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Champoluc

Valle d'Aosta  >  Italy

These open grassy meadows, bordered by the forest, are great for many mountain and migrating birds like keltasirkku, hernekerttu and metsäkirvinen.

Added* by Jacopo Bianchi
Most recent update 11 helmikuu 2023
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Description

At the south end of Champoluc a trail starts and enters a large grassy meadow, bordered on one side by the forest and on the other by the river Evancon, covered by a thick scrub of alders. This place is great for västäräkki, feeding around the horses, and for keltahemppo, mustaleppälintu, varpushaukka and peukaloinen. Going further down, the trail enters the forest and gets closer to the river, arriving in a little fishing lake, called Green Lake (indicated with star on the map). This section is great for hömötiainen, töyhtötiainen, punatulkku, puukiipijä, koskikara, tulipäähippiäinen and laulurastas. Then after crossing the road the trail gets back in an open meadow and continues heading South towards a little chapel. This section is more bushy then the first one, with a more scattered tree cover on the west side. Here it's great for pikkulepinkäinen, vihertikka, metsäkirvinen, räkättirastas, kulorastas and keltasirkku. During migration, the best period is late April/May in spring and August/early September in autumn, there are many interesting species to be found like kirjosieppo, keltavästäräkki, käenpiika, hernekerttu (which also breeds here), pajulintu and vuoriuunilintu.

Details

Access

The best way to get there is to park at the free parking Route Dondeynaz in Champoluc (click on the P in the map for directions) and then follow the road on foot on the other side of the bridge, heading South to Pratone di Varasc (indicated with star on the map). The best way to explore the area is definitely on foot, but it's also possible on mountain bike. It takes around 1.30/2 hours to properly cover the place, but it can be done in less time.

Terrain and Habitat

Forest , Mountain , Valley , Grassland , Scattered trees and bushes , River

Conditions

Flat , Open landscape , No shadow

Circular trail

No

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

Spring , Autumn , Summer

Best time to visit

Summer , Autumn migration

Route

Wide path , Unpaved road

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Links

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Map

Top 5 birds

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