I wasn't sure what the conditions would be like up high today but the Pilatus webcam revealed clear skies above the low cloud and I headed off on the train to Alpnachstad from Lucerne. I then parted with CHF36 to get the astonishing cogwheel train up to the top of Pilatus. Once I got there, I was soon surrounded by Alpine Choughs but other birds were hard to come by. I headed along the ridge west of the peak and enjoyed seeing large numbers of Chamois. Some were up on the crags and others were in the valley below - around 40 in all. The best birds were fleeting: a couple of White-winged Snowfinches zooming overhead.
As I headed back to the station, I briefly saw a Wallcreeper flit out from the crags. Sadly it disappeared. Much more satisfactory were the views I had of one as I started on the way down the mountain. It was actively flitting about the crag immediately above the station, and showed nicely for several minutes.
I headed south down the Meisibach valley. Black Redstarts and Water Pipits were quite numerous along here. While looking through these near the treeline, an odd call caught my ear. I soon found the source, with a lovely pair of Citril Finches that perched up in the small conifers.
I continued the long way down the slope, through wonderful mixed forests. A Nutcracker flew into a tree on the hillside before continuing further up the hill and giving a rasping call from the trees. Other birds in the forests included a few Crested Tits and a Firecrest. Some fine views of Red Kite on the farmed areas of the lower slopes rounded things off.
Here are a few pictures from the day, of varying quality, plus a shot of one of the Penduline Tits from Friday.
As I headed back to the station, I briefly saw a Wallcreeper flit out from the crags. Sadly it disappeared. Much more satisfactory were the views I had of one as I started on the way down the mountain. It was actively flitting about the crag immediately above the station, and showed nicely for several minutes.
I headed south down the Meisibach valley. Black Redstarts and Water Pipits were quite numerous along here. While looking through these near the treeline, an odd call caught my ear. I soon found the source, with a lovely pair of Citril Finches that perched up in the small conifers.
I continued the long way down the slope, through wonderful mixed forests. A Nutcracker flew into a tree on the hillside before continuing further up the hill and giving a rasping call from the trees. Other birds in the forests included a few Crested Tits and a Firecrest. Some fine views of Red Kite on the farmed areas of the lower slopes rounded things off.
Here are a few pictures from the day, of varying quality, plus a shot of one of the Penduline Tits from Friday.
