Corse

Corsica is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily, Sardinia, and Cyprus). It is located west of mainland Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the Italian island of Sardinia and covers 8,722 km² (3,368 square miles). It is 183 kilometres long at its longest and 83 kilometres wide at its widest and has 1000 kilometres of coastline with more than 200 beaches.

While Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France, it is moving toward a form of autonomy. The region consists of two Departments, Corse du Sud & Haute-Corse. As a territorial collectivity, it enjoys greater powers than other French regions, but for the most part its status is quite similar. Although the island is separated from the continental mainland by the Ligurian Sea and is much closer to the Italian mainland than it is to the rest of France, politically Corsica is part of Metropolitan France. It has a population of over 365,000 people. The regional capital and largest town is Ajaccio. Corsica is famed as the birthplace of Napoléon Bonaparte. His ancestral home, Casa Buonaparte, is located there still.

Monte Cinto – ©Maxim Massalitin CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

A single chain of mountains makes up two thirds of the island, and the tallest peak is Monte Cinto at 8,878 feet, and there are around 120 peaks over 6,600 feet. 20% of the island is wooded. Corsica has several rivers, some with tributaries. They originate in inland lakes or mountain passes, flow through gorges featuring rapids and waterfalls, then meander through coastal alluvial deposits before discharging into the sea rather than into one of the many coastal étangs or ‘pools’.

The island is divided into three major ecological zones by altitude. Below 2,000 feet is the coastal zone, which features a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The natural vegetation is Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and shrubs. The coastal lowlands are part of the Tyrrhenian-Adriatic sclerophyllous and mixed forests ecoregion, in which forests and woodlands of evergreen sclerophyll oaks predominate, chiefly Holm Oak Quercus ilex and Cork Oak Quercus suber. Much of the coastal lowlands have been cleared for agriculture, grazing and logging, which have reduced the forests considerably.

Corsica Forest – ©Pierre Bona CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

From 2,000 to 6,000 feet is a temperate montane zone. The mountains are cooler and wetter, and home to the Corsican montane broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion, which supports diverse forests of oak, pine, and broadleaf deciduous trees, with vegetation more typical of northern Europe. The population lives predominantly below 3,000 feet, with only shepherds and hikers at 2,000 to 3,000 feet.

From 6,000 to 9,000 feet is a high alpine zone. Vegetation is sparse. In spite of the southern location, the highest elevations are snow-capped with small glaciers. This zone is uninhabited.

Birding Corsica

Nature reserves cover roughly 40% of the island amounting to 3,500 km² (1,400 square miles) of the total surface. The largest is a natural park (Parc Naturel Régional de Corse), which protects thousands of rare animal and plant species. The park was created in 1972 and includes the Golfe de Porto, the Scandola Nature Reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and some of the highest mountains on the island. This park is protected and cannot be reached on foot, but people can gain access by boat. Two endangered subspecies of hoofed mammals, the mouflon Ovis aries musimon and Corsican red deer Cervus elaphus corsicanus inhabit the island; the Corsican red deer is endemic.

Corsica National Park – ©Ed BEDOS CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

There is a rich avifauna in Corsica. Perhaps the most spectacular example is the bearded vulture, or Lammergeier, which (along with the iconic Griffon Vulture) serve as environmental janitors by scavenging the remains of deceased animals, thus limiting the proliferation of infectious microbes and diseases. Other sought-after birds include Barn Owl, Blue Rockthrush, European Bee-eater, Pallid Swift, Common Crane, Golden Eagle, Greater Flamingo, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon. In some cases, Corsica is an isolated portion of a species’ distribution; in other cases, it is the furthest point in a species’ range. For example, a subspecies of Hooded Crow Corvus cornix cornix occurs in Corsica, but not anywhere further south.

While birding is varied and satisfying several birds are the main attractions, including the aforementioned Lammergeier. The island endemic Corsican Nuthatch being top of any birders ‘most wanted’ list. Number two on the list would be Corsican Finch Carduelis corsicana only found here and neighbouring Sardinia. Both Marmora’s Warbler Sylvia sarda and Moltoni’s Warbler Sylvia subalpine are more likely to be encountered here than other places. Audouin’s Gull Ichthyaetus audouinii can be found along the coast with always the chance of a passing Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan.

Non-avian sattractions include Hermann’s Tortoise and two species of salamander.