At home in the mountain pine forests, the elfin Corsican Nuthatch is unique to the island of Corsica Brian Small, Limosa

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1 Corsica THE SCENTED ISLE At home in the mountain pine forests, the elfin Corsican Nuthatch is unique to the island of Corsica Brian Small, Limosa 2018 Sunday 13th - Sunday 20th May (8 days) Small group tour with Mike Crewe Our May tour to Corsica will introduce you to the bird-rich mountains and coasts of this magnificently scenic Mediterranean island - at the loveliest time of the year. Avian specialities include Marmora s and Moltoni s Warblers, Mediterranean Flycatcher, the endemic Corsican Nuthatch and the nearendemic Corsican Finch. In May, migrant birds use Corsica as a stepping stone to mainland Europe, while its wild and unspoilt landscapes also harbour many orchids - and the likes of Corsican Redunderwing Skipper, Corsican Wall Brown and Corsican Heath are endemic butterflies on the wing. Rugged, beautiful and spectacularly scenic Mediterranean island, rich in wildlife The endemic Corsican Nuthatch and near-endemic Corsican Finch Lammergeier, Mediterranean Flycatcher, Marmora s and Moltoni s Warblers Mountains and coastal wetlands - plus rugged Cap Corse for Scopoli's Shearwater In May, Corsican Small Tortoiseshell, Corsican Heath, Corsican Red Underwing Skipper 4 nights at a mountain hotel in the stunning Restonica Valley 3 nights at a good hotel by the coast near Bastia, on the Cap Corse peninsula Small group tour - maximum of 7 participants Expertly led by Limosa guide and all-round naturalist, Mike Crewe What's Included? Limosa Tour Leader Flights - London Gatwick to Bastia (Corsica), nonstop with Easyjet 7 nights accommodation on Corsica, at comfortable hotels near Corte and Bastia All main meals included - with drinking water provided during the day All local travel, excursions, entry fees, airport taxes and tour based tips LIMOSA HOLIDAYS, West End Farmhouse, Chapelfield, Stalham, Norfolk NR12 9EJ (UK) TEL: +44 (0) info@limosaholidays.co.uk WEB: limosaholidays.co.uk

2 Outline Itinerary Day 1: Days 2-4: Days 5-7: Day 8: Tour Overview Fly London Gatwick-Bastia. Transfer to our first hotel, in the beautiful Restonica Valley near Corte (4 nts) We explore the mountains and forests of central Corsica We change hotels to explore the east coast and northern Cap Corse Peninsula. Bastia (3 nts) Fly Bastia-London Gatwick Corsica - the Scented Isle - is one of the most rugged and mountainous of all Mediterranean islands, and still largely untouched by tourist development. From the clear, deep blue seas of the coast, up through the lush green forests of the lower slopes to the white snow-capped peaks of its 3000m (9850ft) mountains, the island offers a superb variety of scenery and wildlife. Much of the northern half of Corsica has been declared a National Park - just recognition for its stunning scenery, amazing birdlife and rich natural history. The island s long isolation from mainland Europe has resulted in a high incidence of endemism in its flora and fauna. Our May tour is carefully timed to maximise the variety of birds and other wildlife we should see - and to take advantage of the first direct flights of the season from London to Bastia. Possible butterflies include the endemic Corsican Heath, Corsican Red Underwing Skipper and Corsican Small Tortoiseshell, and wildflowers can also be superb at this season with more than 15 species of orchid to look for. We begin our tour in the central mountains, seeking the endemic Corsican Nuthatch and Corsican Finch the former is restricted to Corsica's ancient pine forests; the latter rather more widespread on the island. Our base for the first four nights is a family-run hotel at the start of the enchanting Restonica Gorge, in the heart of the picturesque Corsica National Park. It makes the perfect base from which to search for high-level specialities such as Lammergeier, Golden Eagle, Alpine Swift, Blue Rock Thrush and Alpine Chough, as well as the island's own endemic race of 'Corsican' Crossbill. Red Kites are everywhere and we will also enjoy seeing Italian Sparrow and getting to grips with the recently split Mediterranean Flycatcher. Descending to Corsica's northeast coast for the second part of our holiday, we will search for Audouin s Gull and Scopoli s Shearwater around the shore, plus an excellent range of other Mediterranean birds - from exotic Beeeaters to Moltoni s Warbler (a recent taxonomic split from Subalpine Warbler), and Woodchat Shrike with its badius form that is unique to the region. Included in our itinerary is a visit to the island s most important wetland, the Étang de Biguglia, which in May can hold numbers of herons, waders, gulls and warblers. May is also an important month for migrants passing north through Corsica to their breeding grounds elsewhere in Europe. Most choose to avoid the mountainous interior and instead skirt along the island s spectacular coastline - so at Bastia, we shall be ideally placed to encounter some of these. North of Bastia, Cap Corse is one of the most important migration watchpoints in the western Mediterranean. We will look for Scopoli's Shearwaters offshore here as well as the resident Marmora s Warbler - another warbler split, with those occurring on Corsica now being recognised as a distinct species to that found in the Balearic Islands. Limosa guide Mike Crewe is both a first-rate birder and an excellent field naturalist. Join us for Corsica in May and let us introduce you to this breathtakingly beautiful island, on a twocentre tour that s designed to show you the very best of Corsica's birds and wildlife - at quite the loveliest time of year! info@limosaholidays.co.uk

