Saturday, February 10, 2007

Canon Super Slim Camera

Prima segnalazione invernale di Gabbiano corso in Calabria

This morning I returned to the port of Crotone to ascertain the likely presence of two Horned Grebes Podiceps auritus , seen from far away yesterday afternoon. It would be the first report of Calabria, but unfortunately the light and the distance I had been deceived: they were mere children Grebes Podiceps nigricollis .
When the disappointment seemed to have gained the upper hand for the non-observation of the two "horns", I decide to move in a more sheltered from the strong south-west coast, and soon the idea was excellent.
Among a small group of saffron (14), Yellow-legged Gulls (6) and Gull reefs (2), there are also 1 adult and a beautiful ind. the first winter Gull Larus audouinii during . The immature disappeared from view shortly after, while the adult remains there until the afternoon. I can take some photos, but the subject is too far away and very little light. The images below represent the best that I could get (using over all a bit of digital zoom ...).
This observation represents the first case of the species wintering in Calabria. The gull, though not abundant, is a regular migrant along the Ionian coast of Calabria, but had never been reported in winter.
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Webcam Live Hair Salon

Progetto Rondini (LIPU Rende)

Ricevo e pubblico un estratto del comunicato di Roberto Santopaolo sull'avvio del Progetto Rondini della sezione LIPU Rende .
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Caro Lettore, ti comunichiamo che è partita in questi giorni la prima fase del Progetto Rondini attraverso l'affisione, nei locali pubblici (negozi, bar, scuole, università, ecc.), di una locandina che spiega sinteticamente il Progetto.
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(...) Per contrastare il declino di questo simpatico abitante delle nostre campagne, LIPU many years ago, launched the project Swallows at which our Chamber has joined from the beginning. This is a complex intervention strategy that includes measures of study, awareness and protection. One of these actions concern, locally, the census of the Swallow on our municipal area.
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The Project includes the enumeration of this species by counting nests occupied by Swallow and the number of young people born in the year. Since the species used as nesting site stables, barns or abandoned houses, the first phase (February-March) involves the identification of these structures, while the actual census will run during the breeding season of the species, (April-July).
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census at the end, if we find the resources necessary, a report will be produced in booklet form, which will be distributed to local schools educational purposes.
This initiative therefore aims to achieve significant results, both in the field of conservation awareness and environmental education.
(...) You can download the entire press release by right-clicking here . Below is the poster of the Project.
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Thursday, February 8, 2007

Applying Grommet Tape

Foto-report: Porto KR, 8.2.07

early February Afternoon spent at the port of Crotone. We are in the middle of winter and yet still remains exceptionally mild climate, it seems a day in early spring. Arrive at 14:30, squares tripod and telescope and start looking around. The two shelducks are always at sea, an adult female and an individual at the first winter. Mount the adapter to my camera and start digiscoping.
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In one of the basins of the dredging of the port there is a new Egret that seems to rest after a hectic day activities. The white reflection in the water heralds the arrival of sunset ...
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minutes pass and the light is getting warmer. A small group of Grebes Podiceps and children gathered together for the night in the middle of the stretch of sea in front of me. The white neck of their winter livery is painted orange and reflections on projects that seem to come from an impressionist painting.
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Even the gulls gather, a bit more distant from my location. Along with seagulls (100 + ind.) and real (vs. ca 30), there are also 9 Zafferani (ssp. fuscus and graelsii , plus 2 Juv.).
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Meanwhile, as the tones of light become more red-orange, the two shelducks join the group of loons, it being almost all the time to rest his head bent back.
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Finally I see a Great Crested Grebe in full summer plumage, whose magnificent ridge breaks down several times in water barely rippled wavy reflections.
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When the wind becomes colder, I understand that it is time to return home, partly because the light is increasingly scarce and does not allow me to photograph more than a decent (I'm using, among other things, the optical zoom 3x).
Other species sighted: Cormorant (10 +), Common Sandpiper (1), Kingfisher (2), hat, Chiffchaff, Robin, Beccamoschino.