The pines hold Citril Finch and Crossbill, while high on the scree slopes we can see Alpine Accentor, Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, and flocks of Snow Finch. Wallcreeper is one of Europe's loveliest birds, as well as being one of its most sought-after species. In summer we look for them high on the rock faces. In early summer here, the flowers can be simply stunning, with the pastures holding a breathtaking variety of plants. Indeed for anyone unfamiliar with alpine flowers, a first visit here can be quite overwhelming.
Butterflies too can be varied and exciting.
Now is the best time to see the magnificent Apollo butterflies making their way ponderously over the meadows, while numerous fritillaries, ringlets and bewildering skippers can also be found in abundance on fine days. The most famous of these, at Gavarnie, is one of the great mountain sights of Europe and not to be missed, but there are many other less busy areas that are equally stunning. Some of the valleys below Luz can also be worth visiting for several species, but given fine weather our aim will be to visit the higher areas whenever possible. Itinerary Days 1 - 6 We take a British Airways flight from London Gatwick to Toulouse. We will collect our minibuses there and drive to Luz.