Wallcreeper Sites. (1 Viewer)

[Davebutterflyman]

Hi.

I was wondering if there are any reliable sites in Europe (if such a thing for this bird exists at all!) for Wallcreeper?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Dave.

 

[James Lidster]

Hi
the Trigrad gorge in Bulgaria is very reliable, certainly in May. Its about a 5 hour drive from Sofia. We have seen them there each year from 2005-2008 (the tour didnt run this year) but our local guide says he has never missed them there in spring. There is usually more than 1 pair present and views can be at eye level or even below it!
James
http://jameslidster.web-log.nl/
http://picasaweb.google.com/lidstersunbird
www.sunbirdtours.co.uk

 

[Jos Stratford]

Hi.

I was wondering if there are any reliable sites in Europe (if such a thing for this bird exists at all!) for Wallcreeper?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Dave.

What time of year? Sites certainly do exist, but advice will vary according to when you are thinking of going - some of the winter localities tend to be easier. In winter, Le Baue (spelt not like this I think) in France and some places on the Spanish Pyrenees are relatively reliable.


PS. with the highest point in the country only 320 odd metres a.s.l., I can however confirm that Lithuania does not have any reliable sites

 

[James Lidster]

Nor the Netherlands...unless another turns up on the university in Amsterdam

 

[Jos Stratford]

Nor the Netherlands...unless another turns up on the university in Amsterdam

Ah, but I saw that one, so the Netherlands always remains associated with Wallcreepers in my mind, what a nice light that was.

 

[nickderry]

Besançon - Franche-Comté, between October and March - almost guaranteed if you put in a few hours looking.

 

[wintibird]

Feschelschlucht (Feschel gorge) near Leuk in the Valais is a pretty reliable place year round. Wallcreeper breeds and winters there.
The cliffs at Burgdorf are a very good place in winter.
A good spot in eastern Switzerland is the Wildkirchli (spring, summer):

Near Geneva Wallcreepers are wintering every year at Fort l'Ecluse in France, a ruin west of Geneva.

André

 

[birdboybowley]

They nest above the Gabadito Refuge in the Pyrenees and are easy to find in Sixt-fer-a-Cheval Park in the Alps in Aug/Sept, about 1.5hrs southish of Geneva - look on the wetter rock faces.

 

[dbradnum]

Another vote for Les Baux, near Arles in S of France. Easy access, and pretty reliable during the winter. Coupled with the Camargue and La Crau nearby, and the ease of booking cheap flights, this makes for an excellent (and varied) winter birding trip.

What time of year? Sites certainly do exist, but advice will vary according to when you are thinking of going - some of the winter localities tend to be easier. In winter, Le Baue (spelt not like this I think) in France and some places on the Spanish Pyrenees are relatively reliable.


PS. with the highest point in the country only 320 odd metres a.s.l., I can however confirm that Lithuania does not have any reliable sites

 

[balkantrek]

Hi.

I was wondering if there are any reliable sites in Europe (if such a thing for this bird exists at all!) for Wallcreeper?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Dave.

Hi Dave!

I can confirm that the Trigrad Gorge in Bulgaria is excellent and reliable. They can normally be seen on the cliff faces around the car park at the entrance to the 'Devil's Throat' Cave. There are some good butterflies in the region too!

I know a couple of other good accessible sites in the Rila and Pirin mountains.

I suppose it really depends which country you most fancy visiting and then narrowing down the choice of potential sites!

 

[Davebutterflyman]

Hi

Thanks very much for all your replies and site information...i just need to persuade the wife and promise her that we can do some shopping in the nearest local town first!!.Spoilt for choice really and as i am madly into butterflies as well (you would never have guessed!!) i will have to look at potential new lepi species as well before deciding.
Many thanks again for all your replies.

Dave.

 

[watcher]

Trigrad Gorge in the Western Rodopi Mountains is really the best location with biggest chances of spotting the bird. The best time for watching them is now, when they are still feeding chicks in the nest. However May-July is pretty good time. Just returned yesterday from a location in Rila Mountains where I spent 5 hours, photographing a couple of Wallcreepers only 4m away from me at an eye level. Will do the same in the next few days as the weather last time was too rainy to make good shots.

 

[Davebutterflyman]

Thanks very much Watcher for the information.

Dave.

 

[Stephen C]

wallcreeper in spain

I was wondering if there are any reliable sites in Europe for Wallcreeper?

From November to the end of February at least, twenty minutes from my house along the coast just south of Barcelona. But during the summer I'd recommend Gabardito in the Pyrenees, as above.

All the best

 

[Davebutterflyman]

Thanks for that Stephen.

Dave.

 

[Stephen C]

Thanks for that Stephen.

you're welcome. just noticed you're a derbyshire lad. I'm from Chesterfield my self. All the best

 

[Davebutterflyman]

Hi Stephen.

I'm originally from Cheshire and moved to Derbyshire last year and really enjoying the wildlife on offer,it really does have some great sites.

Dave.

 

[Steve Babbs]

I've seen wallcreeper on 2 out of 3 visits (on 2 different trips) around the top of cable car at Funte de in the Picos, in July/August and i wasn't particularly looking for them, having seen lots in Nepal. So it would seem a good area but even better forget the Europe limitation and get yourself off to Nepal.

Cheers

 

[Richard Klim]

For a really lazy option, I recommend a stay with Josele Saiz at 'Boletas' in Loporzano, Huesca - Jose's a very nice bloke, and his wife Esther's a great cook:
http://www.boletas.org

In March 2000, over 2 consecutive days Jose gave us great views of 4 Wallcreepers (including a pair together) at 3 different sites nearby, as well as all the other Pyrenean specialities.

(He usually attends the Birdfair.)

Richard

 

[shymollymawk]

I'm going to north Tuscany in early August. Does anyone know if they can be found at Campocatino LIPU Reserve in the Apuanian Alps at this time? Any directions if they are?

cheers

George