Spectacular Wildlife in the Foothills and High Mountains of the Pyrenees
Places to see Lammergeier, Bee-eaters, Rollers, Griffons plus many other remarkable species.......
The
Ariege is largely unspoilt, employing traditional farming methods that
result in huge numbers of insects, small mammals, a real year round larder
that feeds a vast array of flourishing wildlife. In our garden alone
we have observed Red Deer, Hares, Black Kites, Buzzards, European Green
lizards, Long Horn beetles, Badgers and last summer a pair of Rollers
temporarily visited for about a week. in our first late summer I w
atched a
'flock' of some 50+ Black Kites fly along the next ridge line from Pechine.
Last spring I saw an Egyptian vulture soar above our house! Golden Oriole,
Hoopoe, Bee-eaters (we found a nesting site this year), Little Egrets, Hobby, possibly Short-toed Eagles (needs
confirming please!) can all be seen locally during the summer months. Marmots can
be found on the path-side at higher levels, plus Izzards (mountain goats),
Red Squirrels and much more...
High in the Pyrenees, on the Col de Peguere for example, Griffon
vultures can be routinely seen in some numbers. I have seen Griffons in a number of places, indeed only 20 minutes from my house! The photograph (right) was taken at the spectacular Lordat Castle that has a superb live bird of prey display. Golden Eagles
and many other birds of prey are all frequently
observed in the hills and mountains of the Ariege. The butterflies and many other insects found here throughout large parts of the year are also incredible both in terms of diversity and sheer numbers.
Why not stay in the comfort of our Gite de Pechine and enjoy the abundant wildlife that is found on our doorstep and throughout this unspoilt and beautiful 'last wilderness' of Western Europe?
Click here to email Richard and Sandra
