High Pyrenees in Summer Sun 20th-Sat 26th June 2010

Transcription

1 Limosa Holidays & Travelling Naturalist Trip Report France: High Pyrenees in Summer Sun 20th-Sat 26th June 2010 Photos (clockwise from top): A walk along the valley up to the glorious Cirque de Gavarnie is one of the highlights of our summer tour Black Redstart occurs in good numbers in the mountains but is always a treat to see David Cottridge Snowfinches are much more localised and tend to keep to the higher slopes in summer Mike Crewe/Limosa Holidays report compiled by tour leader: David Cottridge 1 Limosa Holidays/The Travelling Naturalist

2 Trip Diary Tour Leader: David Cottridge with Jeannie Bratton, Roger & Rose Evison, Jim Fish, Pauline Hardy, Peter Webster, and Chris Wood & Jenny Lennon-Wood There s not a lot of choice for flights on this route nowadays so, with an early morning departure from Heathrow, we all had to get up half an hour before we went to bed - but it did mean that we landed at Toulouse at about 11.00am and were able to enjoy some birding en route to the Pyrenees. As we headed westwards we experienced a mixed bag of weather from heavy showers and overcast conditions to bright spells of sunshine. On arriving at our hotel in Luz St Sauveur we were informed by our host and chef Jean-Paul that it had been raining for a month, with some snow... but the forecast for the week ahead was sunshine everyday. So it proved to be, with temperatures at times reaching 30 C. The good weather meant that birds of prey were much in evidence, with Griffon Vultures being seen regularly each day, a few Egyptian Vultures and a total of four Lammergeiers - a special bird for us all. Eagles were less prominent, with a Short-toed Eagle on the day of our arrival and a couple of Booted Eagles seen during the middle of the week, but Red and Black Kites were recorded throughout our stay, with the latter being more numerous. Common Buzzards were seen regularly as we travelled to and from the Pyrenees on the first and last days, and a total of four Honey Buzzards were also recorded during the week, with three near Arras-en- Lavedan, and a single bird as we travelled up the Cirque de Troumouse. The mountain ridges and the upper alpine meadows were also good for both species of choughs, although Alpine Choughs, were by far the commoner of the two. Passerines also provided us with some exciting moments, the first of which was the much desired Citril Finch, seen at close range when three birds perched on a nearby fence at the beginning of our walk to the Cirque de Gavarnie on our first full day. This was followed by another twenty birds or more as we walked during the rest of the day. Other species of the alpine forests such as Crested Tit, Goldcrest, Firecrest and Serin were seen during the week, and in and around the open areas we saw Yellowhammer, Rock Bunting, Cirl Bunting, Water Pipit and Northern Wheatear. On one day as we drove high above the village of Gedre we came across two Western Bonelli s Warblers, a species that has recently been split from its eastern counterpart. One of the birds proved to be most obliging as it sang in trees by the roadside. One of the most colourful and exciting of the passerines of high rocky valleys is the Rock Thrush and we felt our luck was in as we enjoyed three encounters with this sometimes elusive species. The first was in the Vallée d Ossoue, when after a search, we found a smart male perched on a nearby ridge, close to our parked vehicle. The bird proved to be most obliging as it stood proudly on a prominent rock, and we indulged in wonderful views of this colourful species. The other two sightings came later in the week, when a pair was seen well as we drove up to the Cirque de Troumouse and a male was seen at the Col de Tourmalet as we returned to Toulouse on our last day. Also seen that day was a superb male Snowfinch that perched within ten feet of us and then entertained us with several display flights. Our luck on the last day continued as a second visit to Ausseingprovided us with two more new species, when a family party of Whitethroats and a single Melodious Warbler were seen in nearby bushes. Spring had been late arriving in the Pyrenees this year and as a consequence butterflies were not as numerous as in some years, but despite this there was plenty to enjoy. The big stars were Swallowtail, Clouded Apollo and a single Camberwell Beauty, the last of them causing some excitement high on an alpine meadow. The blues and fritillaries as usual posed tricky identification problems, but we enjoyed such species as Small, Iolas, Idas and Mazarine Blues, and Dark Green, Glanville, Small-pearl bordered and False Heath Fritillaries. Some coppers were also on the wing, the males at times dazzling us with their intense orange colours, and the females intriguing us as we tried to match them with their partners. All in all, it was a most enjoyable week of glorious sunshine amid some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe. For me it was a great pleasure to travel with some old friends again and to make some new ones. As Jean-Paul said when we arrived, we brought the sunshine with us. David Cottridge 2 Limosa Holidays & The Travelling Naturalist

