France; The Vercors in June
June 2008
Col de Menée, near Combeau
Vercors June 2008 GALLERY
La Chapelle en Vercors, altitude 945 metres, lies at the heart of the Parc Naturel Regional du Vercors.The geological diversity of the mountains – the deep gorges cut in limestone, the plateaux and summits overlooked by the Grand Veymont (2,341 m; 7,680 feet), the sheer cliffs and extensive forests, and the climate subjected to a variety of influences – continental, oceanic, Mediterranean and alpine, all give this area a particularly rich and diverse wildlife and flora.
With a total in excess of 1800 plant species, orchids are well represented with about 63 species existing within the park.
We spent a week here principally looking for orchid species. We looked at different habitats whilst driving around, and walked several well-marked footpaths – there is a good network of ‘sentiers’ to give access to the most promising areas. The park authority produces indispensable footpath maps widely available in the shops. For one rare species we asked a local park ranger, they frequently drive the area in well-marked vans.
The weather was unseasonally awful ! By June it has usually stabilized, apparently, allowing of course for odd blips because of the altitude. The day we left La Chapelle it was 4 degrees centigrade on the final col, the previous day had seen 20 minutes of snow there ! The cold, very wet and prolonged spring meant that butterflies were at a very low density, but the orchids were there if a little later than normal. This proved to be an advantage; I would recommend the first week in June for this trip in a ‘normal’ year.
We made no attempt to see the specialist breeding birds of the region, the birds recorded were those seen whilst looking for orchid species; likewise with butterflies because of the bad weather.
SITES VISITED
Font D’Urle - Altitude 1436m.
Situated a few kms west of Vassieux, the road to the village [D76b] is signposted on the D76 – it is a well-known site for walkers.
Font D’Urle is a small skiing resort of chalets and gites with a couple of restaurants. From here there is a marked circular footpath to Porte D’Urle at 1499m. and back over some limestone karst to the village. A spectacular walk of high pasture and limestone crags and pavements with many plant species.
Herbouilly/Hauts Plateaux - Altitude 1300-1600m.
About 3 kms east of St Martin-en-Vercors, along the back-road [D221] to Villard-de-Lans, is the Auberge de Roybon, a hotel/restaurant. From here it is possible to walk the marked paths to the high plateau.
We barely ventured up here, mainly because of the weather, but also because the main interest here is probably avian, i.e. Black Grouse, owls, etc as the plateau is mostly covered with forest. On two brief visits we did however see some interesting plants; a walk to the top would no doubt prove rewarding.
Vallee de Combeau - Altitude 1200-1300m.
A beautiful, remote valley north of Menee, on route D120, with interesting flora.
Beaufort-sur-Gervanne area - Altitude c350m.
In the extreme south-west of the park, Beaufort is on route D70.
Being lower and more southerly, we looked at fields and a wood near here for ophrys orchids, the climate being almost Mediterranean.
Les Merciers - Altitude c1300m.
Les Merciers is a small hamlet near Engins and is sign-posted on route D531 north of Lans-en-Vercors.
Apparently well known to mountain walkers, we walked a short stretch of one of the marked paths above the village, looking in vain for a decent selection of butterflies.
These are just five sites we looked at after gleaning information from the Vercors park website and elsewhere. It seemed that just about anywhere produced orchid species when we toured around and walked the footpath network, it was just a matter of narrowing down habitat requirements. In fact, many species were found roadside.
I have not given specific details on the location of certain species, e.g. Lady’s Slipper, Coral Root and Spitzel’s, and I won’t respond to emails asking for details. We found these either by good fortune, or in the case of one by asking a park ranger – I suggest others do the same, or try emailing them through the website. The park authorities also provide guides to help you find certain species; see their website.
REFERENCE SOURCES
Parc Naturel Regional du Vercors
SPECIES RECORDED - 9/6/2008 to 13/6/2008
ORCHIDS - 31 species
Main source of reference FIELD GUIDE TO ORCHIDS OF BRITAIN & EUROPE by Karl Peter Buttler, 1991.
