A full list of birds with an indication of numbers is given at the end of this account.  First are details of daily highlights at specific sites.

Corsica

Scenery:  Spectacular almost vertical , snow-capped and pine clad mountains contrasting with the flat, arable coastal lowlands.

Monday 28^th May

We sailed from Toulon to Corsica, a journey of approximately 3 ¾ hours.

At Toulon harbour PALLID SWIFTS flew around one of the large warehouses and YELLOW LEGGED GULLS abounded.

Few birds were seen at sea but eventually a YELKOUAN SHEARWATER and  CORY'S SHEARWATER were spotted.  WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS leapt out of the water and an impressive FIN WHALE surfaced close to the boat.

We arrived at Ajaccio Harbour at 12:45 where there was one adult and one immature AUDOUIN'S GULL.  SHAG and CORMORANTS sat on the rocks and jetties.

First stop on Corsica was the nearest garage.  A patch of uncultivated land next to the garage yielded SERIN and HOODED CROW. On the road to Corte we saw COMMON BUZZARD, RAVEN and KESTREL and lots of HOUSE MARTINS.  Only two CRAG MARTINS were seen but plenty of ITALIAN SPARROWS.  Contrary to the quoted adage that all the sparrows on Corsica are Italian, we saw several HOUSE SPARROWS.

The plants of the roadside verges were CISTUS, GREEN HELLEBORE, FRENCH LAVENDER, GIANT FENNEL, POPPIES, GOATSBEARD and SPURGES.

We arrived at Venaco at 16:50 where we saw RED KITES, SPOTLESS STARLINGS, STONECHAT and  SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS.

We detoured on the D39 Corte to Santa Lucia road, turning right at Corte into an area of burnt trees.  A short walk and we had soon seen CITRIL FINCHES, SERIN and CORSICAN NUTHATCH ( the latter located by call, then seen high in the pines).  Plants noted here were TASSLE HYACINTH, TANSY, GALIUM SP., SPRING SOWBREAD  and  SQUARE STEMMED LEEK.

Tueasday 29^th May

North of Venaco is a spectacular bridge over a deep gorge.  Here a pale (female or perhaps first year male) SUBALPINE WARBLER skulked in the bushes.  CIRL BUNTINGS perched on the wires and more CRAG MARTINS were seen.

We stayed at Le Bosquet, a Logis de France hotel.  In the garden was a FIRECREST  and ALPINE SWIFTS could be seen from the upstairs windows where there was a magnificent panoramic view of the mountains.

By the supermarket in Venaco ITALIAN SPARROWS approached very closely.  On a roadside plant we had excellent views of a  CORSICAN SWALLOWTAIL butterfly.

Valle de la Restonica was closed so we headed north to Asco.  A RED BACKED SHRIKE , WOODCHAT and BEE EATER were seen on the telegraph wires, NIGHTINGALES  called and on a small nature reserve by a sharp bend in the road a MARMORA'S WARBLER was seen well.

At the Asco Valley ski area CITRIL FINCHES  displayed but it wasn't until 17:00 hrs that a LAMMERGEIER was spotted flying across the valley.  Just before the ski area were some pines, one of which had the number 13 on it.  Here two CORSICAN NUTHATCHES, (an adult and a juvenile) allowed exceptionally close views.  Whilst waiting for the Lammergeier in the ski area a QUEEN OF SPAIN FRITILLARY butterfly was seen.  Driving back past a steep rock face we noticed a large ILLYRIAN LILY.

Back at Venaco at night a BARN OWL put in an appearance.

Wednesday 30^th May

The temperature was 26C at 9am.

South of Corte between Vivario and a café was an area good for DARTFORD and MARMORA'S WARBLER.  Here was a wonderful viewpoint for the mountains.  WOODLARK and CUCKOO called.  ALPINE CHOUGH could be seen around the mountain tops.  CRAG MARTINS came to the path collecting mud from the edge of a puddle.  A HUMMINGBIRD HAWKMOTH looked for nectar and the more orange coloured, Southern European variety of SPECKLED WOOD flitted about the trees. 

We cooled off in a forest near Cascade Anglais.  It was midday but a SCOPS OWL called.  A GREEN UNDERSIDE BLUE butterfly and a DUSKY HEATH were seen.

From Vivario we turned left onto the D69 to Ghisoni.  Once again, in an area of Corsican Pine where we stopped at random, two CORSICAN NUTHATCHES were seen (by the way, a tape was not used, the Nuthatches abound but they are usually very high up in the trees so it makes for a stiff neck!)

Continuing along the road to St. Antoine a SARDINIAN WARBLER was seen in a suitable area of scrub.

On the lowland to Ajhione birds abounded in the fields: CORN BUNTINGS, MONTAGU'S HARRIER, TREE SPARROW, SPANISH SPARROW, FAN-TAILED WARBLER, WOODCHAT SHRIKE and TAWNY PIPIT - all easily visible from the roadside.

We drove through an area of Eucalyptus trees on the way to Aleria, then an area of Cypresses - Lebanon and Italian.  Near this area we saw SHORT TOED LARK.

