Col du Pourtalet, Formigal and near Sallent de Gállego, Huesca, Aragón, Spain.

A nice walk up high, followed by some special Orchids and a year tick on the way back to Berdún.

Deb and Ian, Day Forty Four.

Ebird List for Portalet.

Ebird List for near Sallent de Gállego.

 

Looking SE from above Col du Pourtalet.

We Drove out to the east via Jaca and the went North up to Col du Pourtalet where after getting a coffee we parked near the French border and then walked along a track SE from the back of the shops, before we had even left the car park we found several species of Alpine flower on a rocky bank which included Hairy Primrose (Primula hirsuta), Saxifraga hariotii,  Spring Squill (Scilla verna), Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna), Narcissus-flowered Anemone (Anemonastrum narcissiflorum) and Pyrenean Cranesbill (Geranium pyrenaicum). 

Hairy Primrose (Primula hirsuta).

Narcissus-flowered Anemone (Anemonastrum narcissiflorum).

Almost straight away we heard the first of several Alpine Marmots (Marmota marmota) shouting from the rocks above us, as we walked out along the track we spent a lot of time photographing wild flowers, orchids and butterflies whilst seen a few interesting bird species.

Alpine Marmot (Marmota marmota).

Alpine Marmot (Marmota marmota).

Deb and Ian taking in the amazing views or they could be thinking "I  need another Coffee".

Looking back to the French Border.

Bird wise we saw or heard Common Quail (Codorniz Común / Coturnix coturnix), Griffon Vultures (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Short-toed Snake Eagle (Culebrera Europeo / Circaetus gallicus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Western House Martin (Avión Común Occidental / Delichon urbicum), Whinchat (Tarabilla Norteña / Saxicola rubetra), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola), Northern Wheatear (Collalba Gris / Oenanthe oenanthe), Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta), Common Linnet (Pardillo Común / Linaria cannabina) and Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella). 

Eurasian Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis).

Water Pipit (Bisbita Alpino / Anthus spinoletta).

Whinchat (Tarabilla Norteña / Saxicola rubetra).

The Wild flowers and Orchids were just amazing, some and by no means all the species seen were Fragrant (Gymnadenia conopsea), Elder-flowered (Dactylorhiza sambucina), Alpine Marsh (Dactylorhiza Alpestris) and Heath Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza maculata).

Elder-flowered Orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina).

Elder-flowered Orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina).

Alpine Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza Alpestris).

Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata).

None Orchids were Common Blue Daisy (Globularia vulgaris), Pyrenean Fritillary (Fritillaria pyrenaica), White Asphodel (Asphodelus albus), Astragalus incanus,   Pyrenean Trumpet Gentian (Gentiana occidentalis), Pyrenean Lousewort (Pedicularis pyrenaica),  Mountain Clover (Trifolium montanum), Large-flowered Butterwort (Pinguicula grandiflora), Horned Pansy (Viola cornuta), Centaurea montana, Pyrenean Rock-rose (Helianthemum nummularium ssp. pyrenaica), Giant Yellow Gentian (Gentiana lutea), Dragonmouth (Horminum pyrenaicum), Rock Jasmine (Androsace villosa), Alpine Forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris), Globe Flower (Trollius europaeus), Alpine Mouse-Ear (Cerastium alpinum), Common Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris), Rock Thyme (Clinopodium alpinum), Wild Thyme (Thymus praecox), Veronica satureiifolia, Petrocoptis pyrenaica,  Wolf's Bane (Arnica montana) 

Pyrenean Trumpet Gentian (Gentiana occidentalis).

Large-flowered Butterwort (Pinguicula grandiflora).

Pyrenean Fritillary (Fritillaria pyrenaica).

Horned Pansy (Viola cornuta).

Wolf's Bane (Arnica montana). 

Mountain Clover (Trifolium montanum).

Petrocoptis pyrenaica.

Veronica satureiifolia.

As it warmed up there were a good number of  butterflies and day flying moths on the wing, commonest were Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages) a name that Deb and Ian thought was slightly derogatory, De Prunner's Ringlet (Erebia triarius), Large White (Pieris brassicae),  Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Small Blue (Cupido minimus) and Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages).

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages).

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages).

De Prunner's Ringlet (Erebia triarius).

De Prunner's Ringlet (Erebia triarius).

De Prunner's Ringlet (Erebia triarius).

De Prunner's Ringlet (Erebia triarius).

De Prunner's Ringlet (Erebia triarius).

Large White (Pieris brassicae).

Large White (Pieris brassicae).

Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).

Small Blue (Cupido minimus).

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus).

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii).

The Moths were 7902 Psodos quadrifaria, 8969 Euclidia glyphica and Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum), other species seen included Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii), European Firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus) and Common Frog (Rana temporaria).

Enjoyed a couple of these over next few nights along with some Anis, shouldn't have mixed it.

On the way back to the car we had another coffee and bought some booze, Ian went for some quality with a bottle of 12 year old Ancnoc but I lowered the tone with a bottle of sweet Anis.

Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium calceolus).

Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium calceolus).

Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium calceolus).

We dropped down to a spot a little lower down the hill where we parked and were met by two very nice lady wardens, one took us to a nearby spot where we spent quite a while admiring the stunning clumps of Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium calceolus) orchids.

Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium calceolus).

Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium calceolus) along with Deb and Ian in the back Ground.

Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium calceolus).

The warden gave us a sheet of info and at the spot gave us some more of the history of the site and explained the rules for the visit.

Sulphur Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta).

In the same area we also saw Hoary Plantain (Plantago media), Common Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris), Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), Sulphur Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta), Fragrant Orchid and Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina).

Turquoise Blue (Polyommatus dorylas).

Turquoise Blue (Polyommatus dorylas).

Turquoise Blue (Polyommatus dorylas).

We returned to the car and then dropped down the hill again to a spot / lay-by on the side of the A-136 where Deb and I did a short walk while Ian chilled in the shade, as we walked we had a pair of Eurasian Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Europeo / Certhia brachydactyla), a female Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), Turquoise Blue (Polyommatus dorylas), Large White, Common Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) and Pyrenean Rock-rose (Helianthemum nummularium ssp. pyrenaica). 

Common Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea).

Pyrenean Rock-rose (Helianthemum nummularium ssp. pyrenaica).

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma).

Our last stop of the day was at Mercadona in Jaca where we did some shopping and then headed back to the accommodation in Berdún where Ian did some amazing Pork Cheeks for our evening Meal.