MAN ORCHID Aceras anthropophorum – Common roadside
PYRAMIDAL ORCHID Anacamptis pyramidalis – Fairly common, especially in the southwest
WHITE HELLEBORINE Cephalanthera damasonium – Occasional roadside and elsewhere, often with Narrow-leaved Helleborine
NARROW-LEAVED HELLEBORINE Cephalanthera longifolia – Common roadside and woods
RED HELLEBORINE Cephalanthera rubra – Common roadside and woods near Beaufort sur Gervanne
FROG ORCHID Coeloglossum viride - Font d'Urle only
CORAL ROOT Corallorhiza trifida – Five plants only
LADY'S SLIPPER Cypripedium calceolus – One site with 150+ plants
COMMON SPOTTED ORCHID Dactylorhiza fuchsii – Scattered, woods and occasionally roadside
HEATH SPOTTED ORCHID Dactylorhiza maculata – Scarce, a few roadside near Herbouilly
ELDER-FLOWERED ORCHID Dactylorhiza sambucina (red and yellow variants) – very common Font d’Urle and some high cols
SMALL-LEAVED HELLEBORINE Epipactis microphylla – One plant only in woods near Beaufort sur Gervanne
FRAGRANT ORCHID Gymnadenia conopsea – Common in rocky areas
LIZARD ORCHID Himantoglossum hircinum – Very common at lower altitude
VIOLET LIMODORE Limodorum abortivum – Only in woods near Beaufort sur Gervanne
COMMON TWAYBLADE Listera ovata – Common roadside
BIRD'S NEST ORCHID Neottia nidus-avis – Very common in most woods
BEE ORCHID Ophrys apifera – Common roadside on warm southern side, e.g. around Beaufort sur Gervanne
LATE SPIDER ORCHID Ophrys fuciflora – 2-3 plants in field near Beaufort sur Gervanne
FLY ORCHID Ophrys insectifera – Occasional roadside and in woods
WOODCOCK ORCHID Ophrys scolopax – Several plants in field near Beaufort sur Gervanne
EARLY PURPLE ORCHID Orchis mascula – Very common roadside. Late-flowering high altitude plants ssp. acutiflora e.g. Font D’Urle
MILITARY ORCHID Orchis militaris – Occasional roadside around La Chapelle and Vassieux
PALE-FLOWERED ORCHID Orchis pallens – 8 plants near Herbouilly
LADY ORCHID Orchis purpurea – Occasional roadside and in woods
MONKEY ORCHID Orchis simia – Common roadside
SPITZEL'S ORCHID Orchis spitzelii – Common at one site only
TOOTHED ORCHID Orchis tridentata ssp. commutata – Five plants near Beaufort sur Gervanne
BURNT ORCHID Orchis ustulata – Scarce throughout, possibly including ssp. aestivus
LESSER BUTTERFLY ORCHID Platanthera bifolia – Common roadside and woods
GREATER BUTTERFLY ORCHID Platanthera chlorantha – Six plants in woods near Beaufort sur Gervanne
Orchis militaris x O.simia Hybrid Military/Monkey – near Vassieux
Orchis tridentata x O.ustulata Hybrid Toothed/Burnt – near Beaufort sur Gervanne
Bee orchid hybrids, various, e.g. x Late Spider - near Beaufort sur Gervanne
WILDFLOWERS of interest, not an exhaustive list;
BLACK RAMPION Phyteuma nigra - roadside
CARTHUSIAN PINK Dianthus carthusianorum
RAGGED ROBIN Lychnis flos-cuculi
MOSS CAMPION Silene acaulis - Fonte d’Urle
NARROW-LEAVED GENTIAN Gentiana angustifolia - Combeau
CLUSIUS'S GENTIAN Gentiana clusii - high cols
SPRING GENTIAN Gentiana verna - Font d’Urle
COMMON WINTERGREEN Pyrola minor - Combeau
GLOBEFLOWER Trolleus europaeus - Font d’Urle
LIVE-LONG SAXIFRAGE Saxifraga paniculata - Les Merciers
MOSSY SAXIFRAGE Saxifraga hypnoides
HEARTSEASE Viola tricolor - Font d’Urle
ST. BERNARD'S LILY Anthericum liliago - Combeau
LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY Convallaria majalis - Herbouilly
DOG'S-TOOTH VIOLET Erythronium dens-canis - Font d’Urle
PHEASANT'S-EYE DAFFODIL Narcissus poeticus - Font d’Urle
WILD DAFFODIL Narcissus pseudonarcissus - Font d’Urle
HERB PARIS Paris quadrifolia - Herbouilly
SCENTED SOLOMON'S SEAL Polygonatum odoratum - Font d'Urle
BIRDS - 60 species including;
GRIFFON VULTURE Gyps fulvus - 40+ Font D’Urle
SHORT-TOED EAGLE Circaetus gallicus - 1-2 southern Vercors
QUAIL Coturnix coturnix - 1 heard campsite
TAWNY OWL Strix aluco - 1 campsite
BEE-EATER Merops apiaster - 2 Beaufort
HOOPOE Upupa epops
BLACK WOODPECKER Dryocopus martius - 2-3 heard or seen
