July 31 – August 06, 2005

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(Instructions)

Hans Schick
Contact or comments: schick@asca-berlin.de

Trip Reports

Species List
 

Introduction

From July 31 – August 06, 2005 I had the opportunity to stay some days in Sicily,  mainly in Palermo. All birds seen on walks through the city and during an excursion to Selinunte (Provicia di Trapani) are noted in this report.

Registration of the observations
All ornithological observations were registered in the databank OrniDB97–2.20, developed by Ralf Schirmeister (www.ralf-schirmeister.de for download) and were edited in two different ways. Under the heading "Excursions" one finds the complete records to the different observation places in chronological order. Under the heading "Species List" one finds the date, the place, and the number of observed individuals in systematic order. In the section Excursions some photos give an impression of the visited areas, in the Species List one finds some photos of birds taken by a Nikon Coolpix 4500 in combination with a telescope Swarovski AT 80 HD.

Field guides and other ornithological literature used
Lars Svensson, Peter J. Grant, Killian Mullarney, Dan Zetterström, Der neue Kosmos-Vogelführer, alle Arten Europas, Nordafrikas und Vorderasiens, Frankh-Kosmos-Verlags-GmbH & Co., Stuttgart, 1999.
This book is equal to:
Killian Mullarney, Lars Svensson, Dan Zetterström, Peter J. Grant, Collins Bird Guide, The Most Complete Field Guide to The Birds of Britain and Europe, HarperCollins, London 1999.

Maps for the orientation in the area

Links to Birding in Sicily (Italy)
http://www.fatbirder.com/links_geo/europe/italy.html


Excursions

31.07.2005, 10:50
Palermo, Provincia di Palermo (Sicilia, Italy)
30 °C, sunny.
On a walk from the San Paolo Palace Hotel at the mouth of the River Oreto via Foro Italico and Corso Vittorio Emanuele to the Porta Nuova and back along Via Maqueda and Via Abramo Lincoln the following bird species were observed.
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibúndus, Lachmöwe): 5, at the beach.
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis, Mittelmeermöwe): 100 (at least), at the mouth of the River Oreto.
Street Pigeon (Colúmba lívia f. doméstica, Haustaube): 100 (at least).
Collared Turtle Dove (Streptopélia decaócto, Türkentaube): 1, on a roof in the old town.
Common Swift (Apus apus, Mauersegler): 10, flying near the central railway station.
Crested Lark (Galerída cristáta, Haubenlerche): 3, on wasteland near the mouth of the River Oreto.
House Martin (Délichon úrbica, Mehlschwalbe): 2, flying, at the River Oreto.
Blackbird (Turdus mérula, Amsel): 1, in the park along the beach.
Hooded Crow (Corvus coróne cornix, Nebelkrähe): 5, at the mouth of the River Oreto. 
Italian Sparrow (Passer domésticus itáliae, Italiensperling): 1, flying.

DSCM 6109, DSCM 6116, and DSCM 6117
The River Oreto in Palermo, Provincia di Palermo (Sicilia, Italy)
(31.07.2005)

DSCM 6114
San Paolo Palace Hotel seen from the mouth of  the River Oreto, Palermo, Provincia di Palermo (Sicilia, Italy)
(31.07.2005)

01.08.2005, 20:25
Monreale, Provincia di Palermo (Sicilia, Italy)
28 °C, fair.
In the surroundings of the Cathedral of Monreale the following species was observed.
Bat (species? Fledermaus): 1, flying in the surroundings of the cathedral.

02.08.2005, 14:00-17:00
Palermo, mouth of the River Oreto, Provincia di Palermo (Sicilia, Italy)
30 °C, sunny.
The following bird species were observed at the mouth of the River Oreto.
Common Sandpiper (Actítis hypoléucos, Flußuferläufer): 1, on the water's edge.
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibúndus, Lachmöwe): 5 (at least), at the beach.
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis, Mittelmeermöwe): 20 (at least), at the beach.
Street Pigeon (Colúmba lívia f. doméstica, Haustaube): 5, at the beach.
House Martin (Délichon úrbica, Mehlschwalbe): 10, flying.
White Wagtail (Motacílla alba, Bachstelze): 1, on the river bank.
Hooded Crow (Corvus coróne cornix, Nebelkrähe): 2, on the beach.

02.08.2005, 19:10
Palermo, Provincia di Palermo (Sicilia, Italy)
28 °C, overcast.
The following bird species was observed during a walk into the town centre.
Blackcap (Sýlvia atricapílla, Mönchsgrasmücke): 1, singing.

