The island of Ogliastra, the mouths of the Rio Girasole and the Rio Pramaera, and the hilly hinterland that extends toward the highest slopes of the surrounding mountains are the ideal environment for observing the area’s endemic species.
The small granite island covered in Mediterranean scrub is home to a stable colony of cormorants and gulls. The best time to observe the latter is June, when, amidst the Mediterranean scrub and granite cliffs, the young gulls begin to take flight under the watchful eye of their caring mothers. Every stone, every observation point is contested, with unwritten hierarchical rules, by adults, chicks, and the neighboring cormorants. The island is colonized by these two species, although, during migration, it is a stopover for other birds, such as egrets and grey herons. Around the island, dozens of Manx shearwaters and herring gulls flock together in search of small fish brought to the surface by tuna and other predators.
The river mouths are a true birdlife paradise. Among the reeds and asphodel, it’s easy to spot the herons, little egrets, purple swamphens, common moorhens, kingfishers, mallards, various duck species, and numerous waders. Birds of prey are also within range. The easiest to spot are kestrels and buzzards. The latter’s daily circling often occurs in the countryside surrounding the town. Their prey is often disturbed by the aggressive and territorial crows.
The incursions and swift dives of the peregrine falcon are also not uncommon. Leaving the beaches and river mouths, you enter a beautiful cultivated countryside, alternating with Mediterranean scrub and cork oaks, home to many other bird species. Jays and blackbirds are common. The great spotted woodpecker, if it finds a suitable tree, suddenly appears.
If you consider that the Gennargentu mountains and the Supramonte limestone massif are only a few kilometers away as the crow flies, you can imagine how many other species, even rare ones, can be immortalized with a bit of luck.
