Vercors in Summer Naturetrek Tour Report 18 - 25 July 2012 Campanula cochlearifolia Common Carpet Short-tailed-Blue Linaria supina Report and images compiled by Paul Harmes & Terry Goble Naturetrek Cheriton Mill Cheriton Alresford Hampshire SO24 England 0NG T: +44 (0)1962 733051 F: +44 (0)1962 736426 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk Tour Report Vercors in Summer Tour Leaders: Paul Harmes Naturetrek Botanist Terry Goble Naturetrek Ornithologist Participants: Celia Clarke Maggie Conetti Sergio Conetti Dirk Van Gelderen Jaap de Kreek Celia Holmes Jeff Holmes Nicky Lynn Ivan Quail Colin Metherell Sara Shepley Day 1 Wednesday 18th July Weather: Fine, hot and sunny Six group members met Paul and Terry at Gatwick’s North Terminal for the 08.15hrs flight to Lyon. Arriving at 11-00hrs local time, we soon completed passport control and baggage reclaim, and made our way out to the arrivals area, where we met with Maggie and Sergio, who had arrived earlier from Italy. We then boarded the bus to the car rental area. As soon as we had completed these formalities we collected our vehicles for the journey to the Vercors region. We drove westwards, stopping for refreshments at the L'Isle D'Abeau service area. Whilst enjoying lunch we spotted Common Blue butterfly and a juvenile Common Wall Lizard. Just before moving on, we added Scarce Swallowtail and Brimstone. From here, we moved on towards the Grenoble, Isere regional airport, where we explored the lanes and fields to the east and west of the airport. We stopped on a quiet roadside and began to scan the sky. European Honey Buzzard and Red Kite were both seen, and a family of Red-backed Shrike together with Marbled White and Brown Argus butterflies. Many of the arable fields had been harvested, but there were still a few plants to see, including Torilis japonica (Upright Hedge Parsley), Verbena officinalis (Vervain) and Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Ragweed). A little further on, we found Great Green Bush-cricket (Tettigonia viridissima) on a verge, with Cucubalus baccifer (Berry Catchfly), Origanum vulgare (Marjoram), Saponaria officinalis (Soapwort) and Hypericum perforatum (Perforate St.John’s-wort). It was now time to continue on south to Grenoble and Sessenage, where we turned up onto the Vercors Plateau. Just after we rejoined the motorway, we saw four Black Kites circling above. It was not long before we arrived in Lans en Vercors and the Hotel Le Val Fleuri, our base for the rest of the tour. Here we were met by our hosts, Eliane Bonnard and her husband, Francois, and met up with the remaining members of the group, Colin, Jaap and Dirk. At 19-00hrs we met in the garden, and Paul and Terry outlined the week ahead for us. © Naturetrek November 12 1 Vercors in Summer Tour Report Day 2 Thursday 19th July Weather: Fine, hot and sunny Following a splendid breakfast, we made the short journey to the small hamlet of Les Merciers. Here we explored a steep path, rocky lane sides and some meadows. As we parked the vehicles, it was obvious that the butterflies were particularly active; Pearly Heath, Heath Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary, Scarce Copper and Wood White were all early sightings. Our first botanical find of the day was two spikes of Epipactis atrorubens (Dark Red Helleborine), followed by Asplenium viride (Green Speenwort) and Asplenium trichomanes (Maidenhair Spleenwort), growing side by side, and Clinopodium vulgare (Wild Basil), and a Common Buzzard was heard calling. We made our way along a lane with rocky margins. Here we added Grizzled Skipper and Apollo to the growing butterfly list, and Asperula rupicola (a Squinancywort), Dianthus carthusianorum (Carthusian Pink), Saxifraga paniculata (Live-long Saxifrage) and several species of Sedum (Stonecrop). This led us into a meadow situated above a deep gorge. This contained Gentiana cruciata (Cross Gentian), Chamaespartium sagittale (Winged Greenweed), Sedum sexangulare (Tasteless Stonecrop), Populus tremula (Aspen) and Sorbus aria (Whitebeam). By now the warming sun had encouraged more butterflies to become active. These included Scotch Argus, Marbled White, Rock Grayling and Large Wall Brown. Common and Alpine Swift, Rock Bunting, Crag Martin and a solitary Northern Goshawk, were also recorded. We rejoined our vehicles for the short drive down to the Gorges du Furon, where we took our picnic in a streamside meadow at Le Bruyant. Coal Tit, Common Buzzard, Northern Raven and Black Kite were seen here, as well as Small White, Wood White and Dark Green Fritillary butterflies. We left this beautiful spot and made our way back to an area of wetland, streams and a pond at Les Buryeres. Here we added some new insects to our list. A Large Marsh Grasshopper was seen, plus Broad-bodied Chaser, Four-spotted Chaser and Common Darter dragonflies, with Common Bluet and Azure Bluet damselflies. The pond