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Overview
This scenically impressive area in the Upper Valais in Switzerland borders the Great Aletsch Glacier and consists of extensive coniferous forest, scree-slopes and alpine meadows interspersed with villages.
The Larch-Arolla Pine forest has a bilberry and rhododendron shrub layer and strictly protected as so much of this native habitat has been lost. This area is important for many species of alpine and subalpine birds and there are many tourist facilities making access a simple matter.
Birds
Notable Species
Rock Ptarmigan, Black Grouse and Rock Partridge can be found here as well as raptors such as Eurasian Goshawk and Golden Eagle.
The forests have elusive owls including Eurasian Pygmy Owl and Tengmalm's Owl and woodpeckers such as Green Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker and Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker. The more open areas host Tree Pipit and Water Pipit, Alpine Accentor, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Eurasian Crag Martin and White-winged Snow Finch. Wallcreeper can be seen as well as both choughs, Alpine Chough being by far the more numerous.
Passerines of the forests include many species typical of such habitats with Spotted Nutcracker, Crested Tit and Citril Finch among the most interesting.
Checklist
Birds you can see here include:
Eurasian Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Golden Eagle, Common Kestrel, Rock Ptarmigan, Black Grouse, Rock Partridge, Eurasian Pygmy Owl, Tengmalm's Owl, Green Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker, Eurasian Crag Martin, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Alpine Accentor, Water Pipit, Tree Pipit, Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Ring Ouzel, Willow Tit, Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Wallcreeper, Common Treecreeper, Spotted Nutcracker, Alpine Chough, Red-billed Chough, White-winged Snow Finch, Chaffinch, Citril Finch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Common Crossbill
Other Wildlife
Red Deer Cervus elaphus and Chamois Rupicapra rupicapra are commonly seen in the Aletsch.
Site Information
History and Use
To do
Areas of Interest
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Access and Facilities
Most visitors to the Aletsch region begin from Morel from where there are cable-cars to Greicheralp and Reideralp from opposite Morel railway station. There are also chair-lifts to the Hohflue and the Mossfluo. From Greicheralp there are hiking trails which cover the range of habitats present at this site. There is a Pro Natura visitor centre on the Reiderfurka where there is a host of activities and attractions including guided tours. The garden at the visitor centre host a Black Grouse lek. Hotel and dormitory accommodation is plentiful in this popular area and the Pro Natura centre provides both.
Contact Details
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External Links
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Content and images originally posted by Steve
