Lucadea.com - Tag: wildlife

13 August 2026

The Heron Often Seen in Sestri Levante

L'airone che spesso si trova a Sestri Levante

The Heron Often Seen in Sestri Levante.
For the past few years, I have occasionally come across a heron in different parts of Sestri Levante, especially around waterways such as the Gromolo and Petronio rivers. I cannot say whether it is always the same bird, but by now its presence has become a small recurring part of my walks. This time, luckily, I had my telephoto lens with me and managed to photograph it reasonably well.
The heron was near the bridge over the Gromolo leading towards Santo Stefano, not far from Villa Sertorio. It was simply standing there, enjoying the sun, apparently unconcerned by the people nearby. It was one of those moments when being ready with the camera matters, because a bird like this can move away or fly off just as you are trying to find the right position.
If you are wondering what to see in Sestri Levante, a heron may not be the first answer that comes to mind. Yet this is exactly the kind of detail I enjoy documenting. Alongside the beaches, historic center and better-known views of the town, there is also a quieter natural side connected with the waterways and small habitats around them.
Sestri Levante is in Liguria, in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, Italy, and its position between the sea and the hills creates a surprising variety of environments within a relatively compact area. The Gromolo and Petronio waterways pass through areas that can provide birds with places to feed, rest or simply stop for a while.
It is along these routes that I have noticed the heron several times over the years. I obviously cannot know whether it is always the same individual, and that is not really the important part of the photograph. What interests me is the fact that a wild animal can become a recurring presence in the everyday life of a town.
This time, having my telephoto lens made a real difference. It allowed me to keep a respectful distance while still getting a reasonably close image. When I photograph wildlife, I prefer not to disturb the subject and instead wait for the situation itself to provide the right frame.
In this photograph, the heron looks almost completely relaxed as it enjoys the sun near the bridge. Its posture is quite different from the one it might have while searching the water for fish or other small prey. At that moment, it seemed simply to have found a quiet place to stop.
Herons are birds strongly associated with wetlands and are often found along rivers, streams, ponds, lagoons and coastal areas. One of their most recognizable features is their long neck, which can be folded back or extended quickly when the bird strikes at prey. It is a simple detail, but it helps explain why these birds are so closely connected with water.
Here, the Gromolo is therefore more than just a background element. It is part of the environment that makes this encounter possible. The bridge towards Santo Stefano and the area around Villa Sertorio provide a concrete setting, while the heron introduces something that was not placed there by people.
I enjoy this kind of photography because it is rarely planned. I did not go out that day specifically looking for a heron. I was simply walking around Sestri Levante when I came across a subject I had seen before, and this time I happened to have the right equipment to try to preserve the moment.
Looking at the photograph afterwards also made me think about how differently a familiar place can appear once you start recognizing some of its recurring wildlife. A bridge, a stream or an ordinary stretch of road can become much more interesting when a wild animal suddenly appears within the scene.
This is one of the reasons I keep photographing Sestri Levante. I am interested not only in the most recognizable landmarks, but also in the small events that belong to everyday life and rarely appear in conventional images of the town. In that sense, this heron has almost become a small recurring character in my local photographs.
I have already shared several photographs of Sestri Levante on the blog, including views and details around the town and the Gromolo area. This image naturally connects with those stories, although the subject is completely different. This time it is not a building, street or landscape that caught my attention, but a wild bird encountered almost by chance.
I do not know whether I will see this heron again the next time I walk near the Gromolo. It could be the same bird I have noticed before, or another individual that regularly uses the same area. In the end, I do not really need to know.
For me, it is enough to know that while walking through Sestri Levante, you can sometimes look towards the river and find a heron standing quietly near the water. These unexpected encounters are what make familiar places interesting even after many visits.

Have you ever spotted a heron around the Gromolo or Petronio? Add a comment or go to the bottom of the site to read what other visitors have written.

Photo taken with a Canon EOS RP camera and a Tamron 16-300 lens.

The grey heron (*Ardea cinerea* Linnaeus, 1758) is a bird belonging to the Ardeidae family. Native to the temperate regions of the Old World as well as Africa, it is the heron species that ranges furthest north; indeed, in summer, it is commonly found along the Norwegian coast, well beyond the Arctic Circle.
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29 July 2026

Iguanas of Grand Cayman in the Caribbean

Iguana fotografata a Grand Cayman nei Caraibi tra la vegetazione tropicale dell'isola

