by Simon Woolleyand Julia Casson (click here to contact me)
We toured northern Corsica, with birds as the prime objective, and notably the endemics, near endemics and forms of taxonomic controversy. But we were also after plants, sunshine and superb scenery and walking.
Weather-wise, the 3rd week of April seems OK - our first day was appalling (low cloud and rain), but after that it improved every day, and ended up hot and sunny (24 degrees C?). The plants are also superb - loads of maquis specialities, including Provence, Tongue, Green-winged and Early Spider Orchids, and the scenery is among the best anywhere in Europe. If you fancy a low pressure Mediterranean break, with a (very) few very special birds, and lots of beaches/mountains/whatever, then Corsica could be for you!
In terms of spring arrivals, we were a bit disappointed. Bee-eaters were only just arriving (we saw none...), and we had neither Woodchat nor Red-backed Shrike (though the former was seen by others). Migrants were about, but in quite low numbers. If you simply want greater diversity and higher numbers of birds, go to Spain. For instance, we saw only one Black Kite all week, plus no Acrocephalus warblers at all, and no ducks!
We also failed on the true alpine mega-stars (Alpine Accentor, Wallcreeper, Snow Finch), since the snow was still quite low, and we couldn't penetrate the high mountains, although all three are reputed to be extremely hard anyway! No serious attempt was made for Moustached Warbler.
I have not included here specific site details (except for ultra specifics on some of the specials), since there seems to be plenty of that information out there anyway. But do e-mail us if you could do with any further tips or details. Only too happy to help.
The following systematic list follows Howard & Moore (1994) order, but there are some taxonomic variations from that list! For what its worth, I can't see Corsican Citril Finch being regarded as a sub-species for long! Potential splits, most recognized non-nominate sub-species, and forms with interesting or contentious taxonomic status are denoted by a '#'.
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus About 20 at Etang de Biguglia
Cory's ShearwaterCalonectris diomedea Over 30 were off Barcaggio and Macinaggio, mostly quite close inshore
# Mediterranean ShearwaterPuffinus yelkouan (yelkouan?) Two were seen briefly off Macinaggio, but much more satisfactory was a feeding flock of over 300 off Scandola. These birds are highly distinctive, resembling Manx rather more than Balearic Shearwaters. From any range, they appear basically monochrome, without obvious buffy or pale brown tones
Northern GannetMorus bassanus Two first year birds off Macinaggio
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo Two at Etang de Biguglia, and another at Scandola
# European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii Around 25 off Cap Corse, and probably over 100 off Scandola
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea One at Etang de Biguglia
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea One at Etang de Biguglia
Little EgretEgretta garzetta One, rather surprisingly, at Calvi, and another 10 or so at Etang de Biguglia
OspreyPandion haliaeetus Three separate sightings at Calvi, and three birds at Scandola. The birds here nest on offshore volcanic rock pinnacles - an extraordinary sight!
Black KiteMilvus migrans Only one seen, at a rubbish tip on Cap Corse
Red KiteMilvus milvus Notes daily in small numbers, max. 5+. Most common near Calvi
LammergeierGyptaeus barbatus A subadult (probably 3rd or 4th year?) was seen at very close range in the Asco Valley. We were directed precisely by some French hikers who'd seen one earlier in the day, and connected within 30 seconds of arriving! From Haut Asco, descend about 4 km, and the road swings sharp left over a very narrow bridge, then hard right by a recent landslide. The bird favoured the obvious rock pinnacle just up the valley from here.
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus A sub-adult male was at Macinaggio
Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus A sub-adult male was at Macinaggio, and a further two were at Etang de Biguglia
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus One in the Asco Valley, and another 2 at Calvi
Northern GoshawkAccipiter gentilis One (probably a male) in the Fangu Valley
Buzzard Buteo buteo Seen almost daily, max. 5
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos When all hope seemed gone, one was located soaring high over the Gorge de Restonica, about 1 km below the highest car park
Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus Seen daily, max. 3
Eurasian HobbyFalco subbuteo One hunting at dusk over Calvi
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus One over Calvi, and a further 3 sightings at Scandola
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa A total of seven was noted
Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus A very few noted at the foetid lagoon near Galeria and at Calvi
Common CootFulica atra Only noted at Etang de Biguglia, where perhaps 50 were seen
Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Two at Etang de Biguglia
Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus Two at the foetid lagoon near Galeria
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula One flew past at Barcaggio
Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius Two at the foetid lagoon near Galeria
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia One at the foetid lagoon near Galeria
Green SandpiperTringa ochropus One at the foetid lagoon near Galeria
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos One on the rocks at Scandola
Audouin's GullLarus audouinii About 10 around Cap Corse, and another at Etang de Biguglia. All the birds were adults
# Yellow-legged GullLarus (cachninnans?) michahellis Very common all around the coast
Rock PigeonColumba livia Many feral birds, but potential candidates for 'the real thing' were at Cap Corse and Scandola
Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus About 25 seen, mostly in the upland areas
European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turtur A total of six was noted
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Common everywhere
Common CuckooCuculus canorus Two heard near Calvi
Scops Owl Otus scops Heard every night from the hotel - but despite searching, no sightings!
