Twin islands in the Mediterranean, natural complements for the visiting birder.
Corsica is if particular appeal for the endemic Corsican Nuthatch and several near-endemics such as Corsican Finch and Marmora's Warbler (both shared with Sardinia) and Italian Sparrow (shared with limited localities on the Italian mainland), but the island also offers some excellent possibilities for highland birding, Lammergeiers, Rock Sparrow and Alpine Chough amongst the possibilities. Whilst Sardinia lacks the Corsican Nuthatch and Italian Sparrow, the island is blessed by a rather richer selection of lowland birding sites than its neighbour, not only numerous localities for birding the typical Mediterranean habitats, but also a number of excellent wetlands, as well as grasslands supporting populations of Little Bustards.
Combining the two islands also means use of the inter-island ferry, an excellent opportunity to view the localised Yelkouan and Scopoli's Shearwaters, as well as Audouin's Gull and the Mediterranean race of Shag.
Having visited both islands in the past, the basic idea of the trip was simply to have a few days fun birding, but naturally effort was made to seek out the endemics, focussing particularly on the pine forests close to the Col de Sorba, key locality for the Corsican Nuthatch and only a short drive from the Restonica Valley, a high altitude locality know for Lammergeier.
Basic Itinerary:
18 April. Flights from Vilnius to Milan, Milan to Cagliari. Arrived late evening and drove through the night to Santa Teresa di Gallura.
19 April. Ferry to Corsica at 7.00 a.m., all day then spent in the central mountains, mostly on the D69 to the Col de Sorba, then later to the Restonica Valley. Travelled down to he coast inthe evening, staying at Riva-bella on the Etang de Terrenzana.
20 April. Morning birding around the Etang de Terrenzana, then a return to the D69 as far as the Col de Sorba. In the afternoon, took the long winding road (southward section of the D69) to Sartene and onward to Bonifacio. Had intended to return to Sardinia, but strong winds left all ferries cancelled. Camped nearby.
21 April. Morning birding around Bonifacio, then ferry to Sardinia. Afternoon birding in farmland around Tula, then southbound to the Cabras area, camping near Putzu Idu.
22 April. All day birding the wetlands in the Cabras area, particularly at Sale Porcus and from the SP58 between Riola and cabras. In the late afternoon, I drove south to Portoscuso and stayed in a hotel.
23 April. A productive morning on the coastal heaths near Portoscuso, then a return to Cagliari for some birding on the extensive saltpans just west of the airport. Mid-afternoon flight from Caglairi, direct to Lithuania.
Daily accounts to follow...
.
Corsica is if particular appeal for the endemic Corsican Nuthatch and several near-endemics such as Corsican Finch and Marmora's Warbler (both shared with Sardinia) and Italian Sparrow (shared with limited localities on the Italian mainland), but the island also offers some excellent possibilities for highland birding, Lammergeiers, Rock Sparrow and Alpine Chough amongst the possibilities. Whilst Sardinia lacks the Corsican Nuthatch and Italian Sparrow, the island is blessed by a rather richer selection of lowland birding sites than its neighbour, not only numerous localities for birding the typical Mediterranean habitats, but also a number of excellent wetlands, as well as grasslands supporting populations of Little Bustards.
Combining the two islands also means use of the inter-island ferry, an excellent opportunity to view the localised Yelkouan and Scopoli's Shearwaters, as well as Audouin's Gull and the Mediterranean race of Shag.
Having visited both islands in the past, the basic idea of the trip was simply to have a few days fun birding, but naturally effort was made to seek out the endemics, focussing particularly on the pine forests close to the Col de Sorba, key locality for the Corsican Nuthatch and only a short drive from the Restonica Valley, a high altitude locality know for Lammergeier.
Basic Itinerary:
18 April. Flights from Vilnius to Milan, Milan to Cagliari. Arrived late evening and drove through the night to Santa Teresa di Gallura.
19 April. Ferry to Corsica at 7.00 a.m., all day then spent in the central mountains, mostly on the D69 to the Col de Sorba, then later to the Restonica Valley. Travelled down to he coast inthe evening, staying at Riva-bella on the Etang de Terrenzana.
20 April. Morning birding around the Etang de Terrenzana, then a return to the D69 as far as the Col de Sorba. In the afternoon, took the long winding road (southward section of the D69) to Sartene and onward to Bonifacio. Had intended to return to Sardinia, but strong winds left all ferries cancelled. Camped nearby.
21 April. Morning birding around Bonifacio, then ferry to Sardinia. Afternoon birding in farmland around Tula, then southbound to the Cabras area, camping near Putzu Idu.
22 April. All day birding the wetlands in the Cabras area, particularly at Sale Porcus and from the SP58 between Riola and cabras. In the late afternoon, I drove south to Portoscuso and stayed in a hotel.
23 April. A productive morning on the coastal heaths near Portoscuso, then a return to Cagliari for some birding on the extensive saltpans just west of the airport. Mid-afternoon flight from Caglairi, direct to Lithuania.
Daily accounts to follow...
.