Day Three 7th April
I was back on the train again, and heading south from Corte to Vizzavona – a station around 900 metres up and surrounded by forest. On arrival the weather was fine and I enjoyed wonderful views of Monte D’Oro, one of the highest peaks on the island. Setting off through glorious beech woods strewn with crocuses, I followed the GR20 long-distance trail, eventually reaching the impressive Cascade des Anglais. From here I headed up towards a high mountain pass, eventually getting up to around 1700 metres before returning the way I’d come. High up there was still quite a bit of snow on the ground. In the beech woods, in fact even in the dwarf beech high up, the birds were generally rather familiar: Blackbird, Chaffinch, Blue Tits, Robins and Wrens. I managed for the first time on the trip to get some decent views of the near-endemic subspecies of Wren. These are quite strongly barred underneath and their songs sounded a little more elaborate than British Wrens. I was hoping for some alpine birds higher up and, as I got out of the woods I was soon seeing quite a few Water Pipits, all in fine looking summer plumage. I was even more pleased to get close but rather brief views of an Alpine Accentor. I spent quite a bit of time scanning the high crags in the hope of raptors and Alpine Choughs but only picked out a Kestrel, a Raven and a Crag Martin. On the way down I briefly disturbed a Dipper along a small stream. The weather then began to deteriorate, first becoming cloudy, then spotting with rain and then a full blown downpour. By the time I got back to the station I was soaked and sought refuge in the nearby restaurant. I’d hoped to see a few Nuthatches in this area but didn’t really find any extensive areas of pine forest. I think the forest to the north of the station might be a better bet than the areas I visited.
I was back on the train again, and heading south from Corte to Vizzavona – a station around 900 metres up and surrounded by forest. On arrival the weather was fine and I enjoyed wonderful views of Monte D’Oro, one of the highest peaks on the island. Setting off through glorious beech woods strewn with crocuses, I followed the GR20 long-distance trail, eventually reaching the impressive Cascade des Anglais. From here I headed up towards a high mountain pass, eventually getting up to around 1700 metres before returning the way I’d come. High up there was still quite a bit of snow on the ground. In the beech woods, in fact even in the dwarf beech high up, the birds were generally rather familiar: Blackbird, Chaffinch, Blue Tits, Robins and Wrens. I managed for the first time on the trip to get some decent views of the near-endemic subspecies of Wren. These are quite strongly barred underneath and their songs sounded a little more elaborate than British Wrens. I was hoping for some alpine birds higher up and, as I got out of the woods I was soon seeing quite a few Water Pipits, all in fine looking summer plumage. I was even more pleased to get close but rather brief views of an Alpine Accentor. I spent quite a bit of time scanning the high crags in the hope of raptors and Alpine Choughs but only picked out a Kestrel, a Raven and a Crag Martin. On the way down I briefly disturbed a Dipper along a small stream. The weather then began to deteriorate, first becoming cloudy, then spotting with rain and then a full blown downpour. By the time I got back to the station I was soaked and sought refuge in the nearby restaurant. I’d hoped to see a few Nuthatches in this area but didn’t really find any extensive areas of pine forest. I think the forest to the north of the station might be a better bet than the areas I visited.