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus One was picked up at about a mile's range off Macinaggio, and took a good ten minutes to come close enough to be identified. Has anyone else watched a Short-eared Owl being mobbed by Audouin's Gulls?
Alpine SwiftApus (Tachymarptus?) melba Ten near Galeria, and another 20 or so near Calvi
Common SwiftApus apus Numbers built steadily through the week, and by Easter, very common
European Bee-eaterMerops apiaster Two heard only in flight over a low pass on the Galeria road south of Calvi
HoopoeUpopa epops Five noted at widely scattered localities
# Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos (Picoides?) major harterti ('parroti') Very common, in a wide variety of habitats, from dense forest to open maquis
Wood Lark Lullula arborea About ten noted in open agricultural habitats and maquis
Sand MartinRiparia riparia One at Macinaggio
Eurasian Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestris Quite common in all upland areas
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Seen daily in varying numbers, max. c.600
House MartinDelichon urbica Up to 50 seen on all days bar one
Blue-headed WagtailMotacilla flava A total of 18 noted, with most at Macinaggio
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea Noted frequently in the Asco and Restonica Valleys , and also in the Fangu Valley
White WagtailMotacilla alba About 5 on the beach at Macinaggio
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Two noted at Macinaggio
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis Four at Macinaggio
Water PipitAnthus spinoletta Three at Haut Asco and another 8 or so at the head of the Gorge de Restonica
# Northern Wren Troglodytes troglodytes koenigi Heard every day, and seen a few times. Obviously warmer, plainer brown than the British form
# European RobinErithacus rubecula sardus About a dozen or so noted
Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos About 5 heard, and one finally seen on the last day
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros A pair was at the top of Gorge de Restonica
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus A total of 4 noted at various sites
WhinchatSaxicola rubetra Nine noted at various sites
Common StonechatSaxicola torquata Seven noted at various sites
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Two at Haut Asco, 2 males at Macinaggio, and another 2 at Scandola
Blue Rock ThrushMonticola solitarius A male at the head of the Gorge de Restonica, and a female just south of Calvi
Common Blackbird Turdus merula Seen frequently
Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Three noted, in the Asco and Restonica Valleys
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti About 7 heard, with most at Etang de Biguglia
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus One at Macinaggio, and another in song near Calvi
Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita About 10 noted
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla Common in a variety of habitats
Common WhitethroatSylvia communis Three males noted
Sardinian WarblerSylvia melanocephala Noted almost daily in low maquis and scrub
Subalpine WarblerSylvia cantillans About 12 singing males noted, mostly in quite tall and shrubby maquis
# Dartford WarblerSylvia undata undata Three seen and another heard in scrubby maquis. This form is rather grey, though not particularly dark, and lacks entirely the brownish upperparts of British birds
# Marmora's WarblerSylvia sarda sarda Found to be common in almost any patch of low maquis, notably on Cap Corse and near Belgodere
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillus About four singing males in the Fangu Valley
# GoldcrestRegulus regulus interni Frequently recorded, mostly in areas of pine forest
Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca Five noted around Calvi
# Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus irbii Five noted, mostly in upland areas, but also in the lower Fangu Valley
# Coal TitParus ater sardus Very common in all areas with pines
# Great TitParus major corsus Abundant throughout
# Blue TitParus caeruleus ogliastrae Not common - a max. of 3 per day
Corsican NuthatchSitta whiteheadi At least one singing male heard, and a female seen, in very poor weather conditions at Col de Sorba. A singing male showed superbly in far better weather at Haut Asco. From the foot of the car park, head immediately off to the left past a refuge hut, then follow the orange waymarked trail for about 200m - the bird showed in the tree tops downslope from here
# Eurasian TreecreeperCerthia familiaris corsa About six noted, mostly in the uplands
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra About 20 singing males noted, mostly in agricultural areas
# Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlus nigrostriata Common in all habitats
Common ChaffinchFringilla coelebs Abundant throughout
European SerinSerinus serinus Common in all habitats
# Corsican Citril FinchSerinus (citrinella?) corsicanus Noted in a wide variety of habitats, but most common at Haut Asco, where upwards of 30 were seen
European GreenfinchCarduelis chloris Seen daily, but in low numbers
Eurasian SiskinCarduelis spinus A few in upland areas, notably Haut Asco, where about 20 were present
# European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis tschusii Very common throughout
Common LinnetCarduelis cannabina Ten noted in the lowland areas
# Common CrossbillLoxia curvirostra corsicana A flock of about 10 was seen briefly at Haut Asco
# Italian SparrowPasser (hispaniolensis? /domesticus?) italiae Very common in the lowlands and around habitation
Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Noted in very small numbers around Calvi harbour
Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor Up to 25 noted daily
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius Noted daily, in a variety of habitas, from pine forests to low maquis
Black-billed MagpiePica pica Just one seen, on the beach at Etang de Biguglia
Yellow-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax graculus 10+ seen in the Asco and Restonica Valleys, and more surprisingly, one just south of Calvi at c. 200m
Hooded Crow Corvus corone cornix Common throughout