3 ANNOTATED LIST OF BIRDS RECORDED (Total of 79 species recorded by the group) Quail Coturnix coturnix One heard calling near the Foret d Arragnat on the 24th. Mute Swan Cygnus olor One from the bridge over the Garonne in Caceres, 20th; and again on the return journey on 26th. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Six from the bridge over the Garonne at Caceres on the 20th. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Two as we travelled to the Pyrenees on the 20th. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Six as we travelled on the 20th and a colony at the side of the road on the outskirts of Toulouse as we travelled to the airport on the 26th. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Three as we travelled on the 20th. Little Egret Egretta garzetta One on the Garonne at Mauran on the 20th and again on the 26th. Kestrel Falco tinnunculus A few birds recorded each day. Honey Buzzard Pernis apivoris Three near the Foret d Arragnat on the 24th and one as we travelled to the Cirque de Troumouse on the following day. Red Kite Milvus milvus A total of six birds recorded over four separate dates. Black Kite Milvus migrans Recorded in quite good numbers throughout the week. Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus One as we walked up to the Cirque de Gavarnie on the 21st, three in Vallée d Ossoue on the 22 nd and one below the Cirque de Troumouse on the 25 th. Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus Two at the Pic du Pibeste on the 20 th and an immature in Vallée d Ossoue on the 25 th. Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus Very common throughout the week. Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus One soaring on the outskirts of Toulouse on the 20 th. Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus One as we travelled on the 20 th and one on the way up to the Cirque de Troumouse. Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Common as we travelled on the 20 th and again on the 26 th, but only seven recorded in the Pyrenees. Booted Eagle Aquila pennata Two on the way up to Boucharro on the 23 rd. Feral Rock Dove Columba livia Recorded on each day of the tour. Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Common on the 20 th and 26 th as we travelled from and to Toulouse. Only heard in the Pyrenees. Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Very common throughout the week. Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Heard on several occasions and one seen on the 25 th. Little Owl Athene noctua One heard on the evening of the 24 th from the hotel. Common Swift Apus apus Common, recorded everyday. Hoopoe Upupa epops Two seen as we travelled on the 20 th. 3 Limosa Holidays & The Travelling Naturalist

4 Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius One seen and one heard near Arras-en-Lavendan on the 24 th. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major One heard at Ausseing on the 20 th. Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio A total of five birds recorded that included a pair near Arras-en-Lavendan on the 23 rd. Jay Garrulus glandarius Recorded regularly throughout the week. Magpie Pica pica Common, recorded throughout the week. Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Two in the Vallée d Ossoue on the 22 nd and about a dozen on the way up to the Cirque de Troumouse on the 25 th. Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus Common along high ridges and high alpine meadows. Jackdaw Coloeus monedula A single bird seen in Luz en Saveur on the 21st. Carrion Crow Corvus corone Common throughout the week. Raven Corvus corax Fairly common throughout the week. Coal Tit Periparus ater One in Luz en Saveur on the 21st and one heard on the 24th. Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus One seen and others heard during our walk to the Cirque de Gavarnie on the 21st. Great Tit Parus major Seen in small numbers throughout the week. Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Seen in small numbers throughout the week. Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris Recorded fairly regularly often specific to certain locations. Swallow Hirundo rustica Fairly common throughout the week. House Martin Delichon urbicum Common throughout the week. Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Two on the way up to the Cirque de Gavarnie on the 21st. Skylark Alauda arvensis One near the Col de Tourmalet on the 26th. Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta One at Ausseingon the 26th. Western Bonelli s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli Two at Bué singing alongside the road on the 24th. Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Often heard singing throughout the week. Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Often heard singing throughout the week. Garden Warbler Sylvia borin One on our walk to the Cirque de Gavarnie on the 21st and one in the Vallée d Ossoue on the following day. Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis Two adults and two fledged young at Ausseingon the 26th. Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus Heard during our walk to the Cirque de Gavarnie on the 21st, two in the Foret d Arragnat on the 24th and others heard elsewhere. 4 Limosa Holidays & The Travelling Naturalist