3 Daily Itinerary Day 1 FLY BASTIA, TRANSFER TO CORTE Our spring birdwatching tour to Corsica begins with a morning flight from London Gatwick direct to Bastia, on the island's northeast coast. We make the scenic 90-minute drive to Corte, Corsica s ancient capital, where we spend our first four nights. Our hotel is ideally situated, being close to some of the best mountain habitats and right at the heart of the beautiful Corsica National Park. Depending on flight schedules, after lunch on the island today we'll enjoy our first foray into the picturesque surroundings of the Restonica Valley. Night near Corte Days 2-4 CENTRAL MOUNTAINS: RESTONICA, PONT DE VECCHIO & ASCO VALLEYS Awaking to our first full day in the lovely mountains, a stroll along the road first thing should reveal plenty of bird song from a suite of exciting summer residents. One bird we shall be especially keen to look for here is Mediterranean Flycatcher, a 'new' species which breeds only on Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearic Islands, being warmer above, more blurrily streaked below - and only recently split from Spotted Flycatcher! Amongst the more familiar avian voices, Wren and Great Spotted Woodpecker have distinctive local forms (with its buff underparts, the latter being particularly attractive), whilst Serin, Cirl Bunting and Firecrest add to the enjoyment. Our first few days on this most rugged of Mediterranean islands will be spent exploring Restonica Gorge and other river-carved valleys and gorges. But don t worry - walking is easy and our vehicle will take the strain of getting us to the heads of the valleys to search for upland specialities such as Golden Eagle, Alpine Chough and the declining Lammergeier. Here, we ll also be keeping a keen ear out for the chorus of bird calls which can herald the approach of mixed flocks of warblers, tits and crests - for such parties often hold the endemic Corsican Nuthatch. This engaging little bird often announces its appearance with a bubbling call and is closely associated with ancient forests of Corsican Pine. The near-endemic Corsican Finch is also found here. It's not uncommon in Corsica's open woodlands and scrubby hillsides, and we usually enjoy good views of this rangerestricted brown-backed cousin of Citril Finch (which is otherwise found only on Sardinia). Red Kites patrol the skies and these gorges are also home to fizzing Black Redstarts, stunning Blue Rock Thrushes, Raven and the ever-elusive Corsican form of Common Crossbill. Roadside verges in the mountains support orchids and a host of other special plants and butterflies, including a number of Corsican endemics. Another prime area for birds is the lovely Asco Valley, with its beautiful alpine meadows. Ironically, its forests of Corsican Pine may seem strangely familiar, as this form of the widespread Black Pine is the one most frequently planted in Britain. Except here, the pines rise sentinel-like to towering heights. We have another chance to find Corsican Nuthatch and other of Corsica s higher altitude species, and we ll be careful not to dismiss the 'buzzards' in this area as Honey Buzzards may be seen as well as Common Buzzards. Dippers frequent the mountain streams, Alpine Swifts are common and the attractive Red-rumped Swallow is occasionally seen. We should see Peregrine and Crag Martin too, along with the local Corsican races of Treecreeper and Coal, Blue and Great Tits. A drive along the wild gorge to the lake at Calacuccia is scenic and regular stops to take photos of the fine views should find Cirl Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush and the Wren-like call of Moltoni s Warbler. On the dry scrubby hillsides we have a good chance of Marmora s Warbler, too. The scarce Tawny Pipit, Wryneck, a local population of Whinchat, Hoopoe and Spotless Starling also occur - but the star bird here is the Mediterranean Woodchat Shrike (subspecies badius), which is very thinly distributed and notable for the lack of white in the wing and a rather hefty bill. Three further nights near Corte info@limosaholidays.co.uk

4 Days 5-7 EAST COAST: BASTIA, ETANG DE BIGUGLIA & CAP CORSE After an enjoyable four-night stay at Corte, we leave the mountains and travel down to Bastia, on Corsica's east coast. Our journey will take in some of the coastal wetlands further south. The marshes and lagoons at Etang d Urbino often hold a few waders in spring and we ll check for Red-crested Pochard, Squacco and Purple Herons and Marsh Harrier as well as passing migrants. Sometimes Red-footed and Eleonora s Falcons pop in to hunt dragonflies above the water and fields nearby are often the haunt of dazzlingly blue Rollers, that perch on overhead wires. Located on the island's northeast coast, the Étang de Biguglia is Corsica s premier wetland site, a coastal lagoon that holds good numbers of Zitting Cisticolas (or Fan-tailed Warbler in 'old money') as well as Cetti s, Great Reed and Reed Warblers. Other birds we should see in this area include egrets and herons, grebes, Bee-eaters