TREE PIPIT Anthus trivialis
WATER PIPIT Anthus spinoletta
REDSTART Phoenicarus phoenicarus - 1+ pairs breeding at campsite
WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe
BONELLI'S WARBLER Phylloscopus bonelli
FIRECREST Regulus ignicapillus
COAL TIT Parus ater
CRESTED TIT Parus cristatus
SHORT-TOED TREECREEPER Certhia brachydactyla - 1 Beaufort
RED-BACKED SHRIKE Lanius collurio
ALPINE CHOUGH Pyrrhocorax graculus - common Font D’Urle
RAVEN Corvus corax
BULLFINCH Pyrrhula pyrrhula
CIRL BUNTING Emberiza cirlus
BUTTERFLIES- 23 species
SWALLOWTAIL Papilio machaon
LARGE WHITE Pieris brassicae
BLACK-VEINED WHITE Aporia crataegi - Beaufort
SMALL WHITE Artogeia rapae
ORANGE TIP Anthocharis cardamines
CLOUDED YELLOW Colias crocea
BRIMSTONE Gonepteryx rhamni
WOOD WHITE Leptidea Sinapis
ILEX HAIRSTREAK Nordmannia ilicis - Beaufort
LITTLE BLUE Cupido minimus - Herbouilly
SILVER-STUDDED BLUE Plebejus argus - Combeau
ADONIS BLUE Polyommatus bellargus - Combeau
ESCHER'S BLUE Polyommatus escheri - Beaufort
RED ADMIRAL Vanessa atalanta
SMALL TORTOISESHELL Aglais urticae - Les Merciers
PAINTED LADY Vanessa cardui
HEATH FRITILLARY Mellicta athalia - Beaufort
MARBLED WHITE Melanargia galathea
MEADOW BROWN Maniola jurtina
SMALL HEATH Coenonympha pamphilus
PEARLY HEATH Coenonympha arcania - Beaufort
WALL BROWN Lasiommata megera
SMALL SKIPPER Thymelicus flavus
Col de Menée, near Combeau
Vercors June 2008 GALLERY
La Chapelle en Vercors, altitude 945 metres, lies at the heart of the Parc Naturel Regional du Vercors.The geological diversity of the mountains – the deep gorges cut in limestone, the plateaux and summits overlooked by the Grand Veymont (2,341 m; 7,680 feet), the sheer cliffs and extensive forests, and the climate subjected to a variety of influences – continental, oceanic, Mediterranean and alpine, all give this area a particularly rich and diverse wildlife and flora.
With a total in excess of 1800 plant species, orchids are well represented with about 63 species existing within the park.
We spent a week here principally looking for orchid species. We looked at different habitats whilst driving around, and walked several well-marked footpaths – there is a good network of ‘sentiers’ to give access to the most promising areas. The park authority produces indispensable footpath maps widely available in the shops. For one rare species we asked a local park ranger, they frequently drive the area in well-marked vans.
The weather was unseasonally awful ! By June it has usually stabilized, apparently, allowing of course for odd blips because of the altitude. The day we left La Chapelle it was 4 degrees centigrade on the final col, the previous day had seen 20 minutes of snow there ! The cold, very wet and prolonged spring meant that butterflies were at a very low density, but the orchids were there if a little later than normal. This proved to be an advantage; I would recommend the first week in June for this trip in a ‘normal’ year.
We made no attempt to see the specialist breeding birds of the region, the birds recorded were those seen whilst looking for orchid species; likewise with butterflies because of the bad weather.
SITES VISITED
Font D’Urle - Altitude 1436m.
Situated a few kms west of Vassieux, the road to the village [D76b] is signposted on the D76 – it is a well-known site for walkers.
Font D’Urle is a small skiing resort of chalets and gites with a couple of restaurants. From here there is a marked circular footpath to Porte D’Urle at 1499m. and back over some limestone karst to the village. A spectacular walk of high pasture and limestone crags and pavements with many plant species.
Herbouilly/Hauts Plateaux - Altitude 1300-1600m.
About 3 kms east of St Martin-en-Vercors, along the back-road [D221] to Villard-de-Lans, is the Auberge de Roybon, a hotel/restaurant. From here it is possible to walk the marked paths to the high plateau.
