Corsica in Autumn

Naturetrek Tour Report 23 - 30 September 2018

Berberis aetnensis Calanches de Piana

Corte

Report & images by David Tattersfield

Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Tour Report Corsica in Autumn

Tour participants: David Tattersfield (leader) with four Naturetrek clients

Day 1 Sunday 23rd September

After an early departure from Gatwick, we were on the road from Bastia by mid-morning, with the rest of the day to explore the north of the island, en route to our hotel in Evisa. Leaving the low-lying agricultural land behind us, we drove west, along the Golu River, beneath maquis-covered hills, here and there scarred by past fires. We stopped beside the delightful model village at Pont Nuovo and were pleasantly surprised by the number of butterflies, enjoying the late summer sun, a good omen for the week ahead.

After a coffee break beside the Genoese bridge, at Ponte Leccia, we drove north to the coast, with regular views of acrobatic Red Kites, overhead. At Isle Rousse, we enjoyed shopping for fresh produce from a farmer’s market, before continuing to Calvi and a brief exploration of the town and its busy marina. We had our picnic lunch by a rocky inlet, a little way down the coast, near Galeria and an opportunity to get to grips with the flora and more butterflies. Special plants here included three of the island’s endemics, namely Corsican Stork’s-bill Erodium corsicum, a Sea Lavender Limonium corsicum and the Knotgrass Polygonum scoparium. Butterflies included Long-tailed Blue, Lang’s Short-tailed Blue and a Plain Tiger, attracted to the flowers of its caterpillar food-plant, Bristly-fruited Silkweed Gomphocarpus fruticosus, a naturalised South African weed with dramatic inflated fruits.

To the south, the long sinuous road afforded us splendid views of the coastline and we lingered a while among the stunning cliffs of pink granite. After reaching Porto, we climbed steeply inland, on the tortuous road to Evisa, where we dined on a delicious wild-boar stew before retiring to bed for some much-needed sleep.

Day 2 Monday 24th September

An early-morning amble gave some of us brief views of Cirl Bunting and Corsican Nuthatch, only a short distance from the hotel. After breakfast, we drove up into the cool air of the Foret d’Aitone, where we walked to the ruins of an old chestnut mill and a series of pools and cascades, along the river. The tall straight trunks of Corsican Pine Pinus nigra subsp. laricio stood, in timeless fashion, all around us, right down to the water’s edge, where their roots mingled with Royal Fern Osmunda regalis and Willow Gentian Gentiana asclepiadea. Tree Heather and Holly formed a conspicuous understorey and there were scattered plants of Corsican Hellebore Helleborus lividus subsp. corsicus and Cyclamen hederifolium. Birds were mostly high in the trees, but we had good views of Long-tailed Tits, Firecrest and Eurasian Treecreeper. Further on, we visited a wet area of forest, where there were large stands of Willow Gentian and carpets of the aromatic Corcican Mint Mentha requienii. Exposed granite forms a unique habitat and it was here we encountered two of the island’s endemic lizards, the common Tyrrhenian Wall Lizard and the larger Bedriaga’s Rock Lizard.

We had lunch, before driving to the Col de Sevi, where we found numbers of pink Colchicum neapolitanum, pushing through the bare earth. Scanning the hillside, we spotted a number of the endemic Corsican Finch, in the Hawthorn trees, and then suddenly more and more appeared, giving everyone an opportunity to see them in the scope. We continued south to the coast at Sagone and a little further south to the Liamone estuary. There was little bird activity, except for Little Grebe, on the water and passing flocks of Spotless Starlings. However, there were lots of insects. Butterflies included Lang’s Short-tailed Blue, Baton Blue, and Southern Grayling and we found the large Egyptian Grasshopper, the strange-looking Nosed Grasshopper and the common Red Band-

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

winged Grasshopper. Down by the water’s edge, we noted Scarlet Darter, the distinctive and endemic Island Bluetail, a Black-tailed Skimmer and a large, fast-moving Dragonfly, which we took to be a Vagrant Emperor. The sandy beach was littered with the remains of Neptune Grass, a marine flowering plant, common around the Mediterranean and aptly named Posidonia oceanica. After an opportunity for a paddle, we returned to Evisa, stopping en route to watch large numbers of Red Kite and Raven over the local landfill site.

Day 3 Tuesday 25th September

After breakfast, we walked down through Evisa to the start of the footpath that leads down the Spelunca Gorge. Before the road was built, this ancient mule trail provided a vital link between Evisa and the harbour in Porto. We ventured a little way down to appreciate the nature of mature maquis. Its main components, Tree Heather Erica arborea, Strawberry Tree Arbutus unedo and Holm Oak Quercus ilex grow tall and form a high dense canopy, through which little light penetrates. Maritime Pine Pinus pinaster and Corsican Pine protrude beyond these and are easily distinguishable by their bark, needles and cones.

Returning to the road, we drove down to the bottom of the gorge, with stops at intervals to take in the magnificent scenery. We followed the trail, above the river, as far as the elegant Zaglia Bridge, that spans a tributary. Huge, elegant plants of Royal Fern lined the banks and the ubiquitous yellow Stink Aster Dittrichia viscosa was providing a magnet for late-season butterflies, including Swallowtail, Silver-washed Fritillary and a rather tattered Cardinal, all providing great entertainment over lunch. Regularly, through the day, and indeed every day, we saw the colourful Two-tailed Pasha, always near its larval food-plant, Strawberry Tree, but hardly ever staying still for long.