and Stone-curlew. Marsh Harriers float overhead and, if we are lucky, we might find Night Heron or Little Bittern. The attractive Audouin s Gull is increasing in the Mediterranean and regularly recorded, while migrant Gull-billed Terns and the scarce Slender-billed Gull are also possible. On one day, we ll drive along the scenic coast road north of Bastia to Macinaggio then out to Cap Corse, the northernmost tip of the island, in search of migrants and passing seabirds. This is one of the best migration watchpoints in France and, if conditions are right, numbers of birds can be held up here on their journey across the Med. Past tour highlights have included Montagu s Harrier, Red-footed Falcon, Wryneck and hundreds of Whinchats and other passerines. Inland of the beach, heavily-scented maquis covers much of the lower slopes and gives rise to Corsica's nickname - 'the Scented Isle'. It is also home to a quartet of Mediterranean Sylvia warblers: Marmora s, Moltoni s, Dartford and Sardinian, the first two having very restricted ranges in the Mediterranean. With patience, we should eventually be rewarded with fine views as they pop up to check out the latest Limosa group! While for those with a wider interest in natural history, in May there are several species of orchids to look for, too. On one evening we will drive to a coastal patch of pine forest, where a good population of Scops Owls produce a metronomic serenade. The call is deceptive and quite a challenge to pinpoint, but with luck we will track one down in 2017 we saw at least two, with many others calling. Three nights Bastia Day 8 FLY LONDON We catch the morning flight from Bastia to London Gatwick, where our spring birding tour to Corsica concludes. Trip Information Group Limit Max of 7 participants & 1 leader Birds species Butterflies species, including Cleopatra and several Corsican endemics to enjoy. On previous tours we have seen Corsican Dappled White, Corsican Heath, Corsican Small Tortoiseshell, Corsican Wall Brown and Corsican Red Underwing Skipper. Accommodation 7 nights accommodation at two good hotels on Corsica - commencing with 4 nights at a beautifully located hotel in the stunning Restonica Valley near Corte, followed by 3 nights at a comfortable hotel near the coast south of Bastia - within a short distance of the Réserve Naturelle de l'étang de Biguglia. All rooms are en suite. Meals All main meals are included in the price, commencing with lunch in Corsica on Day 1 and concluding with breakfast at the hotel on Day 8. The hotel at Bastia doesn't do evening meals so we take our delicious dinners there at a sister restaurant (just 100m away). Picnic lunches are made with fresh local produce purchased daily from a local store info@limosaholidays.co.uk

5 Walking Easy. Gentle walks over easymoderate terrain. Comfy walking shoes or lightweight boots. Weather Mediterranean climate. Expect a mix of sunshine and showers in spring - averaging warmer and drier at the coast, cooler and wetter in the mountains. In May, daytime temperatures are typically in the range 15-25C (59-77F); occasional cold spells in the mountains are normally short-lived at this time of year. Flights Our tour is timed to take advantage of Easyjet's direct flights from London Gatwick- Bastia, which commence running once a week from mid-may onwards. Ground Transport By minibus. Tour Cost 2018 (8 days): 1895 (inc flights from London) Land only: 1745 Deposit: 300 Single Supp: 265 Cost includes Services of expert Limosa guide Flights - London Gatwick-Bastia-London Gatwick, direct with Easyjet 7 nights hotel accommodation on Corsica All main meals (with drinking water provided) All local travel, excursions, entry fees, tour based tips and taxes Map and Limosa checklist of birds & butterflies Cost excludes Insurance, drinks, airport meals/snacks & other items of a personal nature. About Your Guide Mike Crewe Born and raised in Oxford, Mike first joined Limosa in 1997 having spent 15 years working in horticulture - his love and knowledge of which subject still often shines through. In 2009, after 13 years working for us - both as a guide and at the Limosa office in Norfolk - Mike emigrated to New Jersey (with his American wife Megan, who works for our trans-atlantic friends Field Guides), to take up a post at the Cape May Bird Observatory. Tour leading has always been his first love however, and he returned to the Limosa fold early in 2016 to resume his tour leading duties!! Aside from birds, Mike claims his other real passion is for plants. Those who have travelled with him on tour will know that this isn t strictly true however, for one quickly comes to realise that he s a highly accomplished all-round naturalist who takes great pleasure in sharing his discoveries with others. When he s not away from home guiding our groups across Europe, Asia, Africa or the Americas, Mike s is also one of the voices that may greet you when phoning the Limosa office. The lure of unspoilt Corsica with its unique birds, butterflies and plants takes Mike back there for his second tour in Financial Security Limosa Holidays is a fully bonded Tour Operator and a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO). We hold an ATOL (Air Tour Operators Licence) granted by the CAA, providing for your protection in the event of Limosa Holidays' insolvency. Our licence number is ATOL For tours not including the cost of a flight from the UK or for holidays booked by you as Land Only, all payments made to us are fully bonded through the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT). Our ABTOT membership number is For details please see our brochure or website: info@limosaholidays.co.uk