We barely ventured up here, mainly because of the weather, but also because the main interest here is probably avian, i.e. Black Grouse, owls, etc as the plateau is mostly covered with forest. On two brief visits we did however see some interesting plants; a walk to the top would no doubt prove rewarding.
Vallee de Combeau - Altitude 1200-1300m.
A beautiful, remote valley north of Menee, on route D120, with interesting flora.
Beaufort-sur-Gervanne area - Altitude c350m.
In the extreme south-west of the park, Beaufort is on route D70.
Being lower and more southerly, we looked at fields and a wood near here for ophrys orchids, the climate being almost Mediterranean.
Les Merciers - Altitude c1300m.
Les Merciers is a small hamlet near Engins and is sign-posted on route D531 north of Lans-en-Vercors.
Apparently well known to mountain walkers, we walked a short stretch of one of the marked paths above the village, looking in vain for a decent selection of butterflies.
These are just five sites we looked at after gleaning information from the Vercors park website and elsewhere. It seemed that just about anywhere produced orchid species when we toured around and walked the footpath network, it was just a matter of narrowing down habitat requirements. In fact, many species were found roadside.
I have not given specific details on the location of certain species, e.g. Lady’s Slipper, Coral Root and Spitzel’s, and I won’t respond to emails asking for details. We found these either by good fortune, or in the case of one by asking a park ranger – I suggest others do the same, or try emailing them through the website. The park authorities also provide guides to help you find certain species; see their website.
REFERENCE SOURCES
Parc Naturel Regional du Vercors
SPECIES RECORDED - 9/6/2008 to 13/6/2008
ORCHIDS - 31 species
Main source of reference FIELD GUIDE TO ORCHIDS OF BRITAIN & EUROPE by Karl Peter Buttler, 1991.
MAN ORCHID Aceras anthropophorum – Common roadside
PYRAMIDAL ORCHID Anacamptis pyramidalis – Fairly common, especially in the southwest
WHITE HELLEBORINE Cephalanthera damasonium – Occasional roadside and elsewhere, often with Narrow-leaved Helleborine
NARROW-LEAVED HELLEBORINE Cephalanthera longifolia – Common roadside and woods
RED HELLEBORINE Cephalanthera rubra – Common roadside and woods near Beaufort sur Gervanne
FROG ORCHID Coeloglossum viride - Font d'Urle only
CORAL ROOT Corallorhiza trifida – Five plants only
LADY'S SLIPPER Cypripedium calceolus – One site with 150+ plants
COMMON SPOTTED ORCHID Dactylorhiza fuchsii – Scattered, woods and occasionally roadside
HEATH SPOTTED ORCHID Dactylorhiza maculata – Scarce, a few roadside near Herbouilly
ELDER-FLOWERED ORCHID Dactylorhiza sambucina (red and yellow variants) – very common Font d’Urle and some high cols
SMALL-LEAVED HELLEBORINE Epipactis microphylla – One plant only in woods near Beaufort sur Gervanne
FRAGRANT ORCHID Gymnadenia conopsea – Common in rocky areas
LIZARD ORCHID Himantoglossum hircinum – Very common at lower altitude
VIOLET LIMODORE Limodorum abortivum – Only in woods near Beaufort sur Gervanne
COMMON TWAYBLADE Listera ovata – Common roadside
BIRD'S NEST ORCHID Neottia nidus-avis – Very common in most woods
BEE ORCHID Ophrys apifera – Common roadside on warm southern side, e.g. around Beaufort sur Gervanne
LATE SPIDER ORCHID Ophrys fuciflora – 2-3 plants in field near Beaufort sur Gervanne
FLY ORCHID Ophrys insectifera – Occasional roadside and in woods
WOODCOCK ORCHID Ophrys scolopax – Several plants in field near Beaufort sur Gervanne
