INTRODUCTION
This was not really a full-time birding trip, as I was accompanied by my non-birding girlfriend. We just mainly focussed on the 2 endemic full species (my only new birds this trip) and furthermore on some endemic or restricted-range subspecies. The 2 real endemics proved to be fairly easy to find.
Thanks go out to Wim Heylen for some useful birding tips.
ITINERARY
2 apr |
travel to Bastia by train (TGV) and ferry |
3 apr |
birding Cap Corse |
3 apr |
birding Desert des Agriates |
4 apr |
birding Fôret de Bonifatu |
5 apr |
birding Fôret d’Aitone |
6 apr |
birding Gorges de Restonica |
7 apr |
birding around Calzarello (Orbo river), Etang de Palo, Etang d’Urbino, Etang de Diane |
8 apr |
birding Etang de Biguglia |
9 apr |
travel to Nice by ferry |
10 apr |
travel to Brussels by train (TGV) |
PRACTICALITIES
TransportWe hired a car for the entire trip.
Hotels
We always camped in our tent, sometimes on campsites, mostly out in the wild...
FULL TRIP LIST
Taxonomy strictly follows Clements' 5th Edition (incl. updates). The list only contains species positively identified by at least one of our group. Birds identified by guides or other people only are not included, presumed species neither...
[112 species]
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis
ssp ruficollis - Several at different lakes
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatus
ssp cristatus - Several at Etang de Biguglia
Eared Grebe
Podiceps nigricollis
ssp nigricollis - Several at Etang de Biguglia
Cory's Shearwater
Calonectris diomedea
ssp diomedea - Several flying offshore at Cap Corse. Several along the ferry (very close views) between Bastia and Nice.
Levantine Shearwater
Puffinus yelkouan
monotypic - 1 offshore at Cap Corse gave rather distant views. About 100 birds were feeding very close to the ferry between Bastia and Nice.
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
ssp unspecified - A few seen flying overhead around Cap Corse.
European Shag
Phalacrocorax aristotelis
ssp desmarestii - Several at Cap Corse. Encountered regularly on different stops along the coast elsewere.
Gray Heron
Ardea cinerea
ssp unspecified - A few at Etang de Biguglia.
Purple Heron
Ardea purpurea
ssp unspecified - A few at Etang de Biguglia.
Great Egret
Ardea alba
ssp unspecified - 1 bird at Etang de Palo. 1 bird at Etang de Biguglia.
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
ssp unspecified - Common around lakes.
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
ssp unspecified - Only a few birds around Calzarello and Etang de Diane.
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
ssp unspecified - Not really common, but encountered at several lakes.
Red Kite
Milvus milvus
ssp unspecified - Fairly common throughout.
Black Kite
Milvus migrans
ssp unspecified - Although less common than Red Kite, still fairly common throughout.
Lammergeier
Gypaetus barbatus
ssp unspecified - 1 bird gave lousy distant views at Gorges de la Restonica.
Western Marsh-Harrier
Circus aeruginosus
ssp unspecified - A few birds around Cap Corse, Etang de Diane and Etang de Biguglia.
Montagu's Harrier
Circus pygargus
monotypic - About 5 seen at Cap Copse and a few en route.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
ssp wolterstorffi - Rather scarce with only 1 at Fôret de Bonifatu and elsewere en route.
Eurasian Buzzard
Buteo buteo
ssp arrigonii - Fairly common throughout.
Eurasian Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
ssp unspecified - Fairly common throughout.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
ssp unspecified - Only 1 seen flying by en route.
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufa
ssp unspecified - Several parties seen en route.
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticus
ssp unspecified - Only a few birds calling at Etang de Biguglia.
Common Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
ssp unspecified - Rather scarce with only a few birds seen around Etang de Biguglia and en route.
Eurasian Coot
Fulica atra
ssp unspecified - Common on lakes.
Black-winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus
monotypic - 2 birds present at Etang de Palo.
