The Swiss Alps in Summer

The sun-bathed canton of Valais sits along the Swiss-Italian border and hosts some of the most spectacular scenery and highest mountains of the Alps, running from the Matterhorn in the east to Mont Blanc in France to the west. The Val d'Hérens, midway along the Rhône Valley, is both a Parc Regional and a Biosphere Reserve, managed using traditional methods and without chemicals, and it is here that we will base ourselves for a full week to enjoy the best of the Swiss Alps' birds, butterflies, stunning scenery and other natural history.

Our tour begins with a short flight to Geneva, before we drive around the north shore of Lake Geneva itself. From the town of Sion, we head south into the Val d'Hérens and the picturesque town of Evolène, our base for the week. We will keep our daily itinerary flexible to take best advantage of the weather each day, taking a series of short drives, walks and a few longer excursions to explore further along the valley. There will always be the option of a pre-breakfast stroll around Evolène, and every morning brings something different as we walk about the historic buildings. Before we even leave the hotel grounds we are likely to hear Black and Common Redstarts, Serins and Firecrests singing, and watch the busy Crested and Willow Tits coming and going. Dippers are found on the local stream and Red-backed Shrikes feed in the nearby fields.

We begin our week with local visits south along the valley to Arolla and Ferpècle. Following the track slowly from 2,000 metres up to 2,500 metres, we can expect a fine range of alpine birds and butterflies — along with spectacular views! The Arolla Pines and birch scrub are home to raucous Nutcrackers, with well-grown young in June that call and fly ahead of us as we walk. Crested Tits and Crossbills can be found amongst the trees and just occasionally a Black Grouse may flush from the Alpenrose beneath. Higher up, Tree Pipits sing from prominent perches, and Lesser Redpolls, Lesser Whitethroat, Cuckoo, Bullfinch and Mistle Thrush may all be found. On a sunny day, amongst the many butterflies, we will look for Alpine Grayling, Alpine Heath, Mazarine and Alpine Blue, and a number of fritillaries — Heath, False Heath and Small Pearl-bordered amongst the most common.

Higher up, the alpine meadows are filled with Globeflowers and Birdseye Primrose, Alpine and rare Red-billed Choughs dance above the meadows, and the alarm call of Alpine Marmot may alert us to the presence of a Golden Eagle or possibly Lammergeier quartering the slopes. Glanville or Alpine Marsh Fritillary can be found by the trackside, accompanied by numerous Chequered Skippers and Little Blues, as well as day-flying moths.

The Grande Dixence Dam is also a short drive from the hotel, and we will take the brief cable-car ride to the top. After looking for Snowfinch and Alpine Accentor, we descend by foot along a well-made track, with good opportunities to see both Chamois and Alpine Ibex. Wallcreeper and Alpine Accentor may be found on the cliffs, Golden Eagle and maybe Lammergeier pass overhead, plus Ring Ouzel, display-flighting Water Pipits and chattering Lesser Redpolls are all likely. Water Ringlet and Peak White can be found amongst the scree, while plants include Snowdon Lily, a variety of primroses and possibly Edelweiss.

Longer excursions during the week will include a drive to Zermatt, where we will take the mountain railway up to the Gornergrat at around 3,000 metres and enjoy the stunning panoramic views, as well as a morning near Leuk along the Rhône Valley bottom, where the stars of the show will surely be the Bee-eater colony that nests here. Our final excursion will be to the 'hidden valley' at Derborence; a spectacular drive to a wonderful setting, where we walk round a blue alpine lake, checking in particular for Lammergeier. This is a spot where they often breed, and we have an excellent chance of seeing them. Enjoying a relaxed walk and lunch, we should find many interesting butterflies — Chequered and Glandon Blue maybe — and birds like Citril Finch, Goshawk and Black Woodpecker.

Finally, at the end of a busy and varied week, we must make our way back to Geneva Airport in time for the short flight home to the UK.

Focus

The main focus will be on special Alpine birds, but we will also enjoy the butterflies, plants, dragonflies, insects and, of course, the amazing landscape.