Across the Gulf of Trieste

19^th September, Marano Lagunare, Italy

The Gulft of Trieste is rich in marshes and tidal shores. A number of them are protected within nature reserve boundaries. Today I visited Marano Lagunare, half way between Trieste and Venice, and laying next to a picturesque fishing village.

A Little Egret treads gingerly the shallow waters.

I came attracted by the recent sight of a rare Siberian wader, the Terek Sandpiper. This russian friend has been moving along the Gulf with abandond showing hither and thither, so I knew it was not going to be easy. Anyway, a splendid sunny morning seemed auspicious.
In my search I found a good number of Snipes, Curlews, Spotted Redshanks, Little Ringed Plovers, Lapwings and Greylag. One Grey Plover and a couple of Little Stints were also resting in a sand bar. I paid particular attention to the Snipes to see if any was the less common Jack Snipe or the even rarer Great Snipe, none of them were unfortunately.
I checked the main lagoon from the different hides and waited patiently as the sun raced accross the skies. From time to time small parties of geese would call noisily, take off and head west. No one else around me, it was time for capturing images and reflect on migrating birds. All the dangers ahead of them... long distances and unpredictable weather... human barriers and traps... uncertain fate...

Black-headed Gull resting on a submerge tree branch.

My Terek friend was nowhere to be seen. Is it still around? Perhaps on its way south to the Dalmatian coast or to Venice. Free to roam the world, but unlikely to ever meet another of its own species. 

Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) pocking the mud for worms.

On my way back home I found this interesting large caterpillar (10 cm) moving across the garden. Moth? Butterfly? Beautiful anyway.

Orange caterpillar.