April 27, 2007
Thu 19th - Nuthatch or bust
We left the mountains today, so this morning was make or break for Corsican Nuthatch (Sittelle corse). I decided to re-try the Sentier de la Sittelle, where I suspected I had heard one previously. Perseverence finally paid off when I followed up on some nuthatch-like call notes, and found a pair attending a nest. It's a really small, fast-moving little bird, so I only managed a couple of blurry shots of the birds as they left the nest-hole.
Nonetheless I was thrilled to finally connect with it - I didn't realise at the time, but this was my 300th French species in the 15 months I've lived here. I imagine getting to 400 will take substantially longer!
The drive down to the coast took us through some fabulous scenery in the Spelunca Gorges and the Calanches - a migrating Honey Buzzard (Bondree apivore) was the avian highlight here.
After four days of driving on windy roads we took some well-earned beach time. A quick stop at the bridge over the Liamone River yielded a lone Ruff (Combattant varie).