6 Limosa Loyalty Discount We are proud of the number of loyal customers who travel regularly with us. As our way of saying thank you, we offer a Frequent Travel Discount. Under the scheme, everyone who takes four trips with us is entitled to claim a 5% discount on their 5th trip *1. Remember to request your discount at time of booking! *1 Please note: This offer applies to the basic tour cost only and excludes certain commissionbased trips, extras such as additional flights, private extensions and cancellations. Discounts cannot be given in lieu of tour deposits or off the cost of single room supplements. How To Book Check availability on our website or with our office. We are happy to hold Provisional Reservations for up to 7 days. After this, we do require a Booking Form and deposit to confirm your place on tour. Any unconfirmed space will be released. Book Online, by Phone or by Post You can book and pay the deposit simply and securely Online via our website, using the Book This Tour button on the relevant tour page or the Booking tab at the top of the page. Telephone bookings must be confirmed in writing by completion of a Booking Form (there's one tucked inside every brochure or as a PDF download from our website), which can be mailed to us in the time honoured way. Be sure to read our Booking Conditions and General Information (found at the back of our brochure, on our website or available from our office on request) prior to booking. When to Book Early booking is advised since flights and accommodation are much more easily secured well in advance. To encourage early booking, we are pleased to offer an Early Bird Discount - see our current brochure or website for details. particular can often be in short supply and among the first to go, so do try to plan well ahead if you definitely require one of these. Last-minute Bookings: We inevitably receive a few unexpected cancellations over the course of a season so it is always worth enquiring about vacancies on any tour - even for those departing in just a few weeks! Payments Deposit: The amount of booking deposit per person is shown alongside every tour. We accept deposit payments by BACS (please ask for our bank details), cheque (payable to Limosa Holidays and drawn on a UK bank in GB Pounds Sterling) or debit card. For payment of booking deposits only we are also able to accept Visa and MasterCard credit cards. Balance: Full payment of the tour balance is due not later than 12 weeks prior to departure (20 weeks in the case of certain tours such as cruises or those involving rail travel). We will send you an invoice before the balance is due. We accept balance payments (and interim payments) by cheque, BACS or UK debit card. Please note: Following a change in legislation, we are unable to accept balance payments (or interim payments) by credit card or overseas debit card after 31st December Payment by overseas customers must be in GB Pounds Sterling and may be made by transfer to our bank (please ask for our bank details). Please note we do not accept cheques on US Banks in US Dollars, or cheques in Euros or Eurocheques. Late Booking Payments: In order for us to guarantee your airline seats, hotels etc., full payment is required at time of booking for all late bookings (i.e. bookings made within 12 weeks of departure). Our tours are limited to small group sizes. So they can fill up quickly - sometimes even before our new brochure comes out! Single rooms in info@limosaholidays.co.uk

7 Other Things You Need To Know Passports & Visas All participants must be in possession of a valid passport. For UK passport holders, your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required, but when travelling anywhere overseas we always recommend that your passport has a minimum of 6 months left to run after your intended date of return home in case of unforeseen delay. VISA NOT REQUIRED by UK passport holders for Corsica (France). Holders of non-uk passports should contact the nearest French embassy or consulate to enquire whether or not they require a visa. If a visa is required, you need to apply locally. If the embassy or consulate requires you to provide a letter confirming that you are booked on an allinclusive tour, please contact our office and we will be happy to provide one. Health & Vaccinations Compulsory vaccinations: None. Recommended vaccinations: For travel everywhere (even within the UK) however, we recommend you check you are up-to-date with protection against tetanus, polio and hepatitis A. The above information, together with that contained within our Travel Information sheets (sent to everyone who books), outlines health requirements for this tour. Please note that these details are given for guidance only - and are only for certain diseases - and you must consult your doctor in good time prior to travel as to what immunisations (if any) are needed for your chosen holiday. For full and up-to-date health information we urge everyone to consult The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website prior to booking any overseas holiday. NaTHNaC is funded