Paul Bourdin
@paulbourdin.bsky.social
Birder, currently based in Italy. Also post Commonwealth War Graves material and military archaeology.
A nice day of ringing at Le Soglitelle today. 4 Penduline Tit were the highlight, including this gorgeous adult female. The other 3 were juvenile females. #birds #birdingitaly
November 8, 2025 at 12:51 PM
A nice day of ringing at Le Soglitelle today. 4 Penduline Tit were the highlight, including this gorgeous adult female. The other 3 were juvenile females. #birds #birdingitaly
A pill box incorporated into the street architecture in Cancello ed Arnone, north of Naples. The Volturno river is nearby and this was presumably part of the defences on the Volturno line.
November 8, 2025 at 12:30 PM
A pill box incorporated into the street architecture in Cancello ed Arnone, north of Naples. The Volturno river is nearby and this was presumably part of the defences on the Volturno line.
No ringing at Le Soglitelle today, so I went back to Torre Flavia. A juvenile Little Crake was the highlight, but it was run close by my first Bluethroat at the site. Penduline Tit was heard but not seen. Very little offshore. #birds #birdingitaly
October 12, 2025 at 12:32 PM
No ringing at Le Soglitelle today, so I went back to Torre Flavia. A juvenile Little Crake was the highlight, but it was run close by my first Bluethroat at the site. Penduline Tit was heard but not seen. Very little offshore. #birds #birdingitaly
A nice day at Le Soglitelle. 3 Acros was nice, including the first Moustached Warbler of autumn. A lovely male Bluethroat ringed as well. A group of 4 Ruddy Shelduck were new for the site, provenance notwithstanding. Osprey and Stock Dove were unusual visitors. #birds #birdingitaly
October 5, 2025 at 2:59 PM
A nice day at Le Soglitelle. 3 Acros was nice, including the first Moustached Warbler of autumn. A lovely male Bluethroat ringed as well. A group of 4 Ruddy Shelduck were new for the site, provenance notwithstanding. Osprey and Stock Dove were unusual visitors. #birds #birdingitaly
New ringing season started at Le Soglitelle. Bluethroat are in, and plenty of Yellow Wagtails are passing through. Waterfowl are building up and the first Lapwing have arrived.
#birds #brdingitaly
#birds #brdingitaly
September 28, 2025 at 9:52 AM
New ringing season started at Le Soglitelle. Bluethroat are in, and plenty of Yellow Wagtails are passing through. Waterfowl are building up and the first Lapwing have arrived.
#birds #brdingitaly
#birds #brdingitaly
Spent a couple of days at Stelvio pass near the Italy/Switzerland border. A large group of very confiding Rock Ptarmigan was the highlight. Lots of Alpine Marmot on the slopes leading up to the pass.
July 31, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Spent a couple of days at Stelvio pass near the Italy/Switzerland border. A large group of very confiding Rock Ptarmigan was the highlight. Lots of Alpine Marmot on the slopes leading up to the pass.
Castiglione South African Cemetery. Just outside Bologna. An absolutely gorgeous setting, one of the nicest in Italy. Lots of casualties from the tail end of the war, with many graves from late April 1945.
July 31, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Castiglione South African Cemetery. Just outside Bologna. An absolutely gorgeous setting, one of the nicest in Italy. Lots of casualties from the tail end of the war, with many graves from late April 1945.
Argenta Gap Cemetery. 2 VC’s here, and the first George Cross I’ve ever seen in a war cemetery. One of the VC’s is Anders Lassen, the legendary Danish SAS officer.
July 28, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Argenta Gap Cemetery. 2 VC’s here, and the first George Cross I’ve ever seen in a war cemetery. One of the VC’s is Anders Lassen, the legendary Danish SAS officer.
