After reproductive period it's time to leave for other shores. The birds know this well and with the month of August i first migratory movements they do not wait. The month was characterized by weather with minimum and maximum temperatures below the average of the last thirty years where there were 14 days with maximums above 30 ° C, compared to 18 in the last decade, while the days with highs above 33 ° C were just 4, compared to 6 in the 2011-2020 period. The lowest minimum in August was recorded on day 29 with 13,1 ° C, while the highest maximum was recorded on days 14 and 15 with 35 ° C.
The altitude values also confirmed the presence of a rather cool mass of air with a freezing point over 100 m lower than in the last decade. In the month of August, rainfall values below average were recorded, with only 5 events of rain or thunderstorms in the whole month. In the context, the migratory step started well with the Estatians, who saw the black Balia as protagonists among the passerines, the Prispolone after the first fortnight of the month, accompanied by Gruccione and Luì grosso. Among the other species, especially in northern Italy, the first movements of the anatidae have been noted, including Marzaiole and Teals with waders as well as the various species of Pyro sandpiper. Thus we arrive at the month of September characterized by minimum and maximum temperatures slightly higher than the average of the last thirty years.
This year, the month was significantly warmer than in the last century. Despite this, only one day did it exceed 30 ° C, compared to the 3 ° C average of the last decade. We can therefore speak of a month that is almost constantly warmer than average, but without any excess. The altitude values also confirm the presence of an air mass in line with the last decade and warmer than the previous decades. September recorded precipitation values close to the average, with 9 rain events throughout the month. During the month the migration was more lively with the Black Nurses, who continued their presence accompanied by the various motacillids such as Prispolone and Cutrettola in the foreground.
Among the turdids the Northern Wheatear has made its appearance, although not numerous, patchy, while the Stiaccino pass was not exciting. There is a good presence of the other summers and from the last ten days of the month and in more abundant numbers than the small Luì. In this month it appeared the Siskin, which announced its excellent presence and also the good presence of the Tordela and the first movements of the Fringuello, to which the very first Peppole were added. The Frosoni are absent or in any case still subdued, a situation that will not change in the days to come. The presence of the wood pigeon is excellent which confirms the more than positive trend for many years now. Among the aquatic ones, the movement of the Teals is excellent and the presence of the Snipe is more evident, accompanied by various waders such as Piro piro vari, Pantana and Piovanello.
The month of October will be remembered, in some areas of the country, for the bad weather conditions which, however, did not impact everywhere: indeed, in the North and part of the Center, the long persistence of good, cool and dry weather conditions due to constant ventilation from the north and north-east, it certainly favored the intense migratory passage of numerous species. In the ornithological field, this autumn month opens with the fury of the Song Thrush already in the first weekend. This passerine together with the Robin and the Wood pigeon will then be the undisputed protagonists of the migratory season. Already from the first ten days of October, the first contingents of Redwing appear in the low hills and the remarkable consistency of the Colombaccio pass observed very abundantly along the coasts and also on the islands.
The first decade of the month sees the movement of the Sparrow jointed with the Coal Tit. Well, but with a more patchy distribution, sometimes even abundant, the presence of the Blackbird. And while the Thrush continues its migration until the last week of the month, diminishing more and more in the north and consequently strengthening in the south, among the finches in addition to the excellent step of the Finch to which are added numerous Peppole and in a more dispersed form the Siskin, in the countryside appear in small groups the Fanelli who together with the Pispole register a good presence strengthened as the winter season approaches. The presence of the Spioncello is slightly lower. Me too'Lark sui does observe at a good level with small contingents observed in the second decade of the month already in the medium hills and moving towards the plains, where they will then be observed more massively in the last decade of the month.
There is good news for the Woodcock, which first appeared in the mountains in the initial period of the month and then appeared in the low hills, but with a still reduced number towards the last days of October. Among the aquatic ones there is news of the good presence of the common snipe and among the anatids, as has been the case for decades, Mallard and Alzavola are the most numerous. October ends with yet another disturbance that involves the whole peninsula, but we can say that, in many regions, it will be remembered for a long time for the exceptional transit of thrushes and wood pigeons, two of the most awaited species by migratory enthusiasts. At the moment, on the mountains we observe an anticipation of the winter climate with the first snowfalls, while in the south, especially between Calabria and Sicily, the rains continue to give no respite, above all because of the medicane Apollo which brought torrential rains and impetuous winds up to 100 km / h. All this as a prelude to a new season which, with November, opens in the name of rain and slows down the migratory pace. In these first days, there is an increase in encounters with the queen of the woods which are followed by the first arrivals of winterers such as Crows and some sporadic Cesene, while in the sky the Cranes are already passing in a southerly direction. (Notes written by Walter Sassi to 05/11/2021)