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Birdwatching in Alpe d'Huez

Twitching, birding or bird spotting in the forest

featured in Activity reviews Author Rob Wood, Alpe d'Huez Reporter Updated

Having worked as a beach lifeguard and surf, paddleboard, kayak and canoe instructor for around 10 years now, I am always being asked by inquisitive tourists at the beach “what's that bird over there?”

After around 5 years of embarrassingly replying with the stock answer “that's a seagull” I decided a few years back to try and learn a bit more about bird watching and more so bird identification. To be honest I found it really interesting and far trickier than I imagined.

So if you fancy a day away off from slopes or are here as a non-skier, time spent bird watching really is a great way to spend a day in the mountains.

The best area in Alpe d”Huez to give it a go is in the Foret d’Huez, the wooded area towards Huez village – basically off to the left hand side of the main road as you approach Alpe d’Huez town itself.

There are plenty of paths and mountain bike trails around the forest that you can easily walk around, normally just in snow boots or a decent pair of hiking type shoes.

Getting to and from the forest couldn't be simpler either- you can simply walk down the main road for around 1km or get the Apple Bus (the free shuttle service around town) and get off at the Maona Village stop or alternatively you can get the Televillage bubble car from the old town down to Huez village and simply walk back the short distance up to the forest area.

Once in the wooded area to the side of the blue run Village keep an eye out for the information boards and bird nesting boxes, these are obviously situated at the best vantage points.

Why not give bird watching go along with snowshoe hiking (Rando Raquettes), for a really great day out in the mountains. And why not take a packed lunch, get a French stick or even have lunch in the lovely mountain village of Huez itself – the choice is yours.

You really don't need a lot of equipment to give it a go, any combination of the following will help you – but fear not if you don't have any of the these bits the following guide will give you a good idea as to what you are looking (and listening) out for – bird watching is as much about listening as it is about looking!.

Ideally:

  • Binoculars
  • Note pad
  • Bird identification book (the one below is really good)

There is a wide array of birds that you will be looking out for, but you are most likely to see the following:

Snow Finch – (Montifringilla Nivalis) length 17cm/wingspan 34-38cm

Finch like member of the sparrow family with a considerable amount of white plumage. Adult has a blue-grey head. Its voice is sparrow-like song including a Chaffinch like ‘pink’.

Bullfinch – (Pyrrhula Pyrrhula) length 15cm/wingspan 25cm

A dumpy finch with a stubby, black bill and conspicuous white rump, seen in flight. Rather a shy and retiring species, the Bullfinch is heard more than it is seen; its soft, piping calls carry a surprising distance, they often travel in pairs.

Alpine Accentor – (Prunella Collaris) length 18cm/wingspan 30-33cm

Adult head, breast and belly is ash-grey with brownish tinge in some lights. Chin whitish with neat black speckling. It's voice is a chattering musical warble; ventriloquial rippling call.

Great Tit – (Parus Major) length 14cm/wingspan 22.5-25.5cm

The largest common tit, with quite a long tail. The adult is basically yellow-green above and yellow below. Wings have black flight feathers. A loud call ‘tink’, ‘tink’, ‘tink’, with a far-carrying song of ‘teacher, ‘teacher’, ‘teacher’.

Blue Tit – (Cyanistes Caeruleus) length 11.5cm/wingspan 17.5-20cm

The adult is the only European tit with a bright blue crown, bordered with white. Upper parts are yellowish-green, underparts sulphur yellow. It's call is ‘tsee-tsee’, with its song a tremolo ‘tsee-tsee-tsee-tsuhuhuhu’.

Marsh Tit – (Poecile Palustris) length 11.5cm/wingspan 18-19.5cm

Adult has a glossy black cap, small black chin and throat. Wings, tail and upper parts are a greyish-brown. It's call is ‘pitchoo’ and song is a nasal ‘ter-char-char-char’ repetition on one note.

Chaffinch - (Fringilla Coelebs) length 14.5cm/wingspan 25-28cm

Male has a very distinctive pink face, breast and belly. Tail is black with white outer feathers. It's call is a ‘chink’ with a ‘wheet’ song.

Goldfinch – (Carduelis Carduelis) length 12cm/wingspan 21-25cm

Easily identified by a golden-yellow panel along the centre of a black wing and head. Call is a liquid ‘tswitt-witt-witt’ and a song of characteristic cheerful tinkling.

Greenfinch – (Carduelis Chloris) length 15cm/wingspan 25-27cm

Striking olive green and yellow in colour, with brown tail and flight feathers. A loud nasal ‘tsweee’ call and a rapid strong twittering song.

Crested Tit – (Lophophanes Cristatus) length 11.5cm/wingspan 17-20cm

Small tit with a backwards pointing black crest, with feathers tipped of white. Grey brown wings and tails with a buff-brown upper part. A low pitched purring trill call, and a song that makes repeated use of the call.

Coal Tit – (Periparus Ater) length 11.5cm/wingspan 17-21cm

Glossy black cap with big white cheeks. Smaller than the blue Tit. A pipping ‘tsee’ call and a loud and clear ‘teechu, teechu, teechu’ song.

Magpie – (Pica Pica) length 44-46cm/wingspan 52-60cm

Unmistakeable black and white bird. Call is staccato chatter ‘chacker, chacker, chacker, chacker’.

Location

Map of the surrounding area