Valais – Highlights of the Swiss Alps

Naturetrek Tour Report 23 - 30 June 2019

Matterhorn from the Riffelsee King-of-the-Alps, Eritrichium nanum

Spring Crocus, Crocus caeruleus Rock Ptarmigan

Report and images by David Morris

Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Tour Report The Swiss Valais

Tour participants: David Morris and Bob Elliot with 11 Naturetrek clients

Day 1 Sunday 23rd June

A hot and sunny day greeted us on arrival in Geneva. After passing through passport control and picking up our bags, we met three members of the group in arrivals before heading off to board our train to Brig. No sooner had we left Geneva did we start seeing good numbers of Black Kites, along with the occasional Red Kite. Our train then travelled along the sunny shores of Lake Geneva before passing through vineyards and rising peaks along the course of the Rhône Valley. By late afternoon we arrived in Brig and picked up a local service that took a scenic, winding route alongside the narrow and turbulent Rhône before arriving in Betten.

We picked up the hiking passes for the week ahead, and then headed up the mountain via cable car to the traffic- free village of Bettmeralp. As we walked through the village, we noted parties of screaming Common Swifts, Black Redstarts feeding their young and a few Citril Finches. We arrived at our hotel, with commanding views across the valley and towards the Matterhorn, settled into our rooms and then went on to enjoy our first evening meal of the trip.

Day 2 Monday 24th June

Somewhat reminiscent of last year’s run of luck with good weather, we woke to a glorious warm morning bathed in bright sunshine. After breakfast we headed out towards the cable lift to the Bettmerhorn to enjoy our first introduction to the area and its wildlife. Around the village we noted Nutcrackers, Black Redstarts and Red Crossbills and, as we walked alongside floristic verges, we had our first foray into the region’s flora. As we took the gondolas up towards the 2,675-metre Bettmerhorn we noted Whinchat, Water Pipit, Alpine Accentor and a number of Marmots. Magenta-flowered Hairy Primrose Primula hirsuta adorned the rocks and the slopes were covered in butter-yellow Alpine Pasqueflower Anemone (Pulsatilla) alpina subsp. apiifolia.

Heavy snow during the Alpine winter had left more snow than average around the ridge and slopes, with deep drifts covering large areas around the summit plateau. We explored the turf, finding patches of Short-leaved Gentian Gentiana brachypylla, Spring Pasqueflower Anemone (Pulsatilla) vernalis, Alpine Forget-me-not Myosotis alpestris, Alpine Bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus alpinus and tight mats of Mossy Cyphel Minuartia sedoides. After taking in the breath-taking views of the Aletsch Glacier we paused for coffee, before walking along a cleared route down through deep snowdrifts along the Gratweg ridge.

As the snow patches broke up the snowmelt flora came out, with good displays of Trumpet Gentiana acaulis and Southern Gentians Gentiana alpina, Spring Snowbell, Soldanella alpina and Spring Crocus, Crocus caeruleus (formerly C. vernus subsp. albiflorus). Birds here included displaying Water Pipits, Ring Ouzel and a confiding Rock Ptarmigan. Lunch was enjoyed with views down over the village and the Rhône Valley before continuing onwards to the Moosfluh top station for a cooling drink.

All refreshed, we set off down the mountain on the cable car, hoping off at the middle station by the Blausee. From here, we made the descent through dwarf shrub heath and acid grassland towards the Bettmersee. The heath here held Pyramidal Bugle Ajuga pyramidalis, Small White Orchid Pseudorchis albida, Elder-flowered Orchid Dactylorhiza sambucina and Globe Flower Trollius europaeus. Queen of Spain Fritillary and Green Hairstreaks were

The Swiss Valais Tour Report

noted, along with Whinchat and calling Marmots. At the Bettmersee some hardy individuals opted for a refreshing swim before heading back to the hotel for a rest prior to our evening meal.

Day 3 Tuesday 25th June

Waking to yet another glorious warm and sunny day in the Valais, we enjoyed breakfast before heading off out for a day exploring the Herrenweg Plateau and the lofty 2,926 metre-high Eggishorn. Around the hotel we noted Citril Finch, Crag Martin and ever-present Black Redstarts before boarding the Würzenbord chairlift. As we glided over the pastures and heaths, Water Pipits displayed around the slopes and the late-clearing snows caused huge quantities of Spring Crocus Crocus caeruleus, Alpine Pasqueflower Anemone alpina subsp apiifolia and Kuepfer’s Buttercup Ranunculus kuepferi to bloom. Around the top of the Würzenbord we admired the views over the Rhône Valley, along with Livelong Saxifrage Saxifraga paniculata and Three-leaved Valerian Valeriana tripteris.

