I recently returned from a walking holiday in this spectacular mountain range, summiting peaks was very much the focus of the trip but I did my best to see some alpine species and managed a surprisingly decent list considering - I took my light weight 8x25's and as much ID knowledge from memory as possible as the extra weight of a book would have been a slog up the snow fields (let alone my telephoto lens, hence no photos). I've ommited anything I regularly see in Britain.
On arrival at the campsite (situated in a conifer forest - mainly spruce) I instantly recognised the call of a Common Crossbill, quite an achievement for me only made possible by having seen one calling the previous year in Wales - it seems the only way I'm able to learn. It was finally spotted perched on top of a tree.
The next day yielded several Black Redstarts around the hamlet near the campsite as we set of into the mountains. Further up in the forest there were some Crested Tits chasing each other through some larch branches (a first for me). As we broke the tree line over looking a beautiful lake a Golden Eagle slowly skimmed the cliffs above us, the best views I've ever had. Further up on the scree slopes were 3 Snow Finches
watching us carefully (for signs of a lunch stop presumably). The last birds of the day were one of my target species; Alpine Accentors amongst the boulders. At that distance they were conceivably Dunnocks (no noise) however we were at this point 2400 metres up with no vegetation. Later in the trip I had better views to confirm but I count this as my first sighting.
The next day started with a Red-backed Shrike on a meadow near the campsite, another first for me. In fact we got such good views that even my die hard climbing purist friends admitted a lightweight pair of binoculars was a must from now on. Then absolutely nothing all the way up to a rifugio at 2200metres where I finally spotted some Alpine Coughs cruising for a free meal.
Day three was decidedly a lazy rest day but I did see some Spotted Flycatchers feeding from a fence on the way into town along with some Fieldfares, as well as some Whinchats in the same meadow as the shrike and Peregrine over the forest
The last day in the mountains, despite the weather, was by far the best as we managed to summit 3238 metres - completely covered in snow in the middle of July which was rather unexpected and something of a hazard but very exciting. Crampons are a must next time! The icing on the cake was seeing Alpine Swifts, Crag Martins and a Serin in the space of about 4 minutes on the way back through the town. The swifts dwarfed some House Martins feeding around the olympic stadium. Crag Martins were feeding their young on a balcony of a house near the stadium affording very clear views of their tail markings and the Serin started singing in a tree opposite, which way to look!
We flew back from Venice airport which gave us a touristy day in Venice itself. I managed to pick out a Mediterranean Gull from a group of black headeds and Yellow legged Gulls were plentiful but no Slender Billed. The local sparrows were mostly Spanish/House hybrids which I hadn't previously seen.
An awesome trip, but I'd try and fit in a dedicated birding day if I do it again. It can be quite frustrating not having time to stop and ID when there are likely all sorts of woodpeckers and such in the trees around you.
Crosbill
Black redstart
snowfinch
Golden eagle
spotted flycatcher
crested tit
alpine cough
alpine accentor
Alpine swift
Crag martin
Serin
peregrine
red backed shrike
whinchat
med gull
yellow legged gull
blackcap
juvenile cuckoo
spanish/house sparrow hybrid