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| A Report from birdtours.co.uk |
Sardinia, 13th - 27th September,
As expected September was not the best month to see a wide variety of birds in Sardinia. We stopped 5 nights on the Costa Smeralda (Gallura Province in the north-east of the island) ("NE"), 5 nights at Su Gologone in the hills above Nuoro in the east-central part of the island ("EC") and 4 nights just west of Alghero in the north-west ("NW"). Only this third area receives any mention at all in the 1994 edition of "Where to watch birds in Italy"
We did however find a number of sites in these mainly holiday areas which will be of some interest to birders.
Sites
In the NE near to the Cannigone area :-
A. South of Cannigone there is a road to Baia Sardinia that is not marked on the Michelin 1/350000 map although it is well used and not new. To the south of this road and easily viewable is a small lake which held a variety of waterbirds and Marsh Harrier
B. A few kilometres north of Cannigone, near a caravan site at Isoledda between the road and the beach is a lagoon which produced Common Sandpiper and Dunlin.
C. A few kilometres north of B at Golfa della Saline is a lagoon protected for wildlife, which produced a variety of common species including Common Sandpiper
South of Olbia is a fair sized lagoon called Stagno di San Teodoro. We first got access to the north here along a rough access road from the village of La Fraili marked "Della Pescharia" The employee of the fish farm at the end of the track, was happy to let us bird watch on the farm premises. However we later found that the best birds including Greater Flamingo could be seen from the road off the S131 to San Teodoro itself.
We did visit the Oristano marshes but found that all the northern saline lakes near Putzu Idu were non-existant in late summer. We didn't find any birds til we got to the south end of Stagno di Cabras. The best viewing here was along the track west of the bridge between this lake and the lagoon on the seaward side of the road from Cabras to San Salvatore (but beware the several decoy ducks floating on the lake here!) The lake can also be reached NW of Cabras on the Riola Sardo road (if you can find the right road out of Cabras!)
In the NW:-
A Lake Baratz, a few miles north of Alghero airport is Sardinia's only fresh water lake. It is a protected area (esp for turtles) and was very good for birds.
B The salines between the road and the sea just south of Stintino (on the NW tip of the island) are well worth a visit. Besides Kentish Plovers and a handful of other waders, we found Audouin's Gull there.
C West of Alghero and just before Fertilia there is a large lagoon. At the west end this can be viewed from the road bridge north of the coast road but there is good access via a track from the coast road immediately before the petrol station by the Fertilia traffic lights. It wasn't until we flew out that we realised that this lagoon is much bigger than appeared and can probably be accessed at other points.
Systematic List
Little Grebe Quite numerous on some lakes, esp Lake Baratz (several 100)
Great Crested Grebe not widespread but good numbers on Stegno di Casaraccio at Stintino; Lago del Coghinas in NE & Stagno di S Teodoro
Cormorant Small numbers at most coastal locations and on some lakes.
Shag just one seen - on ferry crossing to La Maddalena in NE
Grey Heron Quite common around fresh and sea water
Great White Egret a couple at lake south of Cannigone, also at Stagno di S. Teodoro
Cattle Egret At lake south of Cannigone and a dozen on lagoon at Fertilia
Little Egret Common near water.
Greater Flamingo 23 at Stagno di S.Teodoro Just one at Stagno di Cabras
Mallard fairly common
Teal 4 at Lake Baratz on our second visit (26th)
Shoveller 20+ at Lake Baratz
Wigeon A few at Stagno di Cabras
Pochard 10+ at Lake Baratz
Red-crested Pochard small numbers at Lake Baratz and Stagno di Cabras
Ferruginous Duck a dozen or so at Lake Baratz
Griffon Vulture 4 seen at Capo Marargiu (note-the easiest place to observe from is from the main road opposite an establishment called "Il Griffone" a couple of km north of Bosa)
Osprey At least 6 at Lago di Cabras on 20/9 and another at Fertilia lagoon on 24 & 27/9
Red Kite just one from the Macomber - Pozzomaggiore road on 23/9
Marsh Harrier Seen at several wetland sites
Sparrowhawk just two together over hotel at Su Gologone EC)
Buzzard fairly common
Kestrel Common in all areas we visited. Several sightings most days.