Coriano Ridge Cemetery. Soldiers from all over here, including uncle Jack, my grandfather’s brother
July 28, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Coriano Ridge Cemetery. Soldiers from all over here, including uncle Jack, my grandfather’s brother
Rimini Ghurka Cemetery. 2 VC’s here…
July 28, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Rimini Ghurka Cemetery. 2 VC’s here…
The last ringing day at Soglitelle of the summer. Quite hot, but still nice birding. Catch of the day was a Green Whip Snake, followed by a Greenfinch in the nets. On the reserve were 40+ Med Gulls, mostly imm. birds over-summering. 3 juv. Little Gull doing the same thing. #birds #birdingitaly
June 7, 2025 at 2:51 PM
The last ringing day at Soglitelle of the summer. Quite hot, but still nice birding. Catch of the day was a Green Whip Snake, followed by a Greenfinch in the nets. On the reserve were 40+ Med Gulls, mostly imm. birds over-summering. 3 juv. Little Gull doing the same thing. #birds #birdingitaly
Birding at Soglitelle was slow but steady today, with decent birds all morning. Best in the nets was a senator Woodchat Shrike, also Quail and Sand Martin. Caspian, Gull-billed and Black Terns on the marsh. Migrants included Bar-tailed Godwit and Eastern Red-footed Falcon. #birds #birdingitaly
May 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Birding at Soglitelle was slow but steady today, with decent birds all morning. Best in the nets was a senator Woodchat Shrike, also Quail and Sand Martin. Caspian, Gull-billed and Black Terns on the marsh. Migrants included Bar-tailed Godwit and Eastern Red-footed Falcon. #birds #birdingitaly
4292 Yelkouan Shearwater counted in one hour off Torre Flavia this morning flying south. The main breeding area in mainland Italy is on the islands off Tuscany. Total Italian breeding population is 13-20,000. I’ve seen this phenomenon here several times, always in spring. #birds #birdingitaly
May 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM
4292 Yelkouan Shearwater counted in one hour off Torre Flavia this morning flying south. The main breeding area in mainland Italy is on the islands off Tuscany. Total Italian breeding population is 13-20,000. I’ve seen this phenomenon here several times, always in spring. #birds #birdingitaly
Ringing at Le Soglitelle was fairly slow today so I headed to Foce dei Regi Lagni. Several terns and gulls, including 3 Little Gull, a magnificent Caspian Tern and a truly stunning White-winged Black Tern. A Red-crested Pochard mum had a dozen very newly hatched duclings in tow. #birds #birdingitaly
May 2, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Ringing at Le Soglitelle was fairly slow today so I headed to Foce dei Regi Lagni. Several terns and gulls, including 3 Little Gull, a magnificent Caspian Tern and a truly stunning White-winged Black Tern. A Red-crested Pochard mum had a dozen very newly hatched duclings in tow. #birds #birdingitaly
Back to Ara della Regina for a raptor watch. Black and Red Kites both present, but distant. Nice views of a newly arrived Redstart. Also plenty of Corn Bunting singing, and dozens of Swallowtails in the thistles. #birds #birdingitaly
April 27, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Back to Ara della Regina for a raptor watch. Black and Red Kites both present, but distant. Nice views of a newly arrived Redstart. Also plenty of Corn Bunting singing, and dozens of Swallowtails in the thistles. #birds #birdingitaly
My now annual spring trip to the island of Ventotene for migration. Lots of lovely things as usual, including fantastic views of Western Bonelli’s Warbler, amongst the scores of Wood and Willow. Loads of sylvias too, with large numbers of Garden, Sardinian and Whitethroat. #birds #birdingitaly
April 25, 2025 at 12:44 PM
My now annual spring trip to the island of Ventotene for migration. Lots of lovely things as usual, including fantastic views of Western Bonelli’s Warbler, amongst the scores of Wood and Willow. Loads of sylvias too, with large numbers of Garden, Sardinian and Whitethroat. #birds #birdingitaly
An excellent day at Le Soglitelle. Plenty of migrants including Pallid & Alpine Swift, Red-rumped Swallow, 68 Purple Heron, 4 GBTern, Curlew Sand, Whimbrel, Wryneck. A single Greylag was the last sign of winter. #birds #birdingitaly
April 5, 2025 at 3:10 PM
An excellent day at Le Soglitelle. Plenty of migrants including Pallid & Alpine Swift, Red-rumped Swallow, 68 Purple Heron, 4 GBTern, Curlew Sand, Whimbrel, Wryneck. A single Greylag was the last sign of winter. #birds #birdingitaly
In the hills above the port of Civitavecchia, north of rome, are a few very strange bunkers. The first has no gun ports overlooking the sea, so my assumption is that it was part of the port’s air defences.