We dropped from the top of the chairlift down into the acidic pastures noting large quantities of the aforementioned snow melt species, along with Trumpet Gentian Gentiana acaulis, Alpine Snowbell Soldanella alpina and a few plants of Yellow Star of Bethlehem Gagea fistulosa. As we approached the Herrenweg Plateau we paused for refreshment at Bättmer-Hitta before continuing on, noting Ring Ouzel, Whinchat and Red-backed Shrike in the scrubby slopes. Early butterflies were abundant with Green Hairstreaks, Wood White and Swallowtail all noted, along with a lone Frog Orchid Dactylorhiza viridis.

We enjoyed a picnic lunch in the shade of a mountain cabin that was adjacent to a babbling stream before travelling the short distance towards Fiescheralp where we were lucky enough to observe a pair of Golden Eagles hunting Alpine Marmots on the snow-covered slopes above the village. After a short cable-car ride up the rest of the slope, we arrived at the Eggishorn summit that was clothed in deep winter snow. Despite the snow, air temperatures were warm and we explored the snow-cleared areas above the cable station, giving incredible views across the adjacent Aletsch Glacier and north towards the peaks of Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau and Jungfraujoch. In areas of snow melt we located a few choice plants, including Purple Saxifrage Saxifraga oppositifolia, a Scree Saxifrage Saxifraga seguieri, Musky Saxifrage Saxifraga exarata subsp. moschata and Glacier Crowfoot Ranunculus glacialis.

In the afternoon we took the cable cars down to Fiesch in a very hot valley bottom, before catching the scenic railway to Betten and then taking the cable car back up to Bettmeralp. We enjoyed some much-needed refreshments in the village before heading into the wooded slopes towards Riederalp. The forest edge held Red Crossbill, Crested Tit and Goldcrest and in the meadow glades we found a mix of butterflies, including Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Alpine Heath. By late-afternoon we headed back to the hotel to enjoy dinner in the evening sun on the balcony.

Day 4 Wednesday 26th June

After an earlier breakfast we headed off towards Zermatt to explore the scenery and wildlife of the Matterhorn range that we had been looking over towards from our Bettmeralp base. We took the cable car back down to Betten then followed the winding Glacier Express line to Zermatt before changing onto the Gornergrat cog railway that took us up to the 3,089-metre summit. Our journey up was both scenic and nature-rich as we passed through pine woodlands and open alpine grasslands. In the shade of the woodland we noted stands of Martagon

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The Spanish Pyrenees Tour Report

Lily, Lillium martagon, and, as the landscape opened up, the turf was studded with Gentians, Pasqueflowers and Violas. Towards the summit we noted a pair of Rock Ptarmigan in flight, close to the tracks.

After a brief coffee stop, we explored the summit ridge with melting snowdrifts and ever-attentive Alpine Choughs in search of scraps. The rocky screes held a good selection of alpine flora including deep purple mats of Purple Saxifrage, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Round-leaved Penny-cress, Thlaspi rotundifolium subsp rotundifolium, a Rock- jasmine, Androsace vandellii and several patches of blue King of the Alps, Eritrichium nanum. As lunchtime approached, we boarded the train, finding Snowfinch nesting in the station, and headed down one stop to disembark at Rotenboden.

We enjoyed a delicious picnic overlooking the mighty Matterhorn, although we had to be quick as the cheese was rapidly melting in the hot weather! Snowfinch, Red-billed Chough and Water Pipit were numerous, and plants here included Snowdon Lily Gagea serotina, Pink Rock-jasmine Androsace laggeri, Spring Pasqueflower Anemone vernalis, Spring Gentian Gentiana verna and yellow Vitaliana, Vitaliana primuliflora. After lunch we headed down the valley, pausing to photograph the Matterhorn’s reflection in a calm alpine lake before making our way downhill to Riffleberg.

After cooling drinks and ice creams, we headed back towards Zermatt where we connected with a train to take us down the Matter Valley towards Visp. The scenery was spectacular with towering peaks, cascading spring melt waters and an abundance of wildflowers in the trackside meadows, with us also spotting a single adult Golden Eagle from the train. After a change in Visp, we headed back up the Rhône and onto Bettmeralp via a connecting cable car before arriving at the hotel for an evening meal on the balcony watching the Alpenglow over the Matterhorn.

Day 5 Thursday 27th June

With the heatwave continuing, the early risers set off for a pre-breakfast walk around the local forest. No sooner had we left the hotel had we picked up Spotted Nutcracker, Serin, Red Crossbills, and a pair of Citril Finches feeding on dandelion seeds. The woods were busy with birdlife, with Crested Tit, Willow Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Pipit and Goldcrest. For the botanists in the group we found Small White Orchid Pseudorchis albida, May Lily Maianthemum bifolium and good numbers of the cream and purple forms of Elder-flowered Orchid, Dactylorhiza sambucina. As we headed to more open country, we had superb views of a male Common Cuckoo.