Common Redshank
Tringa totanus
ssp unspecified - 1 bird at Etang de Biguglia.
Common Greenshank
Tringa nebularia
monotypic - 2 birds at Etang de Biguglia.
Audouin's Gull
Larus audouinii
Near-threatened (NT)
monotypic - 2 birds at Cap Corse and about 15 at Etang de Biguglia.
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus michahellis
ssp michahellis - Common.
Black-headed Gull
Larus ridibundus
monotypic - Some tens present at Etang de Biguglia were the only birds of the trip.
Slender-billed Gull
Larus genei
monotypic - Only seen at Etang de Biguglia, about 20 birds.
Sandwich Tern
Sterna sandvicensis
ssp unspecified - A few birds flying by at Cap Corse.
Common Wood-Pigeon
Columba palumbus
ssp palumbus - Several birds en route.
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Streptopelia decaocto
ssp decaocto - Common.
Common Cuckoo
Cuculus canorus
ssp unspecified - A few birds calling on different places.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
ssp alba - 1 bird seen hunting at dusk en route.
European Scops-Owl
Otus scops
ssp unspecified - Fairly common in lowland areas. Easy to tape in! ssp tchusii?
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus
ssp flammeus - 1 bird flushed around Etang de Diane.
Alpine Swift
Tachymarptis melba
ssp melba - Fairly common.
Common Swift
Apus apus
ssp apus - Common.
Pallid Swift
Apus pallidus
ssp brehmorum - Only a few birds positively identified throughout.
European Bee-eater
Merops apiaster
monotypic - A few flocks encountered like around Cap Corse and elsewhere en route.
Eurasian Hoopoe
Upupa epops
ssp epops - Fairly common in lowland areas.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos major
ssp parroti - Fairly common in forest areas.
Greater Short-toed Lark
Calandrella brachydactyla
ssp unspecified - Several birds at Cap Corse.
Wood Lark
Lullula arborea
ssp unspecified - Fairly common.
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensis
ssp unspecified - Only seen around Capo Corse.
Bank Swallow
Riparia riparia
ssp riparia - Fairly common around lakes, especially Etang de Biguglia.
Eurasian Crag-Martin
Ptyonoprogne rupestris
monotypic - Fairly common in montane areas.
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
ssp unspecified - Common.
House Martin
Delichon urbica
ssp unspecified - Fairly common.
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
ssp unspecified - Fairly common.
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flava
ssp cinereocapilla - Only seen a few groups in lowland areas like Cap Corse, Etang de Biguglia and elsewhere en route.
ssp flava - Only seen a few groups in lowland areas like Cap Corse, Etang de Biguglia and elsewhere en route.
Gray Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea
ssp unspecified - Several sightings along rivers such as in Fôret de Bonifatu, Gorge de la Restonica, Cap Corse.
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialis
ssp unspecified - Several birds heard calling throughout when flying overhead.
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensis
ssp unspecified - Fairly common in lowland areas.
Water Pipit
Anthus spinoletta
ssp unspecified - A few birds at Gorge de la Restonica.
Goldcrest
Regulus regulus
ssp unspecified - Fairly common in forest areas.
Firecrest
Regulus ignicapillus
ssp unspecified - Only a few birds at Fôret de Bonifatu.
White-throated Dipper
Cinclus cinclus
ssp unspecified - 1 bird flying by along a river en route. 1 bird at Gorge de la Restonica.
Winter Wren
Troglodytes troglodytes
ssp koenigi - Common.
Alpine Accentor
Prunella collaris
ssp collaris - 1 very tame bird was feeding along the snow border at Gorge de la Restonica, a few hundred meters above Berg. de Grotello.
Dunnock
Prunella modularis
ssp modularis - Common.
Blue Rock-Thrush
Monticola solitarius
ssp solitarius - 1 bird probably heard en route and 1 bird at Gorge de la Restonica around Berg. de Grotello.
Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
ssp unspecified - Common.
