Birdwatching in the Pyrenees

Discover an exceptional birdlife in a magnificent mountain setting …

Independent birding

Let us help you discover the superb birdlife here in the French Pyrenees — visit the very best local sites with the help of our birding guides, route guides and local species lists, join us on our guided days. We ourselves have been living locally and observing the birdlife for over 20 years, so will offer lots of great advice! Choose between 3-star hotel accommodation in Luz St Sauveur (from £425 / €475 week) or quality apartments in Bareges (from £425 / €465 week sleeping 4–6), look at our hotel and apartment pages.

Guided Birding Week 29 May - 5 June 2010 £695 / €765.

Five days guided outings, seven nights half-board at Hotel Le Montaigu in Luz St Sauveur, participation by a gifted professional ornithologist with 30 years of experience working for the Parc National des Pyrenees. All local transport included, airport and station transfers arranged. Lists from previous outings sent on request.

Egyptian Vulture

Rock Thrush

Lammergeier

Alpine Choughs

The area excels in the number and variety of raptors — Bearded Vulture (seven pairs nesting locally), Golden Eagle, Booted Eagle, Bonellis Eagle, Short-Toed Eagle, Egyptian Vulture, and the ever-present Griffon. From the terrace of our apartments in Bareges one can watch just about all the Pyrenean raptors flying over the mountainside opposite — the very aptly named Montagne Fleurie (Flower Mountain).

Short-toed Eagle

Alpine Accentor

Griffon Vulture

The bird many enthusiasts will want to see is the elusive Wallcreeper. During the summer it is seldom found below 2000m, but during the spring months it is often found at lower altitudes in and around the villages. Our closest nesting site is two hours walk from Bareges (we have observed the birds regularly through to mid-July) and there are other sites more accessible by road. The bird otherwise can always be found high on the frontier ridge at 2500m. For good walkers we can organise a day to accompany you to the most reliable sites.

Snow Finch

Black Woodpecker

Lammergeier

Other species found locally which will be of interest are Eagle Owl, Alpine Accentor, Snow Finch, Citril Finch, Capercaillie, Rock Thrush, Firecrest, Crested Tit, we also have a good number of Black Woodpeckers locally. Our extensive bird lists are an invaluable aid to finding where particular species can be found and can be used with our route guide to the local footpath network, most importantly we explain ourselves what you can expect to find and where you can find it. Our minibus drops and guided weeks will concentrate on the birdlife during the early summer allowing you to visit a large number of varied sites.