Corsica Bullitinu newsletters - the archive.

The Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is one of the rarest raptors in Europe. It inhabits exclusively high mountainous areas (500-4,000 m). It can be found usually above the tree line, in rugged areas with steep slopes and in alpine pastures. Corsica has at least 10 pairs and they are vigorously protected. The Bearded vulture defends huge territories, in which the pair feeds and breeds. Its main food source is bones of small or medium-sized dead animals, for which it searches alone or in pairs. The pair rarely tolerates the presence of other mature individuals of the species in their territory. You can order a book on the Birds of Corsica (Les Oiseaux de Corse) direct from the Parc Naturel Régional de Corse (see the link to the left).

Strada di i sensi di Balagna.

The Balagne is a beautiful mountain and coastal region in the NW of Corsica, with many kinds of beach (with restaurants; secret; sandy; rocky; accessible; remote), ancient perched villages and breathtaking (!) path walking.

You can drive this trail and visit up to 70 charter members that include crafts people, traditional food producers, farm restaurants, B&Bs...This could be a wonderful way to plan a holiday.

Bernard Villanova (see hyperlink left), a wine-producer, hotelier, gîte provider - and neighbour of mine - is the president of the association that runs this 'Strada', one of several in Corsica (for details, follow the link to the Strada di Sensi, left).

A new development featured in the brochure that describes the trail is Isabelle Demoustier's botanic park at Saleccia* (next to Casa Fiurita Garden Centre) just north of Ile Rousse. Opened on June 8 the park is in 17 acres devoted to showing the plant heritage of Corsica; among others, there's a collection of more than 100 mature olive tree varieties from 15 countries. The setting is a marvel in itself in a small coastal valley. You can have guided tours if you like, there's a café, picnic places - it's a great way to discover one of Corsica's special attributes.

Pick up a brochure on the Strada di i Sensi at any of the local Corsican tourist information offices (for a list, click the link to the left) or direct via the hyperlink on the brochure illustration above.

*There will be an article on the Parc de Saleccia in the next Corsica Isula Newsletter and in the meantime, if you want to contact Isabelle or the Parc, call 04 9536 88 83 or write an email via the link on the left.

Drawing by Jeane Montano-Meunier, Inventaire de la faune de France, Nathan-MNHN, Paris, 1992.

A muvra, the Corsican mouflon, is ovis ammon musimon var. corsicana, a wild and reticent mountain sheep, whose origins lie in the Middle East and has been in Corsica since the Stone Age when they were domesticated, about 7000 BC.

The mouflon is often seen as an emblem of Corsica, even though many who live here have never actually seen one. Places and businesses have the mouflon or muvra in their name. The animal is proud and reticent and many would say of the country's people.

Corsica's 1000 beasts are under threat from poaching - males for their horns and kids for meat; genetic impoverishment of the two separated herds; fire; wild boar hunting (the dogs/noise); extreme sports; catarrhal fever.

Help is at hand with support from the EU Life Nature programme. The Parcu di Corsica is running a scheme to conserve (better surveillance; threat reduction; offer of alternative food sources to the bearded vulture; public information) and to increase the population of Corsican mouflons (involving capture, breeding and then re-introducing specimens: 10-20 per year from 2006/7).

The Parcu di Corsica has four protected species of fauna: the mouflon, the eagle, the deer and the nuthatch.

He is beautiful, and all who see him would agree, I'm sure. He even knows it himself.

He looks as though he knows it, too, except when he slips on the mossy rocks into the pool. Perhaps the trout is sceptical, but everyone else is embarrassed when this happens to him. His green shiny velveteen head and neck with the white collar round the Adam's apple give no sign, and once on the water his composure is regained instantly. Maybe just a quick wiggle of the little tightly curled white tail tip gives me the sign and we both look away.

I live alone in the old olive mill. I worry about the fox that I used to love, pre-Valentinu. He comes often at night and I hear him paddle and drink at the pond. Is he foxy enough to know that Valentinu is my friend, too? Probably not. I know that the pine marten, who lives in the bank, would gladly steal the eggs if Valentinu still had a mate. Valentinu has made it clear that he wants to stay with me. I assume that it is because he feels safe in the enclosed little valley where the mill lies and has correctly guessed that I have no gun.

Our men neighbours round about would shoot at anything and frequently do, normally before either of us is up and busy, but the new pallet gate that I have made at the end of the oak tree enclosed lane makes it clear that our land is not abandoned. The fruit trees are pruned, the land is cleaned, the terrace walls are being rebuilt, but the oasis in the middle of derelict vines, groves and orchards could otherwise be easily penetrated by a hunter intent on quarry.

Valentinu got his name naturally enough when he first arrived a few weeks back. His impeccable appearance, the lacquered look and the sharp roving eyes looking out sideways from the swagger were the image of his namesake. The 'u' at the end in the place of the 'o' accords with the Corsican ending. He is local and would not wish to be thought either Italian or French. No first name? He surely has, but I still feel such an intimacy would be presumptuous. He'll let me know by some sign or other. It is not indicative of lack of warmth or friendship. Just Corsican reserve, since we have no family connection...

This story is from a collection of 28 short stories, called Mountain in the Sea, set in Corsica, written as a kind of alternative guidebook to the spirit of the island.

The wild mallard is called 'u frisgione' in Corsican.

Image:RSPB.

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