SARDINIA AND CORSICA

breeding Eleonora's Falcons and localised endemics on this twin island tour

The endemic Marmora's Warbler & Corsican Citril Finch will be two of our targets. Paul Willoughby.

The islands of Sardinia and Corsica have all the ingredients of a great birding holiday: nice scenery, good hotels, good food, and excellent birding - both in quality and quantity. Despite their close proximity, they are very different. Corsica tends to provide the quality, with its endemic nuthatch, Corsican Citril Finch and Lammergeier. Sardinia has the quantity: thousands of flamingos, waders, herons and other waterbirds.

Oh, and yes, Sardinia has quality too. Barbary Partridge, Little Bustard, Purple Gallinule, Bonelli's Eagle, Ferruginous Duck, Collared Pratincole, Audouin's Gull, Marmora's Warbler and Stone Curlew to name a few. Perhaps the highlight of our time on Sardinia will be the visit to an Eleonora's Falcon colony at the time of its greatest activity.

We will fly directly into Sardinia and spend the first five nights near Oristano, on the west coast. This is close to some excellent wetlands and within easy reach of plateau country and the falcon colony.

On day six we will take a 50 minute car ferry across to Corsica, spending our last three nights near Corte, in the mountainous heart of the island. On day nine we will retrace our steps, arriving at Alghero in good time for our early evening flight back home.

ITINERARY

SARDINIA

Our flight arrives at Alghero in north-west Sardinia in the afternoon, and it is a two hour drive down the coast to Oristano, where we will spend five nights. The Gulf of Oristano is one of two major wetland areas on the island, the other being near Cagliari, the island's capital. It is just a short drive from our hotel to various wetland habitats. Sale Porcus is a natural salt lake, reminiscent of an African chött, which holds thousands of Greater Flamingos, plus Slender-billed Gull and a multitude of waders.

Freshwater ponds hold Little Bittern, Red-crested Pochard, Purple Gallinule, (left) Cetti's Warbler and Great Reed Warbler, plus the chance of Glossy Ibis. In brackish lakes there are migrant Spoonbills, Kentish Plovers, Avocets, Little Terns and Ospreys. The man-made pond at S'ena Arrubia holds a multitude of ducks including the globally threatened Ferruginous Duck. In drier areas we may find a lingering Collared Pratincole. A little south and inland, the large basaltic plateau of Giara looks like an immense fortress from a distance. Large stands of cork oak dominate the area, interspersed with maquis. We will explore various country roads which dissect the plateau. Barbary Partridge is the main prize; in Europe this species occurs only here and on Gibraltar. Whilst looking for them we are likely to come across Marmora's Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Cirl Bunting and Woodlark.

On another day we will drive north into the central-western plateau. Cultivated land alternates with more natural steppe. Stone Curlews, Calandra Larks, Short-toed Larks, Spanish Sparrows and Rock Sparrows are all fairly common. We will also try to find Little Bustard, whose population here numbers about 200 breeding birds. Later in the afternoon we will visit Capo Marargui, where Griffon Vultures soar amid beautiful coastal scenery.

The highlight of our time in Sardinia will be the visit to the LIPU reserve on San Pietro Island, off the south-west coast. A 30 minute ferry will take us across to this scenic island, with its high cliffs and hidden coves. About 100 pairs of Eleonora's Falcons nest here. Their late breeding season coincides with the passage of songbirds through the Mediterranean; at the time of our visit the young will still be in the nest. Blue Rock Thrushes frequent the same rocky areas and the Mediterranean race of Shags can be seen flying low over the sea.

On day six we will drive to Santa Teresa Gallura on the north coast, and take a 50 minute car ferry to Bonifacio on the southern tip of Corsica. From the ferry we should see good numbers of Cory's Shearwaters and Yelkouan Shearwaters, and possibly Arctic or Pomarine Skua.

CORSICA From Bonifacio it is an hour and a half drive to our hotel near Corte, our base for the remaining three nights. On our first full day on Corsica we will concentrate on finding the island's most famous bird, the Corsican Nuthatch. A short drive from our hotel will take us to the Vizzavona forest and the desired habitat and elevation: Corsican Pine forest between 1000m and 1400m above sea level. The nuthatch is fairly inconspicuous in behaviour, although its distinctive calls should help us to locate it. Related to both Krüper's and Algerian Nuthatch, this active little bird is found nowhere else in the world.

Whilst searching, we are sure to come across a few Corsican Citril Finches, which are commoner here than on Sardinia. We may also see Crossbill, Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Nearby hills are covered in extensive maquis scrub, home to a number of interesting birds. Marmora's Warbler is the prize bird. They should be showing themselves well at the time of our visit. The next day we will visit the Asco Valley, a high altitude site where there is another chance of Corsican Nuthatch and Corsican Citril Finch. Lammergeier is our main quarry here. Some eight pairs nest on Corsica, testament to how rugged these mountains are.

Whilst scanning the ridges we are also likely to see Golden Eagle, Red Kite and Alpine Chough. Lower down, Scops Owl can be seen on a short evening excursion. In the surrounding villages we will see Italian Sparrow, a localized bird, with an appearance in-between House and Spanish Sparrow. Spotless Starlings are common too. On day nine we will drive back down to Bonifacio, catch the ferry back to Sardinia, and fly back to the UK.

PACE There will be optional pre-breakfast walks in the vicinity of the hotels. Breakfast will be taken at about 8.00am most mornings, but slightly earlier on some mornings. Basic fitness is all that is required. Day long birdwatching excursions will be made and short/medium length walks on the flat will be undertaken regularly. On Corsica there will be a little uphill walking, but at a relaxed pace.

ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD Full-board accommodation is provided, with five nights near Oristano on Sardinia and three nights near Corte on Corsica. Both hotels are of good standard and all rooms have en suite bathrooms. Picnic lunches will be taken every day. Excellent French and Italian food is a feature of this trip.

PRICE INCLUDES ….. All birdwatching excursions with expert leader, full-board accommodation, soft drinks, local transport by mini-bus, inter-island ferries, reserve entrance fees, return flights to Alghero, and flight and airport taxes.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED Cost of travel insurance, payable at the time of booking. Items of a personal nature, alcoholic drinks, laundry, etc.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS Return flight from London Stansted direct to Sardinia using the scheduled services of Ryanair. Outbound flight departs early afternoon, return flight arrives back early evening.

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