Our main summer holiday this year was to the truly wonderful Picos de Europa in northern Spain.
The national park is situated in the area known as the Costa Verde due to the high rainfall, which in turn gives rise to a relatively lush, green landscape. Ask anyone who's been in this part of the Iberian Peninsula and they will rave about it. We stayed in a great self catering house with a spectacular view.
The coast is reminiscent of Cornwall but the jagged limestone rocks are sharp to the touch and the temperature was somewhat higher. As we went in September the summer birds had departed, but there were still a few interesting species around such as Egyptian vultures, black redstarts, alpine choughs and alpine accentors. Plantwise the most outstanding species were the autumn crocuses and the autumn ladies tresses. I also saw a swallowtail butterfly but took my eyes off it fro a second and so was unable to pursue it and get a photo (school boy error).
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| Autumn crocus |
Although the whole area is wonderfully rich, we visited late in the season and the summer has been particularly dry apparently. In addition the grasslands where the flowers are, are grazed very hard by cows, sheep and goats and so there is little that can grow beyond a flat roseate of leaves in many areas. But maintaining a healthy animal farming economy is paramount to the sustainability of the habitat and its associated wildlife. There is a big drive to reintroduce the Lammergeierfor instance, and this feeds on carrion, such as dead stock.
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| Local stockmen and stock |
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| Local grazer - her bell joined 100s of others to accompany our visit |
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| Former summer homes for the local herders |
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| Gentian |
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| Autumn Ladies' tresses (orchid) |
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| Walk at the top of the Fuente De cable car |
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| Alpine choughs |
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| Alpine accentor |
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| View of Naranjo de Bulnes |
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| Typical meadow amongst orchard trees |
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| Gentian |
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| Monks'-hood |
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