Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made the difference. (Robert Frost – The road not taken)

Walking and Wildlife

"The anatomical characteristics of the human body permit humans to move through the environment at a velocity which is ideal for capturing ... all the immense life within the surrounding space. On foot, you can see easily trees, birds, grains of sand, ants ...; by car you loose all type of seasonal contact with the landscape".

(Joan Nogué i Font – 'La percepció del bosc')

This quote stands as the credo of the wildlife walker - travel on foot and you'll see so much more than if you attempt to cover too much ground by vehicle - and provides an excellent introduction to these wildlife walks.

The walks are almost all within a little more than an hour's drive from the centre of Girona and are grouped according to the months of the year: choose your month, choose your route, choose your subject and get in touch.

 

FOR SOME PHOTOS OF THE AREA, CLICK HERE


Date Region Interest Species to look out for

January-
February

 Vall d'en Bas and Parc Nou, Olot Wintering passerines; vulcanism. Finches (hawfinch, bullfinch, brambling), larks (skylark, woodlark), short-toed treecreeper, firecrest.
Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Wintering waterfowl Ducks, herons, gulls and raptors.
Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa Types of volcanic activity, geology and lithology of La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park PNZVG. Tits, short-toed treecreeper, firecrest.
Biure Cork oak forest, scrub formations, post fire succession; geology of the Pyrenees. Scrub species including Erica multiflora; first giant orchids.
March Cap de Creus Geology Thekla lark, Dartford and Sardinian warblers, blue rock thrush.
Cap de Norfeu Early spring bulbs and ferns Cheilanthes vellea, Ch. pteridioides, Narcissus dubius, Tree spurge, Coronilla minina, Iris lutescens, Cneorum tricoccon
Massís del Montgrí Early spring orchids; coastal garrigue Giant orchid, dull ophrys, Iris lutescens.
Serra del Corb Flowering of the herbaceous strata of the Garrotxa beech and oak forests. Wood and yellow anemones, Pulmonaria affinis, rue-leaved isopyrum, pinnate coralroot, Pyrenean squill.
April Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Early spring breeding birds, flora of the granite outcrops, hilltopping swallowtails. Bittern and other herons, marsh harrier, white stork, great-spotted cuckoo, hoopoe, crested lark. Cistus crispus, sawfly orchid, Euphorbia serrata, grape hyacinthScarce and common swallowtails
Darnius Cork oak forest and acid scrub; spring butterflies. Cork oak, strawberry-tree, green heather, Genista monspessulana. Chapman's green hairstreak.
Aiguamolls del Baix Ter Birds, coastal flora Waders, terns, gulls and herons on migration. Tragacanth, early spider and tongue orchids.
Montmajor Limestone flora; geology of L'Alta Garrotxa Endemic milkwort Polygala vayredae, limestone flora.
Santa Magdalena Influence of orientation on the flora Ramonda myconi, Alyssum spinosum, Pyrenean saxifrage, Wild jasmine, Iris lutescens.
Etang de Canet and dunes Migrating birds Greater flamingo, gulls and herons. Dune flora.
Cap de Creus Coastal flora, seabirds. Tragacanth, Thymelaea hirsuta, Armeria ruscinonensis, Plantago subulata, Silver ragwort. Tawny pipit, Sardinian, Dartford and spectacled warbler, black-eared wheatear, blue rock thrush, red-rumped swallow.
Estanys de la Jonquera Amphibians, reptiles, birds, flora Stripeless tree frog, painted frog, natterjact toad, ocellated lizard. Tawny pipit, hoopoe, short-toed eagle, golden oriole. Narrow-leaved lupin, birthwort.
May Coll de Malla and El Far Birds, butterflies and limestone flora Alpine swift, red-backed shrike, short-toed eagle, honey buzzard, cirl and rock buntings, crested tit, woodlark, crested tit. Wall brown, orange tip, Glanville fritillary. Ophrys catalaunica, rock soapwort, Saxifraga corbariensis, bird's-nest orchid.
Les Agudes Flora (endemic saxifrages), birds and butterflies Saxifraga genesiana, S. vayredana, pheasant's eye daffodil, wild tulip, European silver-fir. Rock bunting, alpine accentor. Queen of Spain fritillary
Serra de Bac Grillera Ridge flora Monkey orchid, Helianthemum canum, hoary rockrose, felty germander, violet limodore, hedgehog broom, Thymelaea dioica;
Salt de Sallent, Plana Mitjana Beech forest, butterflies, moths orchids Beech forest with Pyrenean squill, wild tulip, elder-flowered orchid, trumpet and spring gentians. Tau emperor, Duke of Burgundy's fritillary. Rock bunting.
La Barroca Butterflies, orchids and birds Scarce swallowtail, Berger's clouded yellow, Provence chalkhill and Adonis blues, marsh fritillary. Monkey and man orchids, lesser and greater butterfly orchids, twayblade sword-leaved helleborine. Subalpine warbler, golden oriole, woodlark.
La Mare de Déu del Mont Wild peony; changes in floral communities with altitude Wild peony, Ramonda myconi, Pyrenaen bellflower, Valeriana montana, fairy foxglove, blue aphyllanthes, fly orchid. Palmate newt, fire salamander. Chiffchaff, Bonelli's warbler, Subalpine warbler. Berger's clouded yellow, Adonis and Escher's blue.
