WALLCREEPER AND LAMMERGEIER IN THE BAG TODAY
The cloud cover and the strong winds persisted over night but eased off this morning, just a little, it didn't look good at 7am when we got up for our morning walk. The tops of the mountains were enshrouded in thick cloud but the valley was a little better.
Birds were singing in the car park and the hotel grounds, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Wren, Garden Warbler and Song Thrush were some of the species we heard and we also got glimpses of some of them. Making our way down to the river we found Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Crested Tit and a Red-backed Shrike, we heard Firecrest and got better views of Garden Warbler.
At the river we found Grey Wagtail but not the expected Dipper, on the way back we added both Black and Red Kites to the list as well as Common Buzzard, Carrion Crow and Griffon Vulture.
The cloud lifted somewhat and it got much brighter so by the time we finished breakfast we decided to go ahead with our plan and head up to Gabardito to look for the Wallcreeper. It was quite sheltered there and the weather was improving by the hour, splendid! From the car park we had fantastic views over the mountains and soon we were listing birds, Alpine Swift, Griffon Vulture and Serin were the first to go into the notebook.
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| the view from Gabardito Refugio |
We followed the main track that led us through mature trees of mixed pine and beech and also through open alpine meadows as we headed towards the Wallcreeper nest site. As we walked along the views were stunning and the flowers, butterflies and birds were a delight. We soon found a few more species of birds - Song Thrush, Crested Tit, Marsh Tit were seen and a Eurasian Nuthatch wasw heard.
Three of the front walkers in the group managed to see a Lammergeier as it drifted along the rock face on the opposite side of the valley, sadly it disappeared before the rest of us caught up. Several parties of choughs flew over us calling loudly both the Red-billed and the Alpine were seen.
Finally we arrived at the vertical rock-face where the Wallcreeper breeds each year and as soon as we got there one appeared. Amazing!! It was a male and fed for a while then disappeared only to reappear and delight us all for a further 10 minutes or so. After that incredible time we started our way back noting more butterflies and flowers as well as a few species of birds. We saw Mistle Thrush, Crested Tit, Dunnock and we heard Wren and Robin.
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| the rock face where we saw the Wallcreeper |
Back at the Refugio we ate our picnic lunch sitting at the picnic tables in lovely sunshine, the weather was still improving with bright sunny spells warming us up.
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| lunch at the refugio |
For the rest of the afternoon we travelled further north up the Hecho Valley towards the border with France. We spent several hours photographing, birds, butterflies, orchids and the scenery, we had a wonderful time. Few birds were seen but we did manage: Red-backed Shrike, Yellowhammer, Serin, Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail and we had marvellous views of the stunning Egyptian Vulture. As time wore on we realised that a Lammergeier sighting was getting less and less of a possibility until we reached the far end of the track.
The first sighting was made by me but only briefly, then a little later the same bird flew across the valley and several others saw it, but not well enough. The weather was mow closing in again, dark clouds loomed so we set off back to the hotel. Along the way the second bus saw 2 Dippers and the lead-bus was full of 'dippers'.
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| walking up the Hecho Valley this afternoon |
At the hotel we decided to search for Firecrest in the grounds, it was a good idea as we all got superb views of this dainty little beast.
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| view looking back down the Hecho valley |
Here is a list of the some of the flowers and butterflies seen today.
ORCHIDS
GREATER BUTTERFLY ORCHID
LESSER BUTTERFLY ORCHID
COMMON SPOTTED ORCHID
MARSH ORCHID
FROG ORCHID
FRAGRANT ORCHID
BUTTERFLIES
SCARCE SWALLOWTAIL
WOOD WHITE
BLACK VEINED WHITE
LARGE SKIPPER
GRIZZLED SKIPPER
DUKE OF BURGANDY FRITILLARY
PEARL BORDERED FEITILLARY
AMANDA'S BLUE
SILVER SPOTTED SKIPPER
Photographs of some of the orchids seen today
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| above and below - BURNT ORCHID |
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| MARSH ORCHID |
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| COMMON SPOTTED ORCHID |
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