Birdwatching

The Marshland plays a fundamental role in the migratory routes between the Tyrrhenian coast and the interior, hosting more than 200 different species of birds during the course of the year.
Therefore the marshland offers exceptional opportunities for birdwatchers and nature photographers, especially during the spring migration and the breeding season.
The passage of the migratory birds, together with the cyclical alternating of dry periods with floods, still today shows the natural rhythm of the seasons: an aspect of the Marshland that can be appreciated only with repeated visits over time.

To encourage the enjoyment of the marsh and, at the same time, protect the avifauna from human interference, screened routes and observatories to view the fauna have been set up, like that of “Le Morette” (a renovated, old hunting and fishing cabin) that allows a perfect view over the natural reserve’s open water areas.

"Le Morette" nature itinerary

184 species likely to see
 

Little Grebe                               Tachybaptus ruficollis

Great Crested Grebe                  Podiceps cristatus

Black-necked Grebe                  Podiceps nigricollis

Great Cormorant                        Phalacrocorax carbo

Eurasian Bittern                         Botaurus stellaris

Little Bittern                              Ixobrychus minutus

Black-crowned Night-heron         Nycticorax nycticorax

Squacco Heron                          Ardeola ralloides

Cattle Egret                               Bubulcus ibis

Little Egret                                Egretta garzetta

Great White Egret                      Casmerodius albus

Grey Heron                               Ardea cinerea

Purple Heron                             Ardea purpurea

Black Stork                               Ciconia nigra

European White Stork                Ciconia ciconia

Glossy Ibis                                Plegadis falcinellus

Eurasian Spoonbill                     Platalea leucorodia

Greylag Goose                          Anser anser

Common Shelduck                    Tadorna tadorna

Eurasian Wigeon                       Anas penelope

Gadwall                                    Anas strepera

Common Teal                            Anas crecca

Mallard                                     Anas platyrhynchos

Northern Pintail                          Anas acuta

Garganey                                  Anas querquedula

Northern Shoveler                      Anas clypeata

Common Pochard                      Aythya ferina

Ferruginous Duck                      Aythya nyroca

Tufted Duck                               Aythya fuligula

Western Honey-buzzard             Pernis apivorus

Black Kite                                 Milvus migrans

Short-toed Snake-eagle              Circaetus gallicus

Western Marsh-harrier                Circus aeruginosus

Hen Harrier                                Circus cyaneus

Montagu's Harrier                       Circus pygargus

Eurasian Sparrowhawk               Accipiter nisus

Eurasian Buzzard                      Buteo buteo

Osprey                                     Pandion haliaetus

Common Kestrel                        Falco tinnunculus

Red-footed Falcon                      Falco vespertinus

Merlin                                       Falco columbarius

Eurasian Hobby                         Falco subbuteo

Peregrine Falcon                       Falco peregrinus

Common Quail                          Coturnix coturnix

Ring-necked Pheasant               Phasianus colchicus

Water Rail                                 Rallus aquaticus

Spotted Crake                           Porzana porzana

Little Crake                               Porzana parva

Common Moorhen                     Gallinula chloropus

Common Coot                           Fulica atra

Eurasian Crane                          Grus grus

Black-winged Stilt                      Himantopus himantopus

Pied Avocet                               Recurvirostra avosetta

Little Ringed Plover                    Charadrius dubius

Common Ringed Plover              Charadrius hiaticula

Eurasian Golden Plover              Pluvialis apricaria

Grey Plover                               Pluvialis squatarola

Northern Lapwing                       Vanellus vanellus

Little Stint                                 Calidris minuta

Temminck's Stint                       Calidris temminckii

Curlew Sandpiper                       Calidris ferruginea

Dunlin                                       Calidris alpina

Ruff                                          Philomachus pugnax

Jack Snipe                                Lymnocryptes minimus

Common Snipe                          Gallinago gallinago

Great Snipe                               Gallinago media

Eurasian Woodcock                   Scolopax rusticola

Black-tailed Godwit                    Limosa limosa

Whimbrel                                  Numenius phaeopus

Eurasian Curlew                        Numenius arquata

Spotted Redshank                     Tringa erythropus

Common Redshank                   Tringa totanus

Marsh Sandpiper                       Tringa stagnatilis

Common Greenshank                Tringa nebularia

Green Sandpiper                        Tringa ochropus

Wood Sandpiper                        Tringa glareola

Common Sandpiper                   Actitis hypoleucos

Little Gull                                  Hydrocoloeus minutus

Common Black-headed Gull       Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Lesser Black-backed Gull           Larus fuscus