L'Albera Flora, birds and butterflies Potentilla hirta, spotted rock rose, Dianthus pyrenaicus, everlasting flower, Cytinus hypocistis. Tawny pipit, ortolan bunting, spectacled and Orphean warblers, rock thrush, rock sparrow, alpine swift, blue rock thrush. Scarce swallowtail, Spanish gatekeeper, western marbled white.
Vall d'en Bas Last hay meadows in La Garrotxa; raptors, beech forest. Pyrenean squill, leopard's-bane, ransoms, livelong saxifrage, Saxifraga corbariensis, Rhinanthus mediterraneus. Short-toed and booted eagles, peregrine falcon.
June Basses de Monars ­ Comanegra Subalpine orchids, birds. Black vanilla, elder-flowered, fragrant, frog, bee, burnt-tip and military orchids, lesser and greater butterfly orchids, livelong saxifrage, Ramonda myconi, clustered bellflower. Skylark, water pipit, raven, chough, golden eagle.
Puigsacalm La Garrotxa Birds, orchids, rock flora, butterflies. Marsh tit, nuthatch, chough, peregrine falcon, hedge sparrow, tree pipit. Elder-flowered, black vanilla, frog and fragrant orchids, livelong and Pyrenean saxifrage. Moroccan Orange tip, de Prunner's ringlet, scarce swallowtail, Duke of Burgundy's fritillary, Glanville fritillary, turquoise blue, black-veined white.
Barranc de la Coma de l'Infern Reptiles, amphibians, flora, birds. Ocellated lizard, viperine snake, painted frog, stripeless tree frog. Cork oak forest, chaste-tree, Jersey fern, Tree lavatera. Golden oriole, woodchat shrike, Orphean and melodious warblers, wryneck, bee-eater, short-toed eagle, corn bunting, hoopoe.
El Pasteral and river Ter La Selva Dragonflies, birds, flora. Scarlet darter, Gomphus pulchellus, Onychygomphus forcipatus, demoiselles, Platycnemnis spp., Crag martin.
Les Salines Butterflies, ridge flora, Cardinal, marbled and Queen of Spain fritillaries, de Prunner's ringlet, black-veined white, grayling, purple-edged copper. Green lizard. Dartford and garden warblers, firecrest, crested tit, raven. Arenaria grandiflora, creeping snapdragon, crested lousewort, dwarf's sheep-bit, angular Solomon's seal, martagon lily
Rocacorba Riverine forest and butterflies Martagon lily, Canary oak. Marbled fritillary, white and southern white admirals.
Estany de Banyoles Dragonflies, wetland vegetation Great fen-sedge, marsh fern. Emperor and lesser emperor, Norfolk hawker, scarce chaser, golden ring dragonfly. Golden oriole.
Espinavell­Torre de Mir Flora, butterflies and birds Globeflower, trumpet and great yellow gentians, Luzula nivea, tufted catchfly, Pyrenean honeysuckle, reddish and livelong saxifrage, common butterwort, fairy foxglove. De Prunner's ringlet, chestnut and pearly heaths, swallowtail, silver-studded blue. Quail, skylark, tree pipit, rock bunting, chough, bullfinch.
July Vall del Bac La Garrotxa Butterflies Large, silver-studded, Damon, Escher's, Chapman's, turquoise and Osiris blues, chestnut and pearly heaths, false ilex and sloe hairstreaks, knapweed and Glanville fritillaries, southern white admiral.
Pic de la Dona Ripollès Alpine flora, birds and butterflies Water, starry, livelong, mossy, geranium-like and hairless mossy saxifrages, Pyrenean poppy, mountains avens, viscid primrose. Lammergeier, griffon vulture, chough, wheatear, rock thrush, water pipit, citril finch. Many ringlets, Eros and Glandon blues, shepherd's and mountain blues.
El Montseny Butterflies. Ilex hairstreak, high brown fritillary, great banded grayling, violet fritillary, Camberwell beauty, white admiral.
Cabrera Mature beechwoods Xilophagous beetles. High brown and marbled fritillaries, Amanda and Ripart's anomalous blues.
August Rivers Borró and Fluvià Dragonflies and damselflies Orange-spotted emerald, Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis, southern migrant hawker, lesser emperor, Platycnemis acutipennis, Lestes virens.
Canigó Conflent Alpine flora and fauna Lammergeier, alpine chough, ringlets. Saxifrages.
Bastiments Alpine flora and fauna Lammergeier, griffon vulture, ring ouzel, citril finch, crossbill. Shepherd's and pearl-bordered fritillaries, Apollo, dewy ringlet, marsh (alpine) fritillary, Glandon blues. Water, starry and mossy saxifrages, Pyrenean lousewort, southern gentian, Senecio leucophyllus.
Bosc de Tosca Geology Volcanoes and lava flows.
September Les Gavarres Butterflies Two-tailed pasha.
Pla de Martís Karstic scenery  
Cadiretes Ferns, migrating raptors Royal fern, black kite, honey buzzard, white stork.
Cap de Norfeu Seabirds; autumn flowers Autumn narcissus, autumn squill. Gannet, gulls, shearwaters.
October-
November-
December		 L'Albera Raptor migrant, autumn colours Sweet chestnut, downy oak and Montpellier maples.
Vall d'Hormoier Autumn colours, limestone scenery.. Field, Italian and Montpellier maples, downy and English oaks.
Massif de Cadiretes Geology  
Fluvià valley Birds Cormorant, lesser spotted woodpecker, kingfisher, cirl and corn buntings, skylark, crested lark.

Return to top

**ALL TEXTS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND LISTS IN THIS WEB SITE ARE © WALKING CATALONIA AND MAY NOT BE COPIED OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THEIR AUTHORS**

 Home | About Us | Prices | Contact | Can Coromines
Walking & Culture | Walking & Wildlife | Vall de Núria | Orchid walks | Walk Descriptions
Catalan dragonfly atlas | Mas Garganta | Hostal Rovira | Links

 

return to top