BIRDWATCHING IN EMILIA ROMAGNA

ORTAZZO (RA)

by Stefano Fantini

From SS16 “Adriatica”, when you are at Savio (RA), which is between Fosso Ghiaia and Milano Marittima, there is a traffic light. The road that leads to the sea (East) is indicated as Lido di Savio. You follow this road for about 2 km, then turn left just after a petrol station (Q8). This little road runs along a CANALE???.

From there you drive slowly and look for: Grey Heron, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Kingfisher, Magpie, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier and passerines.

When you reach the little bridge, you can turn left again. You will have at your right a wide wet area and you can easily approach many birds by remaining into the car.

Then, you can take the first road at your right (on foot or by bike) and have a look around for: Stonechat, Whinchat, Swallow, White Wagtail, Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, and raptors such as Buzzard, Kestrel, Hen Harrier (winter), Montagu’s Harrier (spring-summer).

At the end of this road there two bridges, that you have to cross. After the bridges you take the path to your left and you can now have a good look upon a beautiful wet-area, which is known as ORTAZZO. Just behind, you have a very interesting reed, where to find Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Penduline Tit, Moustached Warbler.

Upon the lagoon, you will observe the hunting of Harriers, Buzzards, Red footed Falcons. On the water waders, herons and ducks.

Following the path you will reach a pine wood in order to have another point of view of the lagoon (avoid summer time if you are scared by mosquitoes)

From September 2000 you can use a bird tower which is placed in central position.

Good birding!