Peregrine Falcon one seen in valley above Su Gologone (EC) and another at Capo Caccia(NW)
Hobby watched one hawking for a long period over Lake Baratz on 25/9
Barbary Partridge Just one seen as it ran across road in front of our car between Oliena and Olgoroso in EC on 21/9
Coot common - large numbers present at several sites
Moorhen common - small numbers present at several sites
Curlew just one seen at Stagno di Casaraccio at Stintino on 26/9
Ringed Plover a couple at the Salines at Stintino on 26/9
Kentish Plover 10+ at Salines at Stintino on 26/9
Grey Plover one at Salines at Stintino on 26/9
Dunlin two at Salines at Stintino on 26/9
Green Sandpiper one at Stagno di Baratz on 20/9
Common Sandpiper seen at several locations
Redshank 3 or 4 at Stagno di Cabras on 20/9
Greenshank one at Stagno di S Teodoro
Yellow -legged Herring Gull common,
Audouin's Gull Just one on 26/9 at the Stintino Salines
Black-headed Gull a few at several locations
Woodpigeon only one or two seen in EC & NW
Rock Dove flock of 20-30 at Su Gologone spring
Collared Dove widespread & common
Turtle Dove only one seen at lagoon south of Cannigone
Little Owl just one at Lake Baratz
European Bee-eater 10+ birds over cliffs near Su Gologone on 19/9
Great Spotted Woodpecker common - seen or heard most days
Kingfisher not seen at all til 24/9 at Bosa but then several seen at Fertilia lagoon
Common Swift several seen on 14/9 only near Arzachena (NE)
Skylark one on 14/9 near Arzachena
Calandra Lark a couple off Macomber-Pozzomagiore road on 23/9
Crag Martin a few at Lago del Coghinas on 16/9
House Martin several near Arzachena (NE) on 14/9
Barn Swallow a few at Cannigone on 14/9
Red-rumped Swallow several near Arzachena on 14/9 and at Lago del Coghinas on16/9
White Wagtail just one on beach at Porto Curvo on 15/9
Grey Wagtail only seen at spring at Su Gologone
Wren seen in ground of our hotel in NE on 18/9
Stonechat very common in all areas
Robin on;y seen in grounds of hotel and at spring at Su Gologone
Blackbird one or two seen most days but not common
Cetti's Warbler very common in wide variety of habitat.
Reed Warbler one probable at Fertilia lagoon on 27/9
Blackcap family party in grounds of hotel at Su Gologone daily and couple seen in mountains nearby, otherwise not common
Sardinian Warbler very common in all areas
Spectacled Warbler 2 along Macomber-Pozzomagiore road on 23/9
Melodious Warbler one at Lago del Coghina on 16/9
Wood Warbler one at spring at Su Gologone on 19/9
Spotted Flycatcher one seen on farmland near Arzachena on 14/9
Firecrest crests were common but often difficult to see. Those we got decent views of were all Firecrests
Great Tit quite common in all areas
Blue Tit quite common in all areas but fewer than Great Tit
Coal Tit fairly common in suitable habitat
Woodchat Shrike just one at Stagno di Teodoro on 23/9
Jay very common but slightly less so in NW
Jackdaw fairly common in towns/villages
Hooded Crow extremely common in all areas
Raven very common in all areas
Spotless Starling fairly common
House (Italian) Sparrow very common
Spanish Sparrow a few which appeared more "Spanish" than "Italian" in NW
Citril Finch fairly common
Chaffinch several sightings but not common
Greenfinch one or two seen or heard in NE but not common
Goldfinch small numbers at a few locations and a larger flock at a tip between Stintino and Porto Torres
Linnet small numbers seen at various locations.
Cirl Bunting fairly common
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