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
ssp philomelos - Fairly common.
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorus
ssp deichleri - Fairly common.
Zitting Cisticola
Cisticola juncidis
ssp unspecified - A few birds at Cap Corse and around Etang de Biguglia.
Cetti's Warbler
Cettia cetti
ssp unspecified - Fairly common in marshy areas.
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
monotypic - A few birds around Etang de Biguglia.
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilus
ssp unspecified - Fairly common.
Common Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybita
ssp unspecified - Common.
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapilla
ssp unspecified - Common.
Garden Warbler
Sylvia borin
ssp unspecified - Only 1 bird heard en route.
Subalpine Warbler
Sylvia cantillans
ssp moltonii - Fairly common in suitable habitat.
Sardinian Warbler
Sylvia melanocephala
ssp unspecified - Common.
Dartford Warbler
Sylvia undata
ssp unspecified - Fairly common in suitable habitat.
Marmora's Warbler
Sylvia sarda
monotypic - Fairly common in suitable habitat. ssp sarda
European Robin
Erithacus rubecula
ssp rubecula - Common.
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochruros
ssp gibraltariensis - Only one observation of 1 bird en route.
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurus
ssp phoenicurus - Several birds, mainly around Cap Corse, but also elsewhere en route.
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetra
monotypic - 1 bird at Cap Corse.
European Stonechat
Saxicola rubicola
ssp rubicola - Common in lower areas.
Northern Wheatear
Oenanthe oenanthe
ssp unspecified - Several birds seen, but especially around Etang de Biguglia fairly common.
Black-eared Wheatear
Oenanthe hispanica
ssp hispanica - 1 male in summer plumage bird gave stunning views at Etang de Biguglia.
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatus
ssp irbii - Fairly common.
Coal Tit
Periparus ater
ssp sardus - Common in pine forests.
Great Tit
Parus major
ssp corsus - Common.
Eurasian Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleus
ssp ogilastrae - Common.
Corsican Nuthatch
Sitta whiteheadi
Country endemic
monotypic - 1 bird heard and seen flying away in Fôret de Bonifatu. Fairly common in Fôret d’Aitone, especially around Sentier de Sitelle. Reacts very well to taping.
Eurasian Treecreeper
Certhia familiaris
ssp corsa - A few birds in Fôret de Bonifatu.
Eurasian Penduline-Tit
Remiz pendulinus
ssp unspecified - 1 bird heard and seen flying at Etang de Biguglia.
Woodchat Shrike
Lanius senator
ssp badius - Several birds seen at Cap Corse, Etang de Biguglia and elsewhere en route.
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandarius
ssp corsicanus - Common.
Yellow-billed Chough
Pyrrhocorax graculus
ssp unspecified - About 30 birds at Gorges de la Restonica around Berg. de Grotello.
Hooded Crow
Corvus cornix
ssp unspecified - Common. ssp sardonicus
Common Raven
Corvus corax
ssp unspecified - Common.
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
ssp unspecified - A few birds around Cap Corse.
Spotless Starling
Sturnus unicolor
monotypic - Fairly common, but not always checked carefully for European Starling… it’s rather boring.
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
ssp unspecified - Common. ssp italiae
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanus
ssp unspecified - A few birds around Gorge de la Restonica.
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
ssp unspecified - Common. ssp tyrrhenica
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostra
ssp corsicana - Fairly common in Fôret d’Aitone.
European Greenfinch
Carduelis chloris
ssp unspecified - Common. ssp madaraszi
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
ssp tschusii - Common.
Eurasian Linnet
Carduelis cannabina
ssp unspecified - Common.
European Serin
Serinus serinus
monotypic - A few birds in urban areas.
Corsican Finch
Serinus corsicanus
Country endemic
monotypic - Fairly common throughout.
Cirl Bunting
Emberiza cirlus
ssp nigrostriata - Fairly common.
Corn Bunting
Emberiza calandra
monotypic - Common.