France; Pyrénées Béarnaises in September
August/September 2020, list with updates
Basque Wide-winged Bush-cricket (Zeuneriana abbreviata) male, Col de Bouesou
A week spent looking for insects and raptors on the way down to Spain and back. Area chosen was the Pyrénées Béarnaises, principally the Vallée d'Aspe, a day also spent around the Col de Pourtalet, the next mountain pass to the east.
Sites visited included the areas around Bedous, Accous, Lescun and the Col du Somport.
France; Pyrénées Béarnaises September 2020 GALLERY
SPECIES LISTS
Birds – 56 species
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)
Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus) – 1 ad. Col de Pourtalet, 2 ads north of Somport 20/9/20
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) – 1 ad. Bedous 31/8/20, 1 ad. Col de Pourtalet 20/9/20
Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) – 1 Bedous 30/8/20, 2 Col de Pourtalet 20/9/20
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata) – Several throughout, 1 dark phase
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) – 1 (1w) Astún 3/9/20
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) - 2 Col de Pourtalet 30/9/24
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Common Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Common Swift (Apus apus)
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
Eurasian Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) - Scarce
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum)
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)
Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus)
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) – 1 Col de Pourtalet 20/9/20
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Crested Tit (Parus cristatus)
Coal Tit (Parus ater)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) – 30+ Lescun 2/9/20
Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) – 5 Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
Common Raven (Corvus corax)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
European Serin (Serinus serinus)
European Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
Common Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)
Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) – Heard near Somport 3/9/2020
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) – 2 males Col de Pourtalet 20/9/20
Odonata – 4 species
Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) - 1 male Bedous 31/8/20
Common Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) – 6+ males Candanchú 3/9/20
Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) – 1 male Bedous 31/8/20, 1 male Candanchú 3/9/20
Moorland Hawker (Aeshna juncea) – 4 (3m. 1f.) Candanchú 3/9/20
Butterflies – 28 species + 2 moths
Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius) – 2 Lescun 2/9/20
Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae) - 1 Lescun 2/9/20
Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)
Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
Large White (Pieris brassicae)
Small White (Pieris rapae)
Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea)
Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) – 1 male Lescun 2/9/20
Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
Wood White (Leptidea sinapis)
Comma (Polygonia c-album)
Map Butterfly (Araschnia levana) - 1 Bedous 31/8/20
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)
Weaver's Fritillary (Clossinia dia)
Pyrenean Brassy Ringlet (Erebia rondoui) – 1 female Lescun 2/9/20
Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus)
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera)
Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera)
Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae) - Somport 3/9/20
Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)
Short-tailed Blue (Everes argiades)
Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra coridon)
Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus)
Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)
Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) - 1 Bedous 31/8/20
Orange Swift (Triodia sylvina) - 1 Bedous 31/8/20
Other insects
Oecanthus pellucens (Italian Tree Cricket) - 1 Bedous 31/8/20
Ruspolia nitidula nitidula (Large Conehead) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Tettigonia cantans (Upland Green Bush-cricket) - 1 male Lescun 2/9/20
Tettigonia viridissima (Great Green Bush-cricket) - Low altitude only
Decticus verrucivorus verrucivorus (Wart-biter) - 1 female Le Bergout 1/9/20
Zeuneriana abbreviata (Basque Wide-winged Bush-cricket) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Psophus stridulus stridulus (Rattle Grasshopper) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Mecostethus parapleurus parapleurus (Leek Grasshopper) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20, Lescun 2/9/20
Chrysochraon dispar (Large Gold Grasshopper) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Omocestus rufipes (Woodland Grasshopper) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Omocestus viridulus (Common Green Grasshopper) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Stenobothrus lineatus (Stripe-winged Grasshopper) - Lescun 2/9/20
Pseudochorthippus parallelus (Meadow Grasshopper) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Chorthippus dorsatus dorsatus (Steppe Grasshopper) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20, Lescun 2/9/20
Chorthippus biguttulus (Bow-winged Grasshopper) - 1 male Somport 20/9/20
Chorthippus saulcyi (French Grasshopper) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Graphosoma italicum (AC Milan Shieldbug)
Calocoris nemoralis (Miridae, Capsid bugs)
Stictocephala bisonia (Buffalo Treehopper)
Carabus splendens (Carabidae, Ground beetles) – 1 Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Geotrupidae (Dor beetle) sp.
Asilus crabroniformis (Hornet Robberfly) - 1 Lescun 2/9/20
Chrysotoxum octomaculatum (Broken-banded Wasp Hoverfly) - 1 male Lescun 2/9/20
Helophilus pendulus (Tiger Hoverfly)
Sericomyia superbiens (Late Bear Hoverfly) - 1 male Lescun 2/9/20
Volucella zonaria (Hornet Hoverfly)
Habrocampulum biguttatum (Ichneumonidae) - 1 Bedous 31/8/20
Eumenes (Potter wasp) sp. - 1 Bedous 31/8/20
Megachile centuncularis (Patchwork Leaf-cutter Bee)
Bombus campestris (Field Cuckoo Bee) - 1 male Lescun 2/9/20
Bombus sp. various unidentified
Other fauna
Stoat (Mustela erminea) – 1 Col de Pourtalet 20/9/20
Pyrenean Chamois (Isard) (Rupicapra pyrenaica) – 7 Astún 3/9/20
Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Alpine Marmot (Marmota marmota)
Podarcis muralis (Common Wall Lizard)
Lacerta (lizard) sp. unidentified
Wildflowers
Large Pink (Dianthus superbus)
Marsh Gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe) – 2 Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis ciliata) – 2+ Candanchú 3/9/20
Crocus nudiflorus (Iridaceae)
Basque Wide-winged Bush-cricket (Zeuneriana abbreviata) male, Col de Bouesou
A week spent looking for insects and raptors on the way down to Spain and back. Area chosen was the Pyrénées Béarnaises, principally the Vallée d'Aspe, a day also spent around the Col de Pourtalet, the next mountain pass to the east.