Yellow-legged Gull                     Larus michahellis

Gull-billed Tern                           Gelochelidon nilotica

Caspian Tern                             Hydroprogne caspia

Sandwich Tern                           Sterna sandvicensis

Common Tern                            Sterna hirundo

Little Tern                                  Sternula albifrons

Whiskered Tern                         Chlidonias hybridus

Black Tern                                 Chlidonias niger

White-winged Tern                     Chlidonias leucopterus

Stock Dove                                Columba oenas

Common Woodpigeon                Columba palumbus

Eurasian Collared-dove               Streptopelia decaocto

European Turtle-dove                  Streptopelia turtur

Common Cuckoo                       Cuculus canorus

Common Barn-owl                     Tyto alba

Eurasian Scops-owl                   Otus scops

Little Owl                                  Athene noctua

Tawny Owl                                Strix aluco

Northern Long-eared Owl            Asio otus

Short-eared Owl                         Asio flammeus

European Nightjar                      Caprimulgus europaeus

Common Swift                           Apus apus

Common Kingfisher                    Alcedo atthis

European Bee-eater                   Merops apiaster

European Roller                         Coracias garrulus

Hoopoe                                     Upupa epops

Eurasian Wryneck                     Jynx torquilla

Eurasian Green Woodpecker      Picus viridis

Great Spotted Woodpecker         Dendrocopos major

Crested Lark                             Galerida cristata

Woodlark                                  Lullula arborea

Eurasian Skylark                       Alauda arvensis

Collared Sand Martin                  Riparia riparia

Barn Swallow                            Hirundo rustica

Northern House Martin               Delichon urbica

Tree Pipit                                  Anthus trivialis

Meadow Pipit                            Anthus pratensis

Water Pipit                                Anthus spinoletta

Yellow Wagtail                           Motacilla flava

Grey Wagtail                             Motacilla cinerea

White Wagtail                           Motacilla alba

Northern Wren                           Troglodytes troglodytes

Dunnock                                   Prunella modularis

European Robin                         Erithacus rubecula

Common Nightingale                  Luscinia megarhynchos

Bluethroat                                 Luscinia svecica

Black Redstart                          Phoenicurus ochruros

Common Redstart                      Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Whinchat                                  Saxicola rubetra

Common Stonechat                   Saxicola torquata

Northern Wheatear                     Oenanthe oenanthe

Common Blackbird                    Turdus merula

Fieldfare                                    Turdus pilaris

Song Thrush                              Turdus philomelos

Redwing                                    Turdus iliacus

Mistle Thrush                            Turdus viscivorus

Cetti's Warbler                           Cettia cetti

Zitting Cisticola                          Cisticola juncidis

Savi's Warbler                           Locustella luscinioides

Moustached Warbler                  Acrocephalus melanopogon

Sedge Warbler                          Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Eurasian Reed-warbler               Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Great Reed-warbler                    Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Melodious Warbler                     Hippolais polyglotta

Sardinian Warbler                      Sylvia melanocephala

Common Whitethroat                 Sylvia communis

Blackcap                                  Sylvia atricapilla

Wood Warbler                           Phylloscopus sibilatrix

Common Chiffchaff                     Phylloscopus collybita

Willow Warbler                          Phylloscopus trochilus

Goldcrest                                  Regulus regulus

Common Firecrest                     Regulus ignicapillus

Spotted Flycatcher                     Muscicapa striata

European Pied Flycatcher          Ficedula hypoleuca

Bearded Parrotbill                      Panurus biarmicus

Northern Long-tailed Tit              Aegithalos caudatus

Coal Tit                                     Parus ater

Common Blue Tit                       Parus caeruleus

Great Tit                                   Parus major

Eurasian Nuthatch                     Sitta europaea

Short-toed Treecreeper               Certhia brachydactyla

Eurasian Penduline-tit                Remiz pendulinus

Eurasian Golden Oriole              Oriolus oriolus

Red-backed Shrike                    Lanius collurio

Great Grey Shrike                      Lanius excubitor

Woodchat Shrike                       Lanius senator

Eurasian Jay                             Garrulus glandarius

Common Magpie                       Pica pica

Eurasian Jackdaw                      Corvus monedula

Hooded Crow                             Corvus cornix

Common Starling                       Sturnus vulgaris

Italian Sparrow                           Passer italiae

Eurasian Tree Sparrow               Passer montanus

Common Chaffinch                     Fringilla coelebs

Brambling                                 Fringilla montifringilla

European Serin                          Serinus serinus

European Greenfinch                  Carduelis chloris

European Goldfinch                    Carduelis carduelis

Eurasian Siskin                         Carduelis spinus

Common Linnet                         Carduelis cannabina

Hawfinch                                   Coccothraustes coccothraustes

Reed Bunting                            Emberiza schoeniclus

Corn Bunting                             Miliaria calandra

Red Avadavat                             Amandava amandava

RARITA'

Piovanello pettorale (Calidris melanotos) osservato il 9 ottobre 2010 da Andrea Vezzani nell'area de Le Morette: un accidentale, segnalato per la prima volta nel Padule di Fucecchio.

Ibis sacro (Threskiornis aethiopicus) in Padule da ottobre 2012: prima segnalazione per il Padule di Fucecchio.