LIDICKER 1989 Italy cont. Range The Reserve has some beautiful beech forest. Both wolves + bear still occur there as well as others. On the slopes of the Maiella's ; above the Fagino forest, there is a limited level of alpine meadows. Then during pine (Pinus mugo family) occurs up to a second elevation (the east slope is P. m. uncinate). There was some snow left down into the pine zone. Above the pines is rocky alpine tundra. A few birds noted: Long-tailed Tit - 2+ Red-breasted Chough - 80+ Jay - 1+ Flycatcher (Pink or Collared) - 1 Chaffinch - 1+ European Goldfinch - 1+ midland warbler - 1 Maybe Redstart (familiarly Black Redstart) - 1+2 at twilight. Skimmers + House Martin were common + were seen up to the highest peaks of the Maiella's. On 2 Sept. returned to Rome via Abruzzo National Park. But it was a rainy day so we did not stop to look at all. 3-5 Sept. - Florence Stayed at Hotel Cellai on Via 27 Aprile (no. 14). Butts were seen in both afternoon and the Palazzo Pitti. In addition to swallows, noted: Eur. Blackbird - 10+ Jackdaws - 6+ ; Italian Sparrows - com.