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| The small island Corvo seen in far background from the neighbouring Flores.
Photo: Staffan Rodebrand |
Corvo has a length
of 6,5 km, a width of 4 km, and a total area of 17 square kilometres and
are the smallest island in the Azores. Corvo lies 24 kilometres north-east
of Flores. At the highest point of the island Monte Grosso, with an altitude
of 770 meters, you can look south to the islands one and only town Vila
Nova, so far from the modern stress with its two taxis and one policeman.
Or you can look out over the "Caldeirão", a vast 300
meters deep crater, remains of the former volcano. Large parts of the
island are open farmland, with only few bushes and trees.
The small airport and the harbour are both in the village
that hosts about 400 inhabitants.
Maps
»
A
general map with birding localities could be viewed here
»
Download
or open a detailed and resizeable map here.
»
Coordinates for birdwatching sites.
Birding localities
Migrants can turn up
anywhere, but the crater lakes (ducks and waders), and the many forested
valleys (passerines) on the eastern side are probably the best options.
You can also search the airfield and the low lying fields west of the
village for newly arrived migrants. Hardly any birdwatchers visit Corvo,
so here you really can make your own discoveries. You can walk all the
way if you have time, but more convenient is to arrange a drive up (there
are lots of cars and helpful people on the island!), search the birding
areas, and then walk the way back down. The only road up from the village
splits after a while into a main road straight up to the crater, and a
more gently sloping northbound road passing a number of forested valleys
with lot of cover and food for tired migrants.
Sea watching is probably best from the harbour area.
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| Left photo: The
northbound road of eastern Corvo crosses a number of wooded valleys
(Ribeiras), all worth checking for trapped migrants. Right photo:
The caldeira (crater) at Corvo, which often is very windy and shrouded
in fog and clouds. Photos: Staffan Rodebrand, November 2005. |
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| Ribeira do Cantinho. One of the "little" and
isolated wooded valleys on the eastern part of Corvo. This area hosted a male Hooded
Warbler and three species of Vireo's (Philadelphia, Red-eyed and White-eyed Viro)
in late October 2005. Photo: Peter Alfrey, October 2005. |
Where to stay and getting around
Both the airstrip and the harbour are small, and this is a place where
all is "weather permitting". Here you really can get stuck for
a longer period than planned. Best option is probably to go on a daytrip
from Flores, making sure that you have enough time on Corvo, and getting
back with the same (small) boat. These boat runs more often in the summer
and the cross over to Corvo takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes. Check
the local tourist information for availability. If you book a flight to
Corvo, there is a small 18-seated plane scheduled three times a week in
the autumn (from Flores or Faial).
There are no hotels in Corvo, but there is a small camping
area, a guesthouse, and a few private rooms that should be booked in advance.
Best option is at Commodore
Guesthouse on Corvo,
where the owner Manuel Rita also may take you to the best birding localities.
Note that there is a
boat service between Corvo and Flores that runs 3 days a week in September - October.
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