by the UK Government s Health Protection Agency and provides health information for both health professionals and travellers, with information compiled by its own clinical and scientific team. You can search for individual country requirements, which are updated regularly. Your Safety & Travel Advice An unavoidable aspect of travelling abroad nowadays is the risk it may pose to your safety and security. The best advice on current risks is provided by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). In order to assess and protect against any risks in your chosen destination we strongly recommended that you refer to the relevant FCO Travel Advice - both prior to booking and regularly before you travel. See It is standard Limosa policy for our office to send a copy of the relevant FCO Travel Advice about the tour to all participants along with their Final Letter (ca. 2-3 weeks prior to the trip). Travel Aware - staying safe and healthy abroad - is a travel safety campaign run by the FCO, and another useful resource. Go to: Travel Insurance Good travel insurance is essential before setting off on any overseas trip. In common with all responsible tour operators, it is a condition of booking that all clients are fully and adequately insured before travelling overseas with us. Be aware that some destinations may require you to produce proof of comprehensive travel insurance (e.g. valid insurance certificate) at immigration on arrival in the country, so you should carry your documentation with you. Your travel insurance should cover against cancellation, curtailment, missed departure, delay, personal accident, death, loss of baggage and valuables (see note below), personal liability and legal expenses. Most importantly, your insurance must cover you fully in respect of medical care and repatriation should you become too ill to continue with the tour, including the info@limosaholidays.co.uk

8 cost of emergency evacuation by helicopter or air ambulance should this be necessary. Note that passenger liability insurance covering the transportation that we hire may be inadequate; it is therefore important that your insurance cover includes sufficient provision for your dependents in the event of an accident. We recommend that you obtain travel insurance as soon as possible after booking your holiday to ensure you are protected right from the word go in the event of unexpected cancellation prior to departure due to accident or illness. You must inform your insurers of any pre-existing medical conditions (including those of persons not necessarily travelling but upon whom your holiday may depend) that may require treatment during a period of overseas travel or might cause you to cancel the trip. Once you have arranged your insurance, please be sure to send us the following essential details: name and contact details of your insurance provider, your policy number, expiry date and your insurers 24hr Emergency Assistance number. Important Things to Note about Insurance Travel Insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover for valuable optical equipment, which is often best protected under your own household insurance policy. If in doubt ask your insurers for advice prior to travel. Most travel insurance policies limit the amount of cover, typically up to a maximum tour cost of 5000 per person. If the tour you are booking exceeds this amount, additional cover can usually be provided upon payment of additional premium. We recommend all travellers check their individual policy limit to ensure the full cost of their holiday is covered. Arranging Your Insurance: due to UK Government legislation, under Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulations, we are not allowed to offer or recommend travel related insurance to customers. Premiums can vary widely according to your age, needs, health, choice of destination and other factors, while many people nowadays have Annual Travel Insurance cover. For these reasons, we leave you free to shop around and pick your own policy, one best suited to your own individual needs. General Information Our website gives easy access to detailed tour itineraries (Tour Info Packs), trip reports, trip photos and the latest Limosa News. Special Diets & Other Requests We pass on all such requests to the airlines, hotels and other suppliers, and do our best to ensure (but of course cannot guarantee) that your needs will be met. Please be sure to tell us about these (in as much detail as possible) at the time of booking, to allow good time to make the necessary arrangements. Smoking Almost all of our clients prefer a smoke-free environment. For the enjoyment and comfort of all, we ask that smokers refrain from smoking in proximity to the group and respect our NO SMOKING policy in the vehicle, at meal times and when watching wildlife. Any Questions? If you have any questions at any time, you ll find our office staff friendly, efficient, approachable - and just a phone call away, eager to assist you in every way. Our office is open hrs Mon-Fri, and can also be reached by . In the event we are unable to take your call, please leave a message on our answerphone (24 hrs) and our office will contact you as soon as we can. Thank you for your interest in our tours. We do hope that you will be able to join us - and we look forward to hearing from you again! revck info@limosaholidays.co.uk