After breakfast we headed into Bettmeralp and onto Riederalp via the promenade with its rich roadside verges and meadows that held a good selection of butterflies, including Adonis Blue, Heath Fritillary, False Heath Fritillary, Almond-eyed Ringlet and Common Swallowtail. New plants on the walk included Bearded Bellflower Campanula barbata, White False-helleborine Veratrum album and Arnica Arnica montanum. On the wooded slopes we found more Spotted Nutcrackers, Crested Tit and Mistle Thrush.

At Riederalp we caught the Moosfluh cable car to the top of the ridge, seeing huge quantities of Globeflower Trollius europaeus, Gentians and Alpine Pasqueflower, Pulsatilla alpina subsp apiifolia on the slopes below. After a quick refreshment stop, we walked parallel to the vast Aletsch Glacier and then dropped down into the Aletsch Forest for a picnic overlooking the ice floe. After lunch we headed through the forest towards Riederfurka.

The Swiss Valais Tour Report

Around shady boulders we found Spoon-leaved Saxifrage, Saxifraga cuneifolia and dainty Yellow Wood Violet, Viola biflora, plus spotted a number of foraging Ring Ouzels.

By early afternoon we paused at Riederfurka to enjoy a much-needed cold drink before dropping down a track to Riederalp. The thin-soiled slopes were covered in a range of attractive plants including a profusion of flowering Mountain Houseleek, Sempervivum montanum and Fragrant Orchid, Gymnadenia conopsea. From Riederalp we headed back down the road where some opted for a refreshing swim in the Bettmersee and the rest returned to the hotel to relax before dinner.

Day 6 Friday 28th June

With the heat wave across Europe continuing, we woke again to bright blue skies and a forecast of warm weather for the day. The early morning group assembled for a pre-breakfast stroll around the adjacent woodland where we had a good mix of bird species, including Spotted Nutcrackers, Crested Tit, Citril Finch, Serin, Nuthatch and Willow Tit, along with a Red Squirrel feeding in some Larches above us. After breakfast we set off through the village, pausing to collect picnic supplies before starting the ‘three villages walk’ to explore the diverse hay meadow habitats on slopes below Bettmeralp.

As the morning warmed up, out came large quantities of freshly emerged butterflies, including Queen of Spain Fritillary, Black-veined White, Adonis Blue and Little Blues. The slopes and meadows around the lower part of Bettmeralp were botanically spectacular, with colourful displays of a range of hay meadow plants. Globeflower Trollius europaeus, Bladder Campion Silene vulgaris, Alpine Calamint Acinus alpinus, Harebells Campanula rotundifolia and Golden Cinquefoil Potentilla aurea all adorned the grasslands, along with a vast array of other species. As we pushed on through woodland, we emerged into more spectacular meadows rich in colour and butterflies, including stunning Apollos. Stand-out plants included Burnt Orchid Neotinea ustulata and Carthusian Pink Dianthus carthusianorum. With a delicious picnic in the shade, the bird list also grew with Golden Eagle, Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, Red-backed Shrike and Firecrest.

As we descended through the hamlet of Domo and more delightful meadows, the temperature rose. At a small traditional farmstead, we watched the family making field-dried hay on the challenging slopes. As we approached Betten Dorf, the vegetation changed with new species encountered, including St Bruno’s Lily Paradisea liliastrum, Spiked Campanula Campanula spicata, Blue Lettuce Lactuca perennis, Sticky Catchfly Silene (Lychnis) viscaria and Red Trefoil Trifolium rubens. By mid-afternoon we arrived at Betten Dorf and stopped for a much-needed cold drink and ice cream refreshment, before catching the cable car back up to Bettmeralp. For the rest of the afternoon, many opted for a return to the hotel, whilst some decided to go for a refreshing swim in the Bettmersee. After completing the daily trip log, we ate in the pizzeria to conclude an enjoyable day out.

Day 7 Saturday 29th June

We woke to another fine day, so after breakfast we set off to explore the wooded habitats of the adjacent Bettmeralp forest. As we entered the forest, we encountered a small group of juvenile Red Crossbills feeding on the track in front of us. Further on, within a woodland clearing, we found Willow Tit, Firecrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Red Squirrel busily filling its cheeks with Larch seeds. Butterflies were numerous in the sunshine, including Wood Whites, Chequered Skipper, Black-veined White and Queen of Spain Fritillary. Plant

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The Spanish Pyrenees Tour Report

highlights included Vanilla Orchid, Gymnadenia rhellicani, Small White Orchids, Pseudorchis albida and a profusion of Clusius’ Gentian Gentiana clusii. The biggest surprise was a male Black Grouse that flew out of a stand of adjacent spruces.

We continued on our path through the forest before emerging onto a south-facing slope above the tree line overlooking the Rhône Valley. The slopes were covered in flowering Alpenrose Rhododendron ferrugineum and Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi which were also rich in a range of flowering plants, including Southern Gentian Gentiana alpina, Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea and Lesser Butterfly Orchid Plantanthera bifolia. Tree Pipits were parachute-displaying from the stunted conifers and we also noted a displaying pair of Peregrine Falcons. As we reached the top of the slope and rounded the corner, the cafe at Bättmer-Hita came into view beneath the Bettmerhorn. We enjoyed coffee, along with home-baked Apricot Tarts and Vanilla Slices, then took the Wurzenbord chairlift back down to Bettmeralp where we had our picnic lunch within the shade of the forest.

