Giara di Gesturi

Giara di Gesturi Sardinia, Italy

The spectacular plateau of Giara di Gesturi is situated in the south of Sardinia roughly midway between Cagliari and Oristano. The uninhabited plateau is basaltic and covers an area of nearly 50km2 at an altitude of about 500m. This boulder-scattered landscape has large expanses of Cork Oak forest and Mediterranean maquis.

A good range of bird species can be seen on the plateau with raptors such as Common Kestrel, Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Common Buzzard particularly common and Northern Goshawk is also present. Little Bustard was once a breeder here and may still do so in small numbers. Barbary Partridge and Calandra Lark find ideal habitat amongst the rocks and the scrub has the usual Sylvia warblers such as Marmora's, Dartford, Subalpine and Sardinian. The endemic Sardinian races of Great Spotted Woodpecker and Jay are common. Additional passerines include Wood Lark, Woodchat Shrike, Stonechat and Cirl Bunting with Spotless Starling in the villages at the foot of the plateau. During passage periods the area attracts migrant waders and herons and raptors including Red Kite and Hen Harrier.

Although famous for its semi-wild horses the flora of the plateau is of particular interest and importance. Most of the more than twenty species of orchid found in Sardinia can be seen here and the maquis consists of a wide variety of species.

Giara di Gesturi can be reached by taking the S197 road to the village of Gesturi and then a signposted minor road up onto the plateau. There is no accommodation on the plateau but camping is possible. Avoid the area on Sundays and holidays as it is widely used for shooting.

Birds

Birds you can see here include:

Little Bittern, Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Western Honey-Buzzard, Red Kite, Black Kite, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Northern Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Northern Hobby, Barbary Partridge, Little Bustard, Little Ringed Plover, Common Snipe, Common Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Woodpigeon, Turtle Dove, Common Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, Hoopoe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Calandra Lark, Wood Lark, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Blue-headed Wagtail, Nightingale, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Marmora's Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Firecrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Common Jay, Hooded Crow, Northern Raven, Spotless Starling, Italian Sparrow, Chaffinch, Corsican Finch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Cirl Bunting, Corn Bunting

Content and images originally posted by Steve