Any suggestions- French Pyrenees (1 Viewer)

[Mark Lew1s]

In my experience middle-spotted are not that easy in the Pyrenees/foothills, but black should be easy enough if you know the calls. Mammal wise, Marmots are easy once you're high up - listen out for rather oystercatcher like calls. Izard are also not too hard but expect distant views!

 

[Bewick]

In my experience middle-spotted are not that easy in the Pyrenees/foothills, but black should be easy enough if you know the calls. Mammal wise, Marmots are easy once you're high up - listen out for rather oystercatcher like calls. Izard are also not too hard but expect distant views!

What type of lizards?

Black is definitely the woodpecker I want, I’m pretty sure I had one last year but it just passed slightly to quick to get a proper ID.

 

[Richard Prior]

What type of lizards?

Black is definitely the woodpecker I want, I’m pretty sure I had one last year but it just passed slightly to quick to get a proper ID.

Mark said Izard, not Lizard!

 

[Bewick]

Mark said Izard, not Lizard!

Lmao... I've never heard them being referred to as Izard... that's actually one of the mammals I want to see.

 

[Bewick]

Is there any good locations for crag martins?

 

[Mark Lew1s]

Crag martin are all over the place. Any Pyrenean village.

 

[Bewick]

Crag martin are all over the place. Any Pyrenean village.

How about arreau?

Also is there any chance of any cool waterfowl, herons etc?

 

[Mark Lew1s]

I don't know it, but from google maps it looks like as good a bet as anywhere else.

 

[Richard Prior]

How about arreau?

Also is there any chance of any cool waterfowl, herons etc?

I think you need to look again through the replies and tips you’ve already received, eg., my Post 10 !

 

[Bewick]

I think you need to look again through the replies and tips you’ve already received, eg., my Post 10 !

Apologies I forgot that I asked before-

Is there any owl species present in the Pyrenees? Also any pipits?

 

[Conwy Birder]

Apologies I forgot that I asked before-

Is there any owl species present in the Pyrenees? Also any pipits?

May I suggest that you get a copy of the collins european guide and then look through that to come up with a list of possible species using the range maps for each species, rather than asking about literally every group individually here. Then you can use ebird to find localities for each target species for example this is the species map for crag martin in the arreau area of the pyrenes in the past five years.

 

[Bewick]

May I suggest that you get a copy of the collins european guide and then look through that to come up with a list of possible species using the range maps for each species, rather than asking about literally every group individually here. Then you can use ebird to find localities for each target species for example this is the species map for crag martin in the pyrannes in the past five years - Sign in.

I have the European guide- I have multiple, the issue is the range maps are incredibly useless. Also Ebird doesn’t seem to be extremely useful for France, that’s why I like to ask for people’s personal experiences.

In my area, hawfinches are reported more then goldfinches, yet goldfinches are much more common etc.

I do use ebirds- and I asked for species that I had seen on recent sightings page for the Pyrenees.

I went to the Brecon’s a few months back and looked for information on where to get crossbills- it was far more useful to look on birding blogs from locals and people who visit there often then E-bird.

 

[Torcol]

Any mammals that I have a chance of seeing?

As already said marmots and izards should be quite easy to see.
There is currently a reintroduction program of Pyrenean ibexes they are mostly present near Gedre/Gavarnie
If you are very very lucky you could find brown bears footprints or scratches on trees...

Rivers will give you dippers and grey wagtails. The Pyrenean desman also live in the area but very difficult to see.
Pipits : You will have tree pipits near forests and water pipits in pastures both species are quite easy.

Neouvielle forest has a few boreal owls but they dont sing in summer so finding them is nearly impossible. You can look for Tawny owl in forests and barn owl in old villages buildings . Also eagle owl on cliffs but they require luck.

 

[Bewick]

As already said marmots and izards should be quite easy to see.
There is currently a reintroduction program of Pyrenean ibexes they are mostly present near Gedre/Gavarnie
If you are very very lucky you could find brown bears footprints or scratches on trees...

Rivers will give you dippers and grey wagtails. The Pyrenean desman also live in the area but very difficult to see.
Pipits : You will have tree pipits near forests and water pipits in pastures both species are quite easy.

Neouvielle forest has a few boreal owls but they dont sing in summer so finding them is nearly impossible. You can look for Tawny owl in forests and barn owl in old villages buildings . Also eagle owl on cliffs but they require luck.

Wow, I’ve never heard of a desman before… is there any place where I have a greater chance of seeing them?

 

[Torcol]

Wow, I’ve never heard of a desman before… is there any place where I have a greater chance of seeing them?

They are small, rare and shy so it is very difficult to see them. Theorically any mountain river could have them. If you see a lot of dippers in an area it means plenty of water larvae so better chances for the desman. But keep in mind that most of local naturalists see it once or twice a year at most...
By the way you should really get youself an account of faune-france.org you will have all the observations of mammals, birds, reptiles, butterflies etc in the area you intend to visit. There are many more lists there than on ebirds. In France ebird is mostly used by foreign tourists. You can even put faune france in english

 

[Richard Prior]

They are small, rare and shy so it is very difficult to see them. Theorically any mountain river could have them. If you see a lot of dippers in an area it means plenty of water larvae so better chances for the desman. But keep in mind that most of local naturalists see it once or twice a year at most...
By the way you should really get youself an account of faune-france.org you will have all the observations of mammals, birds, reptiles, butterflies etc in the area you intend to visit. There are many more lists there than on ebirds. In France ebird is mostly used by foreign tourists. You can even put faune france in english

Good advice Torcol, as suggested to Bewick in my Post 10 upthread too! I think more and more of we French birders are using eBird these days but Faune France still gets virtually all the observations
(personally I use eBird for my Garden/Yard observations but Faune France for everywhere).

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

There are references to desman locations on the mammalwatching site.

 

[Bewick]

Just arrived in the Pyrenees- managed to get an Egyptian vulture, booted eagle, griffon, and montagus harrier, crag Martin from the area we are staying. Turns out we are staying in peyragudes. We will be visiting Neouville tomorrow.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[Ratal]

Smashing photos! Hope the holiday carries on as it has started!

 

[temmie]

edit: only realized now that I only scrolled halfway the thread and didn't see all other posts in between with more info about the mammals, and the post where you said you arrived! Anyway:

Bears are probably more in the C-Pyrenees (Val d'Aspe and surroundings, if any left, they are on the brink), Pyrenees Chamois, Pyrenees Desman (unlikely unless you prepare / have a good site / contact) and that's it for the (big) specialties.

Further on you have wild boars, wild cats, Isard, Marmots (introduced), Pine Martens,...
These were pleasantly confiding (Aspe valley, July 2021)!