France - The Vercors (By Plane) Naturetrek Tour Report 21 - 28 May 2017 Common Redstart Green Hairstreak Narcissus poeticus Scarce Swallowtail Report compiled by Paul Harmes Images courtesy of Clive Pickton Naturetrek Wolf’s Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk Tour Report France - The Vercors Tour Participants: Paul Harmes (leader) and and seven Naturetrek clients. Day 1 Sunday 21st May London to Lyon St. Exupery – La Chapelle en Vercors Seven group members met with Paul at Lyon St. Exupery Airport, after catching flight BA360 from London Heathrow, Terminal 3. After completing immigration formalities and collecting our luggage, we made our way to the car park, where our vehicle was waiting. With luggage loaded, we set off travelling towards Grenoble, on the A43 and A48. Along the way White Stork, several Black Kites and Common Buzzard were noted. We stopped for our picnic lunch at a motorway rest area, Aire Burcin. With our lunch completed, we had a look for some butterflies, finding Common Blue, Heath Fritillary, Small White, Small Heath and Black-veined White. We also found Burnet Companion moths. For the birds, there was Common Chaffinch, Spotted Flycatcher and Great Tit. Continuing on down the A48, we left the motorway, and made our way the area immediately around Grenoble Isère Airport. Here we found Common Buzzard, European Stonechat, Serin and Common Kestrel. Along the arable margins we found Cruciata laevipes (Crosswort), Gallium mollugo (Hedge Bedstraw) and Papaver rhoeas (Common Poppy). We decided to take the inland route onwards, so we drove up through Saint-Marcellin, from where we made our way up onto the Vercors plateau, via Pont-en-Royans and the spectacular Petit Goulets. At this point, we stopped to check out a verge bank near the hamlet of Toutre. Eight species of Orchid were found, including Orchis simia (Monkey Orchid), Cephalanthera longifolia (Sword-leaved Helleborine) and Ophrys fuciflora (Late Spider Orchid). In addition, there was the curious Asarum europaeum (Asarabacca), and in a nearby field, Sooty Copper butterfly. We now moved on to La Chapelle en Vercors and the Hotel Bellier, our base for the week. After settling into our rooms, we met up, when Paul outlined the week and the hotel logistics, before it was time for our evening meal. Day 2 Monday 22nd May Font d’Urle – Col de la Machine – Route Combe Laval - St. Jean enRoyans We started the day with a short excursion to Vassieux en Vercors, where we made a short stop at the cemetery where the victims of the Nazi massacre at that village, during the Second World War, are buried. Whilst we were there we saw two Short-toed Snake Eagles, one adult and one juvenile, two Booted Eagles and about eight Griffon Vultures. Blackbird, Goldfinch and Skylark were also recorded. Moving on, we made a second stop on the roadside of the Col de la Chau. Here we had views across to Le Grand Veymont in the east, the Vercors’ highest peak at 2,341 metres. Tau Emporer, Small Yellow Underwing, Burnet Companion and Speckled Yellow moths were seen, as well as the curious Ascalaphid, a relative of the Ant-lions. For the botanists there was Lactuca perennis (Blue Lettuce), Saponaria ocymoides (Rock Soapwort), Erinus alpinus (Fairy Foxglove) and Amelanchier ovalis (Juneberry). © Naturetrek October 17 1 France - The Vercors Tour Report We now moved to the Font d’Urle, an area of open limestone crags and meadows used for skiing in winter. We began by exploring a bank beside the approach. Here we found the last few remains of Soldanella alpina (Alpine Snowbell, and the adjacent slope had Erythronium dens-canis (Dog-tooth Violet), Viola calcarata (Long-spurred Pansy), Gentiana verna (Spring Gentian) and Geum montanum (Alpine Avens). Moving on, a number of Alpine Choughs were circling above us, and we had distant views of Water Pipit, female Northern Wheatear, Linnet and Black Redstart. We also had several sightings of Alpine Marmot, and there was evidence of the winter tunnels of Snow Vole. As we progressed, we added Narcissus pseudonarcissus (Wild Daffodil), Narcissus poeticus (Pheasant’s-eye Daffodil), Draba aizoides (Yellow Whitlow-grass), Ranunculus amplexicaule (Amplexicaule Buttercup), both colour forms of Dactylorhiza sambucina (Elder-flowered Orchid), Orchis pallens (Pale-flowered Orchid), Crocus caeruleus (White Crocus) and Saxifraga moschata subsp. delphinensis (a Musky Saxifrage), before we returned to the vehicle. Leaving the Font d’Urle, we made our way to the Forêt de Bauvante, where we set up our picnic among a fine stand of Orchis mascula (Early Purple Orchid). As we ate, Skylark was singing, and Des spotted a distant Roe Deer. We now continued along the precipitous Route Combe Laval and on down to St. Jean en Royans, where we visited the hypermarket to do the week’s picnic shopping. Whilst our leader was shopping, we explored a small, rough field, sometimes use to graze horses. Here we found Baton Blue, Heath Fritillary, Large