Queyras National Park

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France

Overview

This national park consists of an ancient glacial valley with steep sides and a mountain stream. There are dense pine forests and higher up, haymeadows on the beds of former lakes. Higher still there are extensive peatbogs and the park has some impressive cliff-faces.

Many of the typical upland and forest birds of Central Europe can be found within the park.

Birds

Notable Species

Present but elusive and often difficult to find is the Rock Ptarmigan found at the highest levels. Alpine meadows and subalpine heath have Water Pipit, Alpine Accentor and Snow Finch, and also Northern Wheatear, Whinchat and Black Redstart.

Cliff-nesting House Martin colonies are a feature of this park and the rock-faces also have Eurasian Crag Martin and Alpine Swift, both choughs and Wallcreeper.

The forests are home to Crested Tit, Citril Finch, Eurasian Siskin and Common Crossbill. Lakes and bogs in the park often hold Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper.

Some of the best birds are found in the more remote eastern and southern parts of the park where nature trails offer visitors the opportunity to explore ancient forests and long-abandoned farmland. Golden Eagle and Eurasian Goshawk, Tengmalm's Owl and Eurasian Eagle Owl are possible in the Guil Valley and Monte Viso areas.

Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Goshawk, Common Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Common Kestrel, Rock Ptarmigan, Black Grouse, Rock Partridge, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Tengmalm's Owl, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, Black Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Skylark, Eurasian Crag Martin, Barn Swallow, Western House Martin, Water Pipit, Common Dipper, Common Wren, Alpine Accentor Black Redstart, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Ring Ouzel, Eurasian Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Crested Tit, Wallcreeper, Common Treecreeper, Red-backed Shrike, Spotted Nutcracker, Alpine Chough, Red-billed Chough, Northern Raven, Common Starling, White-winged Snowfinch, Chaffinch, European Serin, Citril Finch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Common Crossbill, Common Bullfinch, Ortolan Bunting

Other Wildlife

The most commonly seen mammal in the park is the Alpine Marmot Marmota marmota but there are also Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus, Mouflon Ovis musimon, Chamois Rupicapra rupicapra and Alpine Ibex Capra ibex in the more remote areas.

Site Information

History and Use

To do

Areas of Interest

To do

Access and Facilities

To reach the park follow the D902 to the village of Brunissard ^[3]and from here a public track leads to a camp-site with amenities. Park near here and take the marked trail (the GR5) for a 12km hike.

The trail passes through woods and open rocky areas to the 2000m altitude Pra-Premier plateau. Continue on the track under the cliffs until its end, cross the stream onto the yellow trail through the meadows to the peatbogs.

To return retrace the same route or follow the yellow-marked trail to return to the original track.

Contact Details

To do

External Links

1. Visit Qyeyras National Park (English translation
2. Qyeyras National Park (English translation)
3. Brunissard on Google Maps

Content and images originally posted by Steve