Riva del Garda, Italy - March (1 Viewer)

[lassa8]

I will be in Riva del Garda, Italy in mid-March for a conference. I haven't been able to turn up much on the area (here or with Google), so I just thought I may as well make a plea.

Can anyone suggest ANY areas in/around the town that might have some birds? I've never been to Europe, and I won't have a ton of time, so I'm more keen on just seeing anything new to me rather than targeting specific species.

 

[Adey Baker]

Could be quite cold at that time of year - I was at Lake Garda 4 years ago (at Garda, farther down the eastern side of the lake from Riva) in March and although it was mainly sunny it wasn't warm at all. There were no spring migrants around and the birds on the lake were mainly Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Great-crested Grebe and Cormorant but with quite a few Black-necked Grebes and one or two Red-necked Grebes close-in around the harbour area. The reeds along the lake shore also held a a few Penduline Tits. The larger gulls were Yellow-legged and the smaller ones Black-headed and Common (Mew). I also saw a flock of about 50 Alpine (Yellow-billed) Choughs on one occasion. The only Bird of Prey that I saw was Common Buzzard.

Riva del Garda is quite a large town - much bigger than the lakeside photos suggest. It sprawls away from the lake for quite some distance on the flatter land and about the only way to walk out of town is 'upwards,' either on Monte Brione, the ridge between Riva and Torbole or up to the 'Bastione' on the steep slopes immediately above the west side of the town. Look for birds such as Crested Tit, Firecrest and Serin in the trees.

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/84970/ppuser/1805
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/84805/ppuser/1805
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/84804/ppuser/1805
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/84667/ppuser/1805
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/84656/ppuser/1805
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/84654/ppuser/1805
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/84612/ppuser/1805
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/84511/ppuser/1805
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/84476/ppuser/1805
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/84454/ppuser/1805
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/84971/ppuser/1805
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/29820/ppuser/1805
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/29818/ppuser/1805
The last of the above links is a general view of Riva from the Bastione and, although it's not obvious from the shot, there is a pathway/cycle track that meanders along the lake shore towards the right of the photo and it goes through park areas and over a small stream, etc., so may produce a few birds.

 

[lassa8]

Thank you so much for suggestions as to what might be around! I'm not expecting much, but it sure would be good to see a few new birds while on a free trip

 

[foxsparrow]

Hi lassa. Here are some links pointing to other species of interest to look for around Riva del Garda in March:

Black-throated Diver:
http://www.veronabirdwatching.org/public/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=194

Caspian Gull
http://www.veronabirdwatching.org/public/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2701

Moreovere: hotspots for birdwatching around Riva del Garda:
http://www.veronabirdwatching.org/hotspots.htm

 

[lassa8]

Thanks, foxsparrow!

 

[lassa8]

Had a pretty good trip to Riva del Garda and Milano in mid-March. For future travelers, here's my bird list:

Malpensa Airport
Eurasian Tree Sparrow, European Starling (also in Milano and Riva), Rock Pigeon (also in Milano and Riva), Hooded Crow (also in Milano and Riva)

Riva del Garda
Long-tailed Tit, Common Buzzard, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Red-crested Pochard (3 males, 1 female with a migrant group of Mallards on Lago di Garda), Eurasian Coot, House Sparrow (Italian Sparrow), Blue Tit, Common Blackbird, Great Cormorant, Little Grebe, Greenfinch, Common Gull, Firecrest, Chaffinch, Blackcap, Common Moorhen, Robin, White Wagtail, European Goldfinch, Peregrine Falcon, Mute Swan, Great Tit, Chiffchaff, Grey Wagtail, Golden Eagle, Crag Martin, Crested Tit, Goldcrest, Treecreeper sp., Coal Tit, Common Kestrel

Milano/Malpensa Only
Tawny Owl (heard only), Grey Heron, Ring-necked Pheasant, Black Redstart, Sparrowhawk, Wood Pigeon, Jackdaw, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Marsh Tit, Jay, Green Woodpecker, Eurasian Collared Dove