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Overview
With most of its 60,000ha at above 3,000m and some over 4,000m, this is a mountain area situated in the extreme northwest of Italy on the border with France and adjoining the Vanoise National Park.
The dramatic scenery includes many lakes and glaciers, high altitude meadows and the high peaks, reaching 4061m at Cima Gran Paradiso. Much of the habitat is forest of pine, larch and fir and some smaller areas of deciduous woodlands and scrub.
Birds
Notable Species
Most of the typical birds of coniferous forest and mountains can be found in this park including Golden Eagle and Eurasian Eagle Owl, three grouse, Northern Raven, Spotted Nutcracker, choughs and Citril Finch. Lammergeiers from the French reintroduction project are sometimes seen.
At lower levels there are bushy areas and beechwoods with Tree Pipit and various warblers, thrushes and tits.
Birds
Birds you can see here include:
European Honey Buzzard, Lammergeier, Common Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Rock Ptarmigan, Black Grouse, Rock Partridge, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Tengmalm's Owl, Alpine Swift, Black Woodpecker, Eurasian Crag Martin, Tree Pipit, Common Dipper, Dunnock, Alpine Accentor, Black Redstart, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Ring Ouzel, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, Garden Warbler, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Goldcrest, Willow Tit, Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Wallcreeper, Common Treecreeper, Red-backed Shrike, Spotted Nutcracker, Alpine Chough, Red-billed Chough, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, White-winged Snow Finch, Citril Finch, Yellowhammer, Rock Bunting
Other Wildlife
Mammals recorded in the park include Ibex, Alpine Marmot and Mountain Hare, Snow Vole, Pine Marten and Beech Marten, Red Fox, Badger, Weasel and Stoat.
The flora of the park is extremely rich in alpine and subalpine specialities.
Site Information
History and Use
Originally set up to protect the declining Ibex the park is now popular with walkers and climbers and increasingly attracts birders.
Areas of Interest
To do
Access and Facilities
There are marked hiking trails and mountain refuges, hostels and campsites within the park and plenty of accommodation in nearby villages and the local main town of Aosta. The best time to visit is early summer and the park is usually approached from Aosta.
Contact Details
To do
External Links
Content and images originally posted by Steve
Reviews
ruggiel's review The unknown author added also Hazel Grouse to the check list. Hazel Grouse is indeed extinct since XIX century !! Also Three-toed Woodpecker is not present (probably never been)!! Who did write this site?
The Gran Paradiso NP is becoming however very important for Wallcreeper and Lammergeier (pretty easy to spot)
If you like to get the right info see : http://www.birdguide.it/ http://www.ebnitalia.it/
Pros
- Gran Paradiso: The easiest 4000 meter-high glacier of Europe