EARLY PURPLE ORCHID Orchis mascula – Very common roadside. Late-flowering high altitude plants ssp. acutiflora e.g. Font D’Urle
MILITARY ORCHID Orchis militaris – Occasional roadside around La Chapelle and Vassieux
PALE-FLOWERED ORCHID Orchis pallens – 8 plants near Herbouilly
LADY ORCHID Orchis purpurea – Occasional roadside and in woods
MONKEY ORCHID Orchis simia – Common roadside
SPITZEL'S ORCHID Orchis spitzelii – Common at one site only
TOOTHED ORCHID Orchis tridentata ssp. commutata – Five plants near Beaufort sur Gervanne
BURNT ORCHID Orchis ustulata – Scarce throughout, possibly including ssp. aestivus
LESSER BUTTERFLY ORCHID Platanthera bifolia – Common roadside and woods
GREATER BUTTERFLY ORCHID Platanthera chlorantha – Six plants in woods near Beaufort sur Gervanne
Orchis militaris x O.simia Hybrid Military/Monkey – near Vassieux
Orchis tridentata x O.ustulata Hybrid Toothed/Burnt – near Beaufort sur Gervanne
Bee orchid hybrids, various, e.g. x Late Spider - near Beaufort sur Gervanne
WILDFLOWERS of interest, not an exhaustive list;
BLACK RAMPION Phyteuma nigra - roadside
CARTHUSIAN PINK Dianthus carthusianorum
RAGGED ROBIN Lychnis flos-cuculi
MOSS CAMPION Silene acaulis - Fonte d’Urle
NARROW-LEAVED GENTIAN Gentiana angustifolia - Combeau
CLUSIUS'S GENTIAN Gentiana clusii - high cols
SPRING GENTIAN Gentiana verna - Font d’Urle
COMMON WINTERGREEN Pyrola minor - Combeau
GLOBEFLOWER Trolleus europaeus - Font d’Urle
LIVE-LONG SAXIFRAGE Saxifraga paniculata - Les Merciers
MOSSY SAXIFRAGE Saxifraga hypnoides
HEARTSEASE Viola tricolor - Font d’Urle
ST. BERNARD'S LILY Anthericum liliago - Combeau
LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY Convallaria majalis - Herbouilly
DOG'S-TOOTH VIOLET Erythronium dens-canis - Font d’Urle
PHEASANT'S-EYE DAFFODIL Narcissus poeticus - Font d’Urle
WILD DAFFODIL Narcissus pseudonarcissus - Font d’Urle
HERB PARIS Paris quadrifolia - Herbouilly
SCENTED SOLOMON'S SEAL Polygonatum odoratum - Font d'Urle
BIRDS - 60 species including;
GRIFFON VULTURE Gyps fulvus - 40+ Font D’Urle
SHORT-TOED EAGLE Circaetus gallicus - 1-2 southern Vercors
QUAIL Coturnix coturnix - 1 heard campsite
TAWNY OWL Strix aluco - 1 campsite
BEE-EATER Merops apiaster - 2 Beaufort
HOOPOE Upupa epops
BLACK WOODPECKER Dryocopus martius - 2-3 heard or seen
TREE PIPIT Anthus trivialis
WATER PIPIT Anthus spinoletta
REDSTART Phoenicarus phoenicarus - 1+ pairs breeding at campsite
WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe
BONELLI'S WARBLER Phylloscopus bonelli
FIRECREST Regulus ignicapillus
COAL TIT Parus ater
CRESTED TIT Parus cristatus
SHORT-TOED TREECREEPER Certhia brachydactyla - 1 Beaufort
RED-BACKED SHRIKE Lanius collurio
ALPINE CHOUGH Pyrrhocorax graculus - common Font D’Urle
RAVEN Corvus corax
BULLFINCH Pyrrhula pyrrhula
CIRL BUNTING Emberiza cirlus
BUTTERFLIES- 23 species
SWALLOWTAIL Papilio machaon
LARGE WHITE Pieris brassicae
BLACK-VEINED WHITE Aporia crataegi - Beaufort
SMALL WHITE Artogeia rapae
ORANGE TIP Anthocharis cardamines
CLOUDED YELLOW Colias crocea
BRIMSTONE Gonepteryx rhamni
WOOD WHITE Leptidea Sinapis
ILEX HAIRSTREAK Nordmannia ilicis - Beaufort
LITTLE BLUE Cupido minimus - Herbouilly
SILVER-STUDDED BLUE Plebejus argus - Combeau
ADONIS BLUE Polyommatus bellargus - Combeau
ESCHER'S BLUE Polyommatus escheri - Beaufort
RED ADMIRAL Vanessa atalanta
SMALL TORTOISESHELL Aglais urticae - Les Merciers
PAINTED LADY Vanessa cardui
HEATH FRITILLARY Mellicta athalia - Beaufort
MARBLED WHITE Melanargia galathea
MEADOW BROWN Maniola jurtina
SMALL HEATH Coenonympha pamphilus
PEARLY HEATH Coenonympha arcania - Beaufort
WALL BROWN Lasiommata megera
SMALL SKIPPER Thymelicus flavus