DSCN 6126 and DSCN 6138
Il Duomo di Palermo, Provincia di Palermo (Sicilia, Italy)
(31.07.2005)

03.08.2005, 13:20
Palermo, Provincia di Palermo (Sicilia, Italy)
28 °C, overcast.
The following bird species were observed from a window of the San Paolo Palace Hotel.
Street Pigeon (Colúmba lívia f. doméstica, Haustaube): 30, on the beach.
Wood Pigeon (Colúmba palúmbus, Ringeltaube): 1.
Hooded Crow (Corvus coróne cornix, Nebelkrähe): 30, on the beach.

DSCN 7009 and DSCN 7012
View from the San Paolo Palace Hotel to the sea, Palermo, Provincia di Palermo (Sicilia, Italy)
(05.08.2005)

03.08.2005, 16:15-18:00
Selinunte, Provincia di Trapani (Sicilia, Italy)
30 °C, sunny.
The following bird species were observed in th area around the ruins of Selinunte.
Common Heron (Árdea cinérea, Graureiher): 5, flying.
Kestrel (Falco tinnúnculus, Turmfalke): 1, flying.
Street Pigeon (Colúmba lívia f. doméstica, Haustaube): 20, flying.
Wood Pigeon (Colúmba palúmbus, Ringeltaube): 1, flying.
Collared Turtle Dove (Streptopélia decaócto, Türkentaube): 2.
Common Swift (Apus apus, Mauersegler): 6, flying.
Barn Swallow (Hirúndo rústica, Rauchschwalbe): 2, flying.
House Martin (Délichon úrbica, Mehlschwalbe): 3, flying.
Black-billed Magpie (Pica pica, Elster): 1, flying.
Jackdaw (Corvus monédula, Dohle): 1, calling, also seen.
Spotless Starling (Sturnus unícolor, Einfarbstar): 40, 10 of them on the ruins of the ancient temple, 30 flying.
Italian Sparrow (Passer domésticus itáliae, Italiensperling): 10, in the ruins.

DSCN 6461, DSCN 6464, DSCN 6477, DSCN 6471, and DSCN 6478
Remainders of Selinunte, Provincia di Trapani (Sicilia, Italy)
03.08.2005

04.08.2005, 11:00-16:00
Palermo, mouth of the River Oreto, Provincia di Palermo (Sicilia, Italy)
30 °C, sunny.
The following bird species were observed near the mouth of the River Oreto.
Green Sandpiper (Tringa óchropus, Waldwasserläufer): 1, in shallow water of the river.
Common Sandpiper (Actítis hypoléucos, Flußuferläufer): 18, roosting on a stone in the river.
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis, Mittelmeermöwe): 20 (at least), on the beach.
Street Pigeon (Colúmba lívia f. doméstica, Haustaube): 2, on the beach.
Italian Sparrow (Passer domésticus itáliae, Italiensperling): 10 (at least), on the river bank.
Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolénsis, Weidensperling): 2 males, on the river bank.

05.08.2005, 14:30-18:00
Palermo, Provincia di Palermo (Sicilia, Italy)
28 °C, fair.
The following bird species were observed during a walk in the town centre.
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis, Mittelmeermöwe): 1.
Collared Turtle Dove (Streptopélia decaócto, Türkentaube): 1, calling.
Blackcap (Sýlvia atricapílla, Mönchsgrasmücke): 1, singing, in a park.
Black-billed Magpie (Pica pica, Elster): 1, near the hotel.
Italian Sparrow (Passer domésticus itáliae, Italiensperling): 100 (at least).

DSCN 7017
View from the San Paolo Palace Hotel to the mountains, Palermo, Provincia di Palermo (Sicilia, Italy)
(05.08.2005)

05.08.2005, 18:30
Palermo, Provincia di Palermo (Sicilia, Italy)
28 °C, fair.
The following bird species were observed during seawatching from the window of the hotel room.
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibúndus, Lachmöwe): 3 ad., flying.
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus, Heringsmöwe): 1, on the beach.
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis, Mittelmeermöwe): 500 (at least), flying.
Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicénsis, Brandseeschwalbe): 2, flying.
Hooded Crow (Corvus coróne cornix, Nebelkrähe): 4, flying.

06.08.2005, 12:30-15:00
Palermo, mouth of the River Oreto, Provincia di Palermo (Sicilia, Italy)
30 °C, fair.
The following bird species were observed at the mouth of the River Oreto.
Common Sandpiper (Actítis hypoléucos, Flußuferläufer): 1, at the water's edge.
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis, Mittelmeermöwe): 20 (at least), on the beach.
Street Pigeon (Colúmba lívia f. doméstica, Haustaube): 10 (at least), on the beach.
Hooded Crow (Corvus coróne cornix, Nebelkrähe): 2, on the beach.
Brown Rat (Mus decumánus, Wanderratte): 1, on the beach.

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