For the afternoon, most of the group opted to take the cable car to the top of the Bettmerhorn for one last view of the mighty Aletsch Glacier. It was apparent that the week’s hot weather had accelerated the snow-melting process, with noticeably less snow than the start of the trip, along with a blooming of higher-altitude plants due to the thaw. A search of the slopes above the cable station found Alpine Accentor and Alpine Chough, along with a range of plants including Alpine Fleabane Erigeron alpinus, Short-leaved Gentian Gentiana brachyphylla, Long-spurred Pansy Viola calcarata, Moss Campion Silene acaulis and the Rock-jasmine Androsace vandelii. By late afternoon we took the cable car back down the mountain, with some opting for a wild swim before we met up for our final evening meal of the trip.

Day 8 Sunday 30th June

Another sunny morning greeted us on our final day in Switzerland. Given our brief encounter with a Black Grouse the previous day, along with a late-afternoon departure back home, we had time for a pre-breakfast walk to go in search of more woodland Grouse. As we wandered up the winding tracks through the Bettmeralp forest, Crested and Willow Tits sang from the conifers and groups of Red Crossbills flitted through the canopy. As we approached the ride where we encountered yesterday’s Black Grouse, we slowly walked along scanning in the shrubby understorey and adjacent Larches. With no luck in this glade, we pushed on up the slope to the woodland edge where David had found several piles of Grouse droppings the day before. We walked along a lateral moraine high up on the edge of the Rhône Valley to view a scrubby slope clad in flowering Alpenrose Rhododendron ferrugineum and a range of other ericaceous dwarf shrubs as the conifers fringed out at the natural tree line. As we scanned the slope, we were rewarded with a pair of male Black Grouse flying down the ridge, one landing amongst the open vegetation for a couple of minutes before flying off into the woodland. With the morning’s birding excitement complete, we headed back down to the hotel to join the rest of the group for breakfast.

After packing up our bags, we had enough time to get the adjacent Wurzenbord ski lift to the top of the plateau behind us for one last view across the valley. Alpine Marmots, Ring Ouzel, Water Pipits, Alpine Choughs and Common Cuckoo were all noted on the way up and at the top we had views of Golden Eagle being mobbed by a Raven in the valley below us. Not giving up on the plants until the very end, we found Starry Hare’s-ear Bupleurum stellatum, Livelong Saxifrage Saxifraga paniculata and Alpine Stonecrop Sedum alpestre flowering amongst the rocky scree around the chairlift. Final photos taken, we headed back down to the hotel, saying our farewells

The Swiss Valais Tour Report

to host Chris and his team before walking the short distance to the Bettmeralp cable car where we connected with our onward trains, arriving for departure from a hot and sunny Geneva airport later that afternoon.

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Species Lists

Plants (‡ = cultivated or naturalised) Scientific Name Common Name

LYCOPODIOPSIDA CLUBMOSSES

Lycopodiaceae Clubmoss Family Diphasiastrum alpinum Alpine Clubmoss Huperzia selago Fir Clubmoss Lycopodium annotinum Interrupted Clubmoss

EQUISETOPSIDA HORSETAILS

Equisetaceae Horsetail Family Equisetum palustre Marsh Horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum Wood Horsetail

PTEROPSIDA FERNS

Aspleniaceae Spleenwort Family Asplenium ruta-muraria Wall-rue Asplenium septentrionale Forked Spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes Maidenhair Spleenwort Asplenium viride Green Spleenwort

Blechnaceae Hard-fern Family Blechnum spicant Hard-fern

Dennstaedtiaceae Bracken Family Pteridium aquilinum Bracken

Dryopteridacaeae Buckler-fern Family Dryopteris affinis Scaly Male-fern Dryopteris dilatata Broad Buckler-fern Dryopteris filix-mas Male-fern Gymnocarpium dryopteris Oak Fern Polystichum aculeatum Hard Shield-fern Polystichum lonchitis Holly-fern

Ophioglossaceae Adder’s-tongue Family Botrychium lunaria Moonwort

Polypodiaceae Polypody Family Polypodium vulgare Common Polypody

Thelypteridaceae Marsh Fern Family Phegopteris connectilis Beech Fern

Woodsiaceae Lady-fern Family Athyrium distentifolium Alpine Lady-fern Athyrium filix-femina Lady-fern Cystopteris fragilis Brittle Bladder-fern