March 30, 2025 at 12:54 PM
In the hills above the port of Civitavecchia, north of rome, are a few very strange bunkers. The first has no gun ports overlooking the sea, so my assumption is that it was part of the port’s air defences.
Saturday was rained off, so I went north to the hills above Civitavecchia. Very productive with at least 20 Lesser Kestrel and 2 Sort-toed Eagles. Best bird was a Great Spotted Cuckoo in the car park at Ara della Regina. A long awaited Italy tick, and very obliging too. #birds #birdingitaly
March 30, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Saturday was rained off, so I went north to the hills above Civitavecchia. Very productive with at least 20 Lesser Kestrel and 2 Sort-toed Eagles. Best bird was a Great Spotted Cuckoo in the car park at Ara della Regina. A long awaited Italy tick, and very obliging too. #birds #birdingitaly
Miserable weather this weekend. I did find a gap in the rain this morning at Torre Flavia. Best birds were 1 male Garganey, 2 Great Reed Warblers chuntering away, and 2 Red-rumped Swallows in the reeds with a large mixed flock of hirundines. 3 Audouin’s on the beach. #birds #birdingitaly
March 23, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Miserable weather this weekend. I did find a gap in the rain this morning at Torre Flavia. Best birds were 1 male Garganey, 2 Great Reed Warblers chuntering away, and 2 Red-rumped Swallows in the reeds with a large mixed flock of hirundines. 3 Audouin’s on the beach. #birds #birdingitaly
A nice day at Le Soglitelle after 3 weeks away. Migrants in the nets included 5 Sedge Warbler (2 weeks earlier than the previous earliest date), Swallow, Bluethroat and flava Yellow Wagtail. Outside the nets migrants included Swift, Hoopoe, Sand Martin and Collared Pratincole. #birds #birdingitaly
March 15, 2025 at 3:49 PM
A nice day at Le Soglitelle after 3 weeks away. Migrants in the nets included 5 Sedge Warbler (2 weeks earlier than the previous earliest date), Swallow, Bluethroat and flava Yellow Wagtail. Outside the nets migrants included Swift, Hoopoe, Sand Martin and Collared Pratincole. #birds #birdingitaly
A proper vis-mig day at Torre Flavia this morning. 5 Slender-billed, 1 Audouin’s and 38 Med Gulls at the beach. Hundreds of Swallows & House Martins on the marsh. In-off the sea were flocks of Teal and Shoveller, and 2 groups of Spoonbill. Close views of the local Kentish. #birds #birdingitaly
March 2, 2025 at 12:15 PM
A proper vis-mig day at Torre Flavia this morning. 5 Slender-billed, 1 Audouin’s and 38 Med Gulls at the beach. Hundreds of Swallows & House Martins on the marsh. In-off the sea were flocks of Teal and Shoveller, and 2 groups of Spoonbill. Close views of the local Kentish. #birds #birdingitaly
The first ringing session for 3 weeks at Le Soglitelle and spring is starting to show. Lapwing numbers have dropped from ~5000 to 40. Bluethroat are passing through and Moustached Warblers are singing. Other passage visitors included a gorgeous Merlin and 60 odd Common Cranes. #birds #birdingitaly
February 22, 2025 at 3:58 PM
The first ringing session for 3 weeks at Le Soglitelle and spring is starting to show. Lapwing numbers have dropped from ~5000 to 40. Bluethroat are passing through and Moustached Warblers are singing. Other passage visitors included a gorgeous Merlin and 60 odd Common Cranes. #birds #birdingitaly
Torre Flavia this morning was showing signs of spring. Several Moustached Warblers singing, and 8 House Martins newly arrived. #birds #birdingitaly
February 16, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Torre Flavia this morning was showing signs of spring. Several Moustached Warblers singing, and 8 House Martins newly arrived. #birds #birdingitaly