Tyhrennian Wall Lizard (Apparently)
I was up at dawn again this morning - just as well considering the temperature topped 42 in the afternoon! Far too hot for doing much, less alone a big day's birding.
My destination was Col de la Croix near Galeria, mentioned in the Crozier guide as an excellent spot. The drive up there was fairly productive: Red Kites, Buzzard, Kestrel, Red-backed Shrikes, Tawny Pipits and in an dried up river bed, Sardinian Warblers, Montoli's (Subalpine) Warblers, Spotted Flycatchers, Grey Wagtails and 5 Rock Sparrows.
There were plenty of finches on telegraph wires at the Col. A few Goldinches, a dozen Greenfinches and then, fleetingly, one of the main reasons birders come here, a Corsican Citril Finch. It was a pretty scruffy juvenile and only stuck around for a few seconds. I couldn't relocate it despite plenty of trying.
This juvenile Cirl Bunting was one of a number in the car park.
I walked around the headland and scanned out at sea. There were a few Yellow-legged Gulls and 8 Mediterranean Shags on the water. Another one for the list.
Managed a bit of birding in the afternoon inland of Ile Rousse where I witnessed a spectacular mixed flock of 30 Ravens and 11 Red Kites making a whole load of noise. Underneath them was a Woodchat Shrike perched on a telegraph post, but again, all too briefly.
New birds: Rock Sparrow, Woodchat Shrike, Corsican Finch, Shag
New creatures: Western Whip Snake
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