The Swiss Valais Tour Report

Woodsia alpina Alpine Woodsia

PINOPSIDA CONIFERS

Cupressaceae Juniper Family Juniperus communis var. saxatilis Common Juniper

Pinaceae Pine Family Abies alba European Silver-fir Larix decidua Larch Picea abies Norway Spruce Pinus uncinata Mountain Pine Pinus sylvestris Scots Pine

MAGNOLIOPSIDA FLOWERING PLANTS MAGNOLIIDAE DICOTYLEDONS

Adoxaceae Moschatel Family Sambucus nigra Common Elder Sambucus racemosa Alpine Elder Viburnum opulus Guelder-rose

Apiaceae Carrot Family Aegopodium podagraria Ground Elder Bupleurum stellatum Starry Hare’s-ear Carum carvi Caraway Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed Peucedanum ostruthium Masterwort Laserpitium latifolium Broad-leaved Sermountain Ligusticum mutellina Alpine Lovage Pimpinella saxifraga Burnet-saxifrage

Araliaceae Ivy Family Hedera helix Ivy

Asteraceae (Compositae) Daisy Family Achillea millefolium Yarrow Antennaria dioica Cat's-foot Arnica montana Arnica Aster alpinus Alpine Aster Bellis perennis Daisy Carduus defloratus Alpine Thistle Carlina acaulis Stemless Carline Thistle Centaurea montana Mountain Cornflower Centaurea scabiosa ssp. alpina Greater Knapweed Cicerbita alpina Alpine Blue-sowthistle Cirsium spinosissimum Spiniest Thistle Cirsium heterophyllum Melancholy Thistle Crepis pyrenaica A Mountain Hawksbeard Erigeron alpinus Alpine Fleabane Eryngium alpinum Queen of the Alps Eupatorium cannabinum Hemp Agrimony Gnaphthalium norvegicum Dwarf Cudweed Hieracium alpinum Alpine Hawkweed

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The Spanish Pyrenees Tour Report

Hieracium pilosella Mouse-ear Hawkweed Homogyne alpina Alpine Colt's-foot Jacobaea incana Grey Alpine Groundsel Leontodon hispidus Alpine Hawkbit Leucanthemopsis alpina Alpine Moon Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare Ox-eye Daisy Petasites paradoxus Alpine Butterbur Prenanthes perennis Blue Lettuce Solidago virgaurea Goldenrod Taraxacum officinale Dandelion Tragopogon pratensis Goat's-beard Tussilago farfara Colt's-foot

Berberidace Berberis Family Berberis vulgaris Common Barberry

Betulaceae Birch Family Alnus glutinosa Common Alder Alnus viridis Green Alder Betula pendula Silver Birch Corylus avellana Hazel

Boraginaceae Borage Family Echium vulgare Viper's Bugloss Eritrichium nanum King-of-the-Alps Myosotis alpestris Alpine Forget-me-not

Brassicaceae Cabbage Family Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard Arabis alpina subsp. alpina Alpine Rock-cress Biscutella laevigata Buckler Mustard Cardamine alpina Alpine Bitter-cress Cardamine impatiens Narrow-leaved Bitter-cress Cardamine pratensis subsp. pratensis Lady's Smock Cardamine resedifolia Mignonette-leaved Bitter-cress Draba aizoides Yellow Whitlow-grass Hornungia (Pritzelago) alpina Chamois Cress Thlaspi montanum Mountain Penny-cress Thlaspi rotundifolium Round-leaved Penny-cress

Campanulaceae Bellflower Family Campanula barbata Bearded Bellflower Campanula glomerata Clustered Bellflower Campanula rotundifolia Harebell Campanula spicata Spiked Bellflower Campanula stenocodon Cottian Bellflower Campanula trachelium Nettle-leaved Bellflower Phyteuma betonicifolium Betony-leaved Rampion Phyteuma hemisphaericum Globe-headed Rampion Phyteuma obiculare Round-headed Rampion

Cannabaceae Hop Family Humulus lupulus Hop

Caprifoliaceae Honeysuckle Family

The Swiss Valais Tour Report

Knautia dipsacifolia Wood Scabious Lonicera alpigena Alpine Honeysuckle Lonicera xylosteum Fly Honeysuckle Scabiosa lucida Shining Scabious Valeriana tripteris Three-leaved Valerian

Caryophyllaceae Pink Family Arenaria biflora Two-flowered Sandwort Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear Cerastium latifolium Broad-leaved Mouse-ear Cerastium lineare Narrow-leaved Mouse-ear Cerastium uniflora Glacier Mouse-ear Dianthus carthusianorum Carthusian Pink Gypsophila repens Alpine Gypsophila Minuartia biflora Northern Sandwort Minuartia sedoides Mossy Cyphel Minuartia verna Vernal Sandwort Sagina saginoides Alpine Pearlwort Saponaria ocymoides Rock Soapwort Silene acaulis Moss Campion Silene diocia Red Campion Silene nutans Nottingham Catchfly Silene pratensis White Campion Silene (Lychnis) viscaria Sticky Catch Fly Silene vulgaris Bladder Campion Stellaria holostea Greater Stichwort Stellaria media Common Chickweed

