Birds of Jura Mountains - 3 Days

Meeting at our accommodation late morning, we will start this bird photography tour with a nice walk and a first approach to Franche-Comté’s birdlife in high altitude, mainly forest areas. Enjoying this beautiful landscape full of photo opportunities, our quest will focus on the Eurasian Pygmy-owl and the Boreal Owl. It will also be an opportunity to observe some of the most common and emblematic species of the Jura mountains: Fieldfare, Red Crossbill, Eurasian Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Willow Tit and Crested Tit, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Bullfinch, Eurasian Siskin etc. Harder to spot but present in this sector, we will be able, with a little luck to cross the discreet Hazel Grouse.

An evening can also be devoted to listening to nocturnal raptors and enjoy this special atmosphere, without significant light pollution. The Boreal Owl and the Eurasian Pygmy-owl will be targeted first.

Starting early, we will dedicate this second day to open and semi-open environments to look for different bird species and enjoy stunning landscapes. Highlights species could include Rock Bunting which breeds in the area, and other species such as Eurasian Crag Martin, Alpine Swift and Peregrine Falcon. Some years, the Wallcreeper can also be seen during the breeding season.

The South Jura also provides some beautiful “surprise” species at this time of the year, such as the Short-toed Snake-eagle or the Griffon Vulture. So we will often look up in the sky and hopefully spot these fantastic birds.

Our last day’s morning will be devoted again to the search for forest species. We will eventually return to the area of small mountain owls to hopefully make more images. Some discrete species, mainly those living in forest areas, are difficult to spot. It is sometimes necessary to know how to be patient. In the afternoon, we will drive to the Lac de l'Embouteilleux and its surroundings to look for the Marsh Warbler and photograph more wildlife including amphibians, reptiles, dragonflies and butterflies.

End of the stay on Sunday in the middle of the afternoon.