We returned to the road and drove up to the south-facing village of Ota, where we relaxed over drinks on the cafe terrace. We continued down to Porto and then a little way south to the Calanche de Piana. Here we walked among the pink granite cliffs that have, over time, been eroded into fantastic shapes and pinnacles, looking their best in the late-afternoon sun. We found the delicate blooms of the endemic Pink Snowflake Acis rosea and drifts of pink Cyclamen hederifolium lined the shady roadside verges. We still had the long drive back to Evisa, but the diversion had been well worth it.

Day 4 Wednesday 26th September

We left Evisa, this morning, and drove up to the Col de Vergio. Now, above the treeline, we were in an open landscape with a few stunted trees and a prickly carpet of prostrate Juniper and the low-growing spiny Broom Genista salzmannii var. lobelioides. Here and there were the glowing red berries of the Barberry Berberis aetnensis, the shiny, red hips of Rosa serafinii and the aromatic, endemic Thyme Thymus herba-barona. Birds were disappointingly few, but Woodlark was a new record. Down the eastern side of the pass, we had a long descent through the forest. We stopped by a damp ditch, where there were a few plants of the insectivorous Corsican Butterwort Pinguicula corsica and the brilliant red foliage of Norway Maple Acer platanoides, but the hoped-for Corsican Nuthatch were nowhere to be seen.

After leaving the forest, we passed through a more varied range of habitats. Our butterfly tally rose gradually, with additional species including Red Admiral, Wood White, Holly Blue and Queen of Spain Fritillary. We stopped for lunch in the village of Calacuccia, before descending into the spectacular rocky defile of the Santa

2 © Naturetrek May 19

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

Regina Gorge. We walked along a section of the beautifully engineered road, finding plants that reflected the hot dry conditions, such as Large Mediterranean Spurge Euphorbia characias, French Lavender Lavandula stoechas, prostrate forms of Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis and the two of Corsica’s aromatic endemics the Sticky Woundwort Stachys glutinosa and the pungent Germander Teucrium marum. We saw Dippers on the river and a curtain of Ivy was attracting Queen of Spain Fritillary and a large number of Cardinal.

After leaving the mountains, we stopped in an area of maquis, close to the railway, hoping to find some sign of the resident Sylvia Warblers. On this occasion, they remained well-hidden and we had to content ourselves with a few emerging spikes of Autumn Lady’s-tresses Spiranthes spiralis. Moving on, we spent an hour or so exploring Corte, the ancient capital of Corsica, and enjoying the views from the Citadel. From here, it was a short drive south to our hotel, set in the maquis, below Venaco, where we had time for a little exploration before dinner.

Day 5 Thursday 27th September

Leaving at 9am, we drove up to Venaco, for shopping. In the village, a sheltered and sunny gully was attracting many butterflies, which included Red Admiral, Great Banded Grayling and Purple Hairstreak. A short distance south we reached Gustav Eiffel’s dramatic railway bridge, spanning the Verghello Valley, alongside the elegant modern road bridge. Crag Martins flew around under the bridge and along the quiet road were many Corsican Wall Brown and Southern Grayling, enjoying the warm sunshine. We stopped for lunch, at the end of the road where we enjoyed magnificent views of the mountains and glimpses of Corsican Nuthatch, in the trees.

Continuing south, through Vivario, and up to the top of the pass, we made a short walk into the magnificent Beech forest. Most of the trees have multiple trunks, clear evidence that they had been coppiced, in the past. We followed this with a walk down to the Cascades des Anglais, where mixed open forest contained an abundance of Cyclamen hederifolium, growing among the boulders. To round off the afternoon we had drinks at the railway station in Vizzavona, the highest on Corsica’s unique railway, before returning to the hotel for dinner.

Day 6 Friday 28th September

After shopping, another visit to yesterday’s sunny gully revealed some fine examples of Southern White Admiral and Southern Speckled Wood. We drove up to Corte and into the Restonica valley, which runs south-west, deep into the rugged mountains. In the forest, we watched a mixed flock of Great Tits, Coal Tits, Long-tailed Tits and a number of Corsican Nuthatch feeding among the pine trees. The road ends just above the tree-line at the car- park, where we enjoyed a coffee, while taking in and the views of the rugged glaciated valley and the high granite ridges above.

Our walk took us through scrub of low-growing Corsican Alder, Alnus alnobetula subsp. suaveolens and scattered trees of Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus and the endemic Rowan Sorbus aucuparia subsp. praemorsa, each with colourful bark. We found a sunny, sheltered spot for lunch, before tackling the steepest part of the climb and after a short gully and a couple of fixed ladders, to ease our progress, we reached the circular glacial lake of Lac de Melo, at 1700 metres. We usually expect to see flocks of Alpine Chough but today, for some reason, they were nowhere to be seen. After enjoying the solitude of the place, we retraced our steps to the cafe, for refreshments, before the journey back to the hotel.

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

Day 7 Saturday 29th September

The morning started with short walk across the bridge, just upriver from the hotel, where we had good views of Dipper and all too brief glimpses of Sardinian Warbler. We then followed the Tavignano Valley to the coast at Aleria, where we did some shopping for lunch. The nearby beach was convenient for morning coffee, followed by a stroll along the strand line, where we found Italian Wall Lizards sunning themselves among the debris and a lovely adult Hermann’s Tortoise. We headed a little further south, down the coast to the the Etang d’Urbino, the second-largest of Corsica’s saline lagoons and had lunch by the new Conservatoire du Littoral where new display boards explained the importance of these unique coastal habitats. The shallow water had an interesting array of marine organisms, including Sea Cucumber and Sea Gooseberry, among the beds of Eelgrass.

Returning to the inland margin of the lagoon, we could pick out Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Little and Great Egret and a Marsh Harrier patrolled the reed beds. New plants included the large-leaved Sea Lavender Limonium vulgare and Golden Samphire Inula crithmoides and among these we noted Common and Scarlet Darter and the endemic Island Bluetail. In an adjacent field were a number of fine specimens of Autumn Lady’s-tresses. We returned directly to our hotel and celebrated a wonderful week over drinks and snacks, before dinner.

Day 8 Sunday 30th September

We snatched an early breakfast, before a smooth and uneventful journey to the airport, where we arrived in plenty of time for check-in.

Receive our e-newsletter

Join the Naturetrek e-mailing list and be the first to hear about new tours, additional departures and new dates, tour reports and special offers. Visit www.naturetrek.co.uk to sign up.

Social Media

We’re social! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and be the first to hear about the launch of new tours, offers and exciting sightings and photos from our recently returned holidays.

4 © Naturetrek May 19

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

Species Lists

Plants (• = endemic to Corsica, or nearby region; ‡ = cultivated or naturalised) Latin name Common name Notes

PTERIDOPHYTES FERNS AND FERN ALLIES

Aspleniaceae Spleenwort Family Asplenium adiantum-nigrum Black Spleenwort Occasional on rocks Asplenium ceterach Rustyback Rocks and walls Asplenium obovatum Lanceolate Spleenwort Shaded rocks. Spelunca Asplenium onopteris Sharp-leaved Spleenwort Walls Asplenium ruta-muraria Wall-rue Foret d'Aitone, Restonica Asplenium septentrionale Forked Spleenwort Shaded rocks. Foret d'Aitone Asplenium trichomanes Maidenhair Spleenwort Frequent on rocks

Blechnaceae Hard-fern Family Blechnum spicant Hard-fern Foret d'Aitone

Dennstaedtiaceae Bracken Family Pteridium aquilinum Bracken Common

Dryopteridaceae Buckler-fern Family Dryopteris cambrensis Narrow Male-fern Common Dryopteris dilatata Broad Buckler-fern Forests Dryopteris expansa Northern Buckler-fern Mountain rocks and scrub Dryopteris oreades Mountain Male-fern Common Polystichum aculeatum Hard Shield-fern Cascades des Anglais Polystichum setiferum Soft Shield-fern Foret d'Aitone

Equisetaceae Horsetail Family Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail Occasional in pasture Equisetum ramosissimum Branched Horsetail Hedges Equisetum telmateia Giant Horsetail Occasional in ditches

Osmundaceae Royal Fern Family Osmunda regalis Royal Fern Common by rivers

Polypodiaceae Polypody Family Polypodium cambricum Southern Polypody Occasional on rocks Polypodium vulgare Common Polypody Occasional on rocks

Pteridaceae Maidenhair Fern Family Adiantum capillus-veneris Maidenhair Fern Wet rocks. Spelunca Cryptogramma crispa Parsley Fern Mountain rocks. Restonica

Selaginellaceae Lesser Clubmoss Family Selaginella denticulata Toothed Clubmoss Damp earth. Common

Woodsiaceae Lady-fern Family Athyrium filix-femina Lady-fern Foret d'Aitone Cystopteris fragilis Brittle Bladder-fern Frequent on rocks

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

Latin name Common name Notes

GYMNOSPERMS CONIFERS

Cupressaceae Cypress Family Cupressus sempervirens Italian Cypress Cultivated Juniperus communis subsp. alpina Juniper Common in mountains Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus Prickly Juniper Common in maquis

Pinaceae Pine Family Abies alba European Silver-fir Foret d'Aitone, Vizzavona Larix decidua ‡ Larch Occasional. Foret d'Aitone Pinus halepensis ‡ Aleppo Pine Planted Pinus nigra subsp. laricio • Corsican Pine Forests Pinus pinaster Maritime Pine Common in lower forests Pinus pinea ‡ Umbrella Pine Planted near coasts Pseudotsuga menziesii ‡ Douglas Fir Planted. Foret d'Aitone

ANGIOSPERMS FLOWERING PLANTS

DICOTYLEDONS

Adoxaceae Moschatel Family Sambucus ebulus Danewort Foret d'Aitone. Vizzavona Sambucus nigra Elderberry Occasional Viburnum tinus Laurustinus Shaded maquis. Common

Aizoaceae Dewplant Family Carpobrotus edulis ‡ Yellow Hottentot-fig Coastal alien

Amaranthaceae Goosefoot Family Amaranthus retroflexus Common Amaranth Occasional weed Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima Sea Beet Liamone beach Chenopodium album Fat-hen Occasional weed Chenopodium bonus-henricus Good-King-Henry Animal pens Halimione portulacoides Sea Purslane Beaches Salsola kali Prickly Saltwort Sandy beaches Sarcocornia fruticosa A Perennial Glasswort Salt marsh. Etang d'Urbino

Anacardiaceae Sumach Family Pistacia lentiscus Mastic Tree Common in maquis

Apiaceae Carrot Family Bunium alpinum subsp. corydalinum • A Pignut Mountain pasture Bupleurum fruticosum Shrubby Hare's-ear Rocky places in maquis Crithmum maritimum Rock Samphire Coastal rocks Daucus carota Wild Carrot Common Eryngium campestre Field Eryngo Frequent Eryngium maritimum Sea Holly Coast Ferula communis Giant Fennel Frequent Foeniculum vulgare subsp. vulgare Fennel Common Imperatoria ostruthium Masterwort Mountain streamsides Mutellina corsica var. corsica • A Lovage Restonica Seseli praecox • Seseli Cliffs. Porto

6 © Naturetrek May 19

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

Latin name Common name Notes

Apocynaceae Dogbane Family Gomphocarpus fruticosus ‡ Bristle-fruited Silkweed Occasional. Roadsides Nerium oleander Oleander By streams in maquis Vincetoxicum hirundinaria Swallow-wort Restonica

Aquifoliaceae Holly Family Ilex aquifolium Holly Frequent in forests

Araliaceae Ivy Family Hedera helix Ivy Common

Asteraceae Daisy Family Achillea ligustica Southern Yarrow Common Adenostyles briquetii • Briquet's Adenostyles Restonica Bellis perennis Daisy Occasional Bellis sylvestris Southern Daisy Frequent Bellium bellidioides • False Daisy Common Carduus pycnocephalus Plymouth Thistle Common. Waste ground Carduus tenuiflorus Slender Thistle Coast Carlina corymbosa Flat-topped Carline Thistle Common to 1000 metres Carlina macrocephala subsp. macrocephala Large-headed Carline Thistle Occasional above1000 metres • Chondrilla juncea Rush Skeletonweed Waste places Cichorium intybus Chicory Roadsides Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle Grassy and waste places Dittrichia graveolens Aromatic Inula Roadsides. Frequent Dittrichia viscosa Stink Aster Roadsides . Common Doronicum corsicum • Corsican Leopard's-bane Wet rocks Galactites tomentosa Galactites Waste places Helichrysum frigidum • An Everlastingflower Mountain rocks Helichrysum italicum subsp. italicum A Curry Plant Rocky places Hypochaeris achyrophorus Mediterranean Cat's-ear Frequent Hypochaeris glabra Smooth Cat's-ear Frequent Hypochaeris radicata Common Cat's-ear Sand dunes Hypochaeris robertia • A Cat's-ear Widespread Jacobaea maritima Silver Ragwort Cliffs. Porto Lapsana communis Nipplewort Waste places Limbarda crithmoides Golden Samphire Coast Mycelis muralis Wall Lettuce Walls Phagnalon saxatile A Shrubby Cudweed Rocks at low altitude Prenanthes purpurea Purple Lettuce Forests Senecio vulgaris Groundsel Waste places Silybum marianum Milk Thistle Waste places Solidago virgaurea Goldenrod Mountains Sonchus asper Prickly Sow-thistle Waste places Sonchus oleraceus Smooth Sow-thistle Waste places Xanthium italicum ‡ A Cocklebur Coasts Xanthium spinosum ‡ Spiny Cocklebur Ruderal

Berberidaceae Barberry Family Berberis aetnensis • Etna Barberry Mountains

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

Latin name Common name Notes

Betulaceae Birch Family Alnus alnobetula subsp. suaveolens • Corsican Alder Restonica Alnus cordata • Italian Alder Occasional Alnus glutinosa Common Alder Common by rivers Betula pendula Silver Birch Forests to treeline

Boraginaceae Borage Family Cynoglossum creticum Cretan Hound's-tongue Roadsides Echium italicum Italian Viper's-bugloss Common Echium plantagineum Purple Viper’s-bugloss Waste ground Heliotropium europaeum Heliotrope Common. Roadsides

Brassicaceae Cabbage Family Arabis alpina subsp. alpina Alpine Rock-cress Restonica Cakile maritima Sea Rocket Coasts Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd's-purse Widespread Lepidium hirtum subsp. oxyotum A Pepperwort Mountains Lunaria annua Honesty Near habitation Nasturtium officinale Water-cress Wet ditches Sinapsis alba White Mustard Waste places

Buxaceae Box Family Buxus sempervirens Box Spelunca

Cactaceae Cactus Family Opuntia ficus-indica ‡ Prickly Pear Widely planted

Cannabaceae Hackberry and Hop Family Celtis australis ‡ European Nettle Tree Planted

Caprifoliaceae Honeysuckle Family Centranthus ruber ‡ Red Valerian Garden escape Knautia integrifolia Entire-leaved Scabious Waste places

Caryophyllaceae Pink Family Arenaria balearica • Balearic Sandwort Cascades des Anglais Cerastium fontanum Mouse-ear Chickweed Frequent Cerastium glomeratum Sticky Mouse-ear Waste places Cerastium soleirolii • A Mouse-ear Common. Mountains Dianthus furcatus subsp. gyspergerae • Madame Gysperger's Pink Cliffs. Calanche de Piana Dianthus sylvestris subsp. godronianus • Godron's Pink Cliffs Minuartia verna Vernal Sandwort Mountains Paronychia argentea Silvery Paronychia Sandy coast Paronychia polygonifolia A Paronychia Mountains Petrorhagia saxifraga subsp. gasparrinii • A Tunic flower Frequent on rocks Sagina pilifera • A Pearlwort Common in mountains Sagina procumbens Pearlwort Common Saponaria officinalis Soapwort Occasional. Roadsides Silene vulgaris Bladder Campion Frequent Spergularia rubra Sand Spurrey Rocky places Spergularia salina Lesser Sea Spurrey Coastal Stellaria media Chickweed Waste places

8 © Naturetrek May 19

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

Latin name Common name Notes

Cistaceae Rockrose Family Cistus creticus Cretan Cistus Common in maquis Cistus monspeliensis Narrow-leaved Cistus Common in maquis Cistus salvifolius Sage-leaved Cistus Common in maquis Halimium halimifolium A Halimium East coast

Convolvulaceae Bindweed Family Calystegia sepium Large Bindweed Occasional weed Calystegia soldanella Sea Bindweed Sand dunes. Liamone Convolvulus althaeoides Mallow-leaved Bindweed Frequent Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed Occasional weed

Corylaceae Hazel Family Corylus avellana Hazel Frequent

Crassulaceae Stonecrop Family Sedum album White Stonecrop Rocks. Frequent Sedum brevifolium Short-leaved Stonecrop Rocks. Common Sedum cepaea Occasional Sedum dasyphyllum Fat-leaved Stonecrop Rocks and walls Sedum rubens Red Stonecrop Rocks. Common Umbilicus rupestris Wall Pennywort Rocks. Common

Cucurbitaceae Cucumber Family Ecballium elaterium Squirting Cucumber Waste places

Ericaceae Heather Family Arbutus unedo Strawberry Tree Maquis Erica arborea Tree Heather Maquis Vaccinium myrtillus Bilberry Restonica

Euphorbiaceae Spurge Family Euphorbia amygdaloides subsp. A Wood Spurge Frequent. Forests semiperfoliata • Euphorbia chamaesyce A prostrate Spurge Common. Waste ground Euphorbia characias subsp. characias Large Mediterranean Spurge Widespread Euphorbia dendroides Tree Spurge Coastal cliffs Euphorbia helioscopia Sun Spurge Waste ground Euphorbia lathyris Caper Spurge Evisa Euphorbia peplis Purple Spurge Coastal sands Euphorbia pithyusa subsp. pithyusa A Spurge Coast. Galeria Mercurialis annua Annual Mercury Ruderal Ricinus communis Castor-oil-plant Occasional

Fabaceae Pea Family Anthyllis hermanniae Herman's Kidney Vetch Common Bituminaria bituminosa Pitch Trefoil Common Calycotome infesta Thorny Broom Maquis Calycotome villosa Hairy Thorny Broom Maquis Ceratonia siliqua Carob Occasional Cercis siliquastrum ‡ Judas Tree Frequent Genista corsica • Corsican Broom Maquis Genista monspessulana Monpellier Broom Maquis

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

Latin name Common name Notes

Genista salzmannii var. lobelioides • Mountains Genista salzmannii var. salzmannii • Lower altitudes than var. lobelioides Lathyrus latifolius Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea Open maquis Lotus corniculatus Bird's-foot Trefoil Occasional Medicago arabica Spotted Medick Common Medicago lupulina Black Medick Frequent Medicago marina Sea Medick Sand dunes Medicago polymorpha Toothed Medick Waste places Medicago sativa ‡ Lucerne Crop and escape Robinia pseudoacacia ‡ False Acacia Cultivated Scorpiurus muricatus Scorpion vetch Frequent Spartium junceum Spanish Broom Roadsides Trifolium arvense Hare's-foot Clover Occasional Trifolium campestre Hop Trefoil Occasional Trifolium pratense Red Clover Common Trifolium repens White Clover Common Trifolium stellatum Starry Clover Common Vicia cracca subsp. tenuifolia Tufted Vetch Common Vicia sativa subsp. sativa Common Vetch Common

Fagaceae Beech Family Castanaea sativa ‡ Sweet Chestnut Widely cultivated Fagus sylvatica Beech Forests to tree-line Quercus coccifera Kermes Oak Maquis Quercus ilex Holm Oak Maquis Quercus pubescens Downy Oak Venaco Quercus suber Cork Oak Lowland maquis

Gentianaceae Gentian Family Gentiana asclepiadea Willow-leaved Gentian Foret d'Aitone. Restonica

Geraniaceae Crane's-bill Family Erodium cicutarium Common Stork’s-bill Coast and waste places Erodium corsicum • Corsican Stork's-bill Coastal rocks. Galeria Geranium lucidum Shining Crane's-bill Spelunca Geranium robertianum Herb Robert Widespread

Hypericaceae St John's-wort Family Hypericum hircinum Stinking Tutsan Streamsides, damp rocks Hypericum perfoliatum Perfoliate St John's-wort Frequent Hypericum perforatum Perforate St John's-wort Wet places Hypericum tetrapterum Square-stalked St John's-wort Damp places

Juglandaceae Walnut Family Juglans regia ‡ Walnut Occasional

Lamiaceae Dead-nettle Family Ballota nigra Black Horehound Roadsides Clinopodium calamintha Lesser Calamint Waste places. Widespread Clinopodium vulgare Wild Basil Common Lavandula stoechas French Lavender Rocky places in maquis Marrubium vulgare White Horehound Roadsides. Ruderal Mentha aquatica Water Mint Wet places

10 © Naturetrek May 19

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

Latin name Common name Notes

Mentha requienii • Corsican Mint Foret d'Aitone Mentha spicata Spear Mint Damp places Mentha suaveolens subsp. insularis • A Round-leaved Mint Damp places Micromeria filiformis Thread-leaved Micromeria Santa Regina Gorge Rosmarinus officinalis Rosemary Hot rocky places Salvia verbenaca Wild Clary Frequent Stachys corsica • Corsican Woundwort Frequent Stachys glutinosa • Sticky Woundwort Rocky places Teucrium capitatum Felty Germander Frequent. Rocky places Teucrium chamaedrys Wall Germander Occasional Teucrium marum • A Germander Rocky places Teucrium massilense A Germander Frequent Teucrium scorodonia Wood Sage Common in forests Thymus herba-barona • A Thyme Common in mountains

Lentibulariaceae Butterwort Family Pinguicula corsica • Corsican Butterwort Wet places. Restonica

Loranthaceae Mistletoe Family Viscum album subsp. austriacum Mistletoe Common on Pine and Fir

Malvaceae Mallow Family Malva sylvestris Common Mallow Roadsides

Montiaceae Blinks Family Montia fontana subsp. amporitana Blinks Springs Montia fontana subsp. chondrosperma Blinks Ephemeral pools

Moraceae Fig Family Ficus carica Fig Frequent in maquis Morus alba ‡ White Mulberry Cultivated

Myrtaceae Myrtle Family Eucalyptus camaldulensis ‡ River Red Gum Cultivated Myrtus communis Common Myrtle Occasional in maquis

Oleaceae Olive Family Fraxinus ornus Manna Ash Common in maquis Olea europaea subsp. oleaster Wild Olive Maquis Phillyrea angustifolia Narrow-leaved Mock Privet Common in maquis Phillyrea latifolia Large-leaved Mock Privet Frequent in maquis

Onagraceae Willowherb Family Epilobium hirsutum Great Willowherb Damp places Epilobium montanum Broad-leaved Willowherb Frequent

Orobanchaceae Broomrape Family Odontites lutea Yellow Odontites Locally common. Maquis Odontites vernus Red Bartsia Spelunca. Vecchio

Oxalidaceae Wood-sorrel Family Oxalis articulata ‡ Pink Oxalis Garden escape Oxalis corniculata Procumbent Yellow Sorrel Ruderal

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

Latin name Common name Notes

Oxalis pes-caprae ‡ Bermuda Buttercup Alien weed

Papaveraceae Poppy Family Glaucium flavum Yellow Horned-poppy Sand dunes

Phytolaccaceae Pokeweed Family Phytolacca acinos ‡ Pokeweed Waste places

Plantain and Speedwell Plantaginaceae Family Cymbalaria muralis ‡ Ivy-leaved Toadflax Walls. Calvi Digitalis purpurea subsp. gyspergerae • Foxglove Common Linaria vulgaris ‡ Common Toadflax Corte Plantago afra Glandular Plantain Rocky places. Common Plantago coronopus Buck’s-horn Plantain Coastal Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain Widespread Plantago major Greater Plantain Waste ground Plantago sarda var. sarda • A Plantain Mountains Veronica anagallis-aquatica Water Speedwell Stream. Verghello Veronica arvensis Wall Speedwell Frequent Veronica cymbalaria Pale Speedwell Ruderal Veronica hederifolia Ivy-leaved Speedwell Ruderal Veronica officinalis Heath Speedwell Foret d'Aitone Veronica persica ‡ Common Speedwell Occasional

Platanaceae Plane Family Platanus x hispanica ‡ London Plane Cultivated

Plumbaginaceae Thrift Family Armeria leucocephala • White-headed Thrift Santa Regina Gorge Armeria multiceps • Multi-headed Thrift Mountains. Common Limonium corsicum • A Sea Lavender Coastal rocks. Galeria Limonium vulgare A Sea Lavender Edge of saline lagoon. Etang d'Urbino

Polygonaceae Dock Family Polygonum aviculare Knotgrass Bare ground Polygonum maritimum Sea Knotgrass Sand dunes. Liamone Polygonum scoparium • A Knotgrass Galeria Rumex acetosella subsp. pyrenaicus A Sheep's Sorrel Common Rumex bucephalophorus Fiddle Dock Frequent Rumex conglomeratus Clustered Dock Damp places Rumex crispus Curled Dock Liamone estuary Rumex pulcher Fiddle Dock Waste places

Portulacaceae Purslane Family Portulaca oleracea Common Purslane Occasional

Primulaceae Primrose Family Cyclamen hederifolium subsp. hederifolium Ivy-leaved Sowbread Locally common

Ranunculaceae Buttercup Family Aquilegia dumeticola • A Columbine Foret d'Aitone. Restonica Clematis flammula Fragrant Clematis Maquis. Common

12 © Naturetrek May 19

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

Latin name Common name Notes

Clematis vitalba Old Man's Beard Common Helleborus lividus subsp. corsicus • Corsican Hellebore Common Ranunculus flammula Lesser Spearwort Foret d'Aitone Ranunculus lanuginosus Wooly Buttercup Frequent Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup Common

Rosaceae Rose Family Alchemilla alpina forma. corsica • Alpine Lady's-mantle Restonica Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Common Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry Frequent Potentilla anglica subsp. nesogenes • A Trailing Tormentil Damp turf Potentilla erecta Tormentil Frequent Potentilla reptans Creeping Cinqufoil Common. Waste places Poterium sanguisorba Salad Burnet Common Prunus avium Wild Cherry Occasional Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Frequent. Pyrus spinosa Almond-leaved Pear Frequent. Maquis Rosa agrestis Small-leaved Sweet-briar Frequent Rosa canina Dog-rose Roadsides Rosa sempervirens Evergreen Rose Roadsides Rosa serafinii Col de Vergio Rubus ulmifolius A Bramble Common Sorbus aria Whitebeam Foret d'Aitone Sorbus aucuparia subsp. praemorsa • Corsican Rowan Restonica Sorbus domestica Service-tree Spelunca

Rubiaceae Bedstraw Family Cruciata laevipes Crosswort Frequent Galium aparine Cleavers Occasional Galium mollugo subsp. erectum Hedge Bedstraw Occasional Galium odoratum Sweet Woodruff Spelunca Galium rotundifolium Round-leaved Bedstraw Spelunca Galium scabrum Shaded maquis Rubia peregrina Wild Madder Forests and maquis Sherardia arvensis Field Madder Spelunca

Salicaceae Willow Family Populus alba White Poplar Frequent Populus nigra Black Poplar Frequent Populus tremula Aspen Occasional. Pine Forests Salix alba White Willow Common Salix cinerea subsp. oleifolia Grey Willow Common Salix purpurea Purple Willow Damp places

Santalaceae Sandalwood Family Osyris alba Osyris Maquis

Sapindaceae Maple Family Acer monspessulanum Montpelier Maple Frequent in maquis Acer platanoides ‡ Norway Maple Several trees near Calacuccia Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore Restonica

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

Latin name Common name Notes

Saxifragaceae Saxifrage Family Saxifraga pedemontana subsp. cervicornis • A Piedmont Saxifrage Shaded mountain rocks Saxifraga rotundifolia Round-leaved Saxifrage Shaded damp places

Scrophulariaceae Figwort Family Buddleja davidii ‡ Butterfly-bush Near habitation Scrophularia canina French Figwort Rocky slopes Verbascum sinuatum Wavy-leaved Mullein Restonica. Vecchio Verbascum thapsus Great Mullein Occasional

Simaroubaceae Tree-of-heaven Family Ailanthus altissima ‡ Tree-of-heaven Widespread

Solanaceae Nightshade Family Atropa belladonna Deadly Nightshade Foret d'Aitone, Vizzavona Datura stramonium ‡ Thornapple Ruderal. Alien Solanum nigrum Black Nightshade Waste ground

Tamaricaceae Tamarisk family Tamarix africana Tamarisk Near coasts

Thymelaeaceae Mezereon Family Daphne gnidium Mediterranean Mezereon Widespread in maquis

Tiliaceae Lime Family Tilia cordata Small-leaved Lime Occasional Tilia platyphyllos ‡ Broad-leaved Lime Planted

Ulmaceae Elm Family Ulmus minor Small-leaved Elm Frequent

Urticaceae Nettle Family Parietaria judaica Pellitory-of-the-Wall Walls and rocks Urtica atrovirens • A Nettle Evisa. Verghello Urtica dioica Common Nettle Waste places

Verbenaceae Vervain Family Lantana camara ‡ Lantana Cultivated Verbena officinalis Vervain Roadsides

Violaceae Violet Family Viola corsica • Corsican Violet Restonica Viola riviniana Common Dog-violet Frequent

Vitaceae Vine Family Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris Wild Vine Spelunca

Zygophyllaceae Caltrop Family Tribulus terrestris Maltese Cross Waste places

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

Latin name Common name Notes

MONOCOTYLEDONS

Amaryllidaceae Daffodil Family Acis rosea • Pink Snowflake Calanche de Piana

Araceae Lords-and-Ladies Family Arisarum vulgare Friar's Cowl Shaded maquis

Asparagaceae Asparagus Family Agave americana ‡ Centuryplant Cultivated Asparagus acutifolius Mediterranean Wild Asparagus Maquis Asparagus albus White Asparagus Maquis Drimia maritima Sea Squill Frequent Prospero autumnale Autumn Squill Locally common Ruscus aculeatus Butcher’s-broom Shaded maquis

Colchicaceae Meadow Saffron Family Colchicum neapolitanum A Meadow Saffron Frequent

Cyperaceae Sedge Family Carex pendula Pendulous Sedge Common Cyperus capitatus Sand Galingale Coastal sands Cyperus longus Galingale Liamone Estuary

Dioscoreaceae Yam Family Tamus communis Black Bryony Shaded maquis

Juncaceae Rush Family Juncus acutus Sharp Rush Frequent

Nartheciaceae Bog Asphodel Family Narthecium reverchonii • Corsican Bog Asphodel Wet rocks

Orchidaceae Orchid Family Spiranthes spiralis Autumn Lady's-tresses Occasional in maquis

Poaceae Grass Family Ammophila arenaria Marram Sand dunes Arrhenatherum elatius subsp. sardoum • A False Oat-grass Frequent Arundo donax ‡ Giant Reed Wet places. Lowland Avena barbata Bristle Oat Ruderal Avena sterilis Barren Oat Ruderal Briza maxima Greater Quaking-grass Dry places Briza minor Lesser Quaking-grass Waste places Bromus diandrus Great Brome Frequent Bromus hordeaceus Soft Brome Frequent Bromus madritensis Mediterranean Brome Common Bromus sterilis Barren Brome Frequent Calamagrostis varia subsp. corsica • A Small-reed Streamsides Cynodon dactylon Bermuda Grass Dry places Cynosurus echinatus Rough Dog's-tail Mountains Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot Frequent Hordeum murinum Wall Barley Dry places

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

Latin name Common name Notes

Lagurus ovatus Hare’s-tail Grass Dry places Lamarckia aurea Golden Dog's-tail Dry places Melica ciliata Hairy Melick Rocky places Nardus stricta Mat-grass Mountain grassland Phragmites australis Common Reed Wet areas Poa annua Annual Meadow-grass Pathways

Posidoniaceae Neptune Grass Family Posidonia oceanica Neptune Grass Sub-marine

Smilacaceae Smilax Family Smilax aspera Common Smilax Common in maquis

Typhaceae Bulrush Family Typha latifolia Greater Reed Mace Liamone estuary

Xanthorrhoeaceae Asphodel Family Asphodelus ramosus Branched Asphodel Common

Zosteraceae Eelgrass Family Zostera marina Eelgrass Sub-marine Zostera noltei Dwarf Eelgrass Etang d'Urbino