Copper, Large White, Small Heath and Common Blue butterflies, before setting off to retrace our steps towards the viewpoint at the Col de la Machine. We made a brief stop on a verge above St. Jean to admire some fine specimens of Orchis purpurea (Lady Orchid), Ophrys insectifera (Fly Orchid) and Cephalanthera longifolia (Sword-leaved Helleborine), before stopping at the Col to enjoy the magnificent scenery. Hornungia petraea (Hutchinsia), Lamium garganicum (Large Red Dead-nettle), Botrychium lunaria (Moonwort), Valeriana tripteris (Three-leaved Valerian) and Kernera saxatilis (Kernera) were all noted, before we returned to La Chapelle. Day 3 Tuesday 23rd May Col de Rousset – Above Les Nonnières – Vallon de Combeau – Cirque d’Archiane Our first stop today was at the head of the spectacular Col de Rousset – there are truly magnificent views from here. A few distant Griffon Vultures were seen, and Chiffchaff was calling. Anthyllis montana (Mountain Kidney- vetch) and Artemisia absinthium (Wormwood) were also recorded, together with Humming-bird Hawk-moth. Moving on, we made our way to the bottom of the valley and turned east through the town of Die and on through Pont de Quart and Châtillon en Diois. We continued on through Menée and up to Les Nonnières, where we parked by some meadows. In some woodland we found Cypripedium calceolus (Lady’s Slipper Orchid), Cephalanthera longifolia (Sword-leaved Helleborine), Neottia ovata (Twayblade) and Equisetum telmateia (Great Horsetail). Great Tit and Common Chiffchaff were heard. An adjacent meadow produced Latticed Heath and Burnet Companion moths, Small Heath, Silver-studded Blue, Red-underwing Skipper, Grizzled Skipper and Wood White butterflies. We also found a Field Cricket in search of a mate. Retracing our route, we turned up into the Vallon de Combeau. Here we made our way up the valley and parked by a ford in the mountain stream, where we set up the picnic. A few Griffon Vultures were seen soaring over a distant crag, and Berger’s Clouded Yellow, Dingy Skipper, Chequered Skipper and Scarce Swallowtail were seen 2 © Naturetrek October 17 France - The Vercors Tour Report taking salts in the stream gravels. In a nearby ditch there was Pinguicula grandiflora (Large-flowered Butterwort) and close by, Euphorbia cyparissias (Cypress Spurge), Pinus uncinata (Mountain Pine), Meum athamanticum (Spignel) and Gentiana angustifolia (Narrow-leaved Gentian). We now moved down the valley and parked in a layby, in order to search a verge bank. Here we found Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry), and Orchis spitzelii (Spitzel’s Orchid), which has a restricted distribution. The group now took a little time descending the valley on foot, enjoying the wildlife and the spectacular views, before rejoining the vehicle, in order that we could move south to the Cirque d’Archiane. We parked in a layby, south east of the hamlet of Archiane. Griffon Vultures were seen high on the ridges, as well as Aphyllanthes monspeliensis (Blue Aphyllanthes), Globularia cordifolia (Matted Globularia), Globularia punctata (Common Globularia) and Lavandula officinalis (Lavender). Little Blue, Wall Brown, Heath Fritillary, Scarce Swallowtail and Berger’s Clouded Yellow butterflies were also added. We began our journey back to La Chapelle, stopping to have refreshments outside Die. Day 4 Wednesday 24th May Reserve Naturelle.des Hauts Plateaux du Vercors Soon after breakfast, we left La Chapelle and made our way down to St Agnan, and up to the Hauts Plateux, parking at the car park at La Coche, where we prepared for our morning walk. Along the way, we stopped to admire the views up the valley and to photograph Anemone alpina (Alpine Pasqueflower) and Ribes alpina (Mountain Currant). Leaving La Coche, we began exploring the mixed coniferous and deciduous woodland and found that Abies alba (Silver Fir) and Picea abies (Norway Spruce) and Fagus sylvatica (Beech) were the predominant trees. Soon after we had left the car park, we came across a small group of Crossbills, which we watched for a while, and Paul found Soldanella alpina (Alpine Snowbell) and Orchis mascula subsp. speciosa (an Early Purple Orchid). We soon added Common Firecrest, calling Dunnock, Coal Tit and a distant Song Thrush. Continuing on, we added Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry) and Viola tricolor subsp. subalpina (Alpine Heartsease). As we were arriving at the open plateau, we had some very brief views of Alpine Marmot. As we progressed, a few Crocus caeruleus (White Crocus) were seen, as well as Daphne cneorum (Garland Flower), Tulipa sylvestris subsp. sylvestris (Wild Tulip) and Narcissus pseudonarcissus (Wild Daffodil). Before we set off on the return journey to La Coche, we saw Crested Tits with young, and a second group of Crossbills. Butterflies were well represented, with Grizzled Skipper, Orange Tip, Dingy Skipper, Swallowtail, Northern Wall Brown, Berger’s Clouded Yellow and Brimstone.