A track runs off to Lake Diane.  A stroll down the track yielded CETTI'S WARBLER, FAN TAILED WARBLER, BEE EATER, HOBBY and TURTLE DOVE.  On the pools were LITTLE GREBE and the usual MOORHEN and GREY HERON.

Thursday 31^st May

We attempted Valle de la Restonica again but due to the roadworks we were only able to walk the lower area near the campsite.  However there are magnificent views over to the vertical sides of the valley and a GOLDEN EAGLE and a BLUE ROCK THRUSH were seen.  Once again there were CIRL BUNTINGS and FIRECRESTS  in the pines.

We then attempted to explore the shore of Lake Biguglia but there is poor access on the east side and poor views as the reeds grow so tall.  However we did have close views of MELODIOUS WARBLER and glimpses of CETTI'S WARBLER  and NIGHTINGALE.  The best view of the lake is at the northern end.  From here we saw many  LITTLE EGRETS and a GREAT WHITE EGRET.

THE CAMARGUE

Scenery in a nutshell: Flat, cultivated area dissected by irrigation channels. Also lots of rice paddies. Areas of reedbed and lush roadside vegetation.  White horses, black bulls, abundant birdlife.  Historic towns and remains of Roman aqueducts.

Friday 1^st June

The Mistral was blowing strongly.

Driving along the N568 from Toulon to Arles we saw BLACK WINGED STILT, CATTLE EGRETS, MONTAGU'S HARRIERS, and BLACK KITES.

About 10km from Arles were a gang of 150 MEDITERRANEAN GULLS and a WHITE STORK.

We went to Les Beaux/La Caume but it was too windy for raptors.  Near the large car park we saw BLUE SPOT HAIRSTREAK butterfly and SCARCE SWALLOWTAIL.

An exceptionally rich area birdwise was a field near the Petit Rhone.  From St. Gilles cross SE over the Petit Rhone and take the second right to an area opposite Aigue Mortes on the map.  In just one field in half an hour we saw ROLLER, MARSH HARRIER, PURPLE HERON, LESSER GREY SHRIKE, CRESTED LARK, SHORT TOED LARK, TREE SPARROW, FAN TAILED WARBLER and YELLOW WAGTAIL.

West of St. Gilles on the D779 road to a Reserve was another productive area: BLACK WINGED STILT, GREATER FLAMINGO, GREAT REED WARBLER, HOBBY, RED FOOTED FALCON, GULL BILLED TERN, NIGHT HERON, CETTI'S WARBLER and NIGHTINGALE.

Saturday June 2^nd

An early morning visit to the Crau was rewarded by 14 LITTLE BUSTARDS calling and displaying. A STONE CURLEW  flew over as we watched.  Further into the Crau another LITTLE BUSTARD  flew over the car and landed nearby.  We also saw LESSER KESTREL and LITTLE RINGED PLOVER.

On the way to Salinas we passed the white horses and little black bulls that the Camargue is famous for.  At Salinas itself were AVOCETS, BLACK WINGED STILTS, LITTLE TERN, SLENDER BILLED GULL, HOOPOE, TAWNY PIPIT, BLUE HEADED WAGTAIL (cinereocapillo) and an unexpected LESSER CRESTED TERN.

The midges were biting hard in the evening making birding difficult.

A recommended restaurant in the area is La Telline at Villeneuve.

Sunday June 3^rd

A pre breakfast visit to La Capeliere Reserve wasn't as productive as hoped because once again the Mistral continued to blow.  We saw BEARDED TITS but not the hoped for MOUSTACHED WARBLER. A bit late in the season perhaps. The only  GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO we came across was a dead one by the side of the road.

A lunchtime stop on the D779 between Etang du Charrier and Etang Scamandre was much better: CASPIAN TERN, RED CRESTED POCHARD, BITTERN,  and HOBBY.

At the saltpans again we saw SLENDER BILLED GULLS and KENTISH PLOVER.

We only saw a fraction of the birds on the Camargue.  A further 3 or 4 days would have been ideal to explore this area and Mont Ventoux (the latter for Wallcreeper).

Cost of holiday:  flight/car hire/fuel/airport parking/accommodation/food i.e.everything included worked out at about £600-650 each for 6 people.

FULL TRIP LIST (03 Jun, no counting done as such)

