Overview
Nazzano, Lazio, Italy. The reserve is split in two and runs alongside of the Tiber about 40k from the center of Rome. The two sides are joined by a foot ferry, but unfortunately like the visitor center, it is only open a few days of the year.
Birds
Notable Species
No great rarities breed or use the reserve regularly. But there are always good numbers of birds to be seen and in the migration periods more or less anything can be seen passing though.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Commonly seen year round:
Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Great Egret, Mute Swan ,Mallard, Common Pochard, Western Marsh Harrier, Little Owl, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Yellow-legged Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, White Wagtail, Long-tailed Tit, Eurasian Tree Sparrow.
Commonly seen in winter: Great Bittern, Little Egret, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Northern Shoveler
Commonly seen in summer: Little Bittern, Peregrine Falcon, European Turtle Dove, Common Cuckoo, Common Swift, European Bee-eater, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Wryneck, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Blue Rock-Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Common Nightingale, Short-toed Treecreeper, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting.
Other Wildlife
Coypu are very common and at night, Porcupine and Wild Boar are quite easy to see.
Site Information
History and Use
The reserve was formed in 1990 as an initiative between the communities of Rome and Nazzano. Flamingo and spoonbill along with a large Varity of warders were regularly seen. But unfortunately the dam just below the reserve was automated in the late 90’s, and this caused a stabilization of the water level which before had been allowed to rise and fall by about 8m uncovering large areas of mud daily. These banks were used as a rest stop for the birds that use the river as a migration route and now tend to fly straight though.
Areas of Interest
The western side is the easier one to reach and the more popular with a number of hides, boardwalk and a visitor center. The boardwalk goes south from the visitor center, though a small willow/beech wood and then some reed beds. The path then circles back round up an overgrown lane past a restaurant/bed and Breakfast to the parking area.
The Eastern side of the river tends to be productive for the bird watcher. The path from the car park follows the river though oak woods and open meadows, to a quiet path though reed beds. There is only one hide on this side of the river, but it is well place looking out onto a lagoon and islands in the river. The trail then climbs up on to a hilltop that gives good views of the whole reserve.
Access and Facilities
Western Side Fiano Romano exit of A1 Autostrade and follow signs for Nazzano. The reserve is signposted along the way.
Eastern Side From Nazzano village head for Poggio Mirteto. When you cross the bridge over the river take the second dirt track on the right immediately after the bridge and follow for about 2k until you see a small carpark and map of reserve.
External Links
Reserve web site(Italian) [1]
Bed & breakfast within the reserve[2]
