The Black Winged Stilt - Love is in the air on Camacchio Lagoon, Italy

I was very disappointed by the absence of the Black Winged Stilt at Lago Trasimeno and Lago Chuisi in Italy this year. If they were there, I couldn't find them.  So when we read they breed on the Comacchio Lagoon, we set out on our bikes across the Salt Marshes to find them.

But I didn't quite expect to catch them in the act!!! At least he took the time to give her a cuddle afterwards

Patience is having an adventure today

'Patience', our campervan is having her own little adventure on the Comacchio Lagoon today

Bee Eater - I never gave up!

There are many birds in Italy which I hoped to photograph, but the excitement of the day when I saw my first Bee Eater was a mix of highs and lows.  Bird Photography is not just about capturing the image. To me it's about savoring the moment.  When you have a good zoom lens it's much like watching them through the Binoculars.  I had such an adrenaline rush I froze. For a few moments I ceased to function as a Photographer and reverted to pure bird watching pleasure.

That's what happened when I saw my first Bee Eater.  The moment was all too quick and as I looked through the viewfinder I froze. But I pledged that I wouldn't give up on the Bee Eater. 

I'm soooo thrilled to tell you that today, with a lot of patience (from Deric!) and alot of perseverance (from me!) I think I've kind of cracked it.

And these are their natural, stunning colours. No Photoshopping!

EDIT: I have finally earned enough Brownie Points for my new camera now - my little Canon 100D has worked so hard in the last 18 months I've nearly killed it and it's really struggled on this trip, especially today.  Roll on the Canon 7D Mark II ... watch this space

Comacchio Lagoon, Italy - 2000 Flamingo Chicks every year and breeding Spoonbills

We stumbled on the little town of Comacchio by chance and it really got under our skin.

It sits on the Comacchio Lagoon, near the Adriatic coast and is famous for eels.

But Comacchio had so much more going for it than eels. When entering the town on foot you are greeted with an elegant and quite exceptional bridge, whose arches straddle no less than 5 little canals. The streets are built around a network of these canals - another 'Petite Venice' and there are all sorts of unexpected little surprises around each corner.

And guess what? The lagoon is home to some exceptional birdlife. Some 2000 Flamingo chicks are born here every year and it boasts a colony of breeding Spoonbills - we were lucky enough to spot one of these on our last day.

As for the Bee Eaters ... well that's worthy of another blog post all on its' own! 

The Sun goes down on Lago Trasimeno, Italy

Sometimes you just want your photos to say it all.

Being our last day at Lago Trasimeno we just sat and soaked it up, until the sun melted over the lake.

Romance on Lago Trasimeno

Romance between the Great Crested Grebes on Lago Trasimeno today.  

Squacco Heron, Lake Chiusi, Tuscany

Several years ago we visited Lago Chiusi and it was a gem, a little wildlife haven with Black Winged Stilts, Penduline Tits, various Herons, Cuckoos and Reed Warblers to name but a few.  

I've been eager to revisit and this year we had the chance whilst staying nearby at Lago Trasimeno in Umbria.

But this area of the Italian Peninsula has suffered with very heavy rainfall and seen much flooding around the lakes.  Many of the lakeside trees have started to die and the water just seems a bit too deep for some of the usual waders.

However, it was a joy to hear the Cuckoo, which still seems prolific throughout the area; to catch a glimpse of the now endangered Turtle Dove and to hear so many Reed Warblers gently croaking to each other deep inside the reed beds.

But the highlight of the visit - the Squacco Herons.  Like slow motion ballet dancers they gracefully manoeuvre across the surface of vibrant lily pads in search of unsuspecting prey lurking just beneath.

Sun rising over Lago Maggiore this morning

Lake Maggiore is working its magic for us this morning.  

The view from our campervan window finds us pinching ourselves - are we really here and is this really happening?

Awesome, just awesome.