Swiss Alps (2 Viewers)

[andy hunter]

hi

i'm off to southern central swiss alps on wednesday (saastal) for mountaineering but would appreciate any tips on what birds to look out for, habitats, habits, etc. i know the names alpine accentor and alpine chough but not much about them, nor what else might appear.

eg in scotland's highlands i might expect to see, inter alia, red and black grouse, capercaille, ptarmigan, eagles, buzzards etc. are these to be expected (in varying habitats) in the alps ?

thanks

andy hunter

 

[Farnboro John]

Hi Andy,

On cliffs especially in gorges you might look out for Wallcreepers, which are near the top of the list os most stunning European birds.Snow Finches can be found just below the true Alpine region (e.g. Kleine Scheidegg where they sing from the rack railway electric gantries). Alpine Choughs can be anywhere from next to Snow Finches right up to the tops of mountains where they will blag your sandwiches.

I would recommend shelling out a few quid on a good European field guide before heading to the airport.

John

 

[Capercaillie71]

eg in scotland's highlands i might expect to see, inter alia, red and black grouse, capercaille, ptarmigan, eagles, buzzards etc. are these to be expected (in varying habitats) in the alps ?

Black grouse, capercaillie and ptarmigan (but not red/willow grouse) do occur in the Alps, but are probably more difficult to see there than in northern europe.

The main species to look out for above the tree-line include:

Alpine Chough (often very tame and common around cablecar stations etc.), Alpine Accentor, Snow Finch, Water Pipit, Wheatear. Golden eagles do occur, as do more exotic large raptors, such as the Lammergeier, which has been reintroduced to the Alps in recent years. Below, or at the treeline, another characteristic bird to look out for is the Nutcracker.

 

[andy hunter]

thanks for those pointers, thats very helpful.
andy hunter

 

[wintibird]

Hi Andy

Alpine Accentor, Snowfinch and Alpine Chough should be easy if your mountaineering. Check the Alpine Choughs for Red-billeds as they are possible in the Saastal (altough scarce).
Red Grouse and Capercaille don't occur in the Wallis, but Ptarmigan is quite frequent. Golden Eagles are widespread, Lammergeier possible but very rare in Saastal. Wallcreeper is possible anywhere in cliffs and usually mountaineers see more of them than birders.
If you are in Zermatt or Saas Fee look out for Rock Bunting and Italian Sparrow (a hybrid form between House and Spanish Sparrow, nowadays a subspecies of Spanish Sparrow). Rock Trush is possible as well.
Commoner birds in the woods are Nutcracker, Crested Tit, Willow Tit, Citril Finch and many more. Above the treeline Water Pipits will be everywhere and Northern Wheaters are common too.

Enjoy the mountains and the birds.

Greetings from Switzerland
André

 

[andy hunter]

Thanks André (Wintibird) for the local knowledge. I will be back later in the month with my wife for a less active holiday, so hope to have a further opportunity then.

help and guidance much appreciated.
andy hunter

 

[andy hunter]

Hi - Swiss Alps feedback :-

I got back from Saastal this weekend after a great holiday. The weather wasn't the best for mountaineering, but we got up the Weissmeis, the Mittaghorn and the Jegihorn. Thanks to those in Saastal for a great time, really wonderful place.

As for birds, the highlights for me were alpine chough at the Almageller hut and on the Jegihorn, a good number of jays in and around the campsite at Saas Grund (two strayed into the open for a few minutes, which was nice) and a black redstart on the outskirts of Saas Grund.

Others were chaffinches, mistle thrush, pied wagtail, raven, numerous swifts in Thun and Geneva, coots and tufted ducks in Thun.

In Thun centre and out near the boating club i saw what i took to be a female goosander - the neck colours were quite distinct from each other and I gather that red breasted mergansers are rare there.

In the high Alps i had uncertainties on two id issues that could be commented on :-

1. the Collins book i took said the alpine accentor can sound skylark-esque at times and i did here such a call/song on the barren rocky slopes not far below the glacier, for example - is that a fair id ?

2. there were regular loudish calls of a weet-weet-weet nature that I took to be snowfinch but was unsure. At one point with those calls, I caught a brief sighting of a finch-sized, chocolate brown bird in flight from above that had a distinct white rump/tail patch - a fair id ?

thanks again

andy hunter