	Toulon. Ajaccio to Venaco	Venaco to Asco Valley	Vivario to L. Diane	Valle de la Restonica. L. Biguglia	Toulon to Arles to St. Gilles to Reserve	The Crau. Saltpans	La Capeliere Reserve
BIRDS SEEN	28 MAY	29 MAY	30 MAY	31 MAY	01 JUN	02 JUN	03 JUN
LITTLE GREBE			11			1
GC GREBE				15		40
CORY'S SHEARWATER	1
BALEARIC SHEARWATER	1
YELKOUAN SHEARWATER	1
CORMORANT	3					1
SHAG	1
LITTLE EGRET			2	31	5
GREAT WHITE EGRET						2
CATTLE EGRET					200
GREY HERON			2		1	20
PURPLE HERON					2-10	10
NIGHT HERON					4	3
BITTERN					1	1
WHITE STORK					2-5	1
GREATER FLAMINGO					40	200
SHELDUCK						30
GADWALL						20
MALLARD					20	100
RED KITE	3	10	6	2
BLACK KITE		1
MARSH HARRIER		1	1		10	15
MANTAGU'S HARRIER			2		2
COMMON BUZZARD	1	3	6	1		1
GOLDEN EAGLE			1	1
LESSER KESTREL						1F
COMMON KESTREL	2		4		3	2
RED FOOTED FALCON					2	1
HOBBY			2		1
PEREGRINE FALCON			1
RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE						1
PHEASANT						2
MOORHEN			4	1	1	3
COOT			4	100	3	20
LITTLE BUSTARD						15
BLACK WINGED STILT					20	40
AVOCET						15
STONE CURLEW						2
COLLARED PRATINCOLE						2
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER						1
KENTISH PLOVER						1
LAPWING							1
RUFF						3
YELLOW LEGGED GULL	150		200	50	50	1000
BLACK HEADED GULL				2	20	50
AUDOUIN'S GULL	2
SLENDER BILLED GULL						1
MEDITERRANEAN GULL					150	300
GULL BILLED TERN					1	20
CASPIAN TERN							1
LESSER CRESTED TERN						1
COMMON TERN	2					10
LITTLE TERN						3
FERAL PGEON	#		#	#	#	#
WOOD PIGEON	5	2	1	2	10	5
TURTLE DOVE			3	1	4	2
COLLARED DOVE	#	6	15	10	10	6
GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO							1 dead
COMMON CUCKOO	3	1	3			2
BARN OWL		1
SCOPS OWL	1	4	2
ALPINE SWIFT		30	2	10	4
COMMON SWIFT	2000	#	#	#	#	#
PALLID SWIFT	10	20
BEE EATER		2	30	4	3	15
ROLLER					8	2
HOOPOE				1		1
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER	4	6	6	2	1	2
GREEN WOODPECKER						1
SHORT TOED LARK			1	1	3	1
CRESTED LARK					6	10
WOOD LARK	7		10	1
SKYLARK						20
SAND MARTIN					10	4
CRAG MARTIN	2	20	20	20	2
SWALLOW	3	10	10	50	10	20
HOUSE MARTIN	100	100	20	100	30	#
TAWNY PIPIT			1	1		2
WHITE WAGTAIL	1				2
BLUE HEADED WAGTAIL					1	15
GREY WAGTAIL	2	3	3	8
DIPPER				2
WREN	3	1	#	1
ROBIN	1	#	1	1
NIGHTINGALE		1	2	2	20	55
STONECHAT	1		10	10	2	6
BLUE ROCK THRUSH		1			1
BLACKBIRD	4	6	6	4	4	2
MISTLE THRUSH	1	1	1
CETTI'S WARBLER			5	5	8	22
ZITTING CISTICOLA	3		10	6	15	20
REED WARBLER				3		10
GREAT REED WARBLER					1	7
MELODIOUS WARBLER				2		5
BLACKCAP	10	10	20	10	2
SARDINIAN WARBLER			3	1	1	8
SUBALPINE WARBLER		2	1
DARTFORD WARBLER			1
MARMORA'S WARBLER		2	3
GOLDCREST	2
FIRECREST		1	2	5
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER	10	20	10	6
LONG TAILED TIT	1	12	1	2
COAL TIT	10	10	10	10
GREAT TIT	2	4	4	3	1	3
BLUE TIT	3	10	6	5		1
CORSICAN NUTHATCH	2	3	2
TREECREEPER		1	1
GOLDEN ORIOLE						1
RED BACKED SHRIKE		2		1
LESSER GREY SHRIKE					1
WOODCHAT SHRIKE		1	2
JAY	1	10	10	10	1	2
MAGPIE	1			10	20	50
YELLOW BILLED CHOUGH		20	25
JACKDAW	6	#	1		1	1
HOODED CROW	10	#	#	#
CARRION CROW	10	10	5	5
RAVEN					50
STARLING					10	10
SPOTLESS STARLING	10	10	20
HOUSE SPARROW	20				6	10
ITALIAN SPARROW	1	3	10
SPANISH SPARROW			1
CHAFFINCH	20	#	#	#	#	#
SERIN	5	10	10	10	6
CITRIL FINCH	10	20	3	1
GREENFINCH	2	1	2	4	1
GOLDFINCH	10	10	6	10	10	10
LINNET			2	4
CIRL BUNTING	1	6	15	1
CORN BUNTING			10	20	10	10

Mammal list:   

Fin Whale
Harbour porpoise
Common Dolphin
White sided Dolphin
Squirrel
Fox
Rabbit
Coypu

Butterfly list:

Corsican Swallowtail
Scarce Swallowtail
Large White
Small White
Clouded Yellow
Wood White
Marbled White
Small Copper
Common Blue
Red Admiral
Painted Lady
Silver Washed Fritillary
Corsican Fritillary
Queen of Spain Fritillary
Gatekeeper
Meadow Brown
Small Heath
Dusky Heath
Speckled Wood