Birds (✓=recorded but not counted; H = heard only; • = endemic to Corsica; ‡ = introduced) September Common name Latin name 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis ✓ 2 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus ✓ 3 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea ✓ 4 Great Egret Ardea alba ✓ 5 Little Egret Egretta garzetta ✓ 6 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo ✓ 7 Red Kite Milvus milvus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8 Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus ✓ 9 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus ✓ 10 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo H ✓ 11 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos ✓ ✓ 12 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus ✓ ✓ 13 Water Rail Rallus aquaticus H 14 Eurasian Coot Fulica atra H ✓ 15 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos H 16 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis ✓ ✓ 17 Audouin's Gull Ichthyaetus audouinii ✓ 18 Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Columba livia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 19 Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus ✓ ✓ 20 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 21 Eurasian Scops Owl Otus scops H 22 Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba ✓ 23 Common Swift Apus apus ✓ 24 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major H H H ✓ ✓ ✓ 25 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 26 Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus ✓

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

September Common name Latin name 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 27 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 28 Northern Raven Corvus corax H ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 29 Coal Tit Periparus ater ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 30 Great Tit Parus major ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 31 Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 32 Woodlark Lullula arborea ✓ 33 Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris ✓ ✓ ✓ 34 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 35 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti H 36 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 37 Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta ✓ 38 Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla H 39 Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala ✓ ✓ ✓ 40 Common Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla ✓ 41 Goldcrest Regulus regulus ✓ 42 Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes H H H H H H 43 Corsican Nuthatch • Sitta whiteheadi ✓ ✓ ✓ 44 Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris ✓ ✓ 45 Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 46 Common Blackbird Turdus merula ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 47 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus ✓ 48 European Robin Erithacus rubecula ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 49 European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola ✓ 50 Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis ✓ 51 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata ✓ ✓ 52 White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 53 Italian Sparrow Passer italiae ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 54 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 55 Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 56 Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus ✓ 57 Corsican Finch • Carduelis corsicana ✓ ✓ ✓ 58 Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus ✓ ✓

Mammals 1 Red Fox ‡ Vulpes vulpes ✓ 2 Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus ✓

Reptiles 1 Hermann's Tortoise Testudo hermanni ✓ 2 Moorish Gecko Tarentola mauritanica ✓ ✓ ✓ 3 Bedriaga's Rock Lizard • Archaeolacerta bedriagae ✓ ✓ 4 Tyrrhenian Wall Lizard • Podarcis tiliguerta ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5 Italian Wall Lizard Podarcis siculus ✓

Butterflies 1 Swallowtail Papilio machaon ✓ ✓ ✓ 2 Large White Pieris brassicae ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 3 Small White Pieris rapae ✓ 4 Wood White Leptidea sinapsis ✓ 5 Clouded Yellow Colias crocea faillae ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

September Common name Latin name 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 6 Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni ✓ 7 Purple Hairstreak Quercusia quercus ✓ ✓ 8 Small Copper Lycaena phlaeus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 9 Long-tailed Blue Lampides boeticus ✓ ✓ 10 Lang's Short-tailed Blue Leptotes pirithous ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 11 Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus ✓ ✓ 12 Baton Blue Pseudophilotes baton ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 13 Common Blue Polyommatus icarus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 14 Brown Argus Aricia agestis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 15 Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus ✓ ✓ ✓ 16 Two-tailed Pasha Charaxes jasius ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 17 Southern White Admiral Limenitis reducta ✓ ✓ 18 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta ✓ ✓ ✓ 19 Peacock Inachis io ✓ ✓ 20 Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 21 Cardinal Pandoriana pandora ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 22 Queen of Spain Fritillary Issoria lathonia ✓ 23 Southern Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria aegeria ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 24 Corsican Wall Brown • Lasiommata paramegaera ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 25 Corsican Heath • Coenonympha corinna ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 26 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 27 Great Banded Grayling Brintesia circe ✓ ✓ 28 Southern Grayling • Hipparchia aristaeus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 29 Mallow Skipper Carcharodus alceae ✓ ✓ 30 Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus armoricanus ✓

Moths (E = evidence) 1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum ✓ ✓ ✓ 2 Pine Processionary Moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa E E E E

Dragonflies 1 Island Bluetail • Ischnura genei ✓ ✓ 2 Emperor Anax imperator ✓ ✓ ✓ 3 Vagrant Emperor Anax ephippiger ✓ ✓ 4 Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombii ✓ 5 Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum ✓ 6 Scarlet Darter Crocothemis erythraea ✓ ✓ 7 Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum ✓

Other Insects 1 Red Band-winged Grasshopper Oedipoda germanica ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 2 Blue Band-winged Grasshopper Oedipoda caerulescens ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 3 Egyptian Grasshopper Anacridium aegyptium ✓ 4 Nosed Grasshopper Acrida ungarica ✓ ✓ 5 A Fire Bug Scantius aegyptius ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6 Beefly Bombylius major ✓ 7 German Wasp Vespula germanica 8 Hornet Vespa crabro ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 9 Violet Carpenter Bee Xylocopa violacea ✓ 10 Corsican Buff-tailed Bumblebee • Bombus terrestris subsp. xanthopus ✓ ✓

Corsica in Autumn Tour Report

September Common name Latin name 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Others 1 Mediterranean Shore Crab Carcinus mediterraneus ✓ 2 Banded Dye-murex Hexaplex trunculus ✓ 3 Beadlet Anemone Actinia equina ✓ 4 Sea Cucumber Holothuria tubulosa ✓ 5 Sea Gooseberry Pleurobrachia pileus ✓