also held a small population of hybrid frogs. Aconitum napellus (Monk’s-hood), Lysimachia nummularia (Creeping Jenny) and Filipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet) were also recorded. An additional reason to visit this site, is that it has been a location for Marsh Warbler in the past, but sadly, there were none evident today. Our final stop of the day was in some natural mixed woodland in the hamlet of Traffet. Here we added several new sightings. Crested Tit was seen and Marsh Tit heard. The woods had Melampyrum nemorosum (a Cow-wheat), Digitalis lutea (Small Yellow Foxglove), Cephalanthera rubra (Red Helleborine), Epipactis purpurata (Violet Helleborine), Pyrola media (Intermediate Wintergreen) and Goodyeara repens (Creeping Ladies Tresses). Silver- washed Fritillary, Heath Fritillary, Essex Skipper and Small Skipper were also identified. As it was quite late in the day, we made our way back to the hotel for refreshments and dinner. Day 3 Friday 20th July Weather: Fine, warm and sunny with cloud We began today by making a short stop to the east of Lans en Vercors, near St Nizier du Moucherotte, stopping in the forest. This wonderful example of natural mixed conifer and deciduous woodland is home to a number of special plants, as well as birds. However, it was the orchids that were to attract most attention. We were particularly seeking the small, eerily white spikes of Epipogium aphyllum (Ghost Orchid). 2 © Naturetrek November 12 Vercors in Summer Tour Report The verge by the wood produced Epipactis microphylla, Epipactis atrorubens (Dark Red Helleborine), Campanula glomerata (Clustered Bellflower), Digitalis lutea (Small Yellow Foxglove) and Gymnadenia conopsea subsp. densiflora (a Fragrant Orchid). We entered the wood in search of the Ghost Orchids, but were unable to find any at first. Nevertheless, diligent searching and Sara’s sharp eyes spotted three flowering spikes, together with several spikes of Orthilia secunda (Nodding Wintergreen). It could be that the season is still late, and it may be that more of these plants may yet appear. From here, we retraced our steps through Lans and on to Les Geymonds to buy our picnic, before descending the spectacular Gorges de la Bourne on our way to a picnic site just south of St Julien en Vercors. We stopped at the northern end of the gorge to watch the river for White-throated Dipper, and it was not too long before we had good sightings of the bird. Meanwhile, the lane verges and stream bank produced Essex Skipper, Small White, Ringlet and Scarce Copper butterflies, and Campanula rapunculus (Rampion Bellflower) and Campanula rhomboidalis (a Bellflower). We continued south to St. Julien en Vercors for our picnic. During lunch, Yellowhammer was heard and Barn Swallow and Common Swifts were very much in evidence. Ivan and Jeff were busy searching a nearby meadow, and reported Burnet Companion and Silver Y moths, Short-tailed Blue, Beautiful Demoiselle and Stripe-legged Grasshopper. Moving on, we passed through the village of La Chapelle en Vercors, turning west towards Vassieux, before turning up to the Col de la Chau (1337m). Here we made a brief stop to admire the distant peak of the Grand Veymont, which at 2341 metres, is the highest peak in the Vercors. While we were stopped, we saw male and female Great Sooty Satyr, Queen of Spain Fritillary, Blue-spot Hairstreak, Damon Blue and Apollo butterflies. Our objective for the afternoon was the Font d’Urle (1500m), a ski station with limestone outcrops and meadows. As we approached the parking area we marveled at the wonderful display of Dianthus monspessulanus (Fringed Pink). Early on, we had close views of Alpine Marmot, and in the distance, Alpine Chough, Common Linnets and Water Pipit were feeding among the rocks. Plants included Phyteuma orbiculare (Round-headed Rampion), Gymnadenia austriaca var. gallica (a Black Vanilla Orchid), Daphne mezereum (Mezereon), Hypericum richeri (Alpine St. John’s-wort) and Gypsophila repens (Alpine Gypsophila). In addition, there were also High Brown Fritillary, Grizzled Skipper, Almond-eyed Ringlet butterflies, and Purple Treble-bar moth. We made our way back over the Col de la Chau, and on through Vassieux towards the Col de Rousset and down to a Griffon Vulture roost below Chamaloc. Here we found several of these majestic birds returning to roost on the crags above us. It was now time to return north to the small town of La Chapelle en Vercors, where we took dinner at the Hotel Bellier, before returning to our hotel. Day 4 Saturday 21st July Weather: Cloudy and cold for most of the day, warming up as the afternoon progressed Today’s objective was to explore the Route Forestale de la Molière, east of Autrans. The area comprises mixed woodland, open rides, rocky banks and open meadows. Leaving Lans en Vercors, we took the road up towards the towns of Meaudre and Autrans, turning off onto the forest road.