April 27, 2007
Wed 18th - northwards and eastwards
I got up at the crack of dawn in the hope of hearing a nuthatch sing, but again no luck. I did at least get some great views of Cirl Buntings (Bruant zizi)
and Corsican Finches (Venturon corse) from the garden.
This impressive sized longhorn beetle was on the walls of the house.
In the late morning we drove north, pausing for a singing Moltoni's (Subalpine) Warbler. Our destination was Ile Rousse, a tourist resort with an attractive headland, from which we had excellent eye-level views of Crag Martins (Hirondelle de rochers), plus a few Hooded Crows (Corneille mantelee).
Midday turned out not to be the best hour for seawatching, but nonetheless a few distant Yelkouan Shearwaters (Puffin yelkouan) were recorded. Spotless Starlings (Etourneau unicolor) were easily encountered in the town.
We drove east across the southern tip of Cap Corse (unfortunately we didn't have time to bird the peninsula), and a pit stop at the Bocca di Vezzu lookout in the desert des agriates provided the only trip sighting of Black Redstart (Rougequeue noir) and better still, a display-flighting Marmora's Warbler (Fauvette sarde). Just before arrival in Bastia we found a large thermalling flock of Ravens (Grand Corbeau), Yellow-legged Gulls (Goeland leucophee), Red Kites (Milan royal) and a single Short-toed Eagle (Circaete Jean-le-blanc). The nearby Etang de Biguglia is a classic spot for Audouin's Gulls (Goeland d'Audouin), and sure enough we located a pair taking a siesta.
The lake also held a pair of Slender-billed Gulls (Goeland railleur), Cormorant (Grand Cormoran, the only place I saw them) a few Flamingoes (Flamant rose), while migrants included a Redstart and Hypolais sp. Luckily this Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticole des joncs) landed right in my scope view - if only it were always this easy!
