July 25, 2006
Haut Jura - best of the rest
Our main motivation for visiting the Foret de Risoux was to seek out several hard-to-find species in France: Eurasian Pygmy-Owl, Tengmalm's Owl, Three-toed Woodepecker, Hazel Grouse, Common Rosefinch and Wallcreeper. Save for a few seconds worth of looks at my lifer Hazel Grouse (Gélinotte des bois) perched and in flight, we failed to find any of these species. In fact, the forest as a whole was astonishingly devoid of bird activity - if it's birds you're after here, be sure NOT to visit in July! Brief 'highlights' of several hours spent walking forest trails were flyover Crossbills (Bec-croisé des sapins), several Willow Tits (Mésange boréale - these predominantly grey birds are very different from the British race), Tree pipit (Pipit des arbres) and heard-only Black Woodpecker (Pic noir) and Woodcock (Bécasse des bois). Yves even managed of few seconds flight view of a female Capercaillie (Grand Tétras) - God knows how I missed that one! On the bright side, we did escape the worst of the heatwave in impressive scenery.
Anyone know what this colourful spider is?
At the Lac des Joux, even the Fieldfare (Grive litorne) colony had gone silent, and the Tufted Ducks and Pochards (Fuligules morillon et milouin) were starting to moult into their eclipse plumage. Avian highlight was several flyovers by a Redpoll (sizerin flammé) - presumably a local breeder. This young frog was barely the size of my thumbnail.
The countryside around Lac de Bouverans is great for Red Kites (Milan royal).
The lake itself held a large family of Whinchats (Tarier des prés), and a Hobby (Faucon hobereau) in hot pursit of dragonflies kept us entertained. The sunset was pretty spectacular too.
On our last morning we drove into Switzerland to bird the Creux du Van, but much searching of Wallcreeper habitat failed to turn up the goods.
There was a little more bird activity here than at previous sites, including close views of a Nutcracker (Cassenoix moucheté) on the steep ascent through the forest, several close fly-bys of Alpine Swift (Martinet à ventre blanc) and Crag Martin (Hirondelle de rochers), breeding Kestrel (Faucon crécerelle) and Wheatear (Traquet motteux), and a great view of a female Water Pipit (Pipit spioncelle) with a beak full of grubs.
We were also treated to excellent views of a family party of Alpine Ibex (Bouquetin des Alpes).
This baby is already showing signs of developing horns.
