I visited the
Introduction
Category C species, even at the best of times, get just a cursory glance from most observers. So to visit a foreign country to target a Category C species could, understandably, be deemed as somewhat desperado. But do hear me out – no matter what their origins, the Vinous-throated and Ashy-throated Parrotbills that reside in
I first visited Brabbia Marsh on a warm spring day in May 2006 and managed to locate a pair of Ashy-throated Parrotbills – you can read more about that trip here. At the time, I had relatively little information and was happy enough to see the one species of Parrotbill – I also had a failed trip in January 2007 where I saw absolutely nothing! Things have moved on and, over the past year or two with increased understanding and information, it is now possible to see both Ashy-throated and Vinous-throated Parrotbills with a little bit of effort. If you would like to find out more on how to find these smart little birds then please read on.
Anybody visiting the area in winter should note that
Acknowledgements
No man knows Brabbia’s Parrotbills better than Alberto Boto and, with his assistance, I not only learnt a lot about the Parrotbills but also a significant amount about the area and its general birdlife. So thank you very much Alberto – this article probably would not have been possible without your knowledge and experience.
By coincidence Graeme Joynt not only visited the area a couple of weeks before me in 2006 but he also did the same in 2009 – so cheers mate for spoon-feeding me on both trips! Chris Bell and Pierre-Andre Crochet helped enormously by putting me in touch with Alberto as well as providing me with information from their visit while Lee Gregory, Tommy Frandsen and Paolo Casani all provided me with information. And finally thanks to the four birders that Andy Clifton and I bumped into on-site – Bosse Carlsson, Ingvar Torsson, Erik-Groth Andersen and Christian Leth.
Getting to the area
Having visited the area on three occasions, the first two times I flew to Milan Bergamo while on this trip I flew to Milan Malpensa. This airport is only a 45 minute drive at most from the site whereas if you fly into Milan Bergamo, you have to navigate around a rather busy
When coming from either airport (or from
Site 1 - INARZO
The first place that is worth checking for Parrotbills is accessed by turning left at the roundabout on this main road signed Inarzo. In the village you will find an obvious car park on your right opposite a visitor centre. Continue past this and the street will narrow and you’ll reach a T-junction where you need to turn left and then immediately right. Follow this road to the end where you can park next to an information board (with a stream on your left).
From where you have parked, follow the track ahead and it will soon bear round to the right – continue through the trees and then head left around the edge of the wood (you’ll know you’re in the right place as there are a couple of small wooden boards telling about the trees). You will now come to a boardwalk and then, shortly after a small bridge, turn left and the path will be bamboo screened on both sides before you come to a bolted (but not locked) door. Go through this door and follow the short board walk to then end.
This is a winter roost site – they normally come in from the right of the track – although they have been seen in the area during the day. You will locate them by call initially - an ascending zee-zee-zee often accompanied by a load of chattering.
Site 2 - CASSINETTA
Get yourself back to the main road to Bodio and follow it a couple of km further where you’ll see signs to Cassinetta - just before you reach the village, there is a large Whirpool Factory on the left (that is obviously signed from the main road). Turn left towards this factory and you will quickly approach the staff car on your left and the factory itself will be straight ahead – branch left through this car park and as the road bends round to the left you will notice a track with a barrier on the right. Park as near to this as possible and walk 400 yards down this track to a small ringing hut and veranda.
From here, a grassy strip leads out onto the marsh and the scrub on either side and within the near vicinity of the ringing hut a good area for Parrotbills in both summer and winter. Additionally, if you continue on the main path beyond the ringing hut any areas of low scrub and reeds may also contain Parrotbills – in February 2009 we found a group of at least 25 birds in reeds several hundred yards beyond the ringing hut. Large flocks of birds roost in this area during the winter and although you are likely to here the species, views may only be frustratingly brief as they move through the area towards their actual roost site (that varies on a nightly basis).
Site 3 –
Back on the main road to Bardello and just beyond the Whirlpool Factory you’ll come to a roundabout (with a hotel on your right). Head right here and follow this road around
Times to Visit
I’ve visited the area once in spring and twice in winter. If you ask Alberto Boto when the best time to see Parrotbills is, then he says without hesitation November. The reason for this is that in the winter, Parrotbills flock up so it’s a case of finding none or sometimes flocks containing 100s of birds.
Apparently Parrotbills have an average life expectancy of 2-3 years, with a particularly long-lived 7 year-old bird being the record breaker at Brabbia according to Alberto. Unfortunately they are susceptible to harsh weather so November is when birds are still not in their large flocks, thus increasing the chance of finding singles as well as small flocks, and importantly it’s normally before the snow and freezing temperatures set in. However, visiting birders in the last couple of years have had an impressive strike rate with both species in January and February.
If you are looking to see both species, I would highly recommend a visit outside of the breeding season when the Parrotbills can be found in flocks. I’d like to see anyone take up the challenge of finding one of the few breeding pairs of Vinous-throated Parrotbills in the area!
Vinous-throated and Ashy-throated Parrotbills
Up until now I haven’t really mentioned the two species separately. Ashy-throated Parrotbill far exceeds Vinous-throated Parrotbill in numbers, probably by a ratio of well more than 10:1. However getting good views of any Parrotbill flock as they scurry amongst the reeds is the main issue; they do form mixed flocks in the winter so any number of Parrotbills are worth scrutinising for the plainer-cheeked and generally more unicoloured Vinous-throateds. Best of luck!
Other species
It would be a shame not to mention other species that can be found in the area. I’ve been fortunate to see such exciting species as Red-footed Falcon (May 2006), Purple Heron (May 2006), Bittern (February 2009) and Rock Bunting (February 2009) whilst trekking around Brabbia Marshes and
Finally, I’d recommend ‘A Birdwatcher’s Guide to