Sites visited included the areas around Bedous, Accous, Lescun and the Col du Somport.
France; Pyrénées Béarnaises September 2020 GALLERY
SPECIES LISTS
Birds – 56 species
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)
Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus) – 1 ad. Col de Pourtalet, 2 ads north of Somport 20/9/20
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) – 1 ad. Bedous 31/8/20, 1 ad. Col de Pourtalet 20/9/20
Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) – 1 Bedous 30/8/20, 2 Col de Pourtalet 20/9/20
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata) – Several throughout, 1 dark phase
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) – 1 (1w) Astún 3/9/20
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) - 2 Col de Pourtalet 30/9/24
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Common Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Common Swift (Apus apus)
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
Eurasian Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) - Scarce
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum)
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)
Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus)
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) – 1 Col de Pourtalet 20/9/20
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Crested Tit (Parus cristatus)
Coal Tit (Parus ater)
Great Tit (Parus major)
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) – 30+ Lescun 2/9/20
Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) – 5 Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
Common Raven (Corvus corax)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
European Serin (Serinus serinus)
European Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
Common Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)
Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) – Heard near Somport 3/9/2020
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) – 2 males Col de Pourtalet 20/9/20
Odonata – 4 species
Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) - 1 male Bedous 31/8/20
Common Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) – 6+ males Candanchú 3/9/20
Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) – 1 male Bedous 31/8/20, 1 male Candanchú 3/9/20
Moorland Hawker (Aeshna juncea) – 4 (3m. 1f.) Candanchú 3/9/20
Butterflies – 28 species + 2 moths
Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius) – 2 Lescun 2/9/20
Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae) - 1 Lescun 2/9/20
Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)
Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
Large White (Pieris brassicae)
Small White (Pieris rapae)
Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea)
Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) – 1 male Lescun 2/9/20
Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
Wood White (Leptidea sinapis)
Comma (Polygonia c-album)
Map Butterfly (Araschnia levana) - 1 Bedous 31/8/20
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)
Weaver's Fritillary (Clossinia dia)
Pyrenean Brassy Ringlet (Erebia rondoui) – 1 female Lescun 2/9/20
Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus)
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera)
Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera)
Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae) - Somport 3/9/20
Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)
Short-tailed Blue (Everes argiades)
Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra coridon)
Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus)
Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)
Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) - 1 Bedous 31/8/20
Orange Swift (Triodia sylvina) - 1 Bedous 31/8/20
Other insects
Oecanthus pellucens (Italian Tree Cricket) - 1 Bedous 31/8/20
Ruspolia nitidula nitidula (Large Conehead) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Tettigonia cantans (Upland Green Bush-cricket) - 1 male Lescun 2/9/20
Tettigonia viridissima (Great Green Bush-cricket) - Low altitude only
Decticus verrucivorus verrucivorus (Wart-biter) - 1 female Le Bergout 1/9/20
Zeuneriana abbreviata (Basque Wide-winged Bush-cricket) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Psophus stridulus stridulus (Rattle Grasshopper) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Mecostethus parapleurus parapleurus (Leek Grasshopper) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20, Lescun 2/9/20
Chrysochraon dispar (Large Gold Grasshopper) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Omocestus rufipes (Woodland Grasshopper) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Omocestus viridulus (Common Green Grasshopper) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Stenobothrus lineatus (Stripe-winged Grasshopper) - Lescun 2/9/20
Pseudochorthippus parallelus (Meadow Grasshopper) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Chorthippus dorsatus dorsatus (Steppe Grasshopper) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20, Lescun 2/9/20
Chorthippus biguttulus (Bow-winged Grasshopper) - 1 male Somport 20/9/20
Chorthippus saulcyi (French Grasshopper) - Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Graphosoma italicum (AC Milan Shieldbug)
Calocoris nemoralis (Miridae, Capsid bugs)
Stictocephala bisonia (Buffalo Treehopper)
Carabus splendens (Carabidae, Ground beetles) – 1 Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Geotrupidae (Dor beetle) sp.
Asilus crabroniformis (Hornet Robberfly) - 1 Lescun 2/9/20
Chrysotoxum octomaculatum (Broken-banded Wasp Hoverfly) - 1 male Lescun 2/9/20
Helophilus pendulus (Tiger Hoverfly)
Sericomyia superbiens (Late Bear Hoverfly) - 1 male Lescun 2/9/20
Volucella zonaria (Hornet Hoverfly)
Habrocampulum biguttatum (Ichneumonidae) - 1 Bedous 31/8/20
Eumenes (Potter wasp) sp. - 1 Bedous 31/8/20
Megachile centuncularis (Patchwork Leaf-cutter Bee)
Bombus campestris (Field Cuckoo Bee) - 1 male Lescun 2/9/20
Bombus sp. various unidentified
Other fauna
Stoat (Mustela erminea) – 1 Col de Pourtalet 20/9/20
Pyrenean Chamois (Isard) (Rupicapra pyrenaica) – 7 Astún 3/9/20
Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Alpine Marmot (Marmota marmota)
Podarcis muralis (Common Wall Lizard)
Lacerta (lizard) sp. unidentified
Wildflowers
Large Pink (Dianthus superbus)
Marsh Gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe) – 2 Col de Bouesou 1/9/20
Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis ciliata) – 2+ Candanchú 3/9/20
Crocus nudiflorus (Iridaceae)