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[edit] Overview

This WWF reserve protects a small area of flooded forest in the Po Delta, now a very rare habitat in Italy. Poplar, Willow. Elms and Ash make up most of the 190ha of woodland which is famous for its breeding herons.

Close by are the brackish lagoon of Pialasse della Baiona, reedbeds and marshes at Valle Mandriole and an ancient pinewood at Pineta di San Vitale. This variety of habitats provides opportunities to see a good range of bird species throughout the year.

[edit] Birds

[edit] Notable Species

Grey Heron, Purple Heron and Black-crowned Night Heron nest here as well as Little Egret and Great White Egret and Eurasian Spoonbill. Both Glossy Ibis and Pygmy Cormorant have bred in small numbers in recent years. Other breeding birds of the area include Great Bittern and Little Bittern, Squacco Heron and ducks including Mallard, Garganey, Northern Shoveler and Ferruginous Duck.

Pied Avocet, Black-winged Stilt and Common Redshank breed at Pialassa della Baiona, also Common Tern, Little Tern and Whiskered Tern.

This area is probably the stronghold for breeding Moustached Warbler in Italy and other breeding passerines include Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler and Great Reed Warbler, Bearded Tit and Penduline Tit.

The pinewoods at San Vitale are home to Tawny Owl and Long-eared Owl, Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

[edit] Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Great Cormorant, Pygmy Cormorant, Great Bittern, Little Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, Mallard, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Western Honey-Buzzard, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Northern Hobby, Osprey, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Northern Lapwing, Little Stint, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Tern, Little Tern, Whiskered Tern, Tawny Owl, Long-eared Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Robin, Cetti's Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Moustached Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Bearded Tit, Penduline Tit

[edit] Other Wildlife

To do

[edit] Site Information

[edit] History and Use

To do

[edit] Areas of Interest

For Pialasse della Baiona continue on the S309 until the bridge over the River Lamone. From here turn right towards Marina di Romea for 1-2km, after which walk along the path to the two observation points.

For Valle Mandriole return to the S309 and look for a car-park on the right before the bridge. Park and walk across the bridge and follow the path on the left where there is an observation tower.

[edit] Access and Facilities

This area forms part of the Po Delta Park and is situated to the north of Ravenna on Italy's northern Adriatic coast. To reach the Punte Alberete reserve take the S309 coast road from Ravenna to the Fossatone Canal and park beside the road just before the bridge.

The reserve is signposted along a footpath to the right. San Vitale pinewoods are opposite the reserve and signposted, there is also an information centre.

[edit] Contact Details

To do

[edit] External Links

Ravenna Tourism & Culture, Punte Alberete

Content and images originally posted by Steve