Marbled Newt Triturus marmoratus © Teresa Farino

Springtime in the Picos de Europa

Visit these magnificent mountains at the start of the season, for superb spring flowers, butterflies and moths, plus a good selection of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Although snow may still lie thick on the summits of the Picos de Europa in early May - presenting us with some of Spain's most breathtaking landscapes - the valleys are warming up nicely by this time. The short turf of the haymeadows is punctuated by early-flowering orchids - for example, Green-winged, Pink Butterfly, the pure lemon-yellow Dactylorhiza sulphurea and exotic Sawfly Ophrys - interspersed with Tassel Hyacinths and White Red Helleborine
Cephalanthera rubra © Teresa Farino Asphodels, while the area around the top of the cable car at Fuente Dé is coloured by Spring Gentians and miniature Narcissus asturiensis daffodils. In the Mediterranean forests, Red and Sword-leaved Helleborines and Violet Limodores are in full bloom, while deciduous woodlands at higher altitudes are carpeted with swathes of Oxlips, Purple Toothwort, Ramsons, Pyrenean Squill and Dog's-tooth-violets.

The Isard (Southern Chamois) that inhabit the highest peaks of the range can be seen at close quarters without having to venture too far into the mountains at this time of year, while normally nocturnal mammals such as pine martens and wildcats are often tempted out during the day by the warm sunshine. The resident passerines - Woodlark, Isard (Southern Chamois)
Rupicapra pyrenaica parva © Teresa Farino Firecrest, Marsh and Crested Tits, Short-toed Treecreeper and Cirl and Rock Buntings, to name but a few - are in full voice, while the skies are rarely without the looming silhouette of a majestic Griffon Vulture. Middle Spotted Woodpeckers are at their most visible in orchards around the villages at this time of year, and there is always the chance that we might glimpse one of the charismatic Black Woodpeckers that inhabit the higher forests.

By May, many of the summer visitors have already arrived - among them Egyptian Vultures, Black Kites, Short-toed Eagles, Wrynecks, Tree Pipits, Bonelli's Warblers and Red-backed Shrikes - and are busy establishing territories. At the top of the cable car - snow permitting - we can expect to see Water Pipit, Alpine Accentor, Wallcreeper, both Chough and Alpine Chough and Snow Finch, as well as Rock Thrush in craggy areas at slightly lower altitudes. We will also encounter a good range of the Picos de Europa's Sooty Coppers Lycaena tityrus © Teresa Farino 19 species of reptiles and 15 amphibians at this time of year.

Among the early butterflies of the Picos de Europa, of particular note are non-British species such as Mallow, Red-underwing and Oberthür's Grizzled Skippers, Spanish Swallowtail, Cleopatra, Provence Orange Tip, Glanville, Knapweed and Violet Fritillaries, de Prunner's Ringlet, Baton, Green-underside, Black-eyed and Turquoise Blues and Sooty Copper. Some of the more emblematic moths that we might encounter in the trap on Teresa's terrace are the splendid Giant Peacock - one of the largest moths in Europe - as well as Tawny Prominent, the green-striped Valeria jaspidea, Dewick's Plusia, Pale-shouldered Cloud, Lunar Double-stripe and the Iberian endemics Spanish Tiger and Spanish Puss Moth.

Rock Bunting
Emberiza cia © Teresa Farino

Springtime in the Picos de Europa

Leader: Teresa Farino

2010 Dates: Tues. 4 May - Tues. 11 May

Price: 1,100€ per person, including half-board, en suite accommodation at Posada El Hoyal, picnic lunches, minibus/4WD transport throughout, all entry fees and the services of Teresa Farino as leader. A single-room supplement of 125€ is applicable. Although the cost of this tour is given in euros, clients may pay in sterling, the exchange rate to be calculated at the time of payment using www.oanda.com

This is a land-based tour. Flights and travel insurance (obligatory) are the responsibility of the client.

Pick-up details: Teresa will be meeting one of the following: the easyJet flight from London Stansted to Asturias or Bilbao, or the Ryanair flight from London Stansted to Santander, depending on prices and times. Further details will be posted here once available.

Alternatively, those travelling to the Picos independently can arrange to meet the group at the hotel on the first evening

Group size: maximum 8 clients.

Booking information: please contact Teresa Farino for further details and a booking form, or if you have any queries about this tour.

E-mail:
Office phone:	(+34) 942 735154
Mobile phone:	(+34) 656 337129
Address:	Apartado de Correos 59 39570 Potes Cantabria Spain

Dactylorhiza sulphurea © Teresa Farino

Other natural history tours in the Picos de Europa:

Reports from past trips to the Picos de Europa:

Related information: