Birding around Alpe d'Huez (1 Viewer)

[picknage]

Hi all,

I will be skiing for a few days in January at Alpe d'Huez. I would love to see some mountain birds, are there any I can expect to see in that area, skiing or general exploring?

Thank you
Nick

 

[jogresh]

Hi all,

I will be skiing for a few days in January at Alpe d'Huez. I would love to see some mountain birds, are there any I can expect to see in that area, skiing or general exploring?

Thank you
Nick

My visit was about 30 years ago, and strictly skiing - but i can recall flocks of Alpine Chough.. 🤔👍🐦

 

[Richard Prior]

Hi all,

I will be skiing for a few days in January at Alpe d'Huez. I would love to see some mountain birds, are there any I can expect to see in that area, skiing or general exploring?

Thank you
Nick

I've not been there, but I'd be surprised if there aren't Snowfinch around the cafés and restaurants on the higher slopes, Alpine Accentor is worth looking out for on the rooftops around the resort especially straight after episodes of snowfall. If there are forested areas around there Nutcracker, Siskin, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Crested Tit and Willow Tit could be present and if you're lucky, Citril Finch. Golden Eagle and Lammergeier worth looking out for on nice sunny days too!

 

[dalat]

And learn the calls of Ptarmigan. If you hear them, look carefully for them, they can be quite close and are difficult to see because of the camouflage.

 

[picknage]

My visit was about 30 years ago, and strictly skiing - but i can recall flocks of Alpine Chough.. 🤔👍🐦

Thank you, I havn't been skiing since I got back into birding so looking forward to see some Alpine Choughs hopefully

 

[picknage]

I've not been there, but I'd be surprised if there aren't Snowfinch around the cafés and restaurants on the higher slopes, Alpine Accentor is worth looking out for on the rooftops around the resort especially straight after episodes of snowfall. If there are forested areas around there Nutcracker, Siskin, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Crested Tit and Willow Tit could be present and if you're lucky, Citril Finch. Golden Eagle and Lammergeier worth looking out for on nice sunny days too!

Thank you, some Snowfinch would be fab, and several of the others you list I have never seen so will keep a look out and try to explore a bit too if time allows

 

[picknage]

And learn the calls of Ptarmigan. If you hear them, look carefully for them, they can be quite close and are difficult to see because of the camouflage.

Good tip, thank you, will listen to their calls as well as the other other Alpine specialities I may be lucky enough to see

 

[Richard Prior]

Good tip, thank you, will listen to their calls as well as the other other Alpine specialities I may be lucky enough to see

So how did you get on (a few good birds and no broken bones I hope)?

 

[markm]

Not quite the right area but we have just come back from a week in Les Arcs skiing. Plenty of alpine choughs especially at Arc 2000 and Col de la Chal.
Only saw 3 snow finches, Arc 2000 and Vallandry. No alpine accentors . Quite a few white wagtails even high up.
But the best place was the cafe at the top of the Peisey lift looking g up to Aiguille Rousse. This had regular golden eagles and lammergeier soaring overhead along with nutcracker and ravens.