Iguanas of Grand Cayman in the Caribbean.
During my visit to Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, Caribbean, I came across these unusual reptiles that immediately caught my attention because of their unique appearance and the calm way they moved through their surroundings. Caribbean iguanas are fascinating animals, with shapes, colors, and features that seem to belong to a distant and ancient world.
I wanted to photograph these iguanas because I always find it interesting to observe animals that are completely different from those I usually see in my everyday environment. Their presence adds something special to the experience of discovering Grand Cayman, an island where tropical nature offers encounters far away from the landscapes I know.
This photograph comes from my curiosity about an animal with an almost prehistoric appearance. With its strong body, long tail, and small spines along its back, the iguana looks like a creature from another era. Its appearance may seem unusual, but every detail has a purpose and helps it adapt perfectly to the warm Caribbean environment.
Iguanas are mainly herbivorous reptiles, feeding on leaves, flowers, and fruits. One interesting fact is that some island iguanas are strongly connected to their specific habitats and can exist only in limited areas, making them an important part of the natural identity of those places.
If you are visiting Grand Cayman and looking for things to see beyond beaches and clear waters, observing local wildlife can become one of the most memorable experiences. Often, unexpected encounters like this are what make a photograph more personal than the classic images of famous locations.
I took these photographs during my time on the island, trying to capture not only the appearance of the animal but also the feeling of surprise that comes from meeting something completely different from everyday life.
On my blog I have shared other stories about distant landscapes and natural environments because photography, for me, is a way to preserve moments of discovery, whether they happen close to home or on the other side of the world.

Have you ever met an animal that was so unusual that you immediately wanted to photograph it? Add a comment or go to the bottom of the site to read what other visitors have written.

Iguanas are very similar to lizards, but larger and slower. As adults, they possess a distinctive crest along their backs, which is much more prominent in males than in females. Females have rounded heads, whereas males have triangular ones.
In the wild, they can reach lengths of up to 2.5 meters, while in captivity—due to differences in diet and environment—they grow to between 1.50 and 1.80 meters. Specimens of this size are now rare due to habitat destruction; in many areas, this destruction leads to overcrowding and a consequent reduction in size.
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26 July 2026

A blue butterfly along a trail in Liguria

Farfalla azzurra fotografata su una pianta lungo un sentiero della Liguria tra la vegetazione

A blue butterfly along a trail in Liguria.
While walking through the vegetation, I came across this small blue butterfly resting on a plant, a simple encounter that made me stop for a few moments and observe the details around me. Photographing butterflies along trails is something I enjoy because these images capture the small natural moments that can easily go unnoticed.
I do not remember the exact trail where I took this photograph, but it belongs to the many walks I have made through Liguria over the years. Sometimes I leave home looking for a viewpoint, a village or a specific destination, but the unexpected encounters along the way are often the ones that remain in my memory.
I captured this moment with my camera trying to preserve the delicate colour of the butterfly’s wings, which stands out against the green leaves and the soft background of the vegetation. The image shows how even a very small subject can become the main character of a photograph when we take the time to look carefully.
This photograph was taken in Liguria, Italy, during a walk on one of the many trails crossing the region between the coast and the countryside. Liguria is often associated with seaside villages and Mediterranean landscapes, but moving only a short distance inland reveals woods, meadows and natural environments full of small creatures like this butterfly.
A small curiosity about blue butterflies is that many of them belong to the Lycaenidae family, a large group found throughout Europe. They are usually small in size, but their colourful wings make them some of the most fascinating subjects for nature photography.
I like images like this because they remind me that a walk is not only about reaching a destination. Sometimes the most interesting things happen along the path, hidden among leaves and plants, waiting for someone to notice them.
After sharing many photographs of Ligurian landscapes and hiking routes, including trails above Sestri Levante, I also wanted to dedicate space to these tiny inhabitants of the places I explore.
You do not always need a spectacular panorama to find something worth photographing. Sometimes a quiet moment beside a plant is enough.

Have you ever stopped during a walk because a butterfly caught your attention? Add a comment or go to the bottom of the site to read what other visitors have written.

Photo taken with Canon EOS M100 and lens Tamron 16-300.

25 July 2026

A stork photographed in Romania

Cicogna fotografata in Romania vicino al confine serbo sopra un palo della luce con il nido sul paesaggio rurale.

A stork photographed in Romania.
During a journey near the border between Romania and Serbia, I came across some storks that had chosen a rather unusual place to build their nest.
Seeing a stork in Romania is not something extraordinary, but finding these large birds resting on electricity poles along the road was definitely an unexpected and memorable encounter. What caught my attention was the contrast between a simple everyday object, such as a power pole, and the presence of these elegant birds using it as their home.
I decided to capture this moment with my camera because it represented one of those small discoveries that make travelling interesting. It was not a famous landmark or a spectacular landscape, but a natural scene found while moving through the countryside, something that could easily be missed without taking the time to look around.
The photograph was taken in Romania, in an area close to the Serbian border, where rural landscapes, open fields and small villages create a different rhythm compared with the larger cities. If you are visiting Romania, exploring the countryside can reveal many unexpected views and encounters with wildlife that are closely connected to everyday life.
Storks have always been associated with European rural landscapes and are often considered a symbol of good luck and new beginnings. One interesting fact is that these birds frequently return to the same nesting place, adding new material over the years and creating very large nests that become part of the surrounding landscape.
This image belongs to my personal collection of photographs taken around the world, where I often try to preserve simple moments rather than only famous attractions. As in other travel photographs collected in my World Photos section, I like keeping memories of small situations encountered along the way.
Looking back at this scene, the stork remains one of the most curious moments of that journey: an unexpected presence that appeared almost by chance in front of my camera.

