2021 highlights of a wilder Italian life
2021 was another year spent on-hold, waiting with awful music playing, and the same repeated message, with no guarantee that I would …
2021 was another year spent on-hold, waiting with awful music playing, and the same repeated message, with no guarantee that I would …
There are only a few Swallows left in Italy in November, so it was fascinating to see Starlings taking their place as …
The last time I saw a Marsh Harrier it was a perfect silhouette against the light and gave me no chance to …
These yellow feet are very distinctive. They belong to a Little Egret, Egretta garzetta. They enjoy paddling in the water. I don’t …
One of my favourite Black Redstart photographs from this year. Lovely, aren’t they?
It’s not an easy life being a Common Kestrel. There are always Hooded Crows around making your life unpleasant. This one is …
A Sparrowhawk has just flown over my shoulder. There are seven Hooded Crows in hot pursuit. It heads into the large pine …
Can you see it? We’re out at a LIPU nature reserve at Castel di Guido. We’re the only ones here. It’s a …
Rallenta, the sign says. I decide to look it up. What’s the English translation of rallenta from the Italian? There are hundreds …
Look closely at this Kestrel. At any of the Kestrels. Look at any of the Falcons. They all have something in common. …
The Medieval name for the Eurasian Spoonbill was the Shovelard. That makes me laugh, every time. I’ve seen them in Italy before, …
There’s a Marsh Harrier overhead. We’ve been here for hours waiting and when one appears it’s against the light. It’s a silhouette. …
This Little Egret is standing on one yellow foot and giving me the eye. A yellow eye. When it does try the …
This yellow butterfly is such an attractive species. It’s a Clouded Yellow, Colias croceus. It’s flying in Italy in winter amongst the …
This Common Kestrel has its eyes to the skies. There’s a Hooded Crow about to mob this Kestrel. Here it comes: It’s …
There’s a Little Egret across the water at Riserva Statale Pantani dell’Inferno. I’m thrilled when it takes off, flies over and lands …
I generally don’t have heroes. People are too fallible and too human to admire uncritically. Sometimes I make an exception, though. Giordano …
When the weather is fine, and after having their coffee and reading the local Rome paper, the older men at my favourite …
Walking through Trastevere in Rome I see a group of dogs tied to a railing. They’re such a perfect group I risk …
It’s not often you hear the singular of graffiti which is graffito. Perhaps that’s because one graffito attracts another. Graffiti actually means …
Sampietrini are the tiny cobbles used in historic areas of Rome. They’re particularly common in my favourite area, Trastevere. They’re great because …
The light this morning is fabulous. I ought to get out and experience Rome as it wakes. Walking down the river Tevere, …
The female Kestrel of the pair is perched in front of me. I’ve only got this close by sitting on a tiny …
I was thrilled to see Great White Egrets recently at Lago di Alviano. They’re wonderful birds and a thrill to see fly …
We’ve been spotted. There’s a Great Spotted Woodpecker living its adventurous life nearby. Great Spotted Woodpeckers are large woodpeckers to us. They’re …
There’s a Pygmy Cormorant, Microcarbo pygmaeus, swimming and diving on the lake. It’s too far away for a decent photograph as the hide we’re …
The last we saw of a Grey Heron was one standing, impressively, on a branch over the lake at Lago di Alviano. …
Great White Egrets, Ardea alba, are impressive birds. They’re much bigger than a Grey Heron and stunning in flight. Just look at …
They just can’t help it. If Hooded Crows see a raptor they’ll chase it, harry it, mob it and otherwise make its …
Are you tired of seeing my photographs of Black Redstarts yet? I’m beginning to feel like one of those 1970s dads with …