Chenopodiaceae Goosefoot Family Chenopodium bonus-henricus Good-King-Henry

Cistaceae Rockrose Family Helianthemum oelandicum subsp. Alpine Rockrose alpestre

Crassulaceae Stonecrop Family Sedum acre Biting Stonecrop Sedum album White Stonecrop Sedum alpestre Alpine Stonecrop Sedum dasyphyllum Thick-leaved Stonecrop Sedum telephium Orpine Sempervivum arachnoideum Cobweb Houseleek Sempervivum montanum Mountain Houseleek Sempervivum tectorum Common Houseleek Sempervivum wulfenii Wulfen’s Houseleek

Ericaceae Heather Family Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Bearberry Calluna vulgaris Ling Empetrum nigrum subsp. Hermaphrodite Crowberry hermaphroditum Kalmia procumbens Trailing Azalea Rhododendron ferrugineum Alpenrose Vaccinium myrtillus Bilberry Vaccinium uliginosum agg. Bog Whortleberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea Cowberry

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The Spanish Pyrenees Tour Report

Euphorbiaceae Spurge Family Euphorbia cyparissias Cypress Spurge Mercurialis perennis Dog's Mercury

Fabaceae (Leguminosae) Pea Family Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. alpestris Alpine Kidney Vetch Astragalus alpinus Alpine Milk-vetch Astragalus glycyphyllos Wild Liquorice Hedysarum hedysaroides Alpine Sainfoin Hippocrepis comosa Horseshoe Vetch Lathyrus aphaca Yellow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis Meadow Vetchling Lotus alpinus Alpine Bird's-foot-trefoil Oxytropis campestris Yellow Milk-vetch Trifolium alpinum Alpine Clover Trifolium badium Brown Clover Trifolium montanum Mountain Clover Trifolium pallescens Pale Clover Trifolium pratense Red Clover Trifolium repens White Clover Trifolium rubens Red Trefoil Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch

Fagaceae Beech Family Fagus sylvatica Beech Quercus petraea Sessile Oak Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak

Gentianaceae Gentian Family Gentiana alpina Southern Gentian Gentiana acaulis Trumpet Gentian Gentiana brachyphylla Short-leaved Gentian Gentiana clusii Clusius' Gentian Gentinan lutea Great Yellow Gentian Gentiana verna Spring Gentian

Geraniaceae Crane's-bill Family Geranium robertianum Herb Robert Geranium sanguineum Bloody Crane’s-bill Geranium sylvaticum Wood Crane's-bill

Hypericaceae St John’s-wort Family Hypericum maculatum Imperforate St John's-wort

Juglandaceae Walnut Family Juglans regia ‡ Walnut

Lamiaceae Dead-nettle Family Acinos alpinus Alpine Calamint Ajuga pyramidalis Pyramidal Bugle Ajuga reptans Common Bugle Galeopsis tetrahit Common Hemp-nettle Lamiastrum galeobdolon Yellow Archangel Lamium purpureum Red Dead-nettle

The Swiss Valais Tour Report

Origanum vulgare Marjoram Prunella vulgaris Self-heal Salvia pratensis Meadow Clary Thymus polytrichus Wild Thyme Thymus pulegioides Large Thyme

Lentibulariaceae Butterwort Family Pinguicula vulgaris Common Butterwort

Linaceae Flax Family Linum catharticum Fairy Flax

Malvaceae Mallow Family Tilia cordata Small-leaved Lime Tilia platyphyllos Large-leaved Lime

Oleaceae Ash Family Fraxinus excelsior Ash Ligustrum vulgare Wild Privet

Onagraceae Willowherb Family Epilobium alsinifolium Chickweed Willowherb Epilobium (Chamerion) angustifolium Rosebay Willowherb Epilobium montanum Broad-leaved Willowherb

Orobanchaceae Broomrape Family Bartsia alpina Alpine Bartsia Melampyrum pratense Common Cow-wheat Pedicularis foliosa Leafy Lousewort Pedicularis tuberosa Long-beaked Yellow Lousewort Rhinanthus minor Yellow-rattle

Oxalidaceae Wood-sorrel Family Oxalis acetosella Wood-sorrel

Papaveraceae Poppy Family Papaver rhoeas Common Poppy

Plantaginaceae Plantain Family Linaria alpina Alpine Toadflax Linaria vulgaris Common Toadflax Plantago maritima subsp. serpentina Fleshy Plantain Plantago media Hoary Plantain Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain Veronica alpina Alpine Speedwell Veronica bellidioides Violet Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell Veronica officinalis Heath Speedwell Veronica serphyllifolia Thyme-leaved Speedwell

Polygalaceae Milkwort Family Polygala alpestris Mountain Milkwort Polygala alpina Alpine Milkwort Polygala chamaebuxus Shrubby Milkwort Polygala vulgaris Common Milkwort

The Spanish Pyrenees Tour Report

Polygonaceae Dock Family Oxyria digyna Mountain Sorrel Persicaria vivipara Alpine Bistort Rumex acetosella Sheep’s Sorrel Rumex alpestris Mountain Dock Rumex alpinus Monk's-rhubarb Rumex scutatus French Sorrel

Primulaceae Primrose Family Androsace laggeri Pink Rock Jasmine Androsace obtusifolia Blunt-leaved Rock-jasmine Androsace vandelii Rock-jasmine Primula farinosa Bird's-eye Primrose Primula hirsuta Hairy Primrose Primula veris Cowslip Soldanella alpina Alpine Snowbell Vitaliana primuliflora Vitaliana

Ranunculaceae Buttercup Family Anemone (P.) alpina subsp. apiifolia Alpine Pasqueflower Anemone nemorosa Wood Anemone Anemone (Pulsatilla) vernalis Spring Pasqueflower Caltha palustris Marsh-marigold Clematis vitalba Old Man’s Beard Hepatica nobilis Liverleaf Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus auricomus Goldilocks Buttercup Ranunculus glacialis Glacier Crowfoot Ranunculus kuepferi Kupfer’s Buttercup Trollius europaeus Globeflower

Rosaceae Rose Family Alchemilla alpina Alpine Lady's-mantle Alchemilla vulgaris agg. Lady's-mantle Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry Geum montanum Alpine Avens Geum rivale Water Avens Geum urbanum Herb Bennet Potentilla aurea Golden Cinquefoil Potentilla crantzii Alpine Cinquefoil Potentilla erecta Tormentil Potentilla grammopetala Creamy Cinquefoil Potentilla rupestris Rock Cinquefoil Potentilla sterilis Barren Strawberry Poterium sanguisorba Salad Burnet Prunus avium Wild Cherry Rosa canina Dog-rose Rubus idaeus Raspberry Rubus saxatilis Stone Bramble Sibbaldia procumbens Sibbaldia Sorbus aria Whitebeam

The Swiss Valais Tour Report

Rubiaceae Madder Family Cruciata laevipes Crosswort Galium boreale Northern Bedstraw Galium megalospermum Swiss Bedstraw Galium odoratum Woodruff Galium verum Lady’s Bedstraw

Salicaceae Willow Family Populus alba White Poplar Populus tremula Aspen Salix arbuscular Mountain Willow Salix herbacea Least Willow Salix retusa Retuse-leaved Willow Salix serpyllifolia Thyme-leaved Willow

Santalaceae Bastard-toadflax Family Thesium alpinum Alpine Bastard-toadflax

Sapindaceae (Aceraceae) Maple Family Acer campestre Field Maple Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore

Saxifragaceae Saxifrage Family Chrysosplenium alternifolium Alternate-leaved Golden-saxifrage Saxifraga aspera Rough Saxifrage Saxifraga bryoides Mossy Saxifrage Saxifraga cuneifolia Soon-leaved Saxifrage Saxifraga exarata subsp. exarata White Musky Saxifrage Saxifraga exerata subsp. moschata Musky Saxifrage Saxifraga oppositifolia Purple Saxifrage Saxifraga paniculata Livelong Saxifrage Saxifraga seguieri A Scree Saxifrage Saxifraga stellaris Starry Saxifrage

Scrophulariaceae Figwort Family Vebascum pulverulentum Hoary Mullein

Urticaceae Nettle Family Urtica dioica Common Nettle

Violaceae Violet Family Viola biflora Yellow Wood Violet Viola calcarata Long-spurred Pansy Viola lutea Mountain Pansy Viola palustris Marsh Violet Viola tricolor Wild Pansy

LILIIDAE MONOCOTYLEDONS

Asparagaceae Asparagus Family Anthericum liliago St Bernard’s Lily Maianthemum bifolium May Lily

Colchicaceae Meadow Saffron Family Colchicum autumnale Meadow Saffron (leaf only)

The Spanish Pyrenees Tour Report

Iridaceae Iris Family Crocus caeruleus (C. vernus subsp. Spring Crocus albiflorus)

Juncacae Rush Family Juncus trifidus Three-leaved Rush Juncus triglumis Three-flowered Rush Luzula alpinopilosa Alpine Wood-rush Luzula multiflora Heath Wood-rush Luzula nivea Snow Rush Luzula sylvatica Great Wood-rush

Liliaceae Lily Family Gagea serotina Snowdon Lily Gagea fistulosa A Yellow Star of Bethlehem Lilium martagon Martagon Lily

Melanthiaceae Herb-Paris Family Veratrum album White False-helleborine

Orchidaceae Orchid Family Dactylorhiza sambucina Elder-flowered Orchid Dactylorhiza viridis Frog Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia rhellicani Dark Vanilla Orchid Neottia ovata Twayblade Neottia ustulata Burnt Orchid Plantanthera bifolia Lesser Butterfly Orchid Pseudorchis albida Small White Orchid