Have you ever found an animal in a place where you absolutely did not expect to see it? Add a comment or go to the bottom of the site to read what other visitors have written.

9 June 2026

Turtles in Grand Cayman

Turtles in Grand Cayman.
I finally managed to go and see, and touch, some turtles. Here in Grand Cayman there is a park where they raise them to study them, help them grow, and then release them into the sea.
They are truly incredible animals, and being able to hold one in your hands is a unique experience.

Are you familiar with the Caribbean? Add a comment or go to the bottom of the site to read what other visitors have written.

The order Testudines (Linnaeus, 1758) or Chelonia includes reptiles commonly known as turtles or tortoises. In common parlance, the term turtle sometimes refers to aquatic turtles (whether freshwater—such as the Emydidae, with skin membranes between their claws—or marine turtles—with limbs transformed into flippers), carnivorous and with a low-profile carapace; while the term tortoise (from the Latin testudo) refers to any species adapted to terrestrial life, herbivorous, with powerful claws and a (generally) raised carapace. In reality, this distinction has no taxonomic significance, as there is no such distinction phylogenetically.
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Some beautiful turtles in Grand Cayman – Quelques belles tortues à Grand Cayman – Algunas hermosas tortugas en Gran Caimán – Algumas belas tartarugas em Grand Cayman – Einige wunderschöne Schildkröten auf Grand Cayman – Một số loài rùa đẹp ở Grand Cayman – 大开曼岛的一些美丽的海龟 – グランドケイマンのいくつかの美しいカメ

26 May 202625 March 2026

A small bird among the vineyards of Arrecife

Un piccolo uccellino tra le vigne di Arrecife

A little bird among the vineyards of Arrecife.
The memory of this photo is linked to a moment of sudden calm, one of those that arrive without warning. I was walking among the vineyards around Arrecife, with the dark soil under my feet and the wind carrying the dry scent of the earth, when this little bird appeared on the ground, almost confused, perfectly at ease among the rows of vines. It didn’t fly, it didn’t run away. It moved with short hops, attentive, as if it were reading the ground centimeter by centimeter.
The photograph was born from that suspended moment. There was nothing spectacular, no studied pose. Just a tiny being, immersed in a landscape that seems harsh but is actually full of life. The vineyards in this area do not have the reassuring order of other places: they grow low, protected, almost hidden, and the volcanic soil tells a story of continuous adaptation. The little bird also seemed to be part of this fragile, discreet, silent balance.
Looking at the image again, what strikes me is the close distance. Not physical, but emotional. Photographing it on the ground, at the same level, removed any hierarchy. It wasn’t an “exotic” subject, nor a symbol. It was simply there, intent on its routine, while I was the guest. At that moment I had the feeling that time had stretched, as if everything was proceeding more slowly: the wind in the leaves, the distant footsteps, the imperceptible rustling of the wings that remained closed.
In these vineyards, birds find refuge and food. The volcanic soil retains heat, insects are abundant, and the low plants offer shelter from the wind. It is an essential ecosystem, without frills, which forces every form of life to find its own space intelligently. This little bird, so close to the ground, seemed to know perfectly the unwritten rules of the place.
The photo, in the end, doesn’t just tell his story. It tells of a way of being in places with attention, without invading them. A brief, unplanned encounter, which remains more for the feeling it evokes than for the image itself. And perhaps that’s what I’m looking for when I take pictures: not the exceptional, but the normality that allows itself to be observed for a moment.

Have you ever photographed something seemingly insignificant and only later realized how precious it was? Add a comment or go to the bottom of the site to read what other visitors have written.

Photos taken with Canon EOS RP and Tamron 16-300.

A small bird among the vineyards of Arrecife – Un petit oiseau parmi les vignes d’Arrecife – Un pequeño pájaro entre los viñedos de Arrecife – Um pequeno pássaro entre as vinhas de Arrecife – Ein kleiner Vogel zwischen den Weinbergen von Arrecife – Một chú chim nhỏ giữa những vườn nho ở Arrecife – 阿雷西费葡萄园间的小鸟 – アレシフェのブドウ畑にいた小さな鳥

The text of this post was written with the help of ChatGPT, a language model from OpenAI.

5 May 2026

A bumblebee on a flower in Norway

A bumblebee on a flower in Norway.
Some time ago, while walking along the paths behind the town of Geiranger in Norway, I saw this beautiful bumblebee sucking nectar from a flower and tried to photograph it.
I adore bumblebees; they are one of my favorite insects (as well as being one of the most useful to the planet).

Do you know the bumblebee? Add a comment or go to the bottom of the site to read what other visitors have written.

Photo taken with Canon EOS RP camera and Tamron 16-300 lens.

Like bees, bumblebees collect nectar and pollen for nutrition. They are among the most important and useful pollinating insects for the ecosystem. Generally larger than common bees, bumblebees are characterized by a yellow and black livery, with bands of varying widths depending on the species; some species are all black or have orange bands.
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