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Overview
Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy. It is located at the borders of Venetia, Lombardy and Trentino. Its eastern part belongs to the Province of Verona. In 2000 it has been designated IBA.
Birds
Notable Species
For 'northern birders' wintering waterfowl in this area are not so special, but in Italy Long-tailed Duck, Greater Scaup, Velvet Scoter, and Great Black-backed Gull are very scarce.
Lake Garda
Lake Garda
Looking down the lake in a general southerly direction. Torbole is in the bottom left corner. Monte Baldo, 'The Botanical Garden of Italy', is on the left with its higher peaks in cloud. It has a number of high altitude butterflies around the Selva Pezzi nature reserve near the summit
Sightings are particularly interesting in winter; several thousands of birds winter on the southern end of the lake, near Peschiera, including thousands of Common Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe and Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Black-headed Gull.
Quite common are also Yellow-legged Gull (breeder), Common Gull, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Common Moorhen, Black-throated Diver and also Red-crested Pochard (breeder), Little Gull, Common Kingfisher, Penduline Tit, Reed Bunting. More interesting (for Italy) are Red-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Horned Grebe, Velvet Scoter, Smew, Goldeneye, Great Black-backed Gull, Caspian Gull.
In summer there are a lot of tourists so it's not so easy to nest here... In southern lake in breeding time you can contact Little Bittern, Common Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Great Reed Warbler, Common Reed Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, European Scops Owl. In northern lake, near at Malcesine, Black Kite is a common breeder.
Immediately close to the southern end of Lake Garda (between Peschiera and Desenzano) is Lake Frassino; therefore it is easy to combine a visit to the two areas.
Lake Frassino
One of the most interesting wetlands around Verona is the small Lake Frassino, a natural wildlife reserve. Located few miles south of Lake Garda, just west of Peschiera, every year it hosts thousands of wintering ducks.
Tufted Duck winter here in large numbers, up to a couple of thousands in February, that consists a quarter of wintering population of this species in Italy. Pochard reach 400-2000 individuals present in January. The sight of up to three or four thousand ducks on a smallish pond can be breathtaking. Greater Scaup are definitely less common, however every year at least a few individuals of this fairly rare Aythya duck can be found here. Occasional sights also for more interesting Ferruginous Duck.
Among Ardeidae, Grey Heron can be found year round, whereas Great Bittern, Little Egret and Great White Egret are common in winter, and Little Bittern and Purple Heron are common breeders.
Among birds of prey, it is worth mentioning migrating Ospreys. Definitely more common are Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Marsh Harrier.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
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Other Wildlife
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Site Information
History and Use
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Areas of Interest
GARDA BIRDING, video: [1]
Access and Facilities
To do
Contact Details
contact Verona Birdwatching: [email protected]
External Links
If you happen to be around the lower Lake Garda in winter, make a stop at Lake Frassino!!
More info: www.veronabirdwatching.org Content and images originally posted by maudoc
Reviews
black52bird's review
The description seems to comment on the sites during the winter, but they are also good during passage periods and in the summer. For instance, Black Kites are one of the typical sites of Lake Garda, as they quarter the surface of the lake for dead fish. There are interesting species such as Crag Martins around the towering cliffs that dominate the norther reaches of the Lake. And good roads take you up in the surrounding mountains for the typical montane species, including Wallcreeper (try the old road up to Val di Ledro, which itself is a beautiful hanging valley). One should also use the chairlift from Malcesine up to Monte Baldo on the NW side, for beautiful mountain scenery and typical birds, even better flowers (inlucing several endemics), and stunning views down onto the lake. Pros
- Ease of access
Cons
- Tourists and windsurfers