Birds (✓=recorded but not counted; H = heard only) June Common name Scientific name 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix 1 2 2 Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta 1 2 3 Mute Swan Cygnus olor 6 ✓ 4 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos ✓ ✓ 5 Common Swift Apus apus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6 Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus 1 H H 3 2 2 2 7 Rock Dove Columba livia ✓ ✓ 8 Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus ✓ ✓ 9 Eurasian Coot Fulica atra ✓ ✓ 10 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus ✓ ✓ 11 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus ✓ ✓ 12 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis ✓ ✓ 13 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 8 ✓ 14 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 1 15 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 2 1 1 1 16 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 1 1 17 Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis 1 1 18 Red Kite Milvus milvus 4 1 1 1 19 Black Kite Milvus migrans ✓ 1 ✓ 20 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo 2 2 1

The Swiss Valais Tour Report

June Common name Scientific name 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 21 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major 2 H 1 1 22 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 1 1 1 23 Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo 1 24 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 2 25 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio 1 2 26 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius 1 1 1 27 Eurasian Magpie Pica pica 4 1 1 2 1 28 Spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes 3 3 1 8 10 ✓ ✓ 29 Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus 4 8 15 20 8 ✓ ✓ ✓ 30 Carrion Crow Corvus corone ✓ 1 ✓ 31 Northern Raven Corvus corax 1 1 9 3 3 2 32 Coal Tit Periparus ater 3 2 4 2 6 3 33 European Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus 3 5 6 8 4 34 Willow Tit Poecile montanus H H 2 H 35 Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus 2 2 36 Great Tit Parus major 2 1 1 6 6 1 37 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis H H H H 38 Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 39 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 40 Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli 2 41 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita H H H 42 Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 2H H H 43 Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca H H H H 44 Common Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla 1 2 H 45 Goldcrest Regulus regulus 2 H 2 2 H 46 Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes 3H H H 47 Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea 4 3 48 Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris 1 49 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris ✓ ✓ 1 ✓ 50 Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus 2 4 4 2 8 2 6 4 51 Common Blackbird Turdus merula 1 H 2 3 1 2 52 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 1 H 53 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus 1 1 4 2 2 1 54 European Robin Erithacus rubecula H H H H 1 55 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 56 Common Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis H 57 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra 3 3 1 2 58 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe 3 4 2 4 1 59 House Sparrow Passer domesticus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 60 White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis 6 61 Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris 2 2 62 Dunnock Prunella modularis 1 1 H 1 63 White Wagtail Motacilla alba 1 2 ✓ ✓ ✓ 2 64 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis 2 4 ✓ 2 65 Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 66 Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 67 Common Linnet Linaria cannabina 4 10 ✓ 3 H 68 Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea H 6 2 2 69 Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra 20+ 10 10 30+ 30+ 30+ 20+ 70 Citril Finch Carduelis citrinella 2 6 4 4 10 6 6 8 71 European Serin Serinus serinus H H 2 3 5 2

The Spanish Pyrenees Tour Report

Mammals

Common Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus Red Squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris Alpine Marmot, Marmotta marmotta Red Deer, Cervus elaphus

Amphibians & Reptiles

Common Frog, Rana temporaria Common Newt, Triturus vulgaris Viviparous Lizard, Zootoca vivipara

Butterflies

Swallowtail, Papilio machaon Scarce Swallowtail, Iphiclides podalirius Apollo, Parnassius apollo Black-veined White, Aporia crataegi Large White, Pieris brassicae Peak White, Pontia callidice Small Tortoiseshell, Aglais urticae Green-veined White, Pieris napi Orange Tip, Anthocharis cardamines Clouded Yellow, Colias crocea Mountain Clouded Yellow, Colias phicomone Wood White, Leptidea sinapis Green Hairstreak, Callophrys rubi Little Blue, Cupido minimus Mountain Argus, Aricia artaxerxes Adonis Blue, Polyommatus bellargus Common Blue, Polyommatus icarus Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta Painted Lady, Cynthia cardui Southern White Admiral, Limenitis reducta Small Tortoiseshell, Aglais urticae Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Clossiana selene Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Clossiana euphrosyne False Heath Fritillary, Melitaea diamina Heath Fritillary, Melitaea athalia Queen of Spain Fritillary, Issoria lathonia Marbled White, Melanargia galathea Alpine Grayling, Oeneis glacialis Scotch Argus, Erebia aethiops Mountain Ringlet, Erebia epiphron Almond-eyed Ringlet, Erebia alberganus Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina Small Heath, Coenonympha pamphilus Alpine Heath, Coenonympha gardetta Speckled Wood, Pararge aegeria Large Wall Brown, Lasiommata maera Dingy Skipper, Erynnis tages Grizzled Skipper, Pyrgus malvae Chequered Skipper, Carterocephalus palaemon