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Description
Val de la Mare is a small valley between the high peaks of the Stelvio National Park. The valley offers a remarkable variety in terms of habitat and allows several different birding possibilities. The Noce stream flows on the bottom of the valley, here is quite simple to spot White-throated Dipper foraging in its typical habitat. Old and majestic spruce woods grow on the slopes of the valley. This is a really valuable place for the Western Capercaillie and the Black Woodpecker. The presence of this woodpecker allows interesting number of specimens of Boreal Owl. Moreover, in this area Eurasian Pygmy Owl is also not so rare and with a little bit of luck it can be easily spotted also during the day.
Nutcracker is probably the most common bird you are going to observe. At a certain point of elevation, the spruce wood makes place for high alpine meadows which offers the possibility in late spring and summer to spot a lot of migratory insectivores such as Black Redstart, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear and Common Rock Thrush. Further in elevation, the area is really rocky with some snow deposits here and there. Here it is quite common to see Rock Ptarmigan and the Wallcreeper is also present. Up in the sky Yellow-billed Chough often mob Golden Eagle. With a little bit of luck you will be able to spot the largest bird of the alps, the Bearded Vulture which is still considered a vagrant species in this particular part of the national park. Other interesting species are Common Raven, Common Crossbill, Common Redpoll, Crested Tit, Eurasian Bullfinch and Black Grouse.
Details
Access
The valley is accessible by car following the directions. In order to reach the place there is only one road (paved) that is narrow. In winter the road can be closed due to the snow. The best way to visit this beautiful valley is by foot. There are many tracks and routes and you can hike on the slopes. I suggest to pay the car in the malga Mare dedicated park (in August it can cost up to 5 euros) and then follow the indications for the artificial lake of Caresèr. The circular walk indicated on the map is 13,5 km long.