5 Goldcrest Regulus regulus One during our walk to the Cirque de Gavarnie on the 21st, two in the Foret d Arragnat on the 24th and others heard elsewhere. Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Often heard and seen on a couple of occasions. Nuthatch Sitta europaea One heard during our drive up to Bué on the 23rd and two seen and others heard in the Foret d Arragnat on the 24th. Starling Sturnus vulgaris Good numbers as we travelled on the 20th and subsequently only small numbers recorded. Blackbird Turdus merula Common throughout the week. Song Thrush Turdus philomelos One heard singing during our walk to the Cirque de Gavarnie on the 21st. Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus One seen on the way up to the Corque de Troumouse on the 25th. Robin Erithacus rubecula Heard on several occasions and one seen near Gavarnie on the 21st. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochuros Recorded in quite good numbers throughout the week. Stonechat Saxicola rubicola One above Gedre on the 25th. Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Good numbers recorded on the higher slopes and meadows. Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis A male at the dam in the Vallée d Ossoue on the 22nd, a pair on the way up to the Cirque de Troumouse and one at the Col de Tourmalet on the 26th. Dipper Cinclus cinclus Seen from the bridge in Luz en Saveur with two on the 24th and one the following day. House Sparrow Passer domesticus Very common, recorded everyday of the tour. Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis Two at the Col de Tourmalet on the 26th that included a superb male displaying. Dunnock Prunella modularis Recorded in small numbers throughout the week. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea A total of eight birds recorded along streams during the week. White Wagtail Motacilla alba A total of nine recorded during the week. Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta Common on the upper meadows and slopes. Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Very common throughout the week. Serin Serinus serinus Seen in reasonable numbers during the week. Greenfinch Carduelis chloris Just two birds recorded during the week. Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Only recorded as we travelled on the 20th when about ten birds were seen. Citril Finch Carduelis citronella At least twenty birds were seen during our walk to the Cirque de Gavarnie on the 21st. Linnet Carduelis cannabina Recorded in small numbers at several locations with over twenty in the Vallée d Ossoue on 22nd. Yellowhammer Emberiza citronella Two in the Vallée d Ossoue on the 22nd, one at Boucharro on the 23rd and about half a dozen as we travelled on the 25th. 5 Limosa Holidays & The Travelling Naturalist

6 Rock Bunting Emberiza cia One Vallée d Ossoue on 22nd and one as we travelled up to the Cirque de Troumouse on 25th. Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus One heard at Bué on the 25th. MAMMALS: Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus Alpine Marmot Marmota marmota BUTTERFLIES: Swallowtail Papilio machaon Clouded Apollo Parnassius mnemosyne Black-veined White Aporia crataegi Large White Pieris brassicae Small White Artogeia rapae Green-veined White Artogeia napi Peak White Pontia calladice Orange Tip Anthocaris cardamines Clouded Yellow Colias crocea Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni Wood White Leptidea sinapis Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi Sooty Copper Lycaena tityrus Purple-shot Copper Lycaena alciphron Purple edged Copper Lycaena hippothoe Small Blue Cupido minimus Iolas Blue Iolana iolas Green-underside Blue Glaucopsyche alexis Idas Blue Lycaeides argus Brown Argus Aricia agestis Mazarine Blue Cyaniri semiargus Adonis Blue Lysandra bellargus Common Blue Polyommatus icarus White Admiral Limenitis camilla Camberwell Beauty Nymphalis antiopa Peacock Inachis io Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae Dark Green Fritillary Mesoacidalia aglaja Glanville Fritillary Melitaea cinxia Pearl-bordered Fritillary Clossiana euphrosyne Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Clossiana selene False Heath Fritillary Melitaea diamina Marbled White Melanargia galathea Piedemont Ringlet Erebia meolans Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus Pearly Heath Coenonympha arcania Speckled Wood Parage aegeria Wall Brown Lasiommata megera Large Wall Brown Lasiommata maera Northern Wall Brown Lasiommata petropolitana Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae Red-underwing Skipper Spialia sertorius 6 Limosa Holidays & The Travelling Naturalist

7 Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages Chequered Skipper Carterocephalus palaemon Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola Large Skipper Ochlodes venata 7 Limosa Holidays & The Travelling Naturalist