One of many highlights of my summer season holidays was a week-long mountain climbing journey with two birding mates I met final 12 months whereas volunteering on the hen observatory on Heligoland. We deliberate the journey for some time and have been all desirous to see a number of the specialities of the Alps. Having by no means been birding in montane areas in Europe, there have been various relatively frequent alpine birds that have been potential lifers. We slept in mountain climbing huts throughout the journey however carried most meals and cooking gear ourselves so we might put together meals independently. Seems most huts cost a surcharge while you don’t purchase their meals – which I suppose is smart because it’s costly to get the meals there nevertheless it was fairly annoying as we carried all of the meals ourselves after which have been anticipated for stuff we didn’t make the most of…
We frolicked birding within the Karwendelgrube, Arnspitz, and Soierngruppe, every of which I’ll cowl in separate posts. The Karwendelgrube, a excessive altitude rocky pit, is among the hottest birding spots within the Bavarian Alps because it offers easy accessibility to high-altitude birds by way of a cable-car. We hiked up by way of a really difficult monitor throughout snow and scree fields nevertheless it was value it as we arrived an hour earlier than the cable automobiles begin arriving with different vacationers (“different” being right here a euphemism for the kind of individuals birders are relatively allergic to when desperately looking for a lifer).
We additionally spent a day in whole on the decrease slopes of the mountain, the place Western Bonelli’s Warblers have been frequent, judging by their calls. Seeing them was one other matter although, and took was some time earlier than we obtained acceptable views. Eurasian Nutcrackers appeared to make use of related ways, though this uncommon beast finally posed properly for us on a drizzly morning.
A spotlight on the way in which up was a White-backed Woodpecker in the dead of night forest earlier than dawn – allowing nothing however fast views. I managed a horrendous picture however because it’s a lifer, I really feel like posting it nonetheless. Simply scroll down shortly!
Staying with the woodpecker theme, one other particular of the Alps within the type of a Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker was fairly obliging. One good friend and I have been busy questioning why we determined to tackle such a tiring hike when the third member of our group referred to as out “three-toed!” – a concise reply to our query, in response to which we forgot about our heavy backpacks and ran uphill. We solely managed very transient views nevertheless it was shut sufficient for us to understand its odd toes.
Above the tree line and within the Karwendelgrube, we noticed various specials together with Wallcreeper, White-winged Snowfinch, Alpine Accentor, Alpine Chough, and the long-awaited Rock Ptarmigan. The latter careened throughout the pit earlier than clearing the ridge, offering transient fly-by views that jogged my memory of the snowcock scene within the film The Huge Yr (which I’ve in all probability watched a dozen instances – watch it in case you haven’t). We weren’t in a helicopter however the steep slopes and free floor felt almost as precarious.
Birding was usually hampered by the thick fog that appeared fairly abruptly, particularly at increased altitudes. I used to be wanting ahead to taking some good images since I hauled my huge lens all the way in which up the mountains, however this was significantly harder with the climate. Nonetheless, we have been very pleased with our sightings and proceeded to proceed to the following part of our tour, which I’ll cowl in my subsequent publish.
