Gran Paradiso NP, Italy 28 May - 2 June Not a dedicated wildlife watching trip; more of a chilled hill-walking trip to enable my wife to enjoy her passion for mountains. I didn’t even take a SLR and this selection of photos were taken either with my Canon HS50 ‘superzoom’ or a phone. Most of the time was spent near Valsavarenche (where we stayed) or Pont apart from one, long, walk to Pondel. The scenery was amazing. The main attraction of the area for me was Alpine ibex; I’d failed to see it here, and at other sites, in the summer months. I’d been told that this was a good time and a good place. It certainly was. Alpine chamois and Alpine marmot were also common. The main attractions bird wise were wallcreeper, nutcracker, citril finch and rock bunting, which were all seen briefly. Italian sparrow gave slightly better views. Green lizard was seen but not photographed. Wall lizard was more cooperative. The insect life was amazing. I still have many things to identify. Here’s a selection of the things that I did manage to identify. Owly sulphur Black-veined white Scarce swallowtail Almond-eyed ringlet Nine-spotted moth Crucifer shieldbug Graphosoma italica Wartbiter I’m no botanist, but hopefully this selection of plant photos in correctly identified. Alpine snowbell Burnt orchid Dark columbine Spring gentian Piedmont primrose Liotard’s star-of-Bethlehem St Bernard’s lily I’m not sure what species of pink this is. If anyone could let me know, i’d be very grateful. |
