We present one of the tours characteristic of our style which cannot be found in any other catalogue. We will take you to the most unexpected places where you can enjoy beautiful landscapes and the most spectacular views of the Central Pyrenees. A deep visit to some unknown Pyrenean valleys where the abundance of flowers is just unbelievable. The areas visited are a veritable wonderland for botanist and an expert botanist from the Pyrenean Institute of Ecology will fulfil all your expectations. High up in the mountains the spring flowers such as Alpine snowbell, Soldanella, White Parnassus-leaved buttercup, Alpine Pasque flower, Dog´s tooth violet, Pyrenean squill, Alpine aster and many others are still in flower. The damp-rock faces shelter Long-leaved butterwort , up on the cliff faces are Ramonda and the white cascades of Pyrenean saxifrage. The meadows contain drifts of delicate Pyrenean hyacinth, Alpine forget-me-not and many orchids. On the road side verges you can see another interesting amount of flowers including Alpine and Sticky flax, Pyrenean bellflower, Blue grass lily or the beautiful Alpine toadflax. Bird life is not abundant but interesting, some birds we can see are the most sough-after in the Pyrenees including a visit to a Lammergeier feeding station and a Wallcreeper nesting spot. There are also numerous species of fauna including a good number of butterflies and some of the most emblematic birds of the Pyrenees; Snow Finch, Alpine Accentor, Citril Finch or Black Woodpecker, many Chamoix and Alpine Marmots live in these high mountains.
Itinerary
Day 1.- We will meet you at Barelona airport and drive to our centre in the high mountains near the famous Ordesa Valley. As usual in Boletas tours our accommodation will be in an exquisite mountain guest house with a good selection of food & wines. Overnight in Ordesa
Day 2,3,4,5,6.- Ordesa Valley and Hecho Valley. We spend five days exploring remote valleys above 2000 mts in the central Pyrenees. With our expert botanist will be most time identifying flowers and orchids while Josele J Saiz will work to see the most emblematic birds of this tour: Lammergeier, Wallcreeper, Black Woodpecker, Snow Finch, Alpine Accentor, Citril Finch and Alpine Chough. There are many raptors in the area but Red Kite and Black Kite are numerous. Overnight in the areas of Ordesa and Hecho
Day 7.- We then head south through the plains of Aragon for a complete contrast. In Riglos, incredible sandstone towers pierce the sky. Here we see vultures at the nest, Alpine Swift, Short-toed Eagle , with Dartford Warbler, Rock Sparrow, Linnet and Black Redstart are in the stony scrub. On the way to the Ebro Steppes we look for Black Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Crested Lark, Montagu's Harrier, Spotless Starling and Thekla Lark. In the Ebro valley steppes we search for Little Bustard, Great Bustard , Black-bellied and Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Roller, and many more including Eagle Owl, Hoopoe, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Calandra Lark, Short-toed Lark, Dupont´s Lark and Red-necked Nightjar. Bonelli's Eagle, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Spectacled Warbler. Overnight in the area.
Day 8.- Before arrive to Barcelona airport and time permitting we will explore a wetland with chances of some waterfowl such as Shelduck, Collared Pratincole , Audouin´s Gull or Purple swamp Hen.
LIST & PICTURES OF THE 30 ORCHIDS RECORDED IN JUNE 2008
List of orchids present in the area
Pyramidal Orchid - Anacamptis pyramidalis
Narrow-leaved Helleborine - Cephalanthera damasonium
White Helleborine - Cephalanthera longifolia
---------------------- Cephalanthera pallens
Red Helleborine - Cephalanthera rubra
Frog Orchid - Coeloglossum viride
Lady´s Slipper Orchid - Cypripedium calceolus
Spotted Orchid - Dactylorhiza elata
Common Spotted Orchid - Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Early Marsh Orchid - Dacylorhiza incarnata
Heath Spotted Orchid - Dactylorhiza maculata
Broad Leaved Marsh Orchid - Dactylorhiza majalis
Elder Flowered Orchid - Dactylorhiza sambucina
Dark red Helleborine - Epipactis atrorubens
Broad –leave Helleborine- Epipactis helleborine
Small Dark red Helleborine - Epipactis microphylla
Fragrant Orchid - Gymnadenia conopsea
Common Tway Blade - Listera ovata
Birdnest Orchid - Neotia nidus-avis
----------------------- Nigritella gabasiana
Black Vanilla Orchid - Nigritella nigra
Fly Orchid - Ophrys insectifera
------------------------ -Ophrys lupercalis
Woodcock Orchid - Ophrys scolopax
Early Spider Orchid - Ophrys sphegodes
Bee Orchid - Ophys apifera.
Early Purple Orchid - Orchis mascula
Pale Flowered Orchid - Orchis pallens
Lady Orchid - Orchis purpurea
Burnt Orchid - Orchis ustulata
Lesser Butterfly Orchid - Platanthera bifolia
Greater Butterfly Orchid - Platanthera chlorantha
Small White Orchid - Pseudorchis albida
Autumn Lady´s Tressers - Spiranthes spiralis
