Cretzschmar's Buntings on Lampedusa on the 7th

·         2 Olivaceous Warblers on 14^th on Linosa

·         About 20 Isabelline Weathears on Lampedusa and Linosa

·         About 25 Pallid Harriers

·         2-3 Siberian Peregrines (calidus-type)

·         1 Bonelli's Warbler sp.

·         3 Laughing Doves on Linosa

Isabelline Wheatear

Laughing Dove singing

Olivaceous Warbler

Pallid Harrier II cy

April-May 2006

In April and May 2006, several of us joined Andrea Corso who was on Linosa monitoring raptor and stork migration on behalf of LIPU (Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli).

Except for Andrea and Hans, it was the first time for us on Linosa. As soon as we saw the outline of the island appear on the horizon as the ferry approached, we fell in love with this tiny speck of land!

Linosa to the horizon

Late April and May is the best time of the year for seeing large numbers of passerine migrants: on some days, hundreds of Icterine Warblers, Spotted Flycatchers and Whinchats were literally falling from the sky.

Spotted Flycatcher

Icterine Warbler

Whinchat

Tawny Pipit

It is also the best time to enjoy the huge colony of Scopoli’s Shearwater: thousands of birds raft just offshore, but most impressive of all is the deafening chorus of eerie calls the birds make as they visit the colony at night - an amazing, haunting experience!

FILE AUDIO

The most interesting sightings from spring 2006 included:

3 Rufous Bush Robins of the African ssp. galactotes

1 Isabelline Wheatear on 06.05.2006 (although it is a regular migrant in eastern Sicily, it is very rare outside the late February – mid-April period)

The first documented breeding of Laughing Dove on Linosa (Laughing Dove is a common breeder on the island of Pantelleria 90 km to the northwest)

1 2cy male Atlas Flycatcher, if accepted it will be the first for Europe!

